1996–97 South Alabama Jaguars basketball team

The 1996–97 South Alabama Jaguars basketball team represented the University of South Alabama as members of the Sun Belt Conference during the 1996–97 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Jaguars were led by head coach Bill Musselman and played their home games at the Mitchell Center. They finished the season 23–7, 14–4 in Sun Belt play to finish in first place. They won the Sun Belt tournament to earn an automatic bid to the 1997 NCAA tournament as the 13 seed in the Southeast region. In the opening round, the Jaguars lost to eventual National champion Arizona.[1]

1996–97 South Alabama Jaguars men's basketball
Sun Belt Regular season co-champions
Sun Belt tournament champions
NCAA tournament, first round
ConferenceSun Belt Conference
Record23–7 (14–4 Sun Belt)
Head coach
Home arenaMitchell Center
1996–97 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
New Orleans144 .778227  .759
South Alabama144 .778237  .767
Arkansas–Little Rock117 .6111811  .621
Lamar108 .5561512  .556
Louisiana Tech108 .5561514  .517
Western Kentucky99 .5001215  .444
Southwestern Louisiana99 .5001216  .429
Arkansas State810 .4441512  .556
Jacksonville414 .222523  .179
Texas–Pan American117 .056325  .107
1997 Sun Belt Conference tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll

Roster

1996–97 South Alabama Jaguars men's basketball team
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearHometown
G 5 Rusty Yoder 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Jr
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

    Legend
    • (C) Team captain
    • (S) Suspended
    • (I) Ineligible
    • (W) Walk-on

    [2]

    Schedule and results

    Date
    time, TV
    Rank# Opponent# Result Record Site (attendance)
    city, state
    Regular season
    Nov 23, 1996*
    Abilene Christian W 85–62  1–0
    Jaguar Gym 
    Mobile, Alabama
    Nov 26, 1996*
    West Florida W 86–60  2–0
    Jaguar Gym 
    Mobile, Alabama
    Nov 29, 1996*
    Grambling W 57–54  3–0
    Jaguar Gym 
    Mobile, Alabama
    Dec 3, 1996*
    at Southern Miss L 36–55  3–1
    Reed Green Coliseum 
    Hattiesburg, Mississippi
    Dec 7, 1996*
    Florida A&M W 81–53  4–1
    Jaguar Gym 
    Mobile, Alabama
    Dec 10, 1996*
    UAB W 74–63 OT 5–1
    Jaguar Gym 
    Mobile, Alabama
    Dec 18, 1996*
    at Auburn L 51–60  5–2
    Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum 
    Auburn, Alabama
    Dec 21, 1996*
    Nicholls State W 69–66  6–2
    Jaguar Gym 
    Mobile, Alabama
    Dec 28, 1996
    Southwestern Louisiana L 63–66  6–3
    (0–1)
    Jaguar Gym 
    Mobile, Alabama
    Jan 2, 1997*
    Arkansas–Little Rock W 64–56  7–3
    (1–1)
    Jaguar Gym 
    Mobile, Alabama
    Jan 4, 1997
    Arkansas State W 72–53  8–3
    (2–1)
    Jaguar Gym 
    Mobile, Alabama
    Jan 9, 1997
    Texas-Rio Grande Valley W 72–58  9–3
    (3–1)
    Jaguar Gym 
    Mobile, Alabama
    Jan 11, 1997
    at Lamar W 84–62  10–3
    (4–1)
    Montagne Center 
    Beaumont, Texas
    Jan 13, 1997
    at Jacksonville W 77–45  11–3
    (5–1)
    Jacksonville Memorial Coliseum 
    Jacksonville, Florida
    Jan 18, 1997
    at Western Kentucky W 68–66  12–3
    (6–1)
    E.A. Diddle Arena 
    Bowling Green, Kentucky
    Jan 20, 1997
    New Orleans W 65–52  13–3
    (7–1)
    Jaguar Gym 
    Mobile, Alabama
    Jan 23, 1997
    at Arkansas–Little Rock L 47–48  13–4
    (7–2)
    Barton Coliseum 
    Little Rock, Arkansas
    Jan 25, 1997
    at Arkansas State W 79–68  14–4
    (8–2)
    Convocation Center 
    Jonesboro, Arkansas
    Jan 30, 1997
    at New Orleans L 51–58  14–5
    (8–3)
    Lakefront Arena 
    New Orleans, Louisiana
    Feb 1, 1997
    at Texas-Rio Grande Valley W 65–51  15–5
    (9–3)
    UTPA Fieldhouse 
    Edinburg, Texas
    Feb 3, 1997
    Louisiana Tech W 56–50  16–5
    (10–3)
    Jaguar Gym 
    Mobile, Alabama
    Feb 13, 1997
    Lamar W 66–53  17–5
    (11–3)
    Jaguar Gym 
    Mobile, Alabama
    Feb 15, 1997
    Jacksonville W 92–74  18–5
    (12–3)
    Jaguar Gym 
    Mobile, Alabama
    Feb 20, 1997
    at Louisiana Tech W 44–43  19–5
    (13–3)
    Thomas Assembly Center 
    Ruston, Louisiana
    Feb 22, 1997
    Western Kentucky W 83–59  20–5
    (14–3)
    Jaguar Gym 
    Mobile, Alabama
    Feb 24, 1997
    at Southwestern Louisiana L 62–65  20–6
    (14–4)
    Cajundome 
    Lafayette, Louisiana
    Sun Belt Conference tournament
    Mar 1, 1997*
    (2) vs. (7) Southwestern Louisiana
    Quarterfinals
    W 66–39  21–6
    Barton Coliseum 
    Little Rock, Arkansas
    Mar 2, 1997*
    (2) at (3) Arkansas–Little Rock
    Semifinals
    W 71–52  22–6
    Barton Coliseum 
    Little Rock, Arkansas
    Mar 4, 1997*
    (2) vs. (5) Louisiana Tech
    Championship game
    W 44–43  23–6
    Barton Coliseum 
    Little Rock, Arkansas
    NCAA tournament
    Mar 13, 1997*
    (13 SE) vs. (4 SE) No. 15 Arizona
    First round
    L 57–65  23–7
    The Pyramid 
    Memphis, Tennessee
    *Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
    W=West.
    All times are in Central Time.

    [3]

    References

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