1996–97 Valparaiso Crusaders men's basketball team

The 1996–97 Valparaiso Crusaders men's basketball team represented Valparaiso University during the 1996–97 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Crusaders, led by ninth-year head coach Homer Drew, played their home games at the Athletics–Recreation Center as members of the Mid-Continent Conference. The Crusaders won Mid-Con regular season and tournament titles, and received an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament as No. 12 seed in the West region. In the opening round, Valpo was beaten by No. 5 seed Boston College, 73–66. The team finished with a record of 24–7 (13–3 Mid-Con).

Schedule and results
!colspan=9 style=| Regular season

!colspan=12 style=| Mid-Con tournament

!colspan=12 style=| NCAA tournament

Source