1976–77 Illinois State Redbirds men's basketball team

1976–77 Illinois State Redbirds men's basketball
NIT, Quarterfinal
ConferenceIndependent
Record22–7
Head coach
Assistant coaches
  • Ron Ferguson
  • Bill Flanagan
  • Jeff Jones
  • Roger Powell
Home arenaHorton Field House
Seasons
1976–77 NCAA Division I men's basketball independents standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
No. 4 UNLV –   – 29 – 3   .906
No. 6 Syracuse –   – 26 – 4   .867
No. 12 Detroit –   – 25 – 4   .862
Old Dominion –   – 25 – 4   .862
Providence –   – 24 – 5   .828
Holy Cross –   – 23 – 6   .793
St. Bonaventure –   – 23 – 6   .793
No. 7 Marquette –   – 25 – 7   .781
North Texas State –   – 21 – 6   .778
Illinois State –   – 22 – 7   .759
No. 10 Notre Dame –   – 22 – 7   .759
Oral Roberts –   – 21 – 7   .750
Army –   – 20 – 8   .714
St. John's –   – 22 – 9   .710
Milwaukee –   – 19 – 8   .704
Georgetown –   – 19 – 9   .679
Virginia Tech –   – 19 – 10   .655
James Madison –   – 17 – 9   .654
Northwestern State –   – 17 – 9   .654
Texas–Pan American –   – 17 – 9   .654
Connecticut –   – 17 – 10   .630
Seton Hall –   – 18 – 11   .621
UNC Wilmington –   – 16 – 10   .615
Portland State –   – 16 – 10   .615
Iona –   – 15 – 10   .600
Dayton –   – 16 – 11   .593
Fairfield –   – 16 – 11   .593
Georgia Southern –   – 16 – 11   .593
Richmond –   – 15 – 11   .577
Saint Francis (PA) –   – 15 – 11   .577
DePaul –   – 15 – 12   .556
Northeast Louisiana –   – 15 – 12   .556
Stetson –   – 15 – 12   .556
Utah State –   – 15 – 12   .556
Colgate –   – 13 – 11   .542
Navy –   – 13 – 11   .542
Oklahoma City –   – 14 – 12   .538
South Carolina –   – 14 – 12   .538
Valparaiso –   – 13 – 12   .520
Catholic –   – 13 – 13   .500
Fairleigh Dickinson –   – 13 – 13   .500
Loyola (IL) –   – 13 – 13   .500
Maine –   – 13 – 13   .500
Niagara –   – 13 – 13   .500
Rhode Island –   – 13 – 13   .500
Saint Peter's –   – 13 – 13   .500
VCU –   – 13 – 13   .500
Butler –   – 13 – 14   .481
Manhattan –   – 13 – 14   .481
New Hampshire –   – 12 – 14   .462
Northeastern –   – 12 – 14   .462
St. Francis (NY) –   – 12 – 14   .462
Air Force –   – 12 – 15   .444
Denver –   – 12 – 15   .444
Southern Mississippi –   – 11 – 16   .407
Siena –   – 9 – 15   .375
Cleveland State –   – 10 – 17   .370
Xavier –   – 10 – 17   .370
Centenary (LA) –   – 11 – 19   .367
Long Island –   – 9 – 16   .360
Hawaii –   – 9 – 18   .333
Vermont –   – 8 – 17   .320
Boston College –   – 8 – 18   .308
Baptist –   – 8 – 19   .296
Boston University –   – 7 – 19   .269
Robert Morris –   – 7 – 19   .269
Samford –   – 7 – 19   .269
Mercer –   – 6 – 19   .240
Hardin–Simmons –   – 6 – 21   .222
Houston Baptist –   – 6 – 23   .207
Buffalo –   – 5 – 21   .192
Fordham –   – 5 – 21   .192
Wagner –   – 3 – 21   .125
Canisius –   – 3 – 22   .120
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1976–77 Illinois State Redbirds men's basketball team represented Illinois State University during the 1976–77 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Redbirds, led by second year head coach Gene Smithson, played their home games at Horton Field House and competed as an independent (not a member of a conference). They finished the season 22–7.

The Redbirds received an invitation to the 1977 National Invitation Tournament. It was their first postseason appearance as an NCAA Division I member. They defeated Creighton University in the regional round and lost to the University of Houston in the quarterfinal round.

Roster

1976–77 Illinois State Redbirds men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Hometown
F 24 John Crossen 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 220 lb (100 kg) Sr St. Clair Shores, MI
F 52 Jeff Widdel 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 209 lb (95 kg) Sr Rock Island, IL
C 00 Jeff Wilkins 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Sr Chicago, IL
F 10 Billy Lewis 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Jr Chicago, IL
G 31 Rick Ferina 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 180 lb (82 kg) So Niles, IL
G 21 Derrick Mayes 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 170 lb (77 kg) So Elgin, IL
C 32 Joe Galvin 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Fr Bloomington, IL
G 13 Ron Jones 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 165 lb (75 kg) Fr Venice, IL
F 35 Larry Lowe 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 190 lb (86 kg) Fr Glenwood, IL
F 42 Robert McCoy 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Fr Chicago Heights, IL
G 44 Randy Smithson Injured 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 170 lb (77 kg) Fr Normal, IL
F 45 Del Yarbrough 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 225 lb (102 kg) Fr North Chicago, IL
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

[1]

Schedule

Date
time, TV 		Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Regular Season
November 26, 1976*
7:00 pm 		vs. Northeast Louisiana
New Orleans Classic
[Semifinal] 		W 87–78  1–0
  26 – Lewis   12 – Lewis    –    Health & Physical Education Center (2,850)
New Orleans, LA
November 27, 1976*
 at New Orleans
New Orleans Classic
[Final] 		L 73–91  1–1
  17 – Wilkins,
Mayes 		  12 – Wilkins    –    Health & Physical Education Center (3,162)
New Orleans, LA
November 30, 1976*
7:30 pm 		Lewis W 79–60  2–1
  16 – Lewis   15 – Lewis    –    Horton Field House (5,000)
Normal, IL
December 4, 1976*
6:00 pm 		at Central Michigan W 81–76  3–1
  28 – Wilkins   11 – Lewis    –    Daniel P. Rose Center (6,075)
Mount Pleasant, MI
December 6, 1976*
7:30 pm 		Northern Illinois W 78–76  4–1
  29 – Wilkins   10 – Wilkins    –    Horton Field House (4,700)
Normal, IL
December 11, 1976*
7:30 pm 		San Jose State W 101–82  5–1
  18 – Wilkins   13 – Wilkins    –    Horton Field House (5,500)
Normal, IL
December 18, 1976*
7:15 pm 		at Akron W 91–85  6–1
  27 – Wilkins   14 – Wilkins    –    Memorial Hall (832)
Akron, OH
December 20, 1976*
6:30 pm 		at Kent State W 73–69  7–1
  26 – Wilkins   12 – Wilkins    –    Memorial Gymnasium (1,200)
Kent, OH
December 23, 1976*
7:30 pm 		Drake L 67–80  7–2
  23 – Wilkins   14 – Wilkins    –    Horton Field House (5,200)
Normal, IL
December 28, 1976*
 vs. Seattle
Connecticut Classic
[Semifinal] 		W 83–72  8–2
  28 – Lewis   14 – Wilkins    –    Hartford Civic Center (6,630)
Hartford, CT
December 29, 1976*
 at Connecticut
Connecticut Classic
[Final] 		W 88–77  9–2
   –      –      –    Hartford Civic Center (9,367)
Hartford, CT
January 3, 1977*
7:30 pm, WEEK 		Bradley W 89–66  10–2
   –      –      –    Horton Field House (6,200)
Normal, IL
January 5, 1977*
7:30 pm 		Pacific W 74–56  11–2
   –      –      –    Horton Field House (3,200)
Normal, IL
January 10, 1977*
7:30 pm 		Northern Iowa W 74–61  12–2
   –      –      –    Horton Field House (5,700)
Normal, IL
January 12, 1977*
10:05 pm 		at San Jose State L 75–79  12–3
   –      –      –    Independence High School Gymnasium (2,350)
San Jose CA
January 15, 1977*
7:30 pm 		at Oral Roberts L 75–84  12–4
   –      –      –    John Mabee Center (9,646)
Tulsa, OK
January 19, 1977*
7:30 pm 		Saint Louis L 77–84 2OT 12–5
   –      –      –    Horton Field House (4,200)
Normal, IL
January 22, 1977*
7:30 pm 		at Western Illinois W 89–80  13–5
   –      –      –    Western Hall (4,220)
Macomb, IL
January 25, 1977*
7:30 pm 		Indiana State W 70–64  14–5
   –      –      –    Horton Field House (5,300)
Normal, IL
January 27, 1977*
7:30 pm 		Northern Colorado W 108–61  15–5
   –      –      –    Horton Field House (3,500)
Normal, IL
January 31, 1977*
6:30 pm 		at Indiana State L 84–100  15–6
   –      –      –    Hulman Civic University Center (10,102)
Terre Haute, IN
February 3, 1977*
7:30 pm 		No. 4 Nevada–Las Vegas W 88–84  16–6
   –      –      –    Horton Field House (8,000)
Normal, IL
February 5, 1977*
6:30 pm 		at Marshall W 103–91  17–6
   –      –      –    Veterans Memorial Fieldhouse (2,638)
Huntington, WV
February 12, 1977*
7:30 pm 		Southern Illinois–Edwardsville W 85–58  18–6
   –      –      –    Horton Field House (5,300)
Normal, IL
February 16, 1977*
7:30 pm 		at Northern Illinois W 70–66  19–6
   –      –      –    Chick Evans Field House (6,076)
DeKalb, IL
February 19, 1977*
7:30 pm 		South Alabama W 107–82  20–6
   –      –      –    Horton Field House (5,700)
Normal, IL
February 26, 1977*
7:30 pm 		Butler W 83–75  21–6
  41 – Wilkins    –      –    Horton Field House (8,000)
Normal, IL
National Invitation {NIT} Tournament
March 8, 1977*
7:30 pm 		at Creighton
Regional 		W 65–58  22–6
  21 – Wilkins   12 – Wilkins   4 – Lewis  Omaha Civic Auditorium (6,336)
Omaha, NE
March 14, 1977*
8:00 pm 		vs. Houston
Quarterfinal 		L 90–91 OT 22–7
  28 – Wilkins   9 – Wilkins   13 – Jones  Madison Square Garden (IV) (9,581)
New York, NY
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Central Standard Time.

[2] [3]

References

  1. ^ "Redbird basketball 76–77". The Daily Vidette. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  2. ^ "1976-77 Illinois State Redbirds Schedule and Results". Sports Reference. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  3. ^ "1976-77 Men's Basketball Schedule". Illinois State Redbirds. Retrieved December 17, 2020.