1965–66 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball team

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1965–66 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball
WKU Hilltoppers wordmark.png
Ohio Valley Conference Champion
OVC Tournament Champion
NCAA Tournament, Sweet Sixteen
Mideast Region 3rd Place
Conference Ohio Valley Conference
Ranking
APNo. 10
1965–66 record25–3 (14–0 OVC)
Head coach
Assistant coach Gene Rhodes
Home arena E. A. Diddle Arena
Seasons
  1964–65
1966–67  

The 1965–66 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers men's basketball team represented Western Kentucky University during the 1965-66 NCAA University Division Basketball season. The Hilltoppers were led by Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year John Oldham and OVC Player of the Year Clem Haskins. [1] WKU won the OVC tournament and season championship, as well as the conference's automatic bid to the 1966 NCAA University Division Basketball Tournament, where they advanced to the Sweet Sixteen and finished 3rd in the Mideast Region. [2] The conference tournament was held in December and had no impact on the conference standing; the conference NCAA tournament bid was awarded to the season champion. [3]

This team was the recipient of what many Hilltopper fans referred to as “the worst call in NCAA tournament history.” In the second-round game against Michigan, Western Kentucky forced a jump ball with seconds left, while leading by 1 point. Western Kentucky's Greg Smith was called for a foul during the jump and Michigan's Cazzie Russell made two free throws to win the game. Still pictures show Russell not jumping on the play and then leaning in to make contact with Smith. [4] [5]

Haskins was joined on the All-Conference and OVC Tournament teams by Steve Cunningham, Dwight Smith, and Greg Smith [6]

Schedule

[7]

Date
time, TV
Rank#Opponent#ResultRecordSite
city, state
Regular Season
12/2/1965*
Parsons (IA) W 98–77 1–0
E. A. Diddle Arena  
Bowling Green, KY
12/4/1965*
La Salle W 93–67 2–0
E. A. Diddle Arena 
Bowling Green, KY
12/6/1965*
Campbellsville W 101–59 3–0
E. A. Diddle Arena 
Bowling Green, KY
12/11/1965*
Memphis State W 100–61 4–0
E. A. Diddle Arena 
Bowling Green, KY
12/14/1965*
Abilene Christian W 84–59 5–0
E. A. Diddle Arena 
Bowling Green, KY
12/17/1965*
vs.  SMU
Vanderbilt Invitational
W 82–68 6–0
Memorial Gymnasium  
Nashville, TN
12/18/1965*
at  Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt Invitational
L 69–72 6–1
Memorial Gymnasium 
Nashville, TN
12/20/1965
vs.  Morehead State
OVC Tournament
W 80–55 7–1
Convention Center  
Louisville, KY
12/21/1965
vs.  Tennessee Tech
OVC Tournament Semifinal
W 78–63 8–1
Convention Center 
Louisville, KY
12/22/1965
vs.  Eastern Kentucky
OVC Tournament Final
W 83–67 9–1
Convention Center 
Louisville, KY
1/8/1966
at  Tennessee Tech W 120–92 10–1 (1-0)
Memorial Gymnasium 
Cookeville, TN
1/10/1966
East Tennessee W 85–69 11–1 (2-0)
E. A. Diddle Arena 
Bowling Green, KY
1/15/1966
at Eastern KentuckyW 107–88 12–1 (3-0)
Alumni Coliseum  
Richmond, KY
1/17/1966
at Morehead StateW 45–35 13–1 (4-0)
Wetherby Gymnasium  
Morehead, KY
1/22/1966*
at  Dayton L 57–77 13–2
UD Arena  
Dayton, OH
1/31/1966
at  Middle Tennessee W 93–56 14–2 (5-0)
Alumni Memorial Gym 
Murfreesboro, TN
2/5/1966
at  Murray State W 101–84 15–2 (6-0)
Racer Arena  
Murray, KY
2/7/1966
at  Austin Peay W 94–67 16–2 (7-0)
Memorial Health Gymnasium 
Clarksville, TN
2/12/1966
at East TennesseeW 96–79 17–2 (8-0)
Brooks Gymnasium 
Johnson City, TN
2/14/1966
Tennessee TechW 85–72 18–2 (9-0)
E. A. Diddle Arena 
Bowling Green, KY
2/19/1966
Morehead StateW 73–58 19–2 (10-0)
E. A. Diddle Arena 
Bowling Green, KY
2/21/1966
Eastern KentuckyW 72–67 20–2 (11-0)
E. A. Diddle Arena 
Bowling Green, KY
2/26/1966
Murray StateW 71–59 21–2 (12-0)
E. A. Diddle Arena 
Bowling Green, KY
2/28/1966
Middle TennesseeW 81–47 22–2 (13-0)
E. A. Diddle Arena 
Bowling Green, KY
3/3/1966
Austin PeayW 76–63 23–2 (14-0)
E. A. Diddle Arena 
Bowling Green, KY
1966 NCAA University Division Basketball Tournament
3/7/1966*
vs. No. 4  Loyola (IL)
Mideast Region First Round
W 105–86 24–2
Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center  
Kent, OH
3/11/1966*
No. 10 vs. No. 9  Michigan
Sweet Sixteen
L 79–80 24–3
Iowa Field House  
Iowa City, IA
3/12/1966*
No. 10 vs. No. 20 UPI Dayton
Mideast Region Consolation
W 82–68 25–3
Iowa Field House 
Iowa City, IA
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.

Related Research Articles

Edgar Allen Diddle was an American college men's basketball coach. He is known for coaching at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky from 1922 to 1964. Diddle became the first coach in history to coach 1,000 games at one school. Diddle was known as one of the early pioneers of the fast break and for waving a red towel around along the sidelines. During games he would wave, toss, and chew on this towel, and even cover his face in times of disappointment. His red towel is now part of WKU's official athletic logo. Diddle experienced only five losing seasons in 42 years.

Clem Smith Haskins is an American retired college and professional basketball player and college basketball coach. In the fall of 1963, he and star player Dwight Smith became the first black athletes to integrate the Western Kentucky University (WKU) basketball program. This put Western Kentucky at the forefront to integrate college basketball in the South.

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John Oldham was an American college and professional basketball player, college basketball coach and athletic director. Oldham interrupted his studies at Western Kentucky University (WKU) to serve in the US Navy during World War II. He was on the university's basketball team and after graduation in 1949 played for the Fort Wayne Pistons. Oldham went into coaching in 1952 at College High School in Bowling Green, Kentucky. In 1955 he became coach of the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles men's basketball and led the team to three conference champtionships. He returned to WKU in 1964 to manage the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball team, leading them to four NCAA tournaments and winning five Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) championships. Oldham left the Hilltoppers in 1971 to become athletic director of WKU, a position he held until 1986. During his tenure the university won six OVC and one Sun Belt Conference All-Sports Championship. After retirement he was elected to the Bowling Green City Commission.

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The 1981–82 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers men's basketball team represented Western Kentucky University during the 1981–82 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Hilltoppers were led by coach Clem Haskins and All-Ohio Valley Conference center Craig McCormick. In what would be their last year in the conference, WKU won the OVC championship, were OVC tournament runners-up, and received a bid to the 1982 National Invitation Tournament. Bobby Jones joined McCormick on the All-OVC Team; Jones and Kenny Ellis made the OVC Tournament Team and McCormick was tournament MVP. McCormick was selected in the NBA draft following the season.

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1979–80 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball team American college basketball season

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1977–78 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball team American college basketball season

The 1977–78 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers men's basketball team represented Western Kentucky University during the 1977–78 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Hilltoppers were members of the Ohio Valley Conference and led by coach Jim Richards, in his final year at the helm. WKU finished third in the OVC regular season, but won the tournament championship and the conference's automatic bid to the 1978 NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament, where they advanced to the sweet sixteen. James Johnson and Darryl Turner made the All-OVC Team and Aaron Bryant was selected to the OVC Tournament Team.

1975–76 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball team American college basketball season

The 1975–76 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers men's basketball team represented Western Kentucky University during the NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Hilltoppers were led by Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year Jim Richards and OVC Player of the Year Johnny Britt. WKU won the OVC regular season and tournament championships, as well as the conference's automatic bid to the 1976 NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament. Wilson James joined Britt on the All-OVC Team; they were also selected to the OVC Tournament team and Britt was tournament MVP.

1970–71 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball team American college basketball season

The 1970–71 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers men's basketball team represented Western Kentucky University during the 1970-71 NCAA University Division Basketball season. The Hilltoppers were led by Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year John Oldham and consensus All-American player Jim McDaniels. WKU won the OVC season championship, as well as the conference's automatic bid to the 1971 NCAA University Division Basketball Tournament. No conference tournament was held, so the conference bid was awarded to the season champion. The Hilltoppers advanced to the NCAA Final Four, though the tournament games were later vacated by the NCAA due to a player having signed a contract with an agent.

1969–70 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball team American college basketball season

The 1969–70 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers men's basketball team represented Western Kentucky University during the 1969-70 NCAA basketball season. The Hilltoppers were led by Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year John Oldham and OVC Player of the Year Jim McDaniels. WKU won the OVC season championship, going undefeated in conference play, and the automatic bid to the 1970 NCAA University Division Basketball Tournament. No conference tournament was held, so the bid was awarded to the season champion. Jerome Perry and Jim Rose joined McDaniels on the All-OVC Team.

1966–67 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball team American college basketball season

The 1966–67 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers men's basketball team represented Western Kentucky University during the 1966-67 NCAA University Division Basketball season. The Hilltoppers were led by coach John Oldham and consensus All-American player Clem Haskins. WKU won the Ohio Valley Conference tournament and season championship, as well as the conference's automatic bid to the 1967 NCAA University Division Basketball Tournament, where they lost to the eventual runner-up, Dayton, in overtime. The conference tournament was held in December and had no impact on the conference standing, the conference bid to the NCAA was awarded to the season champion. The Hilltoppers had the misfortune of having their star player, Haskins, break his wrist during the February 6th game against Murray State. He missed the next 5 games but returned to finish the season playing in a cast, which limited his effectiveness.

1964–65 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball team American college basketball season

The 1964–65 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers men's basketball team represented Western Kentucky State College during the 1964-65 NCAA University Division Basketball season. The Hilltoppers were led by first year coach John Oldham and Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year Clem Haskins. After two losing seasons, WKSC finished second in the OVC and were invited to the 1965 National Invitation Tournament.

1961–62 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball team American college basketball season

The 1961–62 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers men's basketball team represented Western Kentucky State College during the 1961-62 NCAA University Division Basketball season. The Hilltoppers were led by Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year Edgar Diddle, in his 40th year as coach, and leading scorer Bobby Rascoe, who averaged more than 25 points per game. The Hilltoppers won the OVC championship, as well as the conference's automatic bid to the 1962 NCAA University Division Basketball Tournament, where they advanced to the Sweet Sixteen. Rascoe, Darel Carrier, and Harry Todd were named to the all-conference team. Diddle coached his 1000th game at Western on January 6, a victory against New Mexico State.

1959–60 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball team American college basketball season

The 1959–60 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers men's basketball team represented Western Kentucky State College during the 1959-60 NCAA University Division Basketball season. The Hilltoppers were led by future Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame coach Edgar Diddle. The Hilltoppers won the Ohio Valley Conference championship, as well as the conference's automatic bid to the 1960 NCAA University Division Basketball Tournament, where they advanced to the Sweet Sixteen. This team was very balanced, with four players being named to the All-Conference Team: Charlie Osborne, Bobby Rascoe, Al Ellison, and Don Parsons.

1953–54 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball team American college basketball season

The 1953–54 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers men's basketball team represented Western Kentucky State College during the 1953-54 NCAA University Division Basketball season. The Hilltoppers were led by future Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame coach Edgar Diddle and consensus All-American, Tom Marshall. The Hilltoppers won the Ohio Valley Conference championship, and were invited to the 1954 National Invitation Tournament, where they were seeded as the number 2 team and advanced to the semifinals. During this period, the NIT was considered on par with the NCAA Tournament. This was one of the finest teams in Western Kentucky history, they led the NCAA in wins and Marshall averaged more than 25 points and nearly 15 rebounds per game, setting school records for scoring and rebounding. Art Spoelstra, Jack Turner and Lynn Cole joined Marshall on the All-Conference and OVC Tournament teams.

1978–79 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball team American college basketball season

The 1978–79 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers men's basketball team represented Western Kentucky University during the 1978–79 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Hilltoppers were members of the Ohio Valley Conference and led by future National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame coach Gene Keady in his first year as head coach. WKU finished tied for second in the OVC regular season. The conference tournament was hosted by regular season champion Eastern Kentucky. Western Kentucky had defeated EKU twice during the season, but their third meeting in the conference tournament championship ended in controversy. The Hilltoppers held a one point lead when the game clock expired, however, due to crowd noise, the referees and time keeper did not hear the buzzer. A foul was called on WKU with no time left and Eastern Kentucky made two free throws to win the game. A review of game film afterwards showed that the foul was called 3.5 seconds after the game clock had ended. Western Kentucky appealed to the OVC Commissioner, however, their appeal was denied. Greg Jackson and Trey Trumbo were named to the All-OVC Team, and Jackson was OVC Tournament MVP.

1971–72 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball team American college basketball season

The 1971–72 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers men's basketball team represented Western Kentucky University during the 1971-72 NCAA University Division Basketball season. The Hilltoppers were led by new coach Jim Richards and All-Ohio Valley Conference player Jerry Dunn. WKU finished in a three-way tie for the OVC championship. No conference tournament was held, so a playoff was scheduled to determine which team would go on to the NCAA tournament. The Hilltoppers lost in the playoff to Morehead State.

1956–57 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball team American college basketball season

The 1956–57 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers men's basketball team represented Western Kentucky State College during the 1956-57 NCAA University Division Basketball season. The Hilltoppers were led by future Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame coach Edgar Diddle. One of the highlights of the season was a victory over 2nd ranked San Francisco at the newly opened Freedom Hall dedication. Western finished tied for the Ohio Valley Conference championship, however, the NCAA tournament bid went to co-champion, Morehead State. Ralph Crosthwaite and Owen Lawson were named to the All-Conference Team.

References

  1. Ruby, Earl (1979). Red Towel Territory : A History of Athletics at Western Kentucky University. American National Bank and Trust Co.
  2. Haskins, Chapman reflect on special WKU squads from 1965-66, '66-67, By ZACH GREENWEL, The Bowling Green Daily News.com, Feb 20, 2016 retrieved 10 May 2020
  3. 2019-2020 OVC Basketball Media Guide, retrieved 4 May 2020
  4. Harrison, Lowell (1987). Western Kentucky University. University Press of Kentucky. ISBN   978-0813116204.
  5. The ‘what if' story of the '66 tourney, By O.J. Stapleton, The Daily News, Jan 17, 2006, retrieved 11 May 2020
  6. 2019-2020 WKU Basketball Media Guide retrieved 21 April 2020
  7. 1965-66 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Schedule and Results, Sports Reference, retrieved 10 May 2020