# 1996–97 UCLA Bruins men's basketball team

The 1996–97 UCLA Bruins men's basketball team represented the University of California, Los Angeles in the 1996–97 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Under new head coach, Steve Lavin, the Bruins began the season ranked 5th in the AP Poll, but after an overtime loss in the opener to Tulsa, the Bruins dropped and would not be ranked as high for the rest of the season. On January 18 the Bruins beat #6 Arizona, 84-78 in overtime. The team finished 1st in the conference. The Bruins competed in the 1997 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, losing to the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the Elite Eight. This was the first season for head coach Steve Lavin, who had been an assistant coach under Jim Harrick.

## Schedule

| Date time, TV | Rank$^#$ | Opponent$^#$ | Result | Record | Site city, state |
| Exhibition ||||||
| November 12, 1996 | | vs. Athletes in Action Exhibition | W 114–79 | 0–0 | Pauley Pavilion Los Angeles, CA |
| November 14, 1996 | | vs. German 22 & under team Exhibition | W 71–44 | 0–0 | Pauley Pavilion Los Angeles, CA |
| Regular Season ||||||
| November 21, 1996 | No. 5 | Tulsa Preseason NIT | L 76–77 $^{OT}$ | 0–1 | Pauley Pavilion (8,589) Los Angeles, CA |
| December 3, 1996 | No. 17 | Cal State Northridge | W 95–73 | 1–1 | Pauley Pavilion (7,427) Los Angeles, CA |
| December 7, 1996 | No. 17 | No. 1 Kansas | L 83–96 | 1–2 | Pauley Pavilion (12,060) Los Angeles, CA |
| December 14, 1996 | No. 23 | Ohio | W 72–61 | 2–2 | Pauley Pavilion (8,053) Los Angeles, CA |
| December 17, 1996 | No. 24 | Jackson State | W 93–67 | 3–2 | Pauley Pavilion (6,442) Los Angeles, CA |
| December 21, 1996 | No. 24 | at Illinois | L 63–79 | 3–3 | United Center (15,331) Chicago, IL |
| December 23, 1996 | No. 24 | at Saint Louis | W 64–57 | 4–3 | Scottrade Center (17,911) St. Louis, MO |
| December 28, 1996 | | Morgan State | W 87–72 | 5–3 | Pauley Pavilion (7,654) Los Angeles, CA |
| January 2, 1997 | | Washington State | W 84–56 | 6–3 (1–0) | Pauley Pavilion (8,350) Los Angeles, CA |
| January 4, 1997 | | Washington | W 79–70 | 7–3 (2–0) | Pauley Pavilion (9,584) Los Angeles, CA |
| January 9, 1997 | | at No. 21 Stanford | L 61–109 | 7–4 (2–1) | Maples Pavilion (7,391) Stanford, CA |
| January 11, 1997 | | at California | W 64–56 | 8–4 (3–1) | Cow Palace (11,054) Daly City, CA |
| January 16, 1997 | | Arizona State | W 79–62 | 9–4 (4–1) | Pauley Pavilion (10,067) Los Angeles, CA |
| January 18, 1997 | | No. 6 Arizona | W 84–78 $^{OT}$ | 10–4 (5–1) | Pauley Pavilion (11,286) Los Angeles, CA |
| January 23, 1997 | | at USC | W 96–87 | 11–4 (6–1) | Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena (12,843) Los Angeles, CA |
| January 25, 1997 | | at No. 6 Louisville | L 71–74 | 11–5 | Freedom Hall (20,043) Louisville, KY |
| January 30, 1997 | | at Oregon | L 85–87 $^{OT}$ | 11–6 (6–2) | McArthur Court (10,024) Eugene, OR |
| February 1, 1997 | | at Oregon State | W 74–68 | 12–6 (7–2) | Gill Coliseum (837) Corvallis, OR |
| February 6, 1997 | | California | L 68–71 | 12–7 (7–3) | Pauley Pavilion (11,701) Los Angeles, CA |
| February 8, 1997 | | No. 18 Stanford | W 87–68 | 13–7 (8–3) | Pauley Pavilion (12,378) Los Angeles, CA |
| February 13, 1997 | No. 24 | at No. 11 Arizona | W 66–64 | 14–7 (9–3) | McKale Center (14,474) Tucson, AZ |
| February 15, 1997 | No. 24 | at Arizona State | W 92–81 | 15–7 (10–3) | ASU Activity Center (4,823) Tempe, AZ |
| February 19, 1997 | No. 17 | USC | W 82–60 | 16–7 (11–3) | Pauley Pavilion (13,382) Los Angeles, CA |
| February 23, 1997 | No. 17 | No. 6 Duke | W 73–69 | 17–7 | Pauley Pavilion (13,478) Los Angeles, CA |
| February 27, 1997 | No. 10 | Oregon State | W 81–69 | 18–7 (12–3) | Pauley Pavilion (11,048) Los Angeles, CA |
| March 01, 1997 | No. 10 | Oregon | W 74–67 | 19–7 (13–3) | Pauley Pavilion (12,341) Los Angeles, CA |
| March 06, 1997 | No. 9 | at Washington | W 87–85 | 20–7 (14–3) | Hec Edmundson Pavilion (7,836) Seattle, WA |
| March 08, 1997 | No. 9 | at Washington State | W 87–86 | 21–7 (15–3) | Beasley Coliseum (7,926) Pullman, WA |
| NCAA tournament ||||||
| March 13, 1997 | No. 7 | vs. Charleston Southern First Round | W 109–75 | 22–7 | The Palace of Auburn Hills (21,020) Auburn Hills, MI |
| March 15, 1997 | No. 7 | vs. No. 13 Xavier Second Round | W 96–83 | 23–7 | The Palace of Auburn Hills (21,020) Auburn Hills, MI |
| March 20, 1997 | No. 7 | vs. No. 18 Iowa State Sweet Sixteen | W 74–73 $^{OT}$ | 24–7 | Alamodome (29,231) San Antonio, TX |
| March 22, 1997 | No. 7 | vs. No. 3 Minnesota Elite Eight | L 72–80 | 24–8 | Alamodome (31,930) San Antonio, TX |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. All times are in Pacific Time. ||||||
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