1996-97 Kentucky Wildcats basketball — schedule and results

The 1996-97 Kentucky Wildcats went 35-5 (13-3 in the SEC) under head coach Rick Pitino. The team peaked at #3 in the AP poll. Simple Rating System: 29.29.

Hoopsipedia's log holds 40 games from this season: 12–1 at home, 7–2 on the road, and 16–2 on neutral courts. The Wildcats scored 83.1 points per game and allowed 62.8 (+20.3 per game). Their longest winning streak ran 14 games, from Nov 28, 1996 to Jan 9, 1997. The most lopsided win was 105–51 over UNC Asheville Bulldogs on Dec 23, 1996; the heaviest defeat was 79–71 to Clemson Tigers on Nov 15, 1996. The tightest finish was a 3-point win against Vanderbilt Commodores (82–79). 3 games went to overtime.

Among Kentucky Wildcats' 116 recorded seasons, 1996-97's .875 winning percentage ranks 27th. Previous season: 1995-96 Wildcats (34–2). Next season: 1997-98 Wildcats (35–4).

Game-by-game results (40 games)

Date	Opponent	Result	Arena
1996-11-15	neutral Clemson Tigers	L 71–79 (OTOT)	RCA Dome
1996-11-28	neutral Syracuse Orange	W 87–53	Sullivan Arena
1996-11-29	neutral Alaska Anchorage	W 104–72	Sullivan Arena
1996-11-30	neutral Charleston Cougars	W 92–65	Sullivan Arena
1996-12-03	neutral Purdue Boilermakers	W 101–87	United Center
1996-12-07	neutral Indiana Hoosiers	W 99–65	Freedom Hall
1996-12-09	vs Wright State Raiders	W 90–62	Rupp Arena
1996-12-14	vs Notre Dame Fighting Irish	W 80–56	Rupp Arena
1996-12-21	neutral Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets	W 88–59	Georgia Dome
1996-12-23	vs UNC Asheville Bulldogs	W 105–51	Rupp Arena
1996-12-28	neutral Ohio State Buckeyes	W 81–65	Gund Arena
1996-12-31	at Louisville Cardinals	W 74–54	Freedom Hall
1997-01-04	vs Tennessee Volunteers	W 74–40	Rupp Arena
1997-01-07	vs Mississippi State Bulldogs	W 90–61	Rupp Arena
1997-01-09	vs Canisius Golden Griffins	W 68–45	Rupp Arena
1997-01-11	at Ole Miss Rebels	L 69–73	C.M. "Tad" Smith Coliseum
1997-01-14	at Georgia Bulldogs	W 86–65	Stegeman Coliseum
1997-01-18	vs Auburn Tigers	W 77–53	Rupp Arena
1997-01-22	neutral Vanderbilt Commodores	W 58–46	Riverfront Coliseum
1997-01-26	at Arkansas Razorbacks	W 83–73	Bud Walton Arena
1997-01-29	at Florida Gators	W 92–65	Stephen C. O''Connell Center
1997-02-01	vs Georgia Bulldogs	W 82–57	Rupp Arena
1997-02-04	at South Carolina Gamecocks	L 79–84 (OTOT)	Carolina Coliseum
1997-02-06	vs Western Carolina Catamounts	W 82–55	Rupp Arena
1997-02-09	vs Villanova Wildcats	W 93–56	Rupp Arena
1997-02-12	vs LSU Tigers	W 84–48	Rupp Arena
1997-02-15	vs Florida Gators	W 85–56	Rupp Arena
1997-02-19	at Alabama Crimson Tide	W 75–61	Coleman Coliseum
1997-02-22	at Vanderbilt Commodores	W 82–79	Memorial Gymnasium
1997-02-25	at Tennessee Volunteers	W 74–64	Thompson-Boling Arena
1997-03-02	vs South Carolina Gamecocks	L 66–72	Rupp Arena
1997-03-07	neutral Auburn Tigers	W 92–50	The Pyramid
1997-03-08	neutral Ole Miss Rebels	W 88–70	The Pyramid
1997-03-09	neutral Georgia Bulldogs	W 95–68	The Pyramid
1997-03-13	neutral Montana Grizzlies	W 92–54	Jon M. Huntsman Center
1997-03-15	neutral Iowa Hawkeyes	W 75–69	Jon M. Huntsman Center
1997-03-20	neutral Saint Joseph's Hawks	W 83–68	San Jose Arena
1997-03-22	neutral Utah Utes	W 72–59	San Jose Arena
1997-03-29	neutral St. Thomas-Minnesota Tommies	W 78–69	RCA Dome
1997-03-31	neutral Arizona Wildcats	L 79–84 (OTOT)	RCA Dome

Game recaps

1996-11-15: Clemson beat Kentucky Wildcats 79–71. Harold Jamison led the winners with 20 points. Derek Anderson had 22 for Kentucky Wildcats.

1996-11-28: Behind Derek Anderson's 25 points, Kentucky Wildcats rolled past Syracuse 87–53. Otis Hill had 17 for Syracuse.

1996-11-29: Kentucky Wildcats blew out Alaska Anchorage 104–72 as Derek Anderson scored a team-high 30. Ryan Williams had 23 for Alaska Anchorage.

1996-12-03: Kentucky Wildcats beat Purdue 101–87 as Ron Mercer scored a team-high 30. Mike Robinson had 20 for Purdue.

1996-12-07: Kentucky Wildcats routed Indiana 99–65. Derek Anderson led the winners with 30 points. Jason Collier had 21 for Indiana.

1996-12-09: Behind Ron Mercer's 19 points, Kentucky Wildcats rolled past Wright State 90–62. Rob Welch had 22 for Wright State.

1996-12-14: Kentucky Wildcats blew out Notre Dame 80–56 as Ron Mercer scored a team-high 21. Pat Garrity had 25 for Notre Dame.

1996-12-21: Kentucky Wildcats routed Georgia Tech 88–59. Derek Anderson led the winners with 21 points. Matt Harpring had 25 for Georgia Tech.

1996-12-23: Kentucky Wildcats blew out UNC Asheville 105–51 as Derek Anderson scored a team-high 23. Robert Stevenson had 15 for UNC Asheville.

1996-12-28: Kentucky Wildcats handled Ohio State 81–65. Ron Mercer led the winners with 22 points. Jermaine Tate had 23 for Ohio State.

1996-12-31: Kentucky Wildcats routed Louisville 74–54. Derek Anderson led the winners with 19 points. B.J. Flynn (*) had 12 for Louisville.

1997-01-04: Kentucky Wildcats blew out Tennessee 74–40 as Jamaal Magloire scored a team-high 13. C.J. Black had 16 for Tennessee.

1997-01-07: Behind Derek Anderson's 26 points, Kentucky Wildcats rolled past Mississippi State 90–61. Horatio Webster had 17 for Mississippi State.

1997-01-09: Kentucky Wildcats blew out Canisius 68–45 as Derek Anderson scored a team-high 17. Ryan Collins had 12 for Canisius.

1997-01-11: Mississippi beat Kentucky Wildcats 73–69. Joezon Darby led the winners with 19 points. Jared Prickett had 14 for Kentucky Wildcats.

1997-01-14: Behind Derek Anderson's 24 points, Kentucky Wildcats rolled past Georgia 86–65. Adrian Jones had 15 for Georgia.

1997-01-18: Kentucky Wildcats blew out Auburn 77–53 as Ron Mercer scored a team-high 18. Franklin Williams had 15 for Auburn.

1997-01-22: Kentucky Wildcats handled Vanderbilt 58–46. Allen Edwards led the winners with 16 points. Billy Di Spaltro had 16 for Vanderbilt.

1997-01-26: Kentucky Wildcats beat Arkansas 83–73 as Nazr Mohammed scored a team-high 18. Tarik Wallace had 16 for Arkansas.

1997-01-29: Behind Ron Mercer's 18 points, Kentucky Wildcats rolled past Florida 92–65. Eddie Shannon had 13 for Florida.

1997-02-01: Behind Ron Mercer's 20 points, Kentucky Wildcats rolled past Georgia 82–57. Michael Chadwick had 20 for Georgia.

1997-02-04: South Carolina got past Kentucky Wildcats 84–79 as B.J. McKie scored a team-high 22. Ron Mercer had 18 for Kentucky Wildcats.

1997-02-06: Behind Scott Padgett's 23 points, Kentucky Wildcats rolled past Western Carolina 82–55. Joel Fleming had 14 for Western Carolina.

1997-02-09: Behind Ron Mercer's 23 points, Kentucky Wildcats rolled past Villanova 93–56. Chuck Kornegay had 12 for Villanova.

1997-02-12: Kentucky Wildcats blew out Louisiana State 84–48 as Anthony Epps scored a team-high 18. Terrance Simmons had 14 for Louisiana State.

1997-02-15: Kentucky Wildcats routed Florida 85–56. Ron Mercer led the winners with 23 points. Eddie Shannon had 21 for Florida.

1997-02-19: Kentucky Wildcats handled Alabama 75–61. Ron Mercer led the winners with 23 points. Brian Williams had 18 for Alabama.

1997-02-22: Behind Ron Mercer's 23 points, Kentucky Wildcats held off Vanderbilt 82–79. Pax Whitehead had 27 for Vanderbilt.

1997-02-25: Kentucky Wildcats handled Tennessee 74–64. Scott Padgett led the winners with 24 points. C.J. Black had 22 for Tennessee.

1997-03-02: Behind B.J. McKie's 22 points, South Carolina defeated Kentucky Wildcats 72–66. Ron Mercer had 25 for Kentucky Wildcats.

1997-03-07: Kentucky Wildcats blew out Auburn 92–50 as Ron Mercer scored a team-high 21. Wes Flanigan had 14 for Auburn.

1997-03-08: Kentucky Wildcats beat Mississippi 88–70 as Ron Mercer scored a team-high 19. Ansu Sesay had 18 for Mississippi.

1997-03-09: Behind Anthony Epps's 22 points, Kentucky Wildcats rolled past Georgia 95–68. Ray Harrison had 13 for Georgia.

1997-03-20: Kentucky Wildcats handled Saint Joseph's Hawks 83–68. Ron Mercer led the winners with 19 points. Rashid Bey had 26 for Saint Joseph's Hawks.

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1996-97 Kentucky Wildcats basketball — schedule and results

Game-by-game results (40 games)

Game recaps

All-time wins

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