1996–97 Rhode Island Rams men's basketball team

American college basketball season March 2026 August 2023 1996–97 Rhode Island Rams Basketball Rhode Island Rams logo.svg 150 Atlantic 10 Conference A-10 20–10 12–4 Al Skinner 9th Keaney Gymnasium NCAA tournament First Round The 1996–97 Rhode Island Rams men's basketball team represented the University of Rhode Island in the 1996–97 college basketball season. Led by head coach Al Skinner, the Rams competed in the Atlantic 10 Conference and played their home games at Keaney Gymnasium. They finished the season 20–10, 12–4 in A-10 play and lost in the championship game of the 1997 Atlantic 10 men's basketball tournament. They were invited to the 1997 NCAA tournament as the No. 9 seed in the Southeast region. Rhode Island was beaten by No. 8 seed Purdue, 83–76 in overtime, in the opening round.Purdue Escapes Rhode Island in Overtime https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/longterm/colbask/men/articles/uripurd.htm The Washington Post March 14, 1997 February 12, 2022 Roster 1996 Rhode Island Rams y Cuttino Mobley 12 G 6 4 185 Jr Philadelphia, Pennsylvania y Tyson Wheeler 21 G 5 10 165 Jr New London, Connecticut y Antonio Reynolds-Dean 34 FC 6 7 210 So Marietta, Georgia y Jim Harrick Schedule and results yes |- !colspan=9 style=Rhode Island Rams| Regular season Nov 23, 1996 yes yes 1996 men Siena Saints Siena Times Union Center Loudonville, New York 91–57 1–0 Nov 27, 1996 yes yes Texas 18 Frank Erwin Center Austin, Texas 79–86 1–1 Nov 30, 1996 yes 1996 men Fairleigh Dickinson Knights Fairleigh Dickinson Keaney Gymnasium Kingston, Rhode Island 115–66 2–1 Dec 4, 1996 yes 1996 men Brown Bears Brown Keaney Gymnasium Kingston, Rhode Island 86–49 3–1 Dec 10, 1996 yes yes Providence Providence Civic Center Providence, Rhode Island 96–79 4–1 Dec 17, 1996 yes Minnesota 16 Keaney Gymnasium Kingston, Rhode Island 72–82Gophers Get Past R. Island https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1996-12-18-9612180045-story,amp.html The Chicago Tribune December 18, 1996 February 12, 2022 4–2 Dec 23, 1996 yes Boston University Keaney Gymnasium Kingston, Rhode Island 69–61 5–2 Dec 29, 1996 yes yes 1996 men San Francisco Dons San Francisco Continental Airlines Arena East Rutherford, New Jersey 93–76 6–2 Dec 30, 1996 yes yes 1996 men Seton Hall Pirates Seton Hall Continental Airlines Arena East Rutherford, New Jersey 70–72 6–3 Jan 2, 1997 yes 1996 men Iona Gaels Iona Keaney Gymnasium Kingston, Rhode Island 84–89 6–4 Jan 4, 1997 1996 men Dayton Flyers Dayton Keaney Gymnasium Kingston, Rhode Island 97–68 7–4 1–0 Jan 7, 1997 yes Temple McGonigle Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 79–72 OT 8–4 2–0 Jan 11, 1997 Saint Joseph's Keaney Gymnasium Kingston, Rhode Island 74–70 9–4 3–0 Jan 16, 1997 yes 1996 men Duquesne Dukes Duquesne A.J. Palumbo Center Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 85–83 10–4 4–0 Jan 18, 1997 yes 1996 men Virginia Tech Hokies Virginia Tech Cassell Coliseum Blacksburg, Virginia 73–52 11–4 5–0 Jan 21, 1997 yes UMass Mullins Center Amherst, Massachusetts 60–64 11–5 5–1 Jan 25, 1997 1996 men St. Bonaventure Bonnies St. Bonaventure Keaney Gymnasium Kingston, Rhode Island 79–66 12–5 6–1 Jan 28, 1997 yes Xavier 20 Cincinnati Gardens Cincinnati, Ohio 79–91No. 20 Xavier 91, Rhode Island 79 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-01-29-sp-23246-story.html The Los Angeles Times January 29, 1997 February 12, 2022 12–6 6–2 Feb 2, 1997 yes Saint Joseph's Hagan Arena Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 77–79 12–7 6–3 Feb 6, 1997 1996 men La Salle Explorers La Salle Keaney Gymnasium Kingston, Rhode Island 92–61 13–7 7–3 Feb 8, 1997 UMass Providence Civic Center Providence, Rhode Island 61–64 13–8 7–4 Feb 11, 1997 1996 men Fordham Rams Fordham Keaney Gymnasium Kingston, Rhode Island 110–72 14–8 8–4 Feb 16, 1997 Temple Keaney Gymnasium Kingston, Rhode Island 85–82 15–8 9–4 Feb 20, 1997 yes St. Bonaventure Reilly Center St. Bonaventure, New York 78–73 16–8 10–4 Feb 26, 1997 1996 men George Washington Colonials George Washington Keaney Gymnasium Kingston, Rhode Island 83–72 17–8 11–4 Mar 1, 1997 yes Fordham Rose Hill Gym Bronx, New York 85–58 18–8 12–4 |- !colspan=9 style=Rhode Island Rams| Atlantic 10 tournament Mar 6, 1997 yes yes Virginia Tech The Spectrum Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Quarterfinals 67–63 19–8 Mar 7, 1997 yes yes Temple The Spectrum Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Semifinals 69–66 OT 20–8 Mar 8, 1997 yes yes Saint Joseph's 19 The Spectrum Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Championship game 56–61 20–9 |- !colspan=9 style=Rhode Island Rams| NCAA tournament Mar 13, 1997 yes yes 9 SE Purdue 8 SE The Pyramid Memphis, Tennessee First round 76–83 OT 20–10 AP poll EST SE Southeast 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 978-0-345-51392-2 References Rhode Island Rhode Island Category:Rhode Island Rams men's basketball seasons Rhode Rhode