Forgotten teams with forgotten seasons in CBB.

[Assembly Hall]

How many out there remember this team?

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/charlotte/1977-schedule.html

[Boston Red]

I was born two months before that season started, so I certainly don't remember. I was thinking about the 1990 LMU team the other day, and they certainly don't qualify for the "forgotten" category. But I wonder how many people remember how good LaSalle was that year?

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/la-salle/1990-schedule.html

[Chip R]

How many out there remember this team?

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/charlotte/1977-schedule.html

I remember that team. Cornbread Maxwell's team. Got beat by Al McGuire's last team at Marquette in the semis.

[Assembly Hall]

I was born two months before that season started, so I certainly don't remember. I was thinking about the 1990 LMU team the other day, and they certainly don't qualify for the "forgotten" category. But I wonder how many people remember how good LaSalle was that year?

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/la-salle/1990-schedule.html

Oh yeah, they were damn good.

[cumberlandreds]

How many out there remember this team?

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/charlotte/1977-schedule.html

Yes I remember them. They lost on a last second shot to Al McGuire's Marquette team that won it all on that Monday night. Cornbread Maxwell is one of the best names in sports history too.
On a side note Kentucky beat that same UNCC team the year before in the NIT Finals at MSG. That was the last year the entire NIT was played at MSG before going to campus sites for the early rounds.

[Assembly Hall]

Yes I remember them. They lost on a last second shot to Al McGuire's Marquette team that won it all on that Monday night. Cornbread Maxwell is one of the best names in sports history too.
On a side note Kentucky beat that same UNCC team the year before in the NIT Finals at MSG. That was the last year the entire NIT was played at MSG before going to campus sites for the early rounds.

The good ole days!!!!!!!

[Assembly Hall]

As a die-hard IU fan one of our claims is to be the last national champion that went undefeated in '76. But what a lot of people dont realize is that Indiana wasn't the only team in that Final Four without a blemish.....

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/rutgers/1976-schedule.html

[cumberlandreds]

As a die-hard IU fan one of our claims is to be the last national champion that went undefeated in '76. But what a lot of people dont realize is that Indiana wasn't the only team in that Final Four without a blemish.....

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/rutgers/1976-schedule.html

Yea but they were no match for any of those other teams in that Final Four. I can remember them getting throttled by Michigan. Penn was like that in 1979. IIRC, they were undefeated but got blasted by Mich State.

[Boston Red]

As a die-hard IU fan one of our claims is to be the last national champion that went undefeated in '76. But what a lot of people dont realize is that Indiana wasn't the only team in that Final Four without a blemish.....

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/rutgers/1976-schedule.html

Interesting, but the MOST interesting thing I learned at that link is that Rutgers played VMI in the regional final. How did that happen (well, the answer is that VMI upset Tennessee and DePaul to reach the regional final,, but that's pretty wild)?

[Tom Servo]

I went to UNC Charlotte for two years and never heard about that 1977 team at all lol

[Assembly Hall]

I went to UNC Charlotte for two years and never heard about that 1977 team at all lol

Well, you learned something new!!!!!! LOL

Edit: And on a side note......3 years later the coach of the Niners in '77, Lee Rose, led Purdue to the FF in '80.

[cumberlandreds]

Interesting, but the MOST interesting thing I learned at that link is that Rutgers played VMI in the regional final. How did that happen (well, the answer is that VMI upset Tennessee and DePaul to reach the regional final,, but that's pretty wild)?

That Tennessee team was really good too. IIRC, that was the last year of the Ernie and Bernie show. When they were together they had some really good teams but they never won a NCAA tournament game.

[Assembly Hall]

That Tennessee team was really good too. IIRC, that was the last year of the Ernie and Bernie show. When they were together they had some really good teams but they never won a NCAA tournament game.

Oh man, Grunfeld and King!!!!!! Brings back memories.

Edit: I did a little more research, '77 was the last year for the "Bernie and Ernie" show. 1st round loss to the the "Louie and Bowie" show.

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/tennessee/1977-schedule.html

[dubc47834]

As a die-hard IU fan one of our claims is to be the last national champion that went undefeated in '76. But what a lot of people dont realize is that Indiana wasn't the only team in that Final Four without a blemish.....

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/rutgers/1976-schedule.html

A team that even a lot of IU fans forget about is the '75 IU team. Coach Knight has even said that team was far better than the '76 team. Before May broke his arm they were undefeated, and probly would have stayed that way. All 5 starters were named to the All Big Ten Team that year, which is pretty amazing I think. That team ended up with 8 players drafted to the NBA.

- - - Updated - - -


As a die-hard IU fan one of our claims is to be the last national champion that went undefeated in '76. But what a lot of people dont realize is that Indiana wasn't the only team in that Final Four without a blemish.....

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/rutgers/1976-schedule.html

A team that even a lot of IU fans forget about is the '75 IU team. Coach Knight has even said that team was far better than the '76 team. Before May broke his arm they were undefeated, and probly would have stayed that way. All 5 starters were named to the All Big Ten Team that year, which is pretty amazing I think. That team ended up with 8 players drafted to the NBA.

[Assembly Hall]

A team that even a lot of IU fans forget about is the '75 IU team. Coach Knight has even said that team was far better than the '76 team. Before May broke his arm they were undefeated, and probly would have stayed that way. All 5 starters were named to the All Big Ten Team that year, which is pretty amazing I think. That team ended up with 8 players drafted to the NBA.

- - - Updated - - -



A team that even a lot of IU fans forget about is the '75 IU team. Coach Knight has even said that team was far better than the '76 team. Before May broke his arm they were undefeated, and probly would have stayed that way. All 5 starters were named to the All Big Ten Team that year, which is pretty amazing I think. That team ended up with 8 players drafted to the NBA.

That '75 team was absolutely the greatest team in IU history.

[dubc47834]

That '75 team was absolutely the greatest team in IU history.

Yes, you can tell the Hoosier fans that know their history from those that are just fans(not a bad thing). When you mention great IU teams they mention the '76 team, the ones that know their history mention that '75 team.

[Assembly Hall]

Yes, you can tell the Hoosier fans that know their history from those that are just fans(not a bad thing). When you mention great IU teams they mention the '76 team, the ones that know their history mention that '75 team.

Damn right.

[Assembly Hall]

From #2 to not making the tourney. Check out the roster.

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/wichita-state/1982-schedule.html

[dubc47834]

From #2 to not making the tourney. Check out the roster.

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/wichita-state/1982-schedule.html

The weird part of that is, once they were ranked #2 they only lost 3 more games!

[Boston Red]

From #2 to not making the tourney. Check out the roster.

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/wichita-state/1982-schedule.html

This explains both the roster and the lack of NCAA Tournament that year. LOL

https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1916&dat=19820112&id=H-kgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9G0FAAAAIBAJ&pg=5586,1466912&hl=en

[Chip R]

From #2 to not making the tourney. Check out the roster.

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/wichita-state/1982-schedule.html

I remember that team from the year before and they were playing Iowa in the NCAA tournament. Even though they were the 6th seed and Iowa was the 3rd seed the game was in Wichita. Lute Olson was out of timeouts and called one anyway and that sealed the deal.

[dubc47834]

The '89-'90 Loyola Marymount team was one of my favorites all time. That team was sooooo fun to watch. They had 3 players average over 20 pts a game. I remember being in elementary school crying when I head the news about Hank Gathers, then again when Bo Kimble was shooting FT's left handed. Man that team was good!

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/loyola-marymount/1990.html

- - - Updated - - -


I remember that team from the year before and they were playing Iowa in the NCAA tournament. Even though they were the 6th seed and Iowa was the 3rd seed the game was in Wichita. Lute Olson was out of timeouts and called one anyway and that sealed the deal.

So Chris Webber puller a Lute Olson...LOL

[Assembly Hall]

The weird part of that is, once they were ranked #2 they only lost 3 more games!

The "Valley"!

[Assembly Hall]

Now this would suck......

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/southern-california/1971-schedule.html

[Chip R]

Here's one:

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/maryland/1974-schedule.html

Lost by 3 in OT to the eventual national champs, NC State in the conference tournament. Lefty Driesell was so impressed he went on their bus after the conference championship game, congratulated them and wished them luck in the NCAAs. They only lost 5 times that season. 3 to NC State, 1 at Carolina and 1 at UCLA by 1 point.

[Reds Fanatic]

The '89-'90 Loyola Marymount team was one of my favorites all time. That team was sooooo fun to watch. They had 3 players average over 20 pts a game. I remember being in elementary school crying when I head the news about Hank Gathers, then again when Bo Kimble was shooting FT's left handed. Man that team was good!


I remember that team well. If that team did not put up at least 120 points it was off night.

[Boston Red]

I remember that team well. If that team did not put up at least 120 points it was off night.

Yeah, as I said earlier in the thread, that team really doesn't qualify for this category. They're well-remembered.

[Assembly Hall]

Here's one:

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/maryland/1974-schedule.html

Lost by 3 in OT to the eventual national champs, NC State in the conference tournament. Lefty Driesell was so impressed he went on their bus after the conference championship game, congratulated them and wished them luck in the NCAAs. They only lost 5 times that season. 3 to NC State, 1 at Carolina and 1 at UCLA by 1 point.

And hence the "Maryland Rule".

[Revering4Blue]

I was born two months before that season started, so I certainly don't remember. I was thinking about the 1990 LMU team the other day, and they certainly don't qualify for the "forgotten" category. But I wonder how many people remember how good LaSalle was that year?

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/la-salle/1990-schedule.html

Good call.

They were a handful with the L-Train, Doug Overton and Randy Woods, all of whom spent time in the NBA. Unfortunately, they played a lousy second half against Clemson - granted, a team with Dale Davis and Elden Campbell - and were ousted after blowing a huge first half lead.

1990 was full of forgotten CBB teams with good seasons/strong NCAA tourney showings. Among them:

Texas - As a #10 seed, Tom Pender's team rode a wave of upsets (Georgia, Purdue, Xavier -who had knocked off a Georgetown team with a couple of dudes named Mourning and Mutombo) before narrowly falling to then-fellow Southwest Conference foe Arkansas in the Elite 8 match-up. They featured a couple of NBA draftee guards (Lance Blanks and Travis Mays) and a shot-blocking machine (Panama Myers) at center.

UConn - The first powerful Jim Calhoun-coached UConn team was the #1 seed in the East fell to Duke on a Christian Laettner-beater-beater, but remain largely forgotten today. The stars of the team? Tate George, Scott Burrell and Nedev Henefeld from Israel. I have no idea (or have forgotten) what happened to Henefeld, but IIRC, he only played one season in Storrs.

And my personal favorite 1990 story:

Ball State - Even after upsetting Gary Payton and Oregon State; Felton Spencer and Louisville, they weren't supposed to have a prayer in the West Regional Sweet Sixteen against eventual champ UNLV, but fell by only two points, holding the Runnin' Rebels to 69 points (far below their average) in the process. It should also be noted that Larry Johnson got away with offensive goaltending once, too, in, once again, a two point UNLV win. Anyway, this game also featured one of the best dunks ever - and no, it wasn't performed by a Rebel:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGFjCBzM5qk

[dubc47834]

Yeah, as I said earlier in the thread, that team really doesn't qualify for this category. They're well-remembered.

I think they are remembered by die hard sports fans, but I feel a lot of people don't even know where LMU is from, Let alone know that team and the greatness of Kimble/Gathers.

[Assembly Hall]

I think they are remembered by die hard sports fans, but I feel a lot of people don't even know where LMU is from, Let alone know that team and the greatness of Kimble/Gathers.

I bet USC basketball fans know all too well.

[cumberlandreds]

The '89-'90 Loyola Marymount team was one of my favorites all time. That team was sooooo fun to watch. They had 3 players average over 20 pts a game. I remember being in elementary school crying when I head the news about Hank Gathers, then again when Bo Kimble was shooting FT's left handed. Man that team was good!

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/loyola-marymount/1990.html

- - - Updated - - -



So Chris Webber puller a Lute Olson...LOL

Loved watching that LMU team. It was just amazing how they could score. It became even more of a story and must watch after Gathers died. I was really rooting for them to win it all but knew they had no shot to beat that UNLV team. ESPN Classic replayed a bunch of their games a few years back and I think I recorded and watched them all. They were something else!

[cumberlandreds]

Now this would suck......

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/southern-california/1971-schedule.html

This USC team and that Maryland team mentioned in other posts may have been two of the best teams to never be in the NCAA's or to win it. They were great teams but were in an era when only one team per conference got to go to the tournament. Just bad timing for them.

[Chip R]

Here's one from 1970: The Jacksonville Dolphins and the A-Train, Artis Gilmore.

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/jacksonville/1970-schedule.html

[Assembly Hall]

I bet USC basketball fans know all too well.

I will elaborate a little more for those that dont know. Hank and Bo transferred from USC to LMU. I am not the Elias Sports Bureau but damn two guys left that both ended up scoring over 2,000 points in their careers. How crazy is that?

[Boston Red]

Do you think both USC fans that are aware they have a basketball program remember Hank and Bo? :)

[Chip R]

Here's another one that most people outside Des Moines, Iowa don't know or care about. An excellent 3 year stretch for this program. Got beat by UCLA in the semis and lost in the regional finals the next 2 years. They didn't even sniff the NCAAs until 2008 where they lost on a last second shot. Interesting postscript to this. After the 1971 season, Drake's coach, Maury John became the head coach at Iowa State just 40 miles up I-35. I always thought that was weird him being the Drake coach and then the ISU coach. Did pretty well at ISU but in his 3rd season there he got the big C and had to quit and passed away soon after.

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/drake/1969.html

[cumberlandreds]

Here's one from 1970: The Jacksonville Dolphins and the A-Train, Artis Gilmore.

https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/jacksonville/1970-schedule.html

They beat Kentucky in the regional final that year. It was Dan Issell's senior year at UK and the last great team Rupp had.

[cumberlandreds]

1971 Western Kentucky. They got to the Final Four lead by Jim McDaniel. They killed Kentucky in the 2nd round of the NCAA's. That was first meeting ever between those two. It is also one of my earliest remembrances of watching sports and being really interested. WKU eventually had to vacate that Final Four as Jim McDaniel had signed with an agent.


https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/western-kentucky/1971-schedule.html

[cumberlandreds]

Here's another one from the way back machine. Austin Peay from 1973. They lost to Kentucky in the 2nd round in overtime 106-100. The big name on that team was Fly Williams. He averaged 29 points a game and 7 rebounds. The chant APU did was "Get the Fly Open, Let's go Peay!". You couldn't ever top that! :laugh:


https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/austin-peay/1973-schedule.html

[Assembly Hall]

Do you think both USC fans that are aware they have a basketball program remember Hank and Bo? :)

I am sure Tom Selleck and Paul Westphal remember!!!!!!

[Kingspoint]

76-77?

That was the final score of Oregon's heart-breaking April Fool's Day loss to North Carolina last season (and the year the Blazers won it all).