2002–03 NCAA Division I men's basketball season
Introduction The '''2002–03 NCAA Division I men's basketball season''' began on November 10, 2002, progressed through the regular season and conference tournaments, and concluded with the 2003 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament Championship Game on April 7, 2003 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Syracuse Orange and coach Jim Boeheim won their first NCAA national championship with an 81–78 victory over the Kansas Jayhawks.
Season headlines * The preseason AP All-American team was named on November 12.David West of Xavier was the leading vote-getter (43 of 72 votes). The rest of the team included Luke Walton (42 votes) and Jason Gardner (39) of Arizona, Kirk Hinrich of Kansas (35) and Erwin Dudley of Alabama (32).
Major rule changes Beginning in 2002–03, the following rules changes were implemented:* Two free-throw lane spaces closest to the free-thrower would remain unoccupied. * No free throws were awarded to the offended team in bonus for personal fouls committed by a team while in team control or in possession of the ball during a throw-in (team-control foul).
Season outlook === Pre-season polls ===The top 25 from the AP and ESPN/USA Today Coaches Polls November 13, 2002. '''Associated Press'''RankingTeam1Arizona (50)2Kansas (14)3Oklahoma (6)4Texas5Pittsburgh (1)6Duke7Florida8Alabama9Michigan State10Xavier11Oregon12Mississippi State (1)13Maryland14UCLA15Connecticut16Georgia17Kentucky18Marquette19Missouri20Western Kentucky21Indiana22Gonzaga23Cincinnati24Minnesota25Tulsa '''ESPN/USA Today Coaches'''RankingTeam1Arizona (27)2Kansas (3)3Oklahoma (1)4Pittsburgh5Texas6Duke7Florida8Alabama9Oregon10Michigan State11Xavier12UCLA13Mississippi State14Connecticut15Maryland16Georgia17Kentucky18Missouri19Marquette20Cincinnati21Indiana22Gonzaga23Western Kentucky24Minnesota25Illinois
Conference membership changes These schools joined new conferences for the 2002–03 season.SchoolFormer conferenceNew conference Gardner-Webb NCAA Division II Atlantic Sun Conference Lipscomb NAIA NCAA Division I Independent Savannah State NCAA Division II NCAA Division I Independent Texas A&M-Corpus Christi NCAA Division III NCAA Division I Independent
Regular season === Conference winners and tournaments ===ConferenceRegular  season winnerConference  player of the yearConference  tournamentTournament  venue (City)Tournament  winnerAmerica East Conference  Boston University  Taylor Coppenrath, Vermont  2003 America East men's basketball tournament  Walter Brown Arena(Boston, Massachusetts)(Except Finals)  VermontAtlantic 10 Conference  St. Joseph's (East)Xavier (West)  David West, Xavier  2003 Atlantic 10 men's basketball tournament  University of Dayton Arena (Dayton, Ohio)  DaytonAtlantic Coast Conference  Wake Forest  Josh Howard, Wake Forest  2003 ACC men's basketball tournament  Greensboro Coliseum(Greensboro, North Carolina)  DukeAtlantic Sun Conference  Troy & Mercer  Adam Sonn, Belmont   2003 Atlantic Sun men's basketball tournament  GSU Sports Arena(Atlanta, Georgia)  TroyBig 12 Conference  Kansas  Nick Collison, Kansas  2003 Big 12 men's basketball tournament  American Airlines Center(Dallas, Texas)  OklahomaBig East Conference  Connecticut & Boston College (East)Syracuse & Pittsburgh (West)  Troy Bell, Boston College  2003 Big East men's basketball tournament  Madison Square Garden(New York City, New York)  PittsburghBig Sky Conference  Weber State  Jermaine Boyette, Weber State  2003 Big Sky men's basketball tournament  Dee Events Center(Ogden, Utah)(Semifinals and Finals)  Weber StateBig South Conference  Winthrop  Torrey Butler, Coastal Carolina  2003 Big South Conference men's basketball tournament  Vines Center(Lynchburg, Virginia)(Semifinals and Finals)  UNC AshevilleBig Ten Conference  Wisconsin  Brian Cook, Illinois  2003 Big Ten Conference men's basketball tournament  United Center(Chicago, Illinois)  IllinoisBig West Conference  UC Santa Barbara  Branduinn Fullove, UC Santa Barbara  2003 Big West Conference men's basketball tournament  Anaheim Convention Center(Anaheim, California)  Utah StateColonial Athletic Association  UNC Wilmington  Brett Blizzard, UNC Wilmington  2003 CAA men's basketball tournament  Richmond Coliseum(Richmond, Virginia)  UNC WilmingtonConference USA  Marquette  Dwyane Wade, Marquette  2003 Conference USA men's basketball tournament  Freedom Hall(Louisville, Kentucky)  LouisvilleHorizon League  Butler  Willie Green, Detroit  2003 Horizon League men's basketball tournament  U.S. Cellular Arena(Milwaukee, Wisconsin)(Except First Round)  Wisconsin-MilwaukeeIvy League  Penn  Ugonna Onyekwe, Penn No TournamentMetro Atlantic Athletic Conference  Manhattan  Luis Flores, Manhattan  2003 MAAC men's basketball tournament  Sovereign Bank Arena(Trenton, New Jersey)  ManhattanMid-American Conference  Kent State (East)Central Michigan (West)  Chris Kaman, Central Michigan  2003 MAC men's basketball tournament  Gund Arena(Cleveland, Ohio) Central MichiganMid-Continent Conference  Valparaiso  Mike Helms, Oakland  2003 Mid-Continent Conference men's basketball tournament  Kemper Arena(Kansas City, Missouri)  IUPUIMid-Eastern Athletic Conference  South Carolina State  Ron Williamson, Howard  2003 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference men's basketball tournament  Richmond Coliseum(Richmond, Virginia)  South Carolina StateMissouri Valley Conference  Southern Illinois  Kyle Korver, Creighton  2003 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball tournament  Savvis Center(St. Louis, Missouri)  CreightonMountain West Conference  Utah & BYU  Ruben Douglas, New Mexico  2003 MWC men's basketball tournament  Thomas & Mack Center(Paradise, Nevada)  Colorado StateNortheast Conference  Wagner  Jermaine Hall, Wagner  2003 Northeast Conference men's basketball tournament  Campus Sites  WagnerOhio Valley Conference  Austin Peay & Morehead State  Ricky Minard, Morehead State  2003 Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball tournament  Gaylord Entertainment Center(Nashville, Tennessee)(Semifinals and Finals)  Austin PeayPacific-10 Conference  Arizona  Luke Ridnour, Oregon  2003 Pacific-10 Conference men's basketball tournament  Staples Center(Los Angeles, California)  OregonPatriot League  Holy Cross  Patrick Whearty, Holy Cross  2003 Patriot League men's basketball tournament  Campus Sites  Holy CrossSoutheastern Conference  Kentucky (East) Mississippi State (West)  Keith Bogans, Kentucky (Coaches)  Ron Slay, Tennessee (AP)  2003 SEC men's basketball tournament  Louisiana Superdome(New Orleans, Louisiana)  KentuckySouthern Conference  East Tennessee State, Appalachian State & Davidson (North)Charleston (South)  Troy Wheless, Charleston  2003 Southern Conference men's basketball tournament  North Charleston Coliseum(North Charleston, South Carolina)  East Tennessee StateSouthland Conference  Sam Houston State  Donald Cole, Sam Houston State  2003 Southland Conference men's basketball tournament  Bernard Johnson Coliseum(Huntsville, Texas)(Finals)  Sam Houston StateSouthwestern Athletic Conference  Prairie View A&M  Gregory Burks, Prairie View A&M  2003 Southwestern Athletic Conference men's basketball tournament  Fair Park Arena(Birmingham, Alabama)  Texas SouthernSun Belt Conference  Western Kentucky (East)Louisiana–Lafayette (West)  James Moore, New Mexico State  2003 Sun Belt men's basketball tournament  E. A. Diddle Arena(Bowling Green, Kentucky)  Western KentuckyWest Coast Conference  Gonzaga  Blake Stepp, Gonzaga  2003 West Coast Conference men's basketball tournament  Jenny Craig Pavilion(San Diego, California)  San DiegoWestern Athletic Conference  Fresno State  Quinton Ross, Southern Methodist  2003 WAC men's basketball tournament  Reynolds Center(Tulsa, Oklahoma)  Tulsa=== Statistical leaders === Source for additional stats categories              Player  School  PPG    Player  School  RPG    Player  School  APG    Player  School  SPG Ruben Douglas  New Mexico  28.0   Brandon Hunter  Ohio  12.6   Martell Bailey  Illinois-Chicago  8.1   Alexis McMillan  Stetson  4.0 Henry Domercant  E. Illinois  27.9   Amien Hicks  Morris Brown  12.4   Marques Green  St. Bonaventure  8.0   Zakee Wadood  E. Tennessee St.  3.2 Mike Helms  Oakland  26.9   Adam Sonn  Belmont  12.1   T. J. Ford  Texas  7.7   Jay Heard  Jacksonville St.  3.2 Michael Watson  UMKC  25.5    Chris Kaman  C. Michigan  12.0   Elliott Prasse-Freeman  Harvard  7.7    Eric Bush  UAB  3.1 Troy Bell  Boston College  25.2   David West  Xavier  11.8   Antawn Dobie  LIU  7.4   Marcus Hatten  St. John's  2.9              Player  School  BPG    Player  School  FG%    Player  School  3FG%    Player  School  FT% Emeka Okafor  UConn  4.7   Adam Mark  Belmont  67.0   Jeff Schiffner  Penn  49.3   Steve Drabyn  Belmont  95.1 Nick Billings  Binghamton  4.3   Rickey White  Maine  66.2   Kyle Korver  Creighton  48.0    Matt Logie  Lehigh  94.8 Justin Rowe  Maine  4.2   Matt Nelson  Colorado St.  64.3   Terrence Woods  Florida A&M  45.7   Hollis Price  Oklahoma  92.9 Deng Gai  Fairfield  3.8   Armond Williams  Illinois-Chicago  63.9   Chez Marks  Morehead St.  45.6   Brian Dux  Canisius  92.0 Robert Battle  Drexel  3.7   Michael Harris  Rice  62.3   Tyson Dorsey  Samford  45.5   JJ Redick  Duke  91.9
Postseason tournaments === NCAA tournament ======= Final Four – Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana ======= National Invitation tournament ====== Semifinals & finals ===* Third Place – Texas Tech 71, Minnesota 61
Award winners === Consensus All-American teams ===+ '''Consensus First Team''' Player Position Class Team David West F Senior Xavier T. J. Ford G Sophomore Texas Josh Howard F/G Senior Wake Forest Nick Collison F Senior Kansas Dwyane Wade G Junior Marquette+ '''Consensus Second Team''' Player Position Class Team Hollis Price G Senior Oklahoma Carmelo Anthony F/G Freshman Syracuse Kyle Korver F Senior Creighton Troy Bell G Senior Boston College Jason Gardner G Senior Arizona=== Major player of the year awards ===* '''Wooden Award:''' T. J. Ford, Texas* '''Naismith Award:''' T. J. Ford, Texas* '''Associated Press Player of the Year:''' David West, Xavier* '''NABC Player of the Year:''' Nick Collison, Kansas* '''Oscar Robertson Trophy (USBWA):''' David West, Xavier* '''Adolph Rupp Trophy:''' David West, Xavier* '''''Sporting News'' Player of the Year:''' T. J. Ford, Texas=== Major freshman of the year awards ===* '''USBWA Freshman of the Year:''' Carmelo Anthony, Syracuse* '''''Sporting News'' Freshman of the Year:''' Carmelo Anthony, Syracuse=== Major coach of the year awards ===* '''Associated Press Coach of the Year:''' Tubby Smith, Kentucky* '''Henry Iba Award (USBWA):''' Tubby Smith, Kentucky* '''NABC Coach of the Year:''' Tubby Smith, Kentucky* '''Naismith College Coach of the Year:''' Tubby Smith, Kentucky* '''CBS/Chevrolet Coach of the Year:''' Tubby Smith, Kentucky* '''''Sporting News'' Coach of the Year:''' Tubby Smith, Kentucky=== Other major awards ===* '''Pete Newell Big Man Award (Best big man):''' David West, Xavier* '''NABC Defensive Player of the Year:''' Emeka Okafor, Connecticut* '''Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award (Best player under 6'0):''' Jason Gardner, Arizona* '''Lowe's Senior CLASS Award (top senior):''' David West, Xavier* '''Robert V. Geasey Trophy (Top player in Philadelphia Big 5):''' Jameer Nelson, St. Joseph's* '''NIT/Haggerty Award (Top player in New York City metro area):''' Luis Flores, Manhattan* '''Chip Hilton Player of the Year Award (Strong personal character):''' Brandon Miller, Butler
Coaching changes A number of teams changed coaches throughout the season and after the season ended.TeamFormerCoachInterimCoachNewCoachReasonAlcorn StateDavey WhitneySamuel WestArkansas-Little RockPorter MoserSteve ShieldsCal State FullertonDonny DanielsBob BurtonCampbellBilly LeeRobbie LaingChicago StateBo EllisKevin JonesClemsonLarry ShyattOliver PurnellCleveland StateRollie MassiminoMike GarlandColumbiaArmond HillJoe Jones DaytonOliver Purnell Brian GregoryDrakeKurt KanaskieTom DavisEast Tennessee StateEd DeChellisMurry BartowElonMark SimonsErnie NestorFordhamBob HillDereck WhittenburgGeorgiaJim HarrickDennis FeltonGeorgia StateLefty DriesellMichael PerryHigh PointJerry SteeleBart LundyIllinoisBill SelfBruce WeberIllinois StateTom RichardsonPorter MoserIowa StateLarry EustachyWayne MorganEustachy quit following the release of pictures of him at a party near the campus of the University of Missouri.Jackson StateAndy StoglinTevester AndersonKansasRoy WilliamsBill SelfAfter turning down the North Carolina job previously, Williams accepted the position at his alma mater. MarshallGreg WhiteRon JirsaMount St. Mary'sJim PhelanMilan BrownPhelan retired after 49 years and 830 victories.Murray StateTevester AndersonMick CroninNorth CarolinaMatt DohertyRoy WilliamsDoherty resigned after rumors of player unrest. UNC alum Williams is hired away from Kansas.North Carolina A&TCurtis HunterJerry EavesPenn StateJerry DunnEd DeChellisPittsburghBen HowlandJamie DixonSt. BonaventureJan van Breda KolffAnthony SolomonSouth Carolina StateCy AlexanderBen BettsSouth FloridaSeth GreenbergRobert McCullumSouthernBen JobeMichael GrantSouthern IllinoisBruce WeberMatt PainterTennessee StateNolan Richardson IIIHosea LewisCy AlexanderRichardson III was suspended and ultimately resigned after allegedly threatening an assistant coach with a gun.UCLASteve LavinBen HowlandLavin was fired following a 10–19 season.Virginia TechRicky StokesSeth GreenbergWagnerDereck WhittenburgMike DeaneWashington StatePaul GrahamDick BennettWestern IllinoisJim KerwinDerek ThomasWestern KentuckyDennis FeltonDarrin HornWestern MichiganRobert McCullumSteve HawkinsWilliam & MaryRick BoyagesTony ShaverWright StateEd SchillingPaul Biancardi
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