1915–16 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team

1915–16 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball
Conference Big Ten Conference
1915–16 record 13–3 (9–3 Big Ten)
Head coach Ralph Jones
Captain Ray Woods
Home arena Kenney Gym
1915–16 Western Conference men's basketball standings
Conf     Overall
Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT
Wisconsin 11 1   .917     20 1   .952
Illinois 9 3   .750     13 3   .813
Northwestern 9 3   .750     13 3   .813
Minnesota 6 6   .500     11 6   .647
Indiana 3 5   .375     6 7   .462
Chicago 4 8   .333     15 11   .577
Iowa 2 4   .333     11 4   .733
Ohio State 2 8   .200     9 13   .409
Purdue 2 10   .167     4 10   .286
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1915–16 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team represented the University of Illinois.

Regular season

The 1915–16 season was a follow up to an undefeated season, in which the Fighting Illini men's basketball team won both a national and Big Ten Conference championship. Coached by Ralph Jones, the Illini continued their winning ways by finishing the season with an overall record of 13 wins and 3 losses and a 9 win 3 loss conference mark. Taking second in the Western Conference to the National Champion Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball team. During the season, the Illini dropped two games to Northwestern and one to eventual champion Wisconsin, but the first loss to the Wildcats was the Illini’s first-ever overtime game as Northwestern scored two points in the overtime period to beat Illinois, 23-21, February 12, 1916, at what is now the Kenney Gym Annex. The starting lineup included Gordon Otto, Dan W. Elwell and Ralf Woods rotating at the forward position, center C. G. Alwood, and guards Clarence Applegran and captain Ray Woods.[1] Woods was named an All-American for his work during this season.[2] Woods and Alwood were named All-Big Ten players for the season.

Roster

Player Position Class Hometown
Clarence O. Applegran Right Forward Freshman Chicago, Illinois
Clyde Alwood Right Forward Junior Clinton, Illinois
Ray Woods Right Guard Junior Oak Park, Illinois
Ralf Woods Right Guard Junior Oak Park, Illinois
John B. Felmley Left Forward Sophomore Bloomington, Illinois
Gordon Otto Right Forward Junior Miami, Florida
Elmer T. Rundquist Center Sophomore San Antonio, Texas
Dan W. Elwell Left Forward Junior
V. W. Dean

[3]

Schedule

DateOpponent Score Result LocationAttendance
December 13, 1915Millikin University36–16WinUrbana, IL1,892
December 17, 1915Millikin University34–19WinDecatur, IL -
January 1, 1916Illinois Wesleyan25–18WinBloomington, IL -
January 4, 1916Wabash College24–16WinUrbana, IL -
January 11, 1916Purdue22–11WinUrbana, IL2,507
January 15, 1916Ohio State21–10WinUrbana, IL2,497
January 22, 1916Wisconsin27–20WinUrbana, IL3,383
February 9, 1916University of Chicago30–17WinChicago, IL -
February 12, 1916Northwestern21–23(OT)LossUrbana, IL3,147
February 19, 1916Wisconsin14–34LossMadison, WI -
February 21, 1916Minnesota27–22WinMinneapolis, MN -
February 26, 1916University of Chicago31–13WinUrbana, IL3,218
February 29, 1916Northwestern16–25LossEvanston, IL -
March 4, 1916Purdue29–19WinWest Lafayette, IN -
March 6, 1916Ohio State28–22WinColumbus, OH -
March 13, 1916Minnesota20–9WinUrbana, IL -

Bold Italic connotes conference game

Player stats

Player Games Played Field Goals Free Throws Points
Ralf Woods[4] 103552122
Gordon Otto[5] 15254090
Clyde Alwood[6] 1545090
Ray Woods[7]1626052
John Felmley[8] 512226
Dan Elwell[9] 106112
Clarence Applegran[10] 16306

Awards and honors

Ray Woods was elected to the "Illini Men's Basketball All-Century Team" in 2004. Woods was also selected as an All-American for the 1915–16 season.

References