1995–96 VCU Rams men's basketball team

American college basketball season March 2026 August 2023 1995–96 VCU Rams Basketball VCU Varsity old logo.svg 150 Colonial Athletic Association CAA 24–9 14–2 Sonny Smith 7th Richmond Coliseum CAA tournament champions NCAA tournament First round vs. Mississippi State L 51–58 The 1995–96 VCU Rams men's basketball team represented Virginia Commonwealth University during the 1995–96 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. It was the 28th season of the university fielding a men's basketball program, and the program's first season in the Colonial Athletic Association, after previously playing in the Metro Conference. The Rams were coached by 7th year head coach, Sonny Smith. The 1995–96 season was the first season in 11 years that the Rams earned a berth into the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. The Rams won an automatic berth by winning the 1996 CAA men's basketball tournament, beating UNC Wilmington in the final. VCU's Bernard Hopkins won the CAA Tournament MVP Award. In the NCAA Tournament, VCU entered as a 12-seed, where they played in the Southeast Regional bracket. The Rams lost to eventual Final Four contestant, Mississippi State 58–51 in the first round. The Rams would not return to the NCAA Tournament again until 2004. Schedule yes |- !colspan=12 style="background:#000000; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #FFBA00;"| Non-conference regular season 11/24/1995 yes yes Western Kentucky Torres Coliseum San Juan, PR San Juan Shootout 83–65 1–0 11/25/1995 yes yes Louisville Torres Coliseum San Juan, PR San Juan Shootout 74–83 1–1 11/26/1995 yes yes James Madison Torres Coliseum San Juan, PR San Juan Shootout 66–60 2–1 11/30/1995 yes Xavier Richmond Coliseum Richmond, VA 81–75 3–1 12/02/1995 yes yes Liberty Vines Center Lynchburg, VA 71–86 3–2 12/04/1995 yes FIU Richmond Coliseum Richmond, VA 82–61 4–2 12/07/1995 yes Charlotte Richmond Coliseum Richmond, VA 85–74 5–2 12/09/1995 yes Pittsburgh Richmond Coliseum Richmond, VA 69–72 5–3 12/16/1995 yes yes Rhode Island Keaney Gymnasium Kingston, RI 63–68 5–4 12/21/1995 yes yes Virginia University Hall Charlottesville, VA Battle of I-64 65–80 5–5 12/23/1995 1:00 pm yes Illinois State Richmond Coliseum Richmond, VA 74–72 3,031 6–5 12/27/1995 yes yes Jackson State Lakefront Arena New Orleans, LA UNO Christmas Classic 66–48 7–5 12/28/1995 yes yes New Orleans Lakefront Arena New Orleans, LA UNO Christmas Classic 75–92 1,413 7–6 |- !colspan=12 style="background:#000000; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #FFBA00;"| CAA regular season |- 01/04/1996 yes William & Mary Kaplan Arena Williamsburg, VA 70–47 8–6 1–0 01/06/1996 yes Old Dominion ODU Fieldhouse Norfolk, VA Rivalry 85–70 9–6 2–0 01/10/1996 George Mason Richmond Coliseum Richmond, VA Rivalry 86–74 10–6 3–0 01/13/1996 yes East Carolina Minges Coliseum Greenville, NC 72–73 10–7 3–1 01/17/1996 James Madison Richmond Coliseum Richmond, VA 81–70 11–7 4–1 01/20/1996 Richmond Richmond Coliseum Richmond, VA Capital City Classic 79–51 12–7 5–1 01/26/1996 American Richmond Coliseum Richmond, VA 65–57 13–7 6–1 01/29/1996 yes UNC Wilmington Trask Coliseum Wilmington, NC 63–45 14–7 7–1 01/31/1996 yes George Mason Patriot Center Fairfax, VA Rivalry 94–81 15–7 8–1 02/03/1996 Old Dominion Richmond Coliseum Richmond, VA Rivalry 85–76 OT 16–7 9–1 02/07/1996 William & Mary Richmond Coliseum Richmond, VA 83–68 17–7 10–1 02/10/1996 East Carolina Richmond Coliseum Richmond, VA 80–71 18–7 11–1 02/13/1996 yes American Bender Arena Washington, DC 65–57 19–7 12–1 02/17/1996 yes James Madison JMU Convocation Center Harrisonburg, VA 75–76 19–8 12–2 02/21/1996 UNC Wilmington Richmond Coliseum Richmond, VA 63–44 20–8 13–2 02/24/1996 yes Richmond Robins Center Richmond, VA Capital City Classic 69–67 21–8 14–2 |- !colspan=12 style="background:#000000; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #FFBA00;"| CAA tournament |- 03/02/1996 yes 1 Richmond 9 Richmond Coliseum Richmond, VA Quarterfinals 89–55 22–8 03/03/1996 yes 1 East Carolina 5 Richmond Coliseum Richmond, VA Semifinals 75–60 23–8 03/04/1996 yes 1 UNC Wilmington 3 Richmond Coliseum Richmond, VA Championship 46–43 24–8 |- !colspan=12 style="background:#000000; color:#FFFFFF; border:2px solid #FFBA00;"| NCAA tournament |- 03/14/1996 l yes yes 12 SE Mississippi State 23 5 SE RCA Dome Indianapolis, IN First round 51–58 24–9 AP Poll External links Results Vcu Vcu Category:VCU Rams men's basketball seasons VCU Rams men's basketball VCU Rams men's basketball