The 1996–97 Tulsa Golden Hurricane men's basketball team represented the University of Tulsa as a member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) during the 1996–97 college basketball season.

The Golden Hurricane played their home games at the Tulsa Convention Center.

Led by head coach Steve Robinson, they finished the season 24–10 overall and 12–4 in conference play to finish second in the WAC Mountain division standings.

After losing in the championship game of the WAC tournament, the team defeated Boston University in the opening round[2] of the NCAA tournament, before falling to No.

4 seed Clemson in the round of 32.