Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers men's basketball

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Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers
Ky-wesleyan logo from NCAA.svg
University Kentucky Wesleyan College
Head coach Drew Cooper (3rd season)
Conference G-MAC
Location Owensboro, Kentucky
Arena Sportscenter
(capacity: 5,500)
Nickname Panthers
ColorsWesleyan purple and medium gray [1]
   
Uniforms
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Home
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Kit body basketball.svg
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Away


NCAA tournament champions
1966, 1968, 1969, 1973, 1987, 1990, 1999, 2001
NCAA tournament runner-up
1957, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003
NCAA tournament Elite Eight
1957, 1960, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1973, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003
NCAA tournament appearances
1957, 1960, 1961, 1964, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2017
Conference tournament champions
1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2010, 2016, 2017
Conference regular season champions
1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2016, 2017

The Kentucky Wesleyan College Panthers men's basketball team represents Kentucky Wesleyan College, a private college located in Owensboro, Kentucky. The Panthers compete in the NCAA Division II as a member of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC), They have won the NCAA Division II tournament eight times, most recently in the year 2001. [2]

Contents

Joel Utley was the "Voice of the Panthers" from 1962 to 2022 [3] (including all eight championships), broadcasting a play-by-play of all Wesleyan basketball games on local Owensboro radio station WBIO.

Conference play

Kentucky Wesleyan is a charter member of the G-MAC (Great Midwest Athletic Conference) that will begin active competition in the 2013–2014 academic season with 8 current NCAA Division II members and one institution transitioning from the NAIA, giving the NCAA D 2 conference 9 members in its first season of full activation. [4] KWC will leave the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) after the 2012–13 academic season. Their basketball team frequently represented the GLVC in the NCAA Division II tournament, winning four national championships in basketball while members of the GLVC. After coming off NCAA probation, the Panthers finished 13–14 in the 2007 season, and participated in the NCAA Division 2 tournament for five straight seasons from 2008 to 2012, and were Regional Runners Up in the 2012 season. [5]

Division II Championship appearances

The Panthers advanced to the Division II championship game six consecutive years (1998–2003), winning in 1999 and 2001; the team later forfeited its 2003 runner-up status after it was revealed they had let two ineligible transfer players play. [6]

In addition, they won six other championships (1966, 1968, 1969, 1973, 1987, and 1990) and were runners-up in 1957. Overall, Kentucky Wesleyan has won eight NCAA Division II National Men's Basketball Championships, which is the most by any NCAA Division II School.

Notable players

Retired numbers

Eight Panthers have had their numbers retired. Seven are for players and one was retired for team physician Dr. William McManus, who worked for the team for 29 years (1965–1994). [7] [8] [9]

Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers retired jerseys
No.PlayerCareer
10Rod Drake1981–1984
22 Dallas Thornton 1964–1968
23 Corey Crowder 1987–1991
24Dwight Higgs1981–1984
29Dr. William McManus1965–1994
45 Kelly Coleman 1958–1960
50 George Tinsley 1966–1969
75Fairce Woods1946–1949

Three Kentucky Wesleyan basketball players played in the American Basketball Association: George Tinsley, Sam Smith, and Dallas Thornton. One Kentucky Wesleyan basketball player has played in the National Basketball Association: Corey Crowder. Crowder played two seasons in the NBA for the Utah Jazz (1991–1992) and the San Antonio Spurs (1994–1995) and later played 14 seasons in Italy, Spain, France and Israel. He was a key member of the 1990 NCAA Division II National Championship team. Crowder was a three-time All-American performer, newcomer of the year in the GLVC, two-time GLVC "Player of the Year" and the 1991 NABC "Player of The Year" in Division II, which helped get him elected to the Great Lakes Valley Conference Hall of Fame in 2002. Dazmond Starke 2012–2013, led the NCAA Division II in Field goal % with 67.4%.

Panthers in international leagues

History

Overall
Years of basketball105
First season1907
Head coaches (all-time)21
All Games
All-time record1582–780
20+ win seasons34
30+ win seasons6
Home Games
Owensboro Sports Center ?-?
Winchester, Kentucky?-?
Great Lakes Valley Conference Games
GLVC Record430–157
GLVC regular season championships16 (1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2010)
GLVC tournament championships(1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2010)
NCAA Division II Tournament
NCAA Div II Appearances38
NCAA W-L record98–32
Regional Final/Sweet Sixteen25 (1957, 1960, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003*, 2012)
Elite Eight20 (1957, 1960, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1973, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003*)
Fourth Place1 (1971)
Third Place3 (1960, 1967, 1982)
Final Four2 (1984, 1985)
Runner-up5 (1957, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003*
NCAA Championships8 (1966, 1968, 1969, 1973, 1987, 1990, 1999, 2001)
*VACATED

Season-by-season results

The following is a list of Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers men's basketball seasons, with records and notable accomplishments [10]

Statistics overview
SeasonTeamOverallConferenceStandingPostseason
V.I. Moore (Independent)(1907–1910)
1906–07V.I. Moore 0–1
1907–08V.I. Moore 0–1
1908–09V.I. Moore 2–1
1909–10V.I. Moore 5–3
V.I. Moore:7–6
Unknown (Independent)(1910–1916)
1910–11Kentucky Wesleyan 4–1
1911–12Kentucky Wesleyan N/A
1912–13Kentucky Wesleyan N/A
1913–14Kentucky Wesleyan 0–6
1914–15Kentucky Wesleyan 2–1
1915–16Kentucky Wesleyan 0–6
Unknown:6–14
John Cobb (Independent)(1916–1917)
1916–17John Cobb 5–1
John Cobb:5–1
Unknown (Independent)(1917–1919)
1917–18Kentucky Wesleyan 6–7
1918–19Kentucky Wesleyan 0–7
Unknown:6–14
William E. Arnold (Independent)(1919–1920)
1919–20William E. Arnold 11–3
William E. Arnold:11–3
Jesse Sibley (Independent)(1920–1922)
1920–21Jesse Sibley 7–7
1921–22Jesse Sibley 5–4
Jesse Sibley:12–11
Basil Hayden (Independent)(1922–1923)
1922–23Basil Hayden 8–1
Basil Hayden:8–1
L.G. Mansfield (Independent)(1923–1924)
1923–24L.G. Mansfield 10–6
L.G. Mansfield:10–6
C.A. Webb (Independent)(1924–1928)
1924–25C.A. Webb 13–5
1925–26C.A. Webb 17–6
1926–27C.A. Webb 9–6
C.A. Webb:39–17
E.R. Miller (Independent)(1927–1928)
1927–28E.R. Miller 6–12
E.R. Miller:6–12
Walter "Rip" Van Winkle (Independent)(1928–1932)
1928–29Walter "Rip" Van Winkle 14–7
1929–30Walter "Rip" Van Winkle 17–9
1930–31Walter "Rip" Van Winkle 12–7
1931–32Walter "Rip" Van Winkle 6–11
Walter "Rip" Van Winkle:49–34
George Ditto (Independent)(1932–1941)
1932–33George Ditto 8–9
1933–34George Ditto 4–12
1934–35George Ditto 8–9
1935–36George Ditto 8–13
1936–37George Ditto 8–8
1937–38George Ditto 8–9
1938–39George Ditto 3–13
1939–40George Ditto 3–12
1940–41George Ditto 9–7
George Ditto:59-92
Arthur Gullette (Independent)(1941–1942)
1941–42Arthur Gullette 10–9
Arthur Gullette:10–9
Robert "Bullet" Wilson (Independent)(1942–1957)
1942–43Robert "Bullet" Wilson 9–5
1943–44Robert "Bullet" Wilson N/A
1944–45Robert "Bullet" Wilson N/A
1945–46Robert "Bullet" Wilson 8–10
1946–47Robert "Bullet" Wilson 11–9
1947–48Robert "Bullet" Wilson 13–12
1948–49Robert "Bullet" Wilson 13–14
1949–50Robert "Bullet" Wilson 13–10
1950–51Robert "Bullet" Wilson 16–7
1951–52Robert "Bullet" Wilson 16–7
1952–53Robert "Bullet" Wilson 12–10
1953–54Robert "Bullet" Wilson 17–10
1954–55Robert "Bullet" Wilson 14–10
1955–56Robert "Bullet" Wilson 18–4
1956–57Robert "Bullet" Wilson 16–12 NCAA Div II Runner-up
Robert "Bullet" Wilson (Independent, Division 1)(1957–1958)
1957–58Robert "Bullet" Wilson 14–10
Robert "Bullet" Wilson (Independent, Division 2)(1958–1959)
1958–59Robert "Bullet" Wilson 14–11
Robert "Bullet" Wilson:204–141
T. L. Plain (Independent)(1959–1963)
1959–60T. L. Plain 18–11 NCAA Div II Third Place
1960–61T. L. Plain 15–8 NCAA Div II first round
1961–62T. L. Plain 21–4
1962–63T. L. Plain 9–11
T.L. Plain:63–34
Guy R. Strong (Independent)(1963–1967)
1963–64Guy R. Strong 15–8 NCAA Div II first round
1964–65Guy R. Strong 9–12
1965–66Guy R. Strong 24–6 NCAA Div II Champion
1966–67Guy R. Strong 25–4 NCAA Div II Third Place
Guy R. Strong:73–30
Bob Daniels (Independent)(1967–1972)
1967–68Bob Daniels 28–3 NCAA Div II Champion
1968–69Bob Daniels 28–5 NCAA Div II Champion
1969–70Bob Daniels 18–10 NCAA Div II Regional Final
1970–71Bob Daniels 22–8 NCAA Div II Fourth Place
1971–72Bob Daniels 17–10 NCAA Div II Round of 32
Bob Daniels:110–36
Bob Jones (Independent)(1972–1978)
1972–73Bob Jones 24–6 NCAA Div II Champion
1973–74Bob Jones 20–6 NCAA Div II Regional Final
1974–75Bob Jones 12–13
1975–76Bob Jones 14–11
1976–77Bob Jones 11–14
1977–78Bob Jones 14–11
Bob Jones (Great Lakes Valley Conference)(1978–1980)
1978–79Bob Jones 12–142–65th
1979–80Bob Jones 12–154–64th
Bob Jones:119–906–12
Mike Pollio (Great Lakes Valley Conference)(1980–1985)
1980–81Mike Pollio 16–127–42nd
1981–82Mike Pollio 27–59–32nd NCAA Div II Third Place
1982–83Mike Pollio 22–810–21st NCAA Div II Regional Final
1983–84Mike Pollio 28–310–21st NCAA Div II Third Place
1984–85Mike Pollio 24–710–41st-T NCAA Div II Third Place
Mike Pollio:117–3546–15
Wayne Chapman (Great Lakes Valley Conference)(1985–1990)
1985–86Wayne Chapman 22–812–42nd NCAA Div II first round
1986–87Wayne Chapman 28–513–31st NCAA Div II Champion
1987–88Wayne Chapman 23–712–41st-T NCAA Div II Regional Final
1988–89Wayne Chapman 24–713–31st NCAA Div II Elite Eight
1989–90Wayne Chapman 31–216–21st NCAA Div II Champion
Wayne Chapman:128–2966–16
Wayne Boultinghouse (Great Lakes Valley Conference)(1990–1996)
1990–91Wayne Boultinghouse 22–814–41st-T NCAA Div II first round
1991–92Wayne Boultinghouse 23–813–51st-T NCAA Div II Elite Eight
1992–93Wayne Boultinghouse 21–613–53rd
1993–94Wayne Boultinghouse 23–713–52nd NCAA Div II Regional semifinal
1994–95Wayne Boultinghouse 23–616–21st-T NCAA Div II first round
1995–96Wayne Boultinghouse 17–1013–74th
Wayne Boultinghouse:129–4582–28
Ray Harper (Great Lakes Valley Conference)(1996–2005)
1996–97Ray Harper 21–814–65th
1997–98Ray Harper 30–317–21st NCAA Div II Runner-up
1998–99Ray Harper 35–220–21st NCAA Div II Champion
1999–00Ray Harper 31–318–21st NCAA Div II Runner-up
2000–01Ray Harper 30–317–32nd NCAA Div II Champion
2001–02Ray Harper 0-3
31–3***		19–11st NCAA Div II Runner-up
2002–03Ray Harper 0-4
26–3***'		18–2***1st*** NCAA Div II Runner-up***
2003–04Ray Harper 2-8
22–8***		14–6***3rd*** NCAA Div II first round***
2004–05Ray Harper 0-0
15–12***		9–116th
Ray Harper:150-34
249–46***		146–35***
Todd Lee (Great Lakes Valley Conference)(2005–2013)
2005–06Todd Lee 7–194–1512th
2006–07Todd Lee 13–146–1312th
2007–08Todd Lee 28–814–53rd NCAA Div II first round
2008–09Todd Lee 19–911–75th NCAA Div II first round
2009–10Todd Lee 29–516–21st NCAA Div II first round
2010–11Todd Lee 19–1010–85th NCAA Div II first round
2011–12Todd Lee 23–812–66th NCAA Div II Regional Final
2012–13Todd Lee 20–811–77th
Todd Lee:154–8184–63
Happy Osborne (Great Midwest Athletic Conference)(2013–2017)
2013–14Happy Osborne 22-912-22nd
2014–15Happy Osborne 22-810-42nd
2015–16Happy Osborne 27-411-11st NCAA Div II first round
2016–17Happy Osborne 28-312-01st NCAA Div II first round
2017–18Happy Osborne

Jason Mays (Interim)

15-169-118th
Happy Osborne:102-2845-7
Jason Mays:12-129-11
Drew Cooper (Great Midwest Athletic Conference)(2018–present)
2018–19Drew Cooper 10-168-129th
2019–20Drew Cooper 13-169-96th
2020–21Drew Cooper 10-69-54th
2021–22Drew Cooper 14-149-117th
2022–23Drew Cooper 15-1411-98th
2023–24Drew Cooper 21-915-51st NCAA Div II first round
Drew Cooper:62-6646-46
Total:1630-853-1

      National champion        Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion        Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion      Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

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References

  1. ↑ "ATHLETIC IDENTITY GUIDELINES" (PDF). Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  2. ↑ "DII Men's Basketball Championship History". NCAA.com. Retrieved 2023-08-16.
  3. ↑ Ford, Mel. "Joel Utley retires after 61 years as the Voice of the Panthers". Owensboro Radio. Retrieved 2023-02-01.
  4. ↑ "Home". g-macsports.com.
  5. ↑ "Men's Basketball".
  6. ↑ "COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Kentucky Wesleyan Forfeits an Honor". The New York Times. August 7, 2003. Retrieved 2011-03-26.
  7. ↑ https://kwcpanthers.com/news/2017/12/16/general-kentucky-wesleyan-mourns-longtime-team-physician-dr-william-mcmanus.aspx [ bare URL ]
  8. ↑ Kentucky Wesleyan Men’s Basketball Record Book (PDF), 2018 Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers Men’s Basketball Record Book”, Kentucky Wesleyan College, Page 31.
  9. ↑ https://kwc.edu/_uploads/sites/2/Fall2010KWToday_Part2.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]
  10. ↑ https://kwcpanthers.com/documents/2022/6/21/Men_s_Basketball_Record_Book.pdf [ bare URL PDF ]
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