1996–97 Big East Conference men's basketball season

1996–97 Big East Conference Men's Basketball Season
LeagueNCAA Division I
SportBasketball
DurationNovember 15, 1996
through March 8, 1997
Number of teams13
TV partner(s)ESPN
Regular Season
Champion
Season MVPPat GarrityNotre Dame
Tournament
ChampionsBoston College
Finals MVPScoonie Penn – Boston College
1996–97 Big East men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
Big East 6
No. 20 Villanova126 .6672410  .706
No. 23 Boston College126 .667229  .710
West Virginia117 .6112110  .677
Notre Dame810 .4441614  .533
St. John's810 .4441315  .464
Connecticut711 .3891815  .545
Big East 7
Georgetown117 .6112010  .667
Providence108 .5562412  .667
Pittsburgh108 .5561815  .545
Miami99 .5001613  .552
Syracuse99 .5001913  .594
Seton Hall513 .2781018  .357
Rutgers513 .2781116  .407
1997 Big East tournament winner
As of March 31, 1997
Rankings from AP poll

The 1996–97 Big East Conference men's basketball season was the 18th in conference history, and involved its 13 full-time member schools.

Boston College and Villanova were the regular-season co-champions of the Big East 6 Division with identical records of 12–6, and Georgetown won the regular-season Big East 7 Division championship with a record of 11–5. Boston College won the Big East tournament championship.