1967–68 Houston Cougars men's basketball team

1967–68 Houston Cougars men's basketball
Conference Independent
Ranking
Coaches #1
AP #1
1967–68 record 31–2
Head coach Guy Lewis
Assistant coach Harvey Pate
Home arena Delmar Fieldhouse

The 1967–68 Houston Cougars men's basketball team represented the University of Houston in the 1967–68 NCAA University Division men's basketball season. The team played its home games at Delmar Fieldhouse in Houston for the second consecutive season. This season marked the team's ninth year as an independent member of the NCAA's University Division. Houston was led by twelfth-year head coach Guy Lewis.

During the regular season, the Elvin Hayes-fronted Cougars team would beat the Lew Alcindor-led UCLA Bruins on January 20, 1968, in what was known as the Game of the Century. Houston obtained a perfect 28–0 record for regular season play, and eventually finished with a 31–2 overall record. It was the first time in the program's history that at least 30 wins were achieved. The team finished as number one in both the AP Poll and the Coaches' Poll. The team was invited to the 1968 NCAA Men's University Division Basketball Tournament, and finished as a semifinalist. It was the second Final Four appearance in Houston's history.

Following the season, Elvin Hayes was drafted into the National Basketball Association by the San Diego Rockets as the first overall draft pick in the 1968 NBA Draft. Don Chaney was also taken as the twelfth overall draft pick by the Boston Celtics.

Schedule

Houston's Elvin Hayes is carried in celebration after the victory over UCLA in the 1968 Game of the Century

Houston's regular season included the notable Game of Century against #1 UCLA. With an attendance of 52,693, the game had the highest attendance of any basketball game at any level at the time. It was also the first national broadcast of an NCAA basketball game in prime-time.

Date Rank# Opponent# Result Record Site
Regular season
12/02/1967 #2 Sacramento State W 110–79  1–0 Delmar Fieldhouse
12/04/1967 #2 Abilene Christian W 90–75  2–0 Delmar Fieldhouse
12/07/1967 #2 North Dakota State W 121–88  3–0 Delmar Fieldhouse
12/09/1967 #2 at Illinois W 54–46  4–0 Assembly Hall
Bluebonnet Classic
12/13/1967 #2 George Washington W 86–61  5–0 Delmar Fieldhouse
12/14/1967 #2 Montana State W 113–67  6–0 Delmar Fieldhouse
Regular season
12/16/1967 #2 BYU W 102–69  7–0 Delmar Fieldhouse
12/18/1967 #2 Minnesota W 103–65  8–0 Delmar Fieldhouse
12/22/1967 #2 at Arizona W 81–76  9–0 Bear Down Gym
12/23/1968 #2 at UNLV
(Las Vegas, Nevada)		 W 94–85  10–0
Rainbow Classic
12/28/1967 #2 vs. Bradley W 69–52  11–0 Honolulu International Center Arena
12/29/1967 #2 vs. Marquette W 77–65  12–0 Honolulu International Center Arena
12/30/1967 #2 vs. North Texas W 69–52  13–0 Honolulu International Center Arena
Regular season
01/02/1968 #2 Michigan W 91–65  14–0 Delmar Fieldhouse
01/06/1968 #2 Centenary W 118–81  15–0 Delmar Fieldhouse
01/13/1968 #2 West Texas A&M W 98–53  16–0 Delmar Fieldhouse
01/20/1968 #2 vs. #1 UCLA
(Game of the Century)		 W 71–69  17–0 Astrodome
01/27/1968 #1 Lamar W 112–79  18–0 Delmar Fieldhouse
01/29/1968 #1 Fairfield W 108–76  19–0 Delmar Fieldhouse
02/01/1968 #1 vs. Marshall W 102–93  20–0 Madison Square Garden
02/10/1968 #1 at Centenary W 107–56  21–0 ?
02/15/1968 #1 Miami W 106–64  22–0 Delmar Fieldhouse
02/17/1968 #1 Air Force W 106–82  23–0 Delmar Fieldhouse
02/22/1968 #1 Texas–Arlington
(Houston, Texas)		 W 130–75  24–0
02/24/1968 #1 Valparaiso W 158–81  25–0 Delmar Fieldhouse
02/26/1968 #1 at Hardin–Simmons W 105–82  26–0 ?
03/02/1968 #1 Virginia Tech W 120–79  27–0 Delmar Fieldhouse
03/04/1968 #1 at West Texas A&M W 107–76  28–0 WT Fieldhouse
NCAA Division I Tournament
03/09/1968 #1 vs. Loyola
(First round)		 W 94–76  29–0 Nielsen Fieldhouse
03/15/1968 #1 vs. #9 Louisville
(Sweet Sixteen)		 W 91–75  30–0 WSU Fieldhouse
03/16/1968 #1 vs. TCU
(Elite Eight)		 W 103–68  31–0 WSU Fieldhouse
03/22/1968 #1 vs. #2 UCLA
(Final Four)		 L 69-101  31–1 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
03/23/1968 #1 vs. Ohio State
(Third place game)		 L 85–89  31–2 Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. ( ) Tournament seedings in parentheses.

Roster

1967–68 Houston Cougars men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Home town
G 10 Lewis, VernonVernon Lewis style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 170 lb (77 kg) Sr Houston, Texas
G 12 Anderson, LarryLarry Anderson style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 170 lb (77 kg) So Drumright, Oklahoma
C 14 Spain, KenKen Spain style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 230 lb (104 kg) Jr Houston, Texas
G 20 Gribben, TomTom Gribben style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 180 lb (82 kg) So Berwyn, Illinois
G 22 Hamood, NiemerNiemer Hamood style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 170 lb (77 kg) Jr Dearborn, Michigan
G 24 Chaney, DonDon Chaney style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 210 lb (95 kg) Sr Baton Rouge, Louisiana
F 30 Cooper, LarryLarry Cooper style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 210 lb (95 kg) So Houston, Texas
G 32 Bane, BillyBilly Bane style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 188 lb (85 kg) Jr Charlotte, North Carolina
C 34 Evans, MarsMars Evans style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 250 lb (113 kg) So New York, New York
F 40 Lee, TheodisTheodis Lee style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 210 lb (95 kg) Jr Monroe, Louisiana
G 42 Reynolds, GeorgeGeorge Reynolds style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 205 lb (93 kg) Jr Newark, New Jersey
F 44 Hayes, ElvinElvin Hayes style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 235 lb (107 kg) Sr Rayville, Louisiana
G 50 Taylor, KentKent Taylor style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 180 lb (82 kg) So Houston, Texas
G 52 Van Landingham, BobbyBobby Van Landingham style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 170 lb (77 kg) Jr La Marque, Texas
F 54 Bell, CarlosCarlos Bell style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 215 lb (98 kg) Jr Clinton, Oklahoma
F 54 Bell, MelvinMelvin Bell style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) style="text-align:right; white-space:nowrap; font-size:90%; | 230 lb (104 kg) Jr Clinton, Oklahoma
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster
Last update: 2010-07-29

Team players drafted into the NBA

Round Pick Player NBA Club
Elvin Hayes 1 1 San Diego Rockets
Don Chaney 1 12 Boston Celtics

[1]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.databasebasketball.com/draft/draftyear.htm?lg=N&yr=1968