Pacific Tigers men's basketball

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Pacific Tigers men's basketball
Basketball current event.svg 2024–25 Pacific Tigers men's basketball team
Pacific Tigers wordmark.svg
University University of the Pacific
Head coach Dave Smart (1st season)
Conference West Coast Conference
Location Stockton, California
Arena Alex G. Spanos Center
(capacity: 6,150 (all seater) to 8,000)
Nickname Tigers
ColorsBlack and orange [1]
   
Uniforms
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Home
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Away
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Alternate
NCAA tournament Elite Eight
1967
NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen
1966, 1967, 1971
NCAA tournament round of 32
2004, 2005
NCAA tournament appearances
1966, 1967, 1971, 1979, 1997, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2013
Conference tournament champions
1979, 1997, 2004, 2006, 2013
Conference regular season champions
1933, 1936, 1947, 1966, 1967, 1971, 1979, 1997, 1998, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2010

The Pacific Tigers men's basketball team represents the University of the Pacific, located in Stockton, California. The team is an NCAA Division I member, part of the West Coast Conference. They play their home games at the Alex G. Spanos Center and are led by head coach Dave Smart. The Tigers have appeared nine times in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, most recently in 2013.

Contents

On July 15, 2013, Pacific left the Big West Conference to rejoin the West Coast Conference. It had been a charter member of the WCC since 1952, but left in 1971 to join the Pacific Coast Athletic Association, later renamed to the Big West Conference.

In late 2015, investigations into improper academic benefits being provided to basketball players began. [2] On December 11, the school placed head coach Ron Verlin and assistant coach Dwight Young on suspension. [3] On December 18, the school self imposed a postseason ban for 2016 and a reduction in scholarships due to the pending academic fraud investigations. [4] On March 3, 2016, the school revealed that Verlin and Young were no longer employed by the university. [5]

On March 15, 2016, Pacific hired 13-year NBA veteran and 1996 NBA Rookie of the Year Damon Stoudamire as head coach. [6]

Postseason

NCAA Tournament Results

The Tigers have appeared in nine NCAA Tournaments. Their combined record is 4–10.

1976 Pacific roster Pacific tigers basketball 1976 roster.jpg
1976 Pacific roster
YearSeedRoundOpponentResult
1966 Sweet Sixteen
Regional third-place game
Utah
Houston
L 51–83
L 91–102
1967 Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight
Texas Western
UCLA
W 72–63
L 64–80
1971 Sweet Sixteen
Regional third-place game
Long Beach State
BYU
L 65–78
W 84–81
1979 6Second round(3) MarquetteL 48–73
1997 13First round(4) Saint Joseph'sL 65–75
2004 12First round
Second round
(5) Providence
(4) Kansas
W 66–58
L 63–78
2005 8First round
Second round
(9) Pittsburgh
(1) Washington
W 79–71
L 79–97
2006 13First round(4) Boston CollegeL 76–88 2OT
2013 15Round of 64(2) Miami (FL)L 48–79

NIT Results

The Tigers have appeared in one National Invitation Tournament. Their record is 0–1.

YearRoundOpponentResult
1998 First roundFresno StateL 71–73

CIT Results

The Tigers have appeared in three CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournaments. Their combined record is 8–3.

YearRoundOpponentResult
2009 First round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Portland
Idaho
Bradley
W 82–76
W 69–59
L 49–59
2010 First round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Finals
Loyola Marymount
Northern Colorado
Appalachian State
Missouri State
W 86–76
W 63–59
W 64–56
L 65–78
2014 First round
Second round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Grand Canyon
Texas A&M–Corpus Christi
San Diego
Murray State
W 69–67
W 89–60
W 75–60
L 75–98

Notable players

Keith Swagerty in the 1967 NCAA tournament. Keith Swagerty UOP.jpg
Keith Swagerty in the 1967 NCAA tournament.
John Gianelli during the 1970-71 season. John Gianelli UOP.jpg
John Gianelli during the 1970–71 season.

Retired numbers

Pacific has retired five jersey numbers.

Pacific Tigers retired numbers
No.PlayerPos.CareerNo. ret.Ref.
5 Dell Demps PG / SG 1988–19922019 [7]
23 John Gianelli C / PF 1969–19721973 [8]
32 Keith Swagerty F 1964–19671967 [8]
44 Ron Cornelius C 1977–19811982 [8]
55 Michael Olowokandi C 1995–19981998 [8]

West Coast Conference Player of the Year awardees

Big West Conference Player of the Year awardees

References

  1. Pacific Tigers Graphic Identity Sheet (PDF). October 18, 2017. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
  2. "Pacific looking into ex-assistant's possible improper relationship". CBSSports.com. Retrieved March 16, 2016.
  3. "Pacific Basketball Coaches Placed On Suspension - Pacific". www.pacifictigers.com. Retrieved March 16, 2016.
  4. Wire, SI. "Pacific self-imposes postseason ban, penalties". www.si.com. Retrieved March 16, 2016.
  5. "Suspended coach Verlin no longer at Pacific". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 16, 2016.
  6. "Pacific hires 1996 NBA Rookie of the Year Damon Stoudamire as coach". CBSSports.com. Retrieved March 16, 2016.
  7. PACIFIC ATHLETICS TO RETIRE DELL DEMPS’ NO. 5 at Joinpaf.org, 9 Jan 2019
  8. 1 2 3 4 RETIRED NUMBERS/JERSEYS at Pacifictigers.com