The Crusaders, led by second-year head coach Matt Lottich, played their home games at the Athletics–Recreation Center as first-year members of the Missouri Valley Conference.

The Crusaders finished the 2016–17 season 24–9, 14–4 in Horizon League play to finish in a tie for the Horizon League regular season championship.

2 seed in the Horizon League tournament, they lost to Milwaukee in the quarterfinals.

[3] The season marked the Crusaders' final season as a member of the Horizon League as the school announced on May 25, 2017, that it would be joining the Missouri Valley Conference effective July 1, 2017.

[6] Senior guard Tevonn Walker was named to the preseason All-MVC second team.