the 1997 mac men's basketball tournament, a part of the 1996–97 ncaa division i men's basketball season, took place at seagate centre in toledo, ohio. its winner received the mid-american conference's automatic bid to the 1997 ncaa tournament. it was a single-elimination tournament with three rounds and the top eight mac teams invited to participate. no teams received byes in the tournament. bowling green received the number one seed in the tournament.