1996–97 UNC Charlotte 49ers men's basketball team

The 1996–97 UNC Charlotte 49ers men's basketball team represented the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in the 1996–97 college basketball season. This was head coach Melvin Watkins's first of two seasons at the helm of his alma mater. The 49ers competed in Conference USA and played their home games at Dale F. Halton Arena. They finished the season 22–9 (10–4 in C-USA play) and received an at-large bid to the 1997 NCAA tournament as No. 7 seed in the West region. The 49ers defeated Georgetown in the opening round[2] before losing to No. 2 seed Utah, 77–58, in the round of 32.[3]

1996–97 UNC Charlotte 49ers men's basketball
ConferenceConference USA
Record22–9 (10–4 C-USA)
Head coach
Home arenaDale F. Halton Arena
1996–97 Conference USA men's basketball standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
Blue
No. 10 Cincinnati12–2 .85726–8  .765
Marquette †9–5 .64322–9  .710
Saint Louis4–10 .28611–18  .379
DePaul1–13 .0713–23  .115
Red
Tulane11–3 .78620–11  .645
UAB7–7 .50018–14  .563
Southern Miss6–8 .42912–15  .444
South Florida2–12 .1438–19  .296
White
UNC Charlotte10–4 .71422–9  .710
Memphis10–4 .71416–15  .516
No. 25 Louisville9–5 .64326–9  .743
Houston3–11 .21411–16  .407
† 1997 Conference USA Tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll[1]

Roster
1996–97 Charlotte 49ers men's basketball team
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearHometown
F 4 DeMarco Johnson 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)245 lb (111 kg) Jr Charlotte, North Carolina
G 5 Sean Colson 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)170 lb (77 kg) Jr Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
F/C 33 DeMarco Johnson 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)235 lb (107 kg) Jr Charlotte, North Carolina
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
    Legend
    • (C) Team captain
    • (S) Suspended
    • (I) Ineligible
    • (W) Walk-on

    Roster

    [4]

    Schedule and results
    Date
    time, TV    		 Rank# Opponent# Result Record Site
    city, state
    Regular season
    Nov 26, 1996*
    		 at Kent State W 96–82  1–0
    		 Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center 
    Kent, Ohio
    Nov 30, 1996*
    		 at Old Dominion L 64–65  1–1
    		 Norfolk Scope 
    Norfolk, Virginia
    Dec 2, 1996*
    		 Appalachian State W 75–63  2–1
    		 Dale F. Halton Arena 
    Charlotte, North Carolina
    Dec 6, 1996*
    		 South Carolina L 60–75  2–2
    		 Charlotte Coliseum 
    Charlotte, North Carolina
    Dec 7, 1996*
    		 USC L 61–65  2–3
    		 Charlotte Coliseum 
    Charlotte, North Carolina
    Dec 14, 1996*
    		 at Davidson W 70–68  3–3
    		 Belk Arena 
    Davidson, North Carolina
    Dec 18, 1996*
    		 Southern Illinois W 71–62  4–3
    		 Dale F. Halton Arena 
    Charlotte, North Carolina
    Dec 21, 1996*
    		 at Canisius W 54–51  5–3
    		 Koessler Athletic Center 
    Buffalo, New York
    Dec 28, 1996*
    		 Tennessee W 72–51  6–3
    		 Dale F. Halton Arena 
    Charlotte, North Carolina
    Dec 30, 1996*
    		 George Washington W 76–69  7–3
    		 Dale F. Halton Arena 
    Charlotte, North Carolina
    Jan 4, 1997*
    		 VMI W 96–76  8–3
    		 Dale F. Halton Arena 
    Charlotte, North Carolina
    Jan 6, 1997
    		 No. 14 Louisville L 81–92  8–4
    (0–1)    		 Dale F. Halton Arena 
    Charlotte, North Carolina
    Jan 9, 1997
    		 Memphis W 71–65  9–4
    (1–1)    		 Dale F. Halton Arena 
    Charlotte, North Carolina
    Jan 11, 1997
    		 Saint Louis W 81–52  10–4
    (2–1)    		 Dale F. Halton Arena 
    Charlotte, North Carolina
    Jan 14, 1997
    		 at South Florida W 69–64  11–4
    (3–1)    		 Sun Dome 
    Tampa, Florida
    Jan 19, 1997
    		 at Memphis W 76–70  12–4
    (4–1)    		 The Pyramid 
    Memphis, Tennessee
    Jan 21, 1997
    		 No. 9 Cincinnati L 67–77  12–5
    (4–2)    		 Dale F. Halton Arena 
    Charlotte, North Carolina
    C-USA tournament
    Mar 6, 1997*
    		 vs. No. 20 Louisville
    Quarterfinals    		 W 64–60  20–7
    		 Scottrade Center 
    St. Louis, Missouri
    Mar 7, 1997*
    		 vs. UAB
    Semifinals    		 W 67–65  21–7
    		 Scottrade Center 
    St. Louis, Missouri
    Mar 8, 1997*
    		 vs. Marquette
    Championship game    		 L 52–60  21–8
    		 Scottrade Center 
    St. Louis, Missouri
    NCAA tournament
    Mar 14, 1997*
     CBS    		 (7 W) vs. (10 W) Georgetown
    Second round    		 W 79–67  22–8
    		 McKale Center (12,958)
    Tucson, Arizona
    Mar 16, 1997*
     CBS    		 (7 W) vs. (2 W) No. 2 Utah
    Second round    		 L 58–77  22–9
    		 McKale Center 
    Tucson, Arizona
    *Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
    W=West.

    [5]

    Rankings
    See also: 1996–97 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings

    [6]

    References
    1. sports-reference.com 1996-97 Conference USA Season Summary
    2. "Page's Cold Shooting Ousts Georgetown Early". The New York Times. March 15, 1997. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
    3. "Van Horn, defense get Utah into Sweet 16". The Baltimore Sun. March 17, 1997. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
    4. "1996-97 Men's Basketball Roster". UNC Charlotte Athletics. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
    5. "Results for 1996-97". UNC Charlotte Athletics. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
      • ESPN College Basketball Encyclopedia: The Complete History of the Men's Game. Random House. 2009. pp. 1053–1054. ISBN 0-345-51392-4.
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