# 1996–97 Valparaiso Crusaders men's basketball team

The 1996–97 Valparaiso Crusaders men's basketball team represented Valparaiso University during the 1996–97 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Crusaders, led by ninth-year head coach Homer Drew, played their home games at the Athletics–Recreation Center as members of the Mid-Continent Conference. The Crusaders won Mid-Con regular season and tournament titles, and received an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament as No. 12 seed in the West region. In the opening round, Valpo was beaten by No. 5 seed Boston College, 73–66. The team finished with a record of 24–7 (13–3 Mid-Con).

## Schedule and results

| Date time, TV | Rank$^#$ | Opponent$^#$ | Result | Record | Site (attendance) city, state |
| Regular season ||||||
| Nov 20, 1996* | | at Vanderbilt | L 66–74 | 0–1 | Memorial Gymnasium (11,575) Nashville, Tennessee |
| Nov 25, 1996* | | at Canisius | W 66–52 | 1–1 | Koessler Athletic Center (911) Buffalo, New York |
| Nov 27, 1996* | | at Northern Illinois | W 88–83 | 2–1 | Chick Evans Field House (1,972) DeKalb, Illinois |
| Dec 4, 1996* | | Indiana Wesleyan | W 92–69 | 3–1 | Athletics-Recreation Center (2,436) Valparaiso, Indiana |
| Dec 7, 1996* | | Wisconsin–Milwaukee | W 71–46 | 4–1 | Athletics-Recreation Center (3,011) Valparaiso, Indiana |
| Dec 10, 1996* | | Wisconsin–Green Bay | W 50–44 | 5–1 | Athletics-Recreation Center (3,233) Valparaiso, Indiana |
| Dec 14, 1996* | | Illinois-Chicago | W 77–68 | 6–1 | Athletics-Recreation Center (3,112) Valparaiso, Indiana |
| Dec 27, 1996* | | vs. Army Union Federal Hoosier Classic | W 88–48 | 7–1 | Market Square Arena (12,860) Indianapolis, Indiana |
| Dec 28, 1996* | | vs. No. 13 Indiana Union Federal Hoosier Classic | L 51–72 | 7–2 | Market Square Arena (13,203) Indianapolis, Indiana |
| Jan 2, 1997 | | at Troy State | W 76–70 | 8–2 (1–0) | Sartain Hall (334) Troy, Alabama |
| Jan 4, 1997 | | at UMKC | W 81–66 | 9–2 (2–0) | Municipal Auditorium (4,447) Kansas City, Missouri |
| Jan 6, 1997* | | Youngstown State | W 57–46 | 10–2 (3–0) | Athletics-Recreation Center (3,410) Valparaiso, Indiana |
| Jan 8, 1997 | | Buffalo | W 72–55 | 11–2 (4–0) | Athletics-Recreation Center (4,117) Valparaiso, Indiana |
| Jan 11, 1997 | | at Northeastern Illinois | W 82–80 $^{OT}$ | 12–2 (5–0) | NEIU Physical Education Complex (850) Chicago, Illinois |
| Jan 14, 1997 | | at Chicago State | W 76–59 | 13–2 (6–0) | Dickens Athletic Center (504) Chicago, Illinois |
| Jan 18, 1997* | | Central Connecticut State | W 61–54 | 14–2 (7–0) | Athletics-Recreation Center (4,853) Valparaiso, Indiana |
| Jan 20, 1997* | | at Oral Roberts | L 72–76 | 14–3 | Mabee Center (5,020) Tulsa, Oklahoma |
| Jan 25, 1997 | | Western Illinois | L 78–84 | 14–4 (7–1) | Athletics-Recreation Center (4,459) Valparaiso, Indiana |
| Jan 27, 1997* | | Northland | W 110–77 | 15–4 | Athletics-Recreation Center (2,203) Valparaiso, Indiana |
| Feb 1, 1997 | | at Buffalo | W 64–62 | 16–4 (8–1) | Alumni Arena (5,284) Buffalo, New York |
| Feb 3, 1997 | | at Youngstown State | L 64–66 | 16–5 (8–2) | Beeghly Center (1,810) Youngstown, Ohio |
| Feb 6, 1997* | | Chicago State | W 85–58 | 17–5 (9–2) | Athletics-Recreation Center (3,102) Valparaiso, Indiana |
| Feb 8, 1997 | | Northeastern Illinois | W 102–84 | 18–5 (10–2) | Athletics-Recreation Center (4,460) Valparaiso, Indiana |
| Feb 12, 1997 | | at Central Connecticut State | W 71–59 | 19–5 (11–2) | Detrick Gymnasium (538) New Britain, Connecticut |
| Feb 15, 1997 | | at Western Illinois | W 83–74 | 20–5 (12–2) | Western Hall (3,647) Macomb, Illinois |
| Feb 22, 1997 | | UMKC | W 90–63 | 21–5 (12–3) | Athletics-Recreation Center (4,251) Valparaiso, Indiana |
| Feb 24, 1997 | | Troy State | L 69–72 $^{OT}$ | 21–6 (13–3) | Athletics-Recreation Center (4,477) Valparaiso, Indiana |
| Mid-Con tournament ||||||
| Mar 2, 1997* | | vs. Central Connecticut State Quarterfinals | W 97–73 | 22–6 | The MARK of the Quad Cities (NA) Moline, Illinois |
| Mar 3, 1997* | | vs. Northeastern Illinois Semifinals | W 88–82 $^{OT}$ | 23–6 | The MARK of the Quad Cities (NA) Moline, Illinois |
| Mar 4, 1997* | | vs. Western Illinois Championship game | W 63–59 | 24–6 | The MARK of the Quad Cities (4,251) Moline, Illinois |
| NCAA tournament ||||||
| Mar 13, 1997* | (12 W) | vs. (5 W) No. 23 Boston College First round | L 66–73 | 24–7 | Jon M. Huntsman Center (12,541) Salt Lake City, Utah |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from AP poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. All times are in Central Time. ||||||
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