The 2016–17 Tennessee State Tigers basketball team represented Tennessee State University during the 2016–17 NCAA Division I men's basketball season.

The Tigers, led by third-year head coach Dana Ford, played their home games at the Gentry Complex in Nashville, Tennessee as members of the East Division of the Ohio Valley Conference.

8 seed in the OVC tournament, they lost to Southeast Missouri State in the first round.

In a vote of Ohio Valley Conference head men’s basketball coaches and sports information directors, Tennessee State was picked to finish in second place in the East Division of the OVC.

[1] Tahjere McCall and Wayne Martin were selected to the All-OVC Preseason Team.