1996–97 Montana Grizzlies basketball team

1996–97 Montana Grizzlies basketball
Big Sky tournament champions
NCAA tournament
Conference	Big Sky Conference
Record	21–11 (11–5 Big Sky)
Head coach	Blaine Taylor (6th season)
Home arena	Adams Fieldhouse

1996–97 Big Sky men's basketball standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		PCT			W		L		PCT
Northern Arizona	14	–	2		.875			21	–	7		.750
Montana †	11	–	5		.688			21	–	11		.656
Montana State	10	–	6		.625			16	–	14		.533
Weber State	9	–	7		.563			15	–	13		.536
Idaho State	9	–	7		.563			14	–	13		.519
Cal State Northridge	8	–	8		.500			14	–	15		.483
Portland State	6	–	10		.375			9	–	17		.346
Eastern Washington	3	–	13		.188			7	–	19		.269
Sacramento State	2	–	14		.125			3	–	23		.115
† Conference tournament winner

The 1996–97 Montana Grizzlies basketball team represented the University of Montana during the 1996–97 NCAA Division I basketball season. The Grizzlies were led by sixth-year head coach Blaine Taylor and played their home games on campus at Adams Fieldhouse in Missoula, Montana.

They finished the regular season at 19–10, with an 11–5 record in conference to finish second in the regular season standings. The Grizzlies earned an automatic berth to the NCAA tournament by winning the Big Sky Conference tournament.

In the opening round of the NCAA Tournament at the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, Montana faced the No. 1 seed and defending champion Kentucky. The Grizzlies were beaten handily, 92–54, by the eventual National runner-up.^[1]

Postseason results

Date time, TV	Rank^#	Opponent^#	Result	Record	Site (attendance) city, state
Big Sky tournament
Mar 7, 1997*		vs. Weber State Semifinals	W 81–56	20–10	Walkup Skydome  Flagstaff, Arizona
Mar 8, 1997*		vs. Cal State Northridge Championship game	W 82–79	21–10	Walkup Skydome  Flagstaff, Arizona
NCAA tournament
Mar 13, 1997*	(16 W)	vs. (1 W) No. 5 Kentucky First round	L 54–92	21–11	Jon M. Huntsman Center (13,832) Salt Lake City, Utah
*Non-conference game. ^#Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. W=West. All times are in Mountain time.

^[2]

References

1. "Wildcats Too Awesome For Overmatched Griz". The Spokesman-Review. March 14, 1997. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
2. "2020-21 Montana Grizzlies Men's Basketball History & Records" (PDF). University of Montana Athletics. p. 15. Retrieved February 14, 2022.