1988–89 NCAA Division I men's basketball season

The 1988–89 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began in November 1988 and ended with the Final Four at the Kingdome in Seattle, Washington on April 3, 1989.

Season headlines

 * The Pacific Coast Athletic Association changed its name to the Big West Conference on July 1, 1988.
 * Loyola Marymount junior All-American Hank Gathers became the second player in NCAA Division I history to lead the nation in scoring (32.7) and rebounding (13.7) in the same season.
 * Neutral courts were used in all rounds of the NCAA tournament for the first time.
 * All the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds in the NCAA tournament advanced to the "Sweet Sixteen" for the first time.
 * The NCAA notes that P. J. Carlesimo of Seton Hall became the first head coach with a beard to advance to the NCAA tournament's Final Four.
 * Steve Fisher of Michigan became the first head coach to win the NCAA title in his first year as a head coach.

Major rule changes
Beginning in 1988–89, the following rules changes were implemented:


 * Any player who participates in a fight is ejected from the game and placed on probation. If he participates in a second fight during the season, he is suspended for one game. If he participates in a third fight during the season, he is suspended for the rest of the season, including championship competition.

Pre-season polls
The top 20 from the AP Poll and Coaches Poll during the pre-season.

Final Four - Kingdome, Seattle, Washington
(* – Denotes Overtime)

Major player of the year awards

 * Wooden Award: Sean Elliott, Arizona
 * Naismith Award: Danny Ferry, Duke
 * Associated Press Player of the Year: Sean Elliott, Arizona
 * UPI Player of the Year: Danny Ferry, Duke
 * NABC Player of the Year: Sean Elliott, Arizona
 * Oscar Robertson Trophy (USBWA): Danny Ferry, Duke
 * Adolph Rupp Trophy: Sean Elliott, Arizona
 * Sporting News Player of the Year: Stacey King, Oklahoma

Major freshman of the year awards

 * USBWA National Freshman of the Year: Chris Jackson, LSU

Major coach of the year awards

 * Associated Press Coach of the Year: Bob Knight, Indiana
 * UPI Coach of the Year: Bob Knight, Indiana
 * Henry Iba Award (USBWA): Bob Knight, Indiana
 * NABC Coach of the Year: P. J. Carlesimo, Seton Hall
 * Naismith College Coach of the Year: Mike Krzyzewski, Duke
 * CBS/Chevrolet Coach of the Year: Lute Olson, Arizona
 * Sporting News Coach of the Year: P. J. Carlesimo, Seton Hall

Other major awards

 * Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award (Best player under 6'0): Tim Hardaway, UTEP
 * Robert V. Geasey Trophy (Top player in Philadelphia Big 5): Lionel Simmons, La Salle
 * NIT/Haggerty Award (Top player in New York City metro area): John Morton, Seton Hall

Coaching changes
A number of teams changed coaches during the season and after it ended.