1995–96 NCAA Division I men's basketball season

The 1995–96 NCAA Division I men's basketball season concluded in the 64-team 1996 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament whose finals were held at the Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Kentucky Wildcats earned their sixth national championship by defeating the Syracuse Orangemen 76–67 on April 1, 1996. They were coached by Rick Pitino and the NCAA basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player was Kentucky's Tony Delk.

In the 32-team 1997 National Invitation Tournament, the Nebraska Cornhuskers defeated the St. Joseph's Hawks at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Following the season, the 1996 NCAA Men's Basketball All-American Consensus First team included Ray Allen, Marcus Camby, Tony Delk, Tim Duncan, Allen Iverson, and Kerry Kittles.

Season headlines

 * Conference USA began play, with 11 original members.
 * Rick Pitino led the Kentucky Wildcats to its sixth national championship, his first.
 * The Big Eight Conference and the Southwest Conference disbanded at the end of the season.

Pre-season polls
The top 25 from the pre-season AP Poll.

Conference membership changes
These schools joined new conferences for the 1995–96 season.

Conference winners and tournaments
29 conference seasons concluded with a single-elimination tournament, with only the Big Ten Conference, Ivy League and the Pac-10 Conference choosing not to conduct conference tournaments. Conference tournament winners, with the exception of the American West Conference and Conference USA, received an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

Statistical leaders
Source for additional stats categories

Semifinals & finals

 * Third Place – Tulane 87, Alabama 76

Major player of the year awards

 * Wooden Award: Marcus Camby, Massachusetts
 * Naismith Award: Marcus Camby, Massachusetts
 * Associated Press Player of the Year: Marcus Camby, Massachusetts
 * NABC Player of the Year: Marcus Camby, Massachusetts
 * Oscar Robertson Trophy (USBWA): Marcus Camby, Massachusetts
 * Adolph Rupp Trophy: Marcus Camby, Massachusetts
 * Sporting News Player of the Year: Marcus Camby, Massachusetts
 * UPI College Basketball Player of the Year: Ray Allen, Connecticut

Major freshman of the year awards

 * USBWA Freshman of the Year: No Award Given

Major coach of the year awards

 * Associated Press Coach of the Year: Gene Keady, Purdue
 * Henry Iba Award (USBWA): Gene Keady, Purdue
 * NABC Coach of the Year: John Calipari, Massachusetts
 * Naismith College Coach of the Year: John Calipari, Massachusetts
 * Sporting News Coach of the Year: John Calipari, Massachusetts

Other major awards

 * NABC Defensive Player of the Year: Tim Duncan, Wake Forest
 * Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award (Best player under 6'0): Eddie Benton, Vermont
 * Robert V. Geasey Trophy (Top player in Philadelphia Big 5): Kerry Kittles, Villanova
 * NIT/Haggerty Award (Top player in New York City metro area): Adrian Griffin, Seton Hall

Coaching changes
A number of teams changed coaches during the season and after it ended.