1996–97 Butler Bulldogs men's basketball team

1996–97 Butler Bulldogs men's basketball
MCC tournament champions
MCC regular season champions
ConferenceMidwestern Collegiate Conference
Record23–10 (12–4 MCC)
Head coach
1996–97 Midwestern Collegiate Conference men's basketball standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Butler 12 4   .750 23 10   .697
Detroit Mercy 11 5   .688 16 13   .552
Illinois-Chicago 11 5   .688 15 14   .517
Wisconsin–Green Bay 10 6   .625 14 14   .500
Loyola–Chicago 7 9   .438 12 15   .444
Northern Illinois 6 10   .375 12 15   .444
Cleveland State 6 10   .375 9 19   .321
Wright State 5 11   .313 7 20   .259
Wisconsin–Milwaukee 4 12   .250 8 20   .286
1997 MCC tournament winner

The 1996–97 Butler Bulldogs men's basketball team represented Butler University in the 1996–97 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Their head coach was Barry Collier, serving in his 8th season at the school. The Bulldogs played their home games at Hinkle Fieldhouse as members of the Midwestern Collegiate Conference. Butler finished first in the MCC regular season standings and won the MCC tournament to receive the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament – the school's first of three NCAA Tournament appearance in a four period under Collier. As No. 14 seed in the Midwest region, the Bulldogs were beaten by No. 3 seed Cincinnati, 86–69 to finish the season with a record of 23–10 (12–4 MCC).