1973–74 Idaho State Bengals men's basketball team

American college basketball season

1973–74 Idaho State Bengals men's basketball
Big Sky Champions
ConferenceBig Sky Conference
Record20–8 (11–3 Big Sky)
Head coach
  • Jim Killingsworth (3rd season)
Home arenaISU Minidome
Seasons
1973–74 Big Sky men's basketball standings
  • v
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 Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Idaho State † 11 – 3   .786 20 – 8   .714
Montana 11 – 3   .786 19 – 8   .704
Weber State 8 – 6   .571 14 – 12   .538
Gonzaga 7 – 7   .500 13 – 13   .500
Boise State 6 – 8   .429 12 – 14   .462
Idaho 5 – 9   .357 12 – 14   .462
Montana State 5 – 9   .357 11 – 15   .423
Northern Arizona 3 – 11   .214 3 – 18   .143
† One-game playoff winner

The 1973–74 Idaho State Bengals men's basketball team represented Idaho State University during the 1973–74 NCAA Division I men's basketball season.

The Bengals were led by third-year head coach Jim Killingsworth and played their home games on campus at the ISU Minidome in Pocatello. They finished the regular season at 19–7 overall, with a 11–3 record in the Big Sky Conference, as did the Montana Grizzlies, and the teams split their season series.[1][2]

With two years until the conference tournament was introduced, the Big Sky title was decided with an unscheduled one-game playoff at Missoula on Tuesday night. A coin flip eleven days earlier determined the host.[3] Before a record crowd at Dahlberg Arena, the visiting Bengals won 60–57 and advanced to the 25-team NCAA tournament, their first appearance in fourteen years.[4][5][6]

ISU hosted the first round (subregional) of the West regional, and met #17 New Mexico (20–6)[7] in the nightcap on Saturday night.[8][9] The visiting Lobos, WAC champions, won by eight to end the Bengals' season at 20–8.[10]

Senior forward Jim Anderson was named to the all-conference team; senior center Dan Spindler and junior guard Kevin Hoyt were honorable mention.[11][12]

Idaho State returned to the NCAA tournament three years later and advanced to the Elite Eight, which remains the best-ever showing for a Big Sky team.

Postseason results

Date
time, TV 		Rank# Opponent# Result Record Site (attendance)
city, state
Big Sky Playoff
Tue, March 5
 at Montana
Playoff 		W 60–57  20–7
 Dahlberg Arena (8,343)
Missoula, Montana
NCAA tournament
Sat, March 9*
9:10 pm 		vs. No. 17 New Mexico
First round 		L 65–73  20–8
 ISU Minidome (9,000)
Pocatello, Idaho
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Mountain time.

References

  1. ^ "ISU, Montana win, share Sky crown". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. March 2, 1974. p. 14.
  2. ^ "Big Sky loser may be winner". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. March 4, 1974. p. 15.
  3. ^ "Big Sky playoff at Missoula March 5". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. February 25, 1974. p. 11.
  4. ^ "ISU holds off Grizzlies". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. March 6, 1974. p. 13.
  5. ^ "Growing rookie key for Bengals". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. March 6, 1974. p. 17.
  6. ^ "ISU wins Big Sky; Montana waits NIT". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). UPI. March 6, 1974. p. D1.
  7. ^ "SC climbs to seventh; UCLA third". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. March 5, 1974. p. 3B.
  8. ^ "NCAA regionals". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). March 9, 1974. p. 2B.
  9. ^ "NCAA pairings". Milwaukee Sentinel. March 9, 1974. p. 1, part 2.
  10. ^ "New Mexico edges ISU". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. March 10, 1974. p. 14.
  11. ^ "Montana's McKenzie favorite Big Sky all-star team pick". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. March 8, 1974. p. 17.
  12. ^ "Zags' Morrill Big Sky pick". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. March 8, 1974. p. 17.

External links

  • Sports Reference – Idaho State Bengals – 1973–74 basketball season
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Idaho State Bengals men's basketball
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