1976–77 Illinois State Redbirds men's basketball team

1976–77 Illinois State Redbirds men's basketball
1976–77 Illinois State Redbirds men's basketball
NIT, Quarterfinal
Conference	Independent
Record	22–7
Head coach	Gene Smithson (2nd season);
Assistant coaches	Ron Ferguson; Bill Flanagan; Jeff Jones; Roger Powell;
Home arena	Horton Field House

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
		–		–	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	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

Gene Smithson (North Central (IL))

Assistant coach(es)

Ron Ferguson (Illinois)
Bill Flanagan (Monmouth (IL))
Jeff Jones (Illinois State)
Roger Powell (Illinois State)

Legend

(C) Team captain
(S) Suspended
(I) Ineligible
(W) Walk-on

Injured
Current redshirt

^[1]

Schedule

Date time, TV	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

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

[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.

[1]

[2]

[3]

Illinois State Redbirds men's basketball
Venues	John W. Cook Hall (1898–1925) McCormick Gymnasium (1925–1963) Horton Field House (1963–1988) CEFCU Arena (1989–present)
Rivalries	Bradley
Culture & lore	Reggie Redbird "Go, You Redbirds"
People	Head coaches Statistical leaders
Seasons	List of seasons 1898–99 1899–1900 1900–01 1901–02 1902–03 1903–04 1904–05 1905–06 1906–07 1907–08 1908–09 1909–10 1910–11 1911–12 1912–13 1913–14 1914–15 1915–16 1916–17 1917–18 1918–19 1919–20 1920–21 1921–22 1922–23 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30 1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40 1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25