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.[2] The team finished with a record of 24–7 (13–3 Mid-Con).

1996–97 Valparaiso Crusaders men's basketball
Mid-Con Regular season champions
Mid-Con tournament champions
ConferenceMid-Continent Conference
Record24–7 (13–3 Mid-Con)
Head coach
Home arenaAthletics–Recreation Center
1996–97 Mid-Continent Conference men's basketball standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
Valparaiso135 .722247  .774
Buffalo115 .6881711  .607
Western Illinois115 .6881910  .655
Troy State106 .6251611  .593
Northeastern Illinois88 .5001612  .571
Missouri-Kansas City79 .4381017  .370
Chicago State412 .250423  .148
Central Connecticut State412 .250819  .296
Youngstown State412 .250918  .333
1997 Mid-Con Tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll[1]

Roster

1996–97 Valparaiso Crusaders men's basketball team
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
G Jamie Sykes 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m)
Jr 
G 24 Bryce Drew 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)180 lb (82 kg) JrValparaiso Valparaiso, Indiana
C 33 Zoran Viskovic 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
So  Croatia
F 44 Bill Jenkins 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Jr 
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

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

    Roster

    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.

    Source[3][4]

    References

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