The 1971–72 Marshall Thundering Herd men's basketball team represented Marshall University during the 1971–72 NCAA University Division men's basketball season.
The Thundering Herd, led by first-year head coach Carl Tacy, played their home games at the Veterans Memorial Fieldhouse as an Independent.
They finished the season 23–4 and received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament where they lost to Southwestern Louisiana in the First Round.
They finished ranked No.
18 in the UPI Poll.