Winston-Salem State Rams men's basketball
The Winston-Salem State Rams men's basketball team is the men's basketball team that represents Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States. The school's team currently competes in the NCAA Division II Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association. The school won the 1967 NCAA Division II championship. Winston-Salem State competed in Division I from the 2007–08 season to the 2009–10 season as a transitional member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC); it returned to Division II in 2010 for financial reasons.[2][3]
| Winston-Salem State Rams | |
|---|---|
 | |
| University | Winston-Salem State University |
| Head coach | Cleo Hill Jr. (4th season) |
| Conference | Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association |
| Location | Winston-Salem, North Carolina |
| Arena | LJVM Coliseum Annex (capacity: 4,000) |
| Nickname | Rams |
| Colors | Red and white[1] |
| NCAA tournament champions | |
| 1967 (NCAA Division II) | |
| NCAA tournament Final Four | |
| 1967 | |
| NCAA tournament Elite Eight | |
| 1967 | |
| NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen | |
| 1967, 1985, 1999, 2001 | |
| NCAA tournament second round | |
| 1967, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 | |
| NCAA tournament appearances | |
| 1966, 1967, 1977, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2023 | |
| Conference tournament champions | |
| 1953, 1957, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1966, 1970, 1977, 1999, 2000, 2012, 2020, 2023 | |
Among its notable coaches was Clarence "Big House" Gaines (1923–2005): during his 47-year tenure at WSSU as coach, professor, and athletic director, his men's basketball team compiled a record of 828–447. Gaines was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1982.
Noted players under Gaines' era were Earl Monroe, Cleo Hill and sports commentator and columnist Stephen A. Smith.[4][5] Alumnus Earl Williams, an American-Israeli basketball player, played for the school.
Postseason
editNCAA Division II
editThe Rams have made the NCAA Division II men's basketball tournament fourteen times. The Rams have a record of 11–16.
| Year | Region | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | South | Regional semifinals Regional third place |
Oglethorpe South Carolina State |
L 66–69 W 85–81 |
| 1967 | Mideast | Regional semifinals Regional final National Quarterfinals National semifinals National Championship |
Baldwin–Wallace Akron Long Island Kentucky Wesleyan SW Missouri State |
W 91–76 W 88–80 W 62–54 W 85–73 W 77–74 |
| 1977 | South Atlantic | Regional semifinals Regional third place |
Towson Virginia Union |
L 83–107 L 93–107 |
| 1984 | South Atlantic | Regional semifinals Regional third place |
Norfolk State Randolph–Macon |
L 61–70 L 54–69 |
| 1985 | South Atlantic | Regional semifinals Regional Final |
Virginia Union Mount St. Mary's |
W 44–42 L 56–63 |
| 1986 | South Atlantic | Regional semifinals Regional third place |
Mount St. Mary's Virginia Union |
L 71–74 L 77–95 |
| 1999 | South Atlantic | First round Regional semifinals Regional Final |
Elizabeth City State Wingate Lander |
W 71–60 W 66–63 OT L 46–47 |
| 2000 | South Atlantic | Regional semifinals | Georgia College | L 68–72 |
| 2001 | South Atlantic | Regional semifinals Regional Final |
Augusta State Johnson C. Smith |
W 65–48 L 52–64 |
| 2002 | South Atlantic | First round Regional semifinals |
Wingate Shaw |
W 90–75 L 61–62 |
| 2005 | South Atlantic | First round | South Carolina Upstate | L 59–63 |
| 2011 | Atlantic | First round | Shaw | L 47–75 |
| 2012 | Atlantic | First round | West Virginia Wesleyan | L 54–57 |
| 2013 | Atlantic | First round | Slippery Rock | L 67–69 |
| 2023 | Atlantic | First round | Indiana (PA) | L 50–52 |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Winston-Salem State University Brand Guide (PDF). July 20, 2017. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
- ^ "Winston-Salem State jumps to Division I, joins MEAC". ESPN.com. 19 July 2006. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
- ^ "Winston-Salem ready to return to D-II, CIAA". Sporting News. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
- ^ Biography Of A Legend: Clarence "Big House" Gaines, Winston-Salem State University, April 20, 2005, Accessed December 12, 2012.
- ^ Richard Sandomir, ESPN's New Master of the Offensive Foul, The New York Times, July 31, 2005, Accessed December 12, 2012.
External links
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