The 1961–62 Idaho Vandals men's basketball team represented the University of Idaho during the 1961–62 NCAA University Division basketball season. The independent Vandals were led by second-year head coach Joe Cipriano and played their home games on campus at the Memorial Gymnasium in Moscow, Idaho.[1][2][3]
| 1961–62 Idaho Vandals men's basketball | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Conference | Independent |
| Record | 13–13 (.500) |
| Head coach |
|
| Assistant coach | Wayne Anderson |
| MVP | Chuck White |
| Home arena | Memorial Gymnasium |
In the four years between the demise of the Pacific Coast Conference (1959) and the founding of the Big Sky Conference (1963), Idaho was an independent; this season the Vandals had a 13–13 (.500) record.[4][5]
During this season, Vandal great Gus Johnson was a sophomore at Boise Junior College and averaged thirty points and twenty rebounds a game for the Broncos; he transferred to Idaho in 1962 and played the following season.[6]
For the intrastate series with Idaho State, this year marked the introduction of the "King Spud Trophy," an oversized metallic potato with a face and a crown.[7][8][9] The first season was an exact split, with the home team winning by two points.[10] Years later in 1979, the Vandals regained it with a home win after enduring seven consecutive losses to ISU; Bengal head coach Lynn Archibald thought it should go to the losing team: "It's the ugliest thing I've ever seen. The only good thing that happened last week was losing it."[11]
References edit
- ^ Chapin, Dwight (November 30, 1961). "Cipriano striving to polish Vandals". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 8.
- ^ "Idaho to meet Pirates tonight". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). December 1, 1961. p. 12.
- ^ "Gonzaga plays Nevada here as cage season begins". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). December 1, 1961. p. 16.
- ^ "Washington nips Vandals 55-54". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). March 10, 1962. p. 2.
- ^ Missildine, Harry (March 10, 1962). "Husky rally ruins Idaho home finale". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 10.
- ^ "Vandal prospects for season reviewed by Cipriano". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). November 15, 1962. p. 12.
- ^ "'King Spud' crown at stake tonight". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). March 2, 1962. p. 14.
- ^ "Basketball". Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook. 1963. p. 250.
- ^ "Basketball". Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook. 1964. p. 264.
- ^ "Idaho, WSU dealt defeats". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). March 3, 1962. p. 11.
- ^ Van Sickel, Charlie (February 28, 1979). "Dutch Rub: Today's smorgasbord". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). p. 18.
External links edit
- Sports Reference – Idaho Vandals: 1961–62 basketball season
- Gem of the Mountains: 1962 University of Idaho yearbook – 1961–62 basketball season
- Idaho Argonaut – student newspaper – 1962 editions