The Cornell Big Red men's basketball team represents Cornell University, located in Ithaca, New York, in NCAA Division I men's competition. The Big Red's appearance in the 2008 NCAA Tournament was their first trip to "The Big Dance" since 1988, ending a 20 year absence from the tournament. The team has reached the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament five times, in 1954, 1988, 2008, 2009, and 2010. Cornell’s best finish in the NCAA tournament occurred in 1954 and 2010 when they advanced to the Sweet 16. Jon Jaques is the current head coach.

The 2010 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament involved 65 teams playing in a single-elimination tournament that determined the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I men's basketball national champion for the 2009–10 basketball season. The 72nd annual edition of the tournament began on March 16, 2010, and concluded with the championship game on April 5, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.