1961–62 Western Kentucky State Hilltoppers basketball team

1961–62 Western Kentucky State Hilltoppers basketball
Ohio Valley Conference Champion
NCAA Tournament, Sweet Sixteen
ConferenceOhio Valley Conference
Record17–10 (11–1 OVC)
Head coach
Assistant coachTed Hornback
Home arenaHealth & Physical Education Building
Seasons

The 1961–62 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers men's basketball team represented Western Kentucky State College (now known as Western Kentucky University) during the 1961-62 NCAA University Division Basketball season. The Hilltoppers were led by Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year Edgar Diddle, in his 40th year as coach, and leading scorer Bobby Rascoe, who averaged more than 25 points per game.[1] The Hilltoppers won the OVC championship, as well as the conference's automatic bid to the 1962 NCAA University Division basketball tournament, where they advanced to the Sweet Sixteen.[2] Rascoe, Darel Carrier, and Harry Todd were named to the all-conference team. Diddle coached his 1000th game at Western on January 6, a victory against New Mexico State.[3]

Schedule

[4]

Date
time, TV 		Opponent Result Record Site
city, state
Regular Season
12/9/1961*
 at Kent State W 88–81  1–0
 Memorial Athletic and Convocation Center 
Kent, OH
12/12/1961*
 Northwest Louisiana W 93–66  2–0
 Health & Physical Education Building 
Bowling Green, KY
12/15/1961*
 vs. No. 9 St. Bonaventure
Bluegrass Tournament 		L 65–66  2–1
 Freedom Hall 
Louisville, KY
12/16/1961*
 vs. Texas
Bluegrass Tournament 		L 68–78  2–2
 Freedom Hall 
Louisville, KY
12/19/1961*
 Southeastern Louisiana W 86–62  3–2
 Health & Physical Education Building 
Bowling Green, KY
12/29/1961*
 at Marshall L 84–89  3–3
 Memorial Field House 
Huntington, WV
12/30/1961*
 at Xavier L 83–95  3–4
 Schmidt Fieldhouse 
Cincinnati, OH
1/6/1962*
 New Mexico State
Diddle’s 1000th Game 		W 71–67  4–4
 Health & Physical Education Building 
Bowling Green, KY
1/9/1962
 Tennessee Tech W 93–61  5–4 (1-0)
 Health & Physical Education Building 
Bowling Green, KY
1/13/1962
 at Murray State W 72–61  6–4 (2-0)
 Racer Arena 
Murray, KY
1/18/1962
 at Morehead State W 80–79  7–4 (3-0)
 Wetherby Gymnasium 
Morehead, KY
1/20/1962
 Middle Tennessee W 89–69  8–4 (4-0)
 Health & Physical Education Building 
Bowling Green, KY
1/27/1962
 at Eastern Kentucky W 96–62  9–4 (5-0)
 Alumni Coliseum 
Richmond, KY
1/30/1962
 at Tennessee Tech L 72–79  9–5 (5-1)
 Memorial Gymnasium 
Cookeville, TN
2/3/1962*
 at DePaul L 78–86  9–6
 Alumni Hall 
Chicago, IL
2/6/1962
 at East Tennessee W 89–84  10–6 (6-1)
 Brooks Gymnasium 
Johnson City, TN
2/13/1962
 at Middle Tennessee W 87–81  11–6 (7-1)
 Alumni Memorial Gym 
Murfreesboro, TN
2/17/1962
 Murray State W 96–77  12–6 (8-1)
 Health & Physical Education Building 
Bowling Green, KY
2/19/1962
 Morehead State W 77–51  13–6 (9-1)
 Health & Physical Education Building 
Bowling Green, KY
2/21/1962*
 Xavier W 88–83  14–6
 Health & Physical Education Building 
Bowling Green, KY
2/24/1962
 Eastern Kentucky W 88–74  15–6 (10-1)
 Health & Physical Education Building 
Bowling Green, KY
2/26/1962
 East Tennessee W 77–66  16–6 (11-1)
 Health & Physical Education Building 
Bowling Green, KY
3/2/1962*
 at La Salle L 84–88  16–7
 Convention Hall 
Philadelphia, PA
3/7/1962*
 at Louisville L 71–88  16–8
 Freedom Hall 
Louisville, KY
1962 NCAA University Division basketball tournament
3/12/1962*
 vs. Detroit
Mideast Region First Round 		W 90–81  17–8
 Memorial Coliseum 
Lexington, KY
3/16/1962*
 vs. No. 1 Ohio State
Sweet Sixteen 		L 73–93  17–9
 Iowa Field House 
Iowa City, IA
3/17/1962*
 vs. Butler
Mideast Region Consolation 		L 86–87  17–10
 Iowa Field House 
Iowa City, IA
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.

References

  1. ^ Ruby, Earl (1979). Red Towel Territory : A History of Athletics at Western Kentucky University. American National Bank and Trust Co.
  2. ^ 2019-2020 OVC Basketball Media Guide, retrieved 4 May 2020
  3. ^ 2019-2020 WKU Basketball Media Guide retrieved 21 April 2020
  4. ^ 1961-62 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers Schedule and Results, Sports Reference, retrieved 12 May 2020


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