1996–97 Georgia Bulldogs basketball team

1996–97 Georgia Bulldogs basketball
Rainbow Classic champion
NCAA tournament, Second round
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
DivisionEast
Ranking
APNo. 17
Record24–9 (10–6 SEC)
Head coach
Assistant coach2nd
Home arenaStegeman Coliseum
1996–97 Southeastern Conference men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
East
No. 6 South Carolina151 .938248  .750
No. 5 Kentucky133 .813355  .875
No. 17 Georgia106 .625249  .727
Vanderbilt97 .5631912  .613
Florida511 .3131317  .433
Tennessee412 .2501116  .407
West
Ole Miss115 .688209  .690
Arkansas88 .5001814  .563
Auburn610 .3751615  .516
Alabama610 .3751714  .548
Mississippi State610 .3751218  .400
LSU313 .1881020  .333
1997 SEC tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1996–97 Georgia Bulldogs basketball team represented the University of Georgia as a member of the Southeastern Conference during the 1996–97 NCAA men's basketball season. The team was led by head coach Tubby Smith, and played their home games at Stegeman Coliseum in Athens, Georgia. The Bulldogs finished 3rd in the SEC East during the regular season, had a strong showing at the SEC tournament, and received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament as No. 3 seed in the Southeast region. They were upset by No. 14 seed Chattanooga in the opening round and finished the season at 24–9 (10–6 SEC).