| # | Name | Pos | Class | Ht. | Wt. | Hometown (School) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #33 | Ron Mercer (L) | F | So. | 6-7 | 210 | Nashville, TN (Goodpasture Christian) [Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, VA] | All-American [Consensus (1st), AP (1st), Sporting News (2nd), NABC (1st), USBWA (1st), Basketball Times (2nd), Wooden (1st)]; All-NCAA Final Four Team; NCAA Regional Most Outstanding Player; SEC Player of the Year [Associated Press & Coaches] ; All-SEC [First Team (AP & Coaches)]; SEC Tournament MVP; |
| #23 | Derek Anderson (L) | G | Sr. | 6-6 | 194 | Louisville, KY (Doss) | All-SEC [Second Team (Coaches); Third Team (AP)]; (Missed last half of season due to knee); |
| #34 | Scott Padgett (L) | F | So. | 6-9 | 240 | Louisville, KY (St. Xavier) | All-NCAA Final Four Team; (Missed first half of season due to academic probation); |
| #25 | Anthony Epps (L) | G | Sr. | 6-2 | 182 | Lebanon, KY (Marion County) | All-SEC [Third Team (Coaches)]; All-SEC Tournament; |
| #3 | Allen Edwards (L) | G-F | Jr. | 6-5 | 205 | Miami, FL (Miami Senior) | (Sprained ankle near end of season); |
| #13 | Nazr Mohammed (L) | C | So. | 6-10 | 238 | Chicago, IL (Kenwood) | - |
| #32 | Jared Prickett (L) | F | Sr. | 6-9 | 235 | Fairmont, WV (West) | All-SEC Tournament; |
| #5 | Wayne Turner (L) | G | So. | 6-2 | 190 | Boston, MA (Beaver Country Day) | All- NCAA Regional Team; |
| #21 | Cameron Mills (L) | G | Jr. | 6-3 | 181 | Lexington, KY (Dunbar) | - |
| #42 | Jamaal Magloire (L) | C | Fr. | 6-10 | 260 | Toronto, ON (Eastern Commerce) | All-SEC Freshman Team; |
| #4 | Steve Masiello (L) | G | Fr. | 6-1 | 170 | White Plains, NY (Harvey School) | - |
| #51 | Oliver Simmons | F | So. | 6-8 | 218 | Nashville, TN (Lipscomb) | (Broke leg); |
| #15 | Jeff Sheppard | G | Red | 6-4 | 189 | Peachtree City, GA (McIntosh) | (Did not play - redshirt); |
| #14 | Heshimu Evans | F | Trans | 6-6 | 215 | Bronx, NY (Evander Childs) | (Did not play - transfer from Manhattan College); |
| Schedule | Player Statistics | Game Statistics | Season Summary |
 |
1996-97 Squad |
Front Row (L-R): Assistant Coach Delray Brooks, Head Coach Rick Pitino, Wayne Turner, Derek Anderson, Jeff Sheppard, Anthony Epps, Cameron Mills, Steve Masiello, Associate Coach Jim O'Brien, Assistant Coach Winston Bennett. |
