1995–96 VCU Rams men's basketball team

The 1995–96 VCU Rams men's basketball team represented Virginia Commonwealth University during the 1995–96 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. It was the 28th season of the University fielding a men's basketball program, and the program's first season in the Colonial Athletic Association, after previously playing in the Metro Conference. The Rams were coached by 7th year head coach, Sonny Smith.

1995–96 VCU Rams men's basketball
NCAA Tournament, First round vs. Mississippi State L 51–58
ConferenceColonial Athletic Association
1995–96 record24–9 (14–2 CAA)
Head coachSonny Smith (7th season)
Home arenaRichmond Coliseum
1995–96 CAA men's basketball standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L PCT  W L PCT
VCU†14–2 .875  24–9  .727
Old Dominion12–4 .750  18–13  .581
UNCW9–7 .563  13–16  .448
American8–8 .500  12–15  .444
East Carolina8–8 .500  17–11  .607
William & Mary6–10 .375  10–16  .385
James Madison6–10 .375  10–20  .333
George Mason6–10 .375  11–16  .407
Richmond3–13 .188  8–20  .286
† CAA Tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1995-96 season was the first season in 11 years that the Rams earned a berth into the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament. The Rams won an automatic berth by winning the 1996 CAA Men's Basketball Tournament, beating UNC Wilmington in the final. VCU's Bernard Hopkins won the CAA Tournament MVP Award.

In the NCAA Tournament, VCU entered as a 12-seed, where they played in the Southeast Regional bracket. The Rams lost to eventual Final Four contestant, Mississippi State 58-51 in the first round. The Rams would not return to the NCAA Tournament again until 2004.

Schedule
Date
time, TV		 Rank# Opponent# Result Record Site (attendance)
city, state
Non-conference regular season
11/24/1995*
 vs. WKU
San Juan Shootout		 W 83–65  1–0
 Torres Coliseum 
San Juan, PR
11/25/1995*
 vs. Louisville
San Juan Shootout		 L 74–83  1–1
 Torres Coliseum 
San Juan, PR
11/26/1995*
 vs. James Madison
San Juan Shootout		 W 66–60  2–1
 Torres Coliseum 
San Juan, PR
11/30/1995*
 Xavier W 81–75  3–1
 Richmond Coliseum 
Richmond, VA
12/02/1995*
 at Liberty L 71–86  3–2
 Vines Center 
Lynchburg, VA
12/04/1995*
 FIU W 82–61  4–2
 Richmond Coliseum 
Richmond, VA
12/07/1995*
 Charlotte W 85–74  5–2
 Richmond Coliseum 
Richmond, VA
12/09/1995*
 Pittsburgh L 69–72  5–3
 Richmond Coliseum 
Richmond, VA
12/16/1995*
 at Rhode Island L 63–68  5–4
 Keaney Gymnasium 
Kingston, RI
12/21/1995*
 at Virginia
Battle of I-64		 L 65–80  5–5
 University Hall 
Charlottesville, VA
12/23/1995*
 Illinois State W 74–72  6–5
 Richmond Coliseum 
Richmond, VA
12/27/1995*
 vs. Jackson State
UNO Christmas Classic		 W 66–48  7–5
 Lakefront Arena 
New Orleans, LA
12/28/1995*
 at New Orleans
UNO Christmas Classic		 L 75–92  7–6
 Lakefront Arena 
New Orleans, LA
CAA regular season
01/04/1996
 at William & Mary W 70–47  8–6
(1–0)		 Kaplan Arena 
Williamsburg, VA
01/06/1996
 at Old Dominion
Rivalry		 W 85–70  9–6
(2–0)		 ODU Fieldhouse 
Norfolk, VA
01/10/1996
 George Mason
Rivalry		 W 86–74  10–6
(3–0)		 Richmond Coliseum 
Richmond, VA
01/13/1996
 at East Carolina L 72–73  10–7
(3–1)		 Minges Coliseum 
Greenville, NC
01/17/1996
 James Madison W 81–70  11–7
(4–1)		 Richmond Coliseum 
Richmond, VA
01/20/1996
 Richmond
Capital City Classic		 W 79–51  12–7
(5–1)		 Richmond Coliseum 
Richmond, VA
01/26/1996
 American W 65–57  13–7
(6–1)		 Richmond Coliseum 
Richmond, VA
01/29/1996
 at UNC Wilmington W 63–45  14–7
(7–1)		 Trask Coliseum 
Wilmington, NC
01/31/1996
 at George Mason
Rivalry		 W 94–81  15–7
(8–1)		 Patriot Center 
Fairfax, VA
02/03/1996
 Old Dominion
Rivalry		 W 85–76 OT 16–7
(9–1)		 Richmond Coliseum 
Richmond, VA
02/07/1996
 William & Mary W 83–68  17–7
(10–1)		 Richmond Coliseum 
Richmond, VA
02/10/1996
 East Carolina W 80–71  18–7
(11–1)		 Richmond Coliseum 
Richmond, VA
02/13/1996
 at American W 65–57  19–7
(12–1)		 Bender Arena 
Washington, DC
02/17/1996
 at James Madison L 75–76  19–8
(12–2)		 JMU Convocation Center 
Harrisonburg, VA
02/21/1996
 UNC Wilmington W 63–44  20–8
(13–2)		 Richmond Coliseum 
Richmond, VA
02/24/1996
 at Richmond
Capital City Classic		 W 69–67  21–8
(14–2)		 Robins Center 
Richmond, VA
CAA Tournament
03/02/1996
 (1) vs. (9) Richmond
Quarterfinals		 W 89–55  22–8
 Richmond Coliseum 
Richmond, VA
03/03/1996
 (1) vs. (5) East Carolina
Semifinals		 W 75–60  23–8
 Richmond Coliseum 
Richmond, VA
03/04/1996
 (1) vs. (3) UNC Wilmington
Championship		 W 46–43  24–8
 Richmond Coliseum 
Richmond, VA
NCAA Tournament
03/14/1996
 (S 12) vs. (S 5) No. 23 Mississippi State L 51–58  24–9
 RCA Dome 
Indianapolis, IN
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