1996–97 Southwest Texas State Bobcats men's basketball team

1996–97 Southwest Texas State Bobcats men's basketball
Southland regular season co-champions
Southland tournament champions
ConferenceSouthland Conference
Record16–13 (10–6 Southland)
Head coach
Home arenaStrahan Arena
1996–97 Southland Conference men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
McNeese State106 .6251812  .600
Southwest Texas State106 .6251613  .552
Louisiana-Monroe106 .6251414  .500
Northwestern State88 .5001315  .464
Stephen F. Austin88 .5001215  .444
Texas-Arlington88 .5001215  .444
Nicholls State79 .4381016  .385
Sam Houston State79 .438818  .308
UTSA412 .250917  .346
1997 Southland tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1996–97 Southwest Texas State Bobcats men's basketball team represented Southwest Texas State University in the 1996–97 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Bobcats, led by head coach Mike Miller, played their home games at Strahan Arena in San Marcos, Texas as members of the Southland Conference.

The Bobcats finished atop the regular season conference standings, won the Southland tournament, and received an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. As No. 16 seed in the Midwest region, Southwest Texas State was beaten by No. 1 seed and eventual Final Four participant Minnesota, 78–46.