1996–97 UNC Charlotte 49ers men's basketball team

American college basketball season March 2026 August 2023 1996–97 UNC Charlotte 49ers Basketball Charlotte 49ers logo 1979-2000.png 250 Conference USA C-USA 22–9 10–4 Melvin Watkins 1st Dale F. Halton Arena NCAA tournament Second round The 1996–97 UNC Charlotte 49ers men's basketball team represented the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in the 1996–97 college basketball season. This was head coach Melvin Watkins's first of two seasons at the helm of his alma mater. The 49ers competed in Conference USA and played their home games at Dale F. Halton Arena. They finished the season 22–9 (10–4 in C-USA play) and received an at-large bid to the 1997 NCAA tournament as No. 7 seed in the West region. The 49ers defeated Georgetown in the opening roundPage's Cold Shooting Ousts Georgetown Early https://www.nytimes.com/1997/03/15/sports/page-s-cold-shooting-ousts-georgetown-early.html The New York Times March 15, 1997 February 12, 2022 before losing to No. 2 seed Utah, 77–58, in the round of 32.Van Horn, defense get Utah into Sweet 16 https://www.baltimoresun.com/1997/03/17/van-horn-defense-get-utah-into-sweet-16-tenacious-utes-overpower-unc-charlotte-77-58-west-regional/ The Baltimore Sun March 17, 1997 February 12, 2022 Roster 1996 Charlotte 49ers y DeMarco Johnson 4 F 6 9 245 Jr y Charlotte, North Carolina Sean Colson 5 G 6 3 170 Jr y Philadelphia, Pennsylvania DeMarco Johnson 33 FC 6 9 235 Jr y Charlotte, North Carolina Melvin Watkins https://charlotte49ers.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/1996-97 1996-97 Men's Basketball Roster https://charlotte49ers.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/1996-97 UNC Charlotte Athletics February 12, 2022 Schedule and results |- !colspan=9 style=Charlotte 49ers| Regular season Nov 26, 1996 yes yes 1996 men Kent State Golden Flashes Kent State Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center Kent, Ohio 96–82 1–0 Nov 30, 1996 yes yes Old Dominion Norfolk Scope Norfolk, Virginia 64–65 1–1 Dec 2, 1996 yes 1996 men Appalachian State Mountaineers Appalachian State Dale F. Halton Arena Charlotte, North Carolina 75–63 2–1 Dec 6, 1996 yes South Carolina Charlotte Coliseum Charlotte, North Carolina 60–75 2–2 Dec 7, 1996 yes USC Charlotte Coliseum Charlotte, North Carolina 61–65 2–3 Dec 14, 1996 yes yes 1996 men Davidson Wildcats Davidson Belk Arena Davidson, North Carolina 70–68 3–3 Dec 18, 1996 yes 1996 men Southern Illinois Salukis Southern Illinois Dale F. Halton Arena Charlotte, North Carolina 71–62 4–3 Dec 21, 1996 yes yes 1996 men Canisius Golden Griffins Canisius Koessler Athletic Center Buffalo, New York 54–51 5–3 Dec 28, 1996 yes 1996 none Tennessee Volunteers Tennessee Dale F. Halton Arena Charlotte, North Carolina 72–51 6–3 Dec 30, 1996 yes 1996 men George Washington Colonials George Washington Dale F. Halton Arena Charlotte, North Carolina 76–69 7–3 Jan 4, 1997 yes VMI Dale F. Halton Arena Charlotte, North Carolina 96–76 8–3 Jan 6, 1997 Louisville 14 Dale F. Halton Arena Charlotte, North Carolina 81–92 8–4 0–1 Jan 9, 1997 1996 men Memphis Tigers Memphis Dale F. Halton Arena Charlotte, North Carolina 71–65 9–4 1–1 Jan 11, 1997 1996 men Saint Louis Billikens Saint Louis Dale F. Halton Arena Charlotte, North Carolina 81–52 10–4 2–1 Jan 14, 1997 yes 1996 men South Florida Bulls South Florida Sun Dome Tampa, Florida 69–64 11–4 3–1 Jan 19, 1997 yes Memphis The Pyramid Memphis, Tennessee 76–70 12–4 4–1 Jan 21, 1997 Cincinnati 9 Dale F. Halton Arena Charlotte, North Carolina 67–77 12–5 4–2 |- !colspan=9 style=Charlotte 49ers| C-USA tournament Mar 6, 1997 yes yes Louisville 20 Scottrade Center St. Louis, Missouri Quarterfinals 64–60 20–7 Mar 7, 1997 yes yes 1996 men UAB Blazers UAB Scottrade Center St. Louis, Missouri Semifinals 67–65 21–7 Mar 8, 1997 yes yes Marquette Scottrade Center St. Louis, Missouri Championship game 52–60 21–8 |- !colspan=9 style=Charlotte 49ers| NCAA tournament Mar 14, 1997 yes yes 7 W Georgetown 10 W McKale Center Tucson, Arizona Second round 79–67 CBS 12,958 22–8 Mar 16, 1997 yes yes 7 W Utah 2 2 W McKale Center Tucson, Arizona Second round 58–77 CBS 22–9 AP poll W West Results for 1996-97 https://static.charlotte49ers.com/custompages/Stats/Men's%20Basketball/1996.htm UNC Charlotte Athletics February 12, 2022 Rankings 1996–97 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings *ESPN College Basketball Encyclopedia: The Complete History of the Men's Game Random House 1053–1054 2009 0-345-51392-4 References Category:Charlotte 49ers men's basketball seasons Unc Charlotte Unc Charlotte Unc Charlotte 49ers men's basket Unc Charlotte 49ers men's basket