1996 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament

The 1996 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 14, 1996, and ended with the championship game on April 1 at Continental Airlines Arena (now known as Meadowlands Arena) in the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey. A total of 63 games were played.

1996 NCAA Division I
men's basketball tournament
Season1995–96
Teams64
Finals siteContinental Airlines Arena
East Rutherford, New Jersey
ChampionsKentucky Wildcats (6th title, 8th title game,
11th Final Four)
Runner-upSyracuse Orangemen (2nd title game,
3rd Final Four)
Semifinalists
Winning coachRick Pitino (1st title)
MOPTony Delk (Kentucky)
Attendance631,834
Top scorerJohn Wallace (Syracuse)
(29 points)
NCAA Division I men's tournaments
«1995 1997»

The Final Four venue was notable for several reasons:

  • This marked the first time that the NCAA finals had been held in Greater New York since 1950.
  • This was also the last (men's) Final Four to be held in a basketball/hockey-specific facility. Every Final Four since has been held in a domed stadium (usually built for football) because of NCAA venue capacity requirements. Therefore, this was also the last time the NCAA finals have been held in the Greater New York area and the Northeastern United States (for the time being).

The Final Four consisted of Kentucky, making its first appearance in the Final Four since 1993 and eleventh overall, Massachusetts, making its first ever appearance in the Final Four, Syracuse, making its third appearance in the Final Four and first since 1987, and Mississippi State, also making its first appearance.

Kentucky won its sixth national championship by defeating Syracuse in the final game 76–67.

Tony Delk of Kentucky was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. Kentucky's run to the championship was one of the most dominant in NCAA tournament history, as the Wildcats won each of their first four games by at least 20 points and won every game by at least 7 points.

Massachusetts, coached by John Calipari, was later stripped of its wins, including the UMass Minutemen's Final Four appearance, by the NCAA because UMass star Marcus Camby had accepted illegal gifts from agents. Connecticut, coached by Jim Calhoun, was additionally punished monetarily due to players accepting illegal gifts from agents.[1]

The 1996 tournament was the last to feature teams from the Big Eight and Southwest Conferences; later that year the two would form the Big 12 Conference. As of 2022 they are the last Division I conferences to disband and/or merge after sending teams to the NCAA tournament.

Schedule and venues
1996 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament is located in the United States
Providence
Providence
Richmond
Richmond
Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Orlando
Orlando
Milwaukee
Milwaukee
Dallas
Dallas
Albuquerque
Albuquerque
Tempe
Tempe
1996 first and second rounds
1996 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament is located in the United States
Denver
Denver
Minneapolis
Minneapolis
Lexington
Lexington
Atlanta
Atlanta
E. Rutherford
E. Rutherford
1996 Regionals (blue) and Final Four (red)

The following are the sites that were selected to host each round of the 1996 tournament:

First and Second Rounds

Regional semifinals and finals (Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight)

National semifinals and championship (Final Four and championship)

Teams

There were 30 automatic bids awarded to the tournament - of these, 27 were given to the winners of their conference's tournament, while three were awarded to the team with the best regular-season record in their conference (Big Ten, Ivy League and Pac-10).

Two conferences, the American West Conference and Conference USA, did not receive automatic bids to the tournament.[2]

Four conference champions made their first NCAA tournament appearances: Monmouth (NEC), UNC Greensboro (Big South), Valparaiso (Mid-Continent), and Western Carolina (Southern).

Automatic qualifiers
Automatic qualifiers
Conference Team Appearance Last bid
ACC Wake Forest 14th 1995
Atlantic 10 UMass (vacated) – 1995
Big East Connecticut (vacated) – 1995
Big Eight Iowa State 9th 1995
Big Sky Montana State 3rd 1986
Big South UNC Greensboro 1st Never
Big Ten Purdue (vacated) – 1995
Big West San Jose State 3rd 1980
CAA VCU 6th 1985
Ivy League Princeton 19th 1992
MAAC Canisius 4th 1957
MAC Eastern Michigan 3rd 1991
MCC Northern Illinois 3rd 1991
MEAC South Carolina State 2nd 1989
Mid-Continent Valparaiso 1st Never
Missouri Valley Tulsa 9th 1995
NAC Drexel 4th 1995
NEC Monmouth 1st Never
Ohio Valley Austin Peay 4th 1987
Pac-10 UCLA 31st 1995
Patriot Colgate 2nd 1995
SEC Mississippi State 4th 1995
Southern Western Carolina 1st Never
Southland Northeast Louisiana 7th 1993
Sun Belt New Orleans 4th 1993
SWAC Mississippi Valley State 3rd 1992
SWC Texas Tech (vacated) – 1993
TAAC UCF 2nd 1994
WAC New Mexico 7th 1994
West Coast Portland 2nd 1959

Tournament seeds
East Regional – Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia
Seed School Conference Record Berth type
1 UMass (vacated) Atlantic 10 31–1 Automatic
2 Georgetown Big East 26–7 At-Large
3 Texas Tech (vacated) SWC 28–1 Automatic
4 Marquette Conference USA 22–7 At-Large
5 Penn State Big Ten 21–6 At-Large
6 North Carolina ACC 20–10 At-Large
7 New Mexico WAC 28–5 Automatic
8 Bradley Missouri Valley 22–7 At-Large
9 Stanford Pac-10 19–8 At-Large
10 Kansas State Big Eight 17–11 At-Large
11 New Orleans Sun Belt 21–8 Automatic
12 Arkansas SEC 18–12 At-Large
13 Monmouth NEC 20–9 Automatic
14 Northern Illinois MCC 20–9 Automatic
15 Mississippi Valley State SWAC 22–6 Automatic
16 UCF TAAC 11–18 Automatic
Southeast Regional – Rupp Arena, Lexington, Kentucky
Seed School Conference Record Berth type
1 Connecticut (vacated) Big East 30–2 Automatic
2 Cincinnati Conference USA 25–4 At-Large
3 Georgia Tech ACC 22–11 At-Large
4 UCLA Pac-10 23–7 Automatic
5 Mississippi State SEC 22–7 Automatic
6 Indiana Big Ten 19–11 At-Large
7 Temple Atlantic 10 19–12 At-Large
8 Duke ACC 18–12 At-Large
9 Eastern Michigan MAC 24–5 Automatic
10 Oklahoma Big Eight 17–12 At-Large
11 Boston College Big East 18–10 At-Large
12 VCU CAA 17–10 Automatic
13 Princeton Ivy League 21–6 Automatic
14 Austin Peay Ohio Valley 19–10 Automatic
15 UNC Greensboro Big South 20–9 Automatic
16 Colgate Patriot League 15–14 Automatic
Midwest Regional – Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Seed School Conference Record Berth type
1 Kentucky SEC 28–2 At-Large
2 Wake Forest ACC 26–6 Automatic
3 Villanova Big East 25–6 At-Large
4 Utah WAC 25–6 At-Large
5 Iowa State Big Eight 23–8 Automatic
6 Louisville Conference USA 20–11 At-Large
7 Michigan (vacated) Big Ten 20–11 At-Large
8 Green Bay MCC 25–3 At-Large
9 Virginia Tech Atlantic 10 22–5 At-Large
10 Texas SWC 20–9 At-Large
11 Tulsa Missouri Valley 22–7 Automatic
12 California (vacated) Pac-10 17–10 At-Large
13 Canisius MAAC 19–10 Automatic
14 Portland West Coast 19–10 Automatic
15 Northeast Louisiana Southland 16–13 Automatic
16 San Jose State Big West 13–16 Automatic
West Regional – McNichols Sports Arena, Denver, Colorado
Seed School Conference Record Berth type
1 Purdue (vacated) Big Ten 26–4 Automatic
2 Kansas Big Eight 25–5 At-Large
3 Arizona Pac-10 24–6 At-Large
4 Syracuse Big East 24–8 At-Large
5 Memphis Conference USA 22–7 At-Large
6 Iowa Big Ten 22–8 At-Large
7 Maryland ACC 17–12 At-Large
8 Georgia SEC 19–9 At-Large
9 Clemson ACC 18–10 At-Large
10 Santa Clara West Coast 19–8 At-Large
11 George Washington Atlantic 10 21–7 At-Large
12 Drexel NAC 26–3 Automatic
13 Montana State Big Sky 21–8 Automatic
14 Valparaiso Mid-Continent 23–7 Automatic
15 South Carolina State MEAC 22–7 Automatic
16 Western Carolina Southern 17–12 Automatic

Bracket

* – Denotes overtime period

East Regional – Atlanta
First round Quarter-finals Regional semifinals Regional Finals
            
1 Massachusetts 92
16 UCF 70
1 Massachusetts 79
Providence
9 Stanford 74
8 Bradley 58
9 Stanford 66
1 Massachusetts 79
12 Arkansas 63
5 Penn State 80
12 Arkansas 86
12 Arkansas 65
Providence
4 Marquette 56
4 Marquette 68
13 Monmouth 44
1 Massachusetts 86
2 Georgetown 62
6 North Carolina 83
11 New Orleans 62
6 North Carolina 73
Richmond
3 Texas Tech 92
3 Texas Tech 74
14 Northern Illinois 73
3 Texas Tech 90
2 Georgetown 98
7 New Mexico 69
10 Kansas State 48
7 New Mexico 65
Richmond
2 Georgetown 75
2 Georgetown 93
15 Mississippi Valley State 56

Regional Final summary
CBS
Saturday, March 23
#1 Massachusetts Minutemen 86, #2 Georgetown Hoyas 62
Scoring by half: 38–34, 48–28
Pts: M.Camby – 22
Rebs: D. Bright, M. Camby – 7
Asts: C. Travieso – 6		 Pts: A. Iverson – 23
Rebs: J. Williams – 8
Asts: J. Touomou, J. Williams, O. Harrington – 2
Georgia Dome – Atlanta, GA

Midwest Regional – Minneapolis
First round Quarter-finals Regional semifinals Regional Finals
            
1 Kentucky 110
16 San Jose State 72
1 Kentucky 84
Dallas
9 Virginia Tech 60
8 UW–Green Bay 49
9 Virginia Tech 61
1 Kentucky 101
4 Utah 70
5 Iowa State 74
12 California 64
5 Iowa State 67
Dallas
4 Utah 73
4 Utah 72
13 Canisius 43
1 Kentucky 83
2 Wake Forest 63
6 Louisville 82*
11 Tulsa 80
6 Louisville 68
Milwaukee
3 Villanova 64
3 Villanova 92
14 Portland 58
6 Louisville 59
2 Wake Forest 60
7 Michigan 76
10 Texas 80
10 Texas 62
Milwaukee
2 Wake Forest 65
2 Wake Forest 62
15 Northeast Louisiana 50

Regional Final summary
CBS
Saturday, March 23
#1 Kentucky Wildcats 83, #2 Wake Forest Demon Deacons 63
Scoring by half: 38–19, 45–44
Pts: T. Delk – 25
Rebs: A. Walker – 6
Asts: A. Epps – 6		 Pts: S. Goolsby, T. Duncan – 14
Rebs: T. Duncan – 16
Asts: T. Duncan – 6
Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome – Minneapolis, MN

Southeast Regional – Lexington, Kentucky
First round Quarter-finals Regional semifinals Regional Finals
            
1 Connecticut 68
16 Colgate 59
1 Connecticut 95
Indianapolis
9 Eastern Michigan 81
8 Duke 60
9 Eastern Michigan 75
1 Connecticut 55
5 Mississippi State 60
5 Mississippi State 58
12 VCU 51
5 Mississippi State 63
Indianapolis
13 Princeton 41
4 UCLA 41
13 Princeton 43
5 Mississippi State 73
2 Cincinnati 63
6 Indiana 51
11 Boston College 64
11 Boston College 89
Orlando
3 Georgia Tech 103
3 Georgia Tech 90
14 Austin Peay 79
3 Georgia Tech 70
2 Cincinnati 87
7 Temple 61
10 Oklahoma 43
7 Temple 65
Orlando
2 Cincinnati 78
2 Cincinnati 66
15 UNC Greensboro 61

Regional Final summary
CBS
Sunday, March 24
#5 Mississippi State Bulldogs 73, #2 Cincinnati Bearcats 63
Scoring by half: 37–29, 36–34
Pts: D. Jones – 23
Rebs: D. Jones – 13
Asts: D. Wilson – 6		 Pts: D. Fortson – 24
Rebs: D. Fortson – 13
Asts: K. Legree – 4
Rupp Arena – Lexington, KY

West Regional – Denver, Colorado
First round Quarter-finals Regional semifinals Regional Finals
            
1 Purdue 73
16 Western Carolina 71
1 Purdue 69
Albuquerque
8 Georgia 76
8 Georgia 81
9 Clemson 74
8 Georgia 81
4 Syracuse 83*
5 Memphis 63
12 Drexel 75
12 Drexel 58
Albuquerque
4 Syracuse 69
4 Syracuse 88
13 Montana State 55
4 Syracuse 60
2 Kansas 57
6 Iowa 81
11 George Washington 79
6 Iowa 73
Tempe
3 Arizona 87
3 Arizona 90
14 Valparaiso 51
3 Arizona 80
2 Kansas 83
7 Maryland 79
10 Santa Clara 91
10 Santa Clara 51
Tempe
2 Kansas 76
2 Kansas 92
15 South Carolina State 54

Regional Final summary
CBS
Sunday, March 24
#4 Syracuse Orangemen 60, #2 Kansas Jayhawks 57
Scoring by half: 35–26, 25–31
Pts: J. Wallace, O. Hill – 15
Rebs: J. Wallace – 9
Asts: L. Sims – 4		 Pts: J. Vaughn – 21
Rebs: R. LaFrentz – 9
Asts: J. Haase – 6
McNichols Sports Arena – Denver, CO

Final Four at East Rutherford, New Jersey
National semifinals National Championship Game
      
E1 Massachusetts # 74
M1 Kentucky 81
M1 Kentucky 76
W4 Syracuse 67
SE5 Mississippi State 69
W4 Syracuse 77

# On May 8, 1997, the NCAA Executive Committee voted to negate the Minutemen's 1996 NCAA Tournament record, for Marcus Camby's acceptance of agents' improper gifts. The team's 35–2 season record was reduced to 31–1, and the UMass slot in the Final Four is officially marked as "vacated". The Final Four trophy, banner, and 45% of tournament revenue were returned to the NCAA. Camby reimbursed the school for the lost revenue.

Game summaries
CBS
Saturday, March 30
#1 Kentucky Wildcats 81, #1 Massachusetts Minutemen 74
Scoring by half: 36–28, 45–46
Pts: T. Delk – 20
Rebs: W. McCarty – 10 [3]
Asts: A. Epps, A. Walker, D. Anderson, W. McCarty – 4		 Pts: M. Camby – 25
Rebs: D. Bright – 9
Asts: E. Padilla – 12
Continental Airlines Arena – East Rutherford, NJ
CBS
Saturday, March 30
#4 Syracuse Orangemen 77, #5 Mississippi State Bulldogs 69
Scoring by half: 36–36, 41–33
Pts: J. Wallace – 21
Rebs: T. Burgan – 7
Asts: L. Siims – 9		 Pts: D. Wilson – 20
Rebs: E. Dampier – 14
Asts: M. Bullard – 8
Continental Airlines Arena – East Rutherford, NJ

National Championship
Main article: 1996 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship Game
CBS
Monday, April 1
#1 Kentucky Wildcats 76, #4 Syracuse Orangemen 67
Scoring by half: 42–33, 34–34
Pts: T. Delk – 24
Rebs: A. Walker – 9
Asts: A. Epps – 7		 Pts: J. Wallace – 29
Rebs: J. Wallace, O. Hill – 10
Asts: L. Sims – 7
Continental Airlines Arena – East Rutherford, NJ

Announcers

Note: During the Midwest Regional Final in Minneapolis; sideline reporter Michele Tafoya temporarily substituted for Sean McDonough in the play-by-play booth when McDonough became ill; calling about 10 minutes of the first half before McDonough felt well enough to resume play-by-play; in the process making her the first woman to call part of an NCAA Men's Division I Tournament game.

See also

References
  1. Cavanaugh, Jack (May 9, 1997). "UMass and UConn Lose '96 Honors". The New York Times.
  2. "NCAA to give 30 leagues automatic bids". Greensboro News & Record. September 7, 1995. Retrieved May 20, 2023.
  3. "Kentucky vs. Massachusetts (March 30, 1996)".
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