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1965–66 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball team

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]

1965–66 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball
Ohio Valley Conference Champion
OVC Tournament Champion
NCAA Tournament, Sweet Sixteen
Mideast Region 3rd Place
ConferenceOhio Valley Conference
Ranking
APNo. 10
Record25–3 (14–0 OVC)
Head coach
Assistant coachGene Rhodes
Home arenaE. A. Diddle Arena
Seasons

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

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[7]

Date
time, TV 		Rank# Opponent# Result Record Site
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 Kentucky W 107–88  12–1 (3-0)
 Alumni Coliseum 
Richmond, KY
1/17/1966
 at Morehead State W 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 Tennessee W 96–79  17–2 (8-0)
 Brooks Gymnasium 
Johnson City, TN
2/14/1966
 Tennessee Tech W 85–72  18–2 (9-0)
 E. A. Diddle Arena 
Bowling Green, KY
2/19/1966
 Morehead State W 73–58  19–2 (10-0)
 E. A. Diddle Arena 
Bowling Green, KY
2/21/1966
 Eastern Kentucky W 72–67  20–2 (11-0)
 E. A. Diddle Arena 
Bowling Green, KY
2/26/1966
 Murray State W 71–59  21–2 (12-0)
 E. A. Diddle Arena 
Bowling Green, KY
2/28/1966
 Middle Tennessee W 81–47  22–2 (13-0)
 E. A. Diddle Arena 
Bowling Green, KY
3/3/1966
 Austin Peay W 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.

References

edit
  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


 

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