1996–97 Providence Friars men's basketball team

1996–97 Providence Friars men's basketball
NCAA tournament, Elite Eight
ConferenceBig East Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 15
Record24–12 (10–8 Big East)
Head coach
Assistant coachTom Herrion (3rd season)
Home arenaProvidence Civic Center
1996–97 Big East men's basketball standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Big East 6
No. 20 Villanova 12 6   .667 24 10   .706
No. 23 Boston College 12 6   .667 22 9   .710
West Virginia 11 7   .611 21 10   .677
Notre Dame 8 10   .444 16 14   .533
St. John's 8 10   .444 13 15   .464
Connecticut 7 11   .389 18 15   .545
Big East 7
Georgetown 11 7   .611 20 10   .667
Providence 10 8   .556 24 12   .667
Pittsburgh 10 8   .556 18 15   .545
Miami 9 9   .500 16 13   .552
Syracuse 9 9   .500 19 13   .594
Seton Hall 5 13   .278 10 18   .357
Rutgers 5 13   .278 11 16   .407
1997 Big East tournament winner
As of March 31, 1997
Rankings from AP poll

The 1996–97 Providence Friars men's basketball team represented Providence College during the 1996–97 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Led by head coach Pete Gillen, the Friars finished the season 24–12 (10–8 Big East) and received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament as the 10 seed in the Southeast region. The team made a run to the Elite Eight before losing to eventual National champion Arizona, 96–92 in OT.