1940–41 Washington State Cougars men's basketball team

The 1940–41 Washington State Cougars men's basketball team represented Washington State College for the 1940–41 college basketball season. Led by thirteenth-year head coach Jack Friel, the Cougars were members of the Pacific Coast Conference and played their home games on campus at WSC Gymnasium in Pullman, Washington.

1940–41 Washington State Cougars men's basketball
ConferencePacific Coast Conference
Record26–6 (13–3 PCC)
Head coach
Home arenaWSC Gymnasium
Seasons
1940–41 Pacific Coast Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
North
Washington State 13 3   .813 26 6   .813
Oregon State 9 7   .563 19 9   .679
Oregon 7 9   .438 18 18   .500
Washington 7 9   .438 12 13   .480
Idaho 4 12   .250 14 15   .483
South
Stanford 10 2   .833 21 5   .808
California 6 6   .500 15 12   .556
USC 6 6   .500 15 10   .600
UCLA 2 10   .167 6 20   .231
† Conference playoff series winner

The Cougars were 22–5 overall in the regular season and 13–3 in conference play, first place in Northern division. They met Southern division Stanford in a best-of-three series in Pullman for the PCC title,[2] which the Cougars swept in two games.[3][4][5][6]

Washington State advanced to the eight-team NCAA tournament in Kansas City; they defeated Creighton and Arkansas to advance to the final, but lost to Wisconsin by five points.

This remains the most successful season for Cougar men's basketball; WSU has made six NCAA tournament appearances since (1980, 1983, 1994, 2007, 2008, 2024), and the best result is the Sweet Sixteen in 2008.

Postseason results

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Date
time, TV
Opponent Result Record Site (attendance)
city, state
Pacific Coast Conference Playoff Series
Fri, March 14
8:00 pm
Stanford
Game One
W 46–43  23–5
WSC Gymnasium (5,600)
Pullman, Washington
Sat, March 15
8:00 pm
Stanford
Game Two
W 44–40  24–5
WSC Gymnasium (5,600)
Pullman, Washington
NCAA tournament
Fri, March 21*
8:30 pm
vs. Creighton
Quarterfinal
W 48–39  25–5
Municipal Auditorium 
Kansas City, Missouri
Sat, March 22*
8:30 pm
vs. Arkansas
Semifinal
W 64–53  26–5
Municipal Auditorium 
Kansas City, Missouri
Sat, March 29*
6:30 pm
vs. Wisconsin
Final
L 34–39  26–6
Municipal Auditorium 
Kansas City, Missouri
*Non-conference game. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Pacific time.

References

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  1. ^ "2017-18 Men's Basketball Media Guide". Pac-12 Conference. p. 72. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
  2. ^ "Stanford team reaches scene". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). March 14, 1941. p. 15.
  3. ^ "Cougars defeat Stanford, 46-43 in opening tilt". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. March 15, 1941. p. 10.
  4. ^ Bankson, Rod (March 15, 1941). "Washington State stages great second half rally to defeat Stanford". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 11.
  5. ^ Bankson, Rod (March 16, 1941). "Washington State wins Pacific Coast Conference basketball crown". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 1, sports.
  6. ^ "Jack Friel, happiest man in land, gets and gives congratulation after Cougars win Pacific Coast hoop title". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). (photos). March 17, 1941. p. 11.
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