1995–96 Western Carolina Catamounts men's basketball team

American college basketball season March 2026 August 2023 Basketball 1995–96 Western Carolina Catamounts WCU Athletics wordmark.png 200 Southern Conference South SoCon 17–13 10–4 Phil Hopkins 1st Thad Matta 1st Ramsey Center SoCon South division championsSoCon tournament champions NCAA tournament First round The 1995–96 Western Carolina Catamounts men's basketball team represented Western Carolina University during the 1995–96 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Catamounts, led by first-year head coach Phil Hopkins, played their home games at the Ramsey Center and were members of the Southern Conference. They finished the season 17–13, 10–4 in SoCon play to finish in a tie for first place. They defeated Appalachian State, VMI, and Davidson to capture the SoCon tournament title to receive the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament the first, and only, appearance in program history. Playing as No. 16 seed in the West region, Western Carolina was narrowly beaten by No. 1 seed Purdue, 73–71,NO. 1 SEED PURDUE EKES PAST WESTERN CAROLINA https://www.deseret.com/1996/3/15/19230724/no-1-seed-purdue-ekes-past-western-carolina The Deseret News March 14, 1996 July 7, 2023 in the opening round.Almost famous: 27 years ago, Western Carolina head coach Phil Hopkins fell short against No. 1 Purdue https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/35884432/almost-famous-27-years-ago-phil-hopkins-coach-western-carolina-fell-short-no-1-purdue ESPN March 18, 2023 July 7, 2023 Roster 1995 Western Carolina Catamounts y Anquell McCollum 24 G 6 1 Sr Fayetteville, NC y Phil Hopkins Schedule and results 1995-96 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings 1995 yes yes |- !colspan=9 style=Western Carolina Catamounts| Non-conference Regular season Nov 29, 1995 yes yes Georgia Stegeman Coliseum Athens, Georgia 71–91 0–3 Dec 6, 1995 yes yes Tennessee Thompson-Boling Arena Knoxville, Tennessee 51–63 0–5 Dec 20, 1995 yes yes Duke 20 Cameron Indoor Stadium Durham, North Carolina 67–107 1–6 Jan 2, 1996 yes yes 1995 men NC State Wolfpack NC State Reynolds Coliseum Raleigh, North Carolina 71–102 1–7 Jan 13, 1996 yes yes Georgia Tech Alexander Memorial Coliseum Atlanta, Georgia 78–91 3–8 |- !colspan=9 style=Western Carolina Catamounts|SoCon Regular season Jan 15, 1996 yes 1995 men Chattanooga Mocs Chattanooga UTC Arena Chattanooga, Tennessee 70–84 3–9 0–1 Feb 26, 1996 1995 men Appalachian State Mountaineers Appalachian State Ramsey Center Cullowhee, North Carolina 91–72 14–12 10–4 |- !colspan=9 style=Western Carolina Catamounts| SoCon tournament Mar 1, 1996 yes yes Appalachian State Greensboro Coliseum Greensboro, North Carolina Quarterfinals 74–66 15–12 Mar 2, 1996 yes yes VMI Greensboro Coliseum Greensboro, North Carolina Semifinals 97–93 16–12 Mar 3, 1996 yes yes 1995 men Davidson Wildcats Davidson Greensboro Coliseum Greensboro, North Carolina Championship game 69–60 17–12 |- !colspan=9 style=Western Carolina Catamounts| NCAA tournament Mar 14, 1996 yes yes 16 W Purdue 4 1 W University Arena Albuquerque, New Mexico First round 71–73 17–13 AP Poll Eastern Time W West https://catamountsports.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule/1995-96 1995-96 Men's Basketball Schedule Western Carolina University Athletics July 7, 2023 References Category:Western Carolina Catamounts men's basketball seasons Western Carolina Western Carolina West West