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 Richard Andrew Pitino (born September 18, 1952) is an American college basketball coach who is the head coach for Iona College. He was also the head coach of Greece's senior national team. He has been the head coach of several teams in NCAA D ...

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

led the 1995–96 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team, Kentucky Wildcats to its sixth National Championship, his first.

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.

Regular 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 received an automatic bid to the 1996 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, NCAA tournament.

Statistical leaders

Postseason tournaments

NCAA tournament

Final Four – RCA Dome, Indianapolis, Indiana

National Invitation tournament

Semifinals & finals

* Third Place – Tulane 87, Alabama 76

Award winners

Consensus All-American teams

NCAA Record Book - DIVISION I CONSENSUS ALL-AMERICA SELECTIONS
p.6

Major player of the year awards

* Wooden Award: Marcus Camby, Massachusetts Minutemen men's basketball, 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 Men's College Basketball Player of the Year, ''Sporting News'' Player of the Year: Marcus Camby, Massachusetts * UPI College Basketball Player of the Year: Ray Allen, Connecticut Huskies men's basketball, 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 Boilermakers men's basketball, Purdue * Henry Iba Award (USBWA): Gene Keady, Purdue * NABC Coach of the Year: John Calipari, Massachusetts Minutemen men's basketball, Massachusetts * Naismith College Coach of the Year: John Calipari, Massachusetts * Sporting News Men’s College Basketball Coach of the Year Award, ''Sporting News'' Coach of the Year: John Calipari, Massachusetts

Other major awards

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

Coaching changes

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

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:1995-1996 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Season 1995–96 NCAA Division I men's basketball season,