1996–97 Drexel Dragons men's basketball team

The 1996–97 Drexel Dragons men's basketball team represented Drexel University during the 1996–97 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Dragons, led by 6th year head coach Bill Herrion, played their home games at the Daskalakis Athletic Center and were members of the America East Conference (AEC).

1996–97 Drexel Dragons men's basketball
NIT tournament first round, L 53–66
Conference	America East Conference
Record	22–9 (16–2 AEC)
Head coach	Bill Herrion (6th season)
Assistant coach	Steve Seymour (6th season)
Home arena	Daskalakis Athletic Center

1996–97 America East Conference men's basketball standings

	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		PCT			W		L		PCT
Boston University †	17	–	1		.944			25	–	5		.833
Drexel	16	–	2		.889			22	–	9		.710
Hartford	11	–	7		.611			17	–	11		.607
Hofstra	9	–	9		.500			12	–	15		.444
Delaware	9	–	9		.500			12	–	15		.444
Vermont	7	–	11		.389			14	–	13		.519
Northeastern	6	–	12		.333			7	–	20		.259
Maine	6	–	12		.333			11	–	20		.355
New Hampshire	5	–	13		.278			7	–	20		.259
Towson State	5	–	13		.278			9	–	19		.321
† 1997 America East tournament winner Rankings from AP poll

The team finished the season 22–9, and finished in 2nd place in the AEC in the regular season.

The Dragons were eliminated in the first round of the NIT by Bradley.

Roster

1996–97 Drexel Dragons men's basketball team
Players	Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown — —	Head coach Bill Herrion (Merrimack) Assistant coach(es) Steve Seymour (Bridgewater State) Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible (W) Walk-on Injured Current redshirt

Schedule

Date time, TV	Rank#	Opponent#	Result	Record	High points	High rebounds	High assists	Site (attendance) city, state
Regular season
November 20, 1996*		at Evansville Preseason NIT	L 61–65	0–1	–	–	–	Roberts Municipal Stadium (7,820) Evansville, IN
December 3, 1996*		Monmouth	W 77–66	1–1	29 – Myers	9 – Linderman	6 – Guittar	Daskalakis Athletic Center (1,755) Philadelphia, PA
December 6, 1996		at New Hampshire	W 80–55	2–1 (1–0)	–	–	–	Lundholm Gym (875) Durham, NH
December 8, 1996		at Maine	W 71–57	3–1 (2–0)	–	–	–	Alfond Arena (1,116) Orono, ME
December 12, 1996*		at UMass	L 48–69	3–2	–	–	–	Mullins Center (9,493) Amherst, MA
December 14, 1996*		at La Salle	L 58–63	3–3	–	–	–	Spectrum (1,745) Philadelphia, PA
December 21, 1996*		Lehigh	W 92–73	4–3	–	–	–	Daskalakis Athletic Center (1,102) Philadelphia, PA
December 28, 1996*		at Charleston College of Charleston Tournament semifinal	L 65–75	4–4	–	–	–	F. Mitchell Johnson Arena (3,722) Charleston, SC
December 29, 1996*		vs. UNC Greensboro College of Charleston Tournament 3rd place	W 69–61	5–4	–	–	–	F. Mitchell Johnson Arena (2,561) Charleston, SC
January 2, 1997		Hartford	W 86–79	6–4 (3–0)	–	–	–	Daskalakis Athletic Center (1,007) Philadelphia, PA
January 4, 1997		vs. Vermont	W 74–49	7–4 (4–0)	–	–	–	Spectrum (1,925) Philadelphia, PA
January 7, 1997		Towson State	W 102–72	8–4 (5–0)	–	–	–	Daskalakis Athletic Center (1,579) Philadelphia, PA
January 10, 1997		at Northeastern	L 54–57	8–5 (5–1)	–	–	–	Matthews Arena (720) Boston, MA
January 12, 1997		at Boston University	L 67–71 OT	8–6 (5–2)	–	–	–	Case Gym (1,064) Boston, MA
January 15, 1997*		at Penn Battle of 33rd Street	W 58–52	9–6	14 – Linderman	–	–	Palestra (5,108) Philadelphia, PA
January 18, 1997		at Hofstra	W 64–61	10–6 (6–2)	–	–	–	Hofstra Physical Fitness Center (1,583) Hempstead, NY
January 21, 1997		at Delaware	W 77–73	11–6 (7–2)	–	–	–	Bob Carpenter Center (4,048) Newark, DE
January 24, 1997		Maine	W 74–51	12–6 (8–2)	–	–	–	Daskalakis Athletic Center (2,006) Philadelphia, PA
January 26, 1997		New Hampshire	W 77–74 2OT	13–6 (9–2)	–	–	–	Daskalakis Athletic Center (1,244) Philadelphia, PA
January 31, 1997		Delaware	W 74–70	14–6 (10–2)	–	–	–	Daskalakis Athletic Center (2,369) Philadelphia, PA
February 2, 1997		at Towson State	W 79–66	15–6 (11–2)	–	–	–	Towson Center (702) Towson, MD
February 7, 1997		Northeastern	W 78–61	16–6 (12–2)	–	–	–	Daskalakis Athletic Center (1,978) Philadelphia, PA
February 9, 1997		Boston University	W 73–42	17–6 (13–2)	–	–	–	Daskalakis Athletic Center (2,369) Philadelphia, PA
February 11, 1997*		at Saint Joseph's	L 62–63	17–7	–	–	–	Hagan Arena (3,200) Philadelphia, PA
February 16, 1997		Hofstra	W 83–70	18–7 (14–2)	–	–	–	Daskalakis Athletic Center (2,369) Philadelphia, PA
February 20, 1997		at Hartford	W 87–76	19–7 (15–2)	–	–	–	Chase Arena (1,280) Hartford, CT
February 22, 1997		at Vermont	W 78–59	20–7 (16–2)	–	–	–	Patrick Gym (1,409) Burlington, VT
AEC tournament
March 1, 1997	(2)	vs. (10) Towson State Quarterfinal	W 78–75	21–7	–	–	–	Bob Carpenter Center (2,504) Newark, DE
March 2, 1997	(2)	vs. (3) Hartford Semifinal	W 75–69	22–7	–	–	–	Bob Carpenter Center (3,651) Newark, DE
March 7, 1997	(2)	at (1) Boston University Championship	L 61–68	22–8	–	–	–	Case Gym (2,600) Boston, MA
NIT
March 12, 1997		at Bradley First Round	L 53–66	22–9	–	–	–	Carver Arena (8,277) Peoria, IL
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. All times are in Eastern Time.

Awards

Mike DeRocckis

• AEC All-Conference Second Team

Chuck Guittar

• AEC All-Conference Third Team
• AEC Player of the Week

Joe Linderman

• AEC Rookie of the Year
• AEC All-Conference Third Team
• AEC All-Rookie Team
• AEC All-Championship Team
• AEC Rookie of the Week (2)

Jeff Myers

• AEC All-Conference First Team
• AEC All-Championship Team
• AEC Player of the Week (2)