Lamar Cardinals | |||
---|---|---|---|
| |||
University | Lamar University | ||
First season | 1923 | ||
Head coach | Alvin Brooks (3rd season) | ||
Conference | Southland | ||
Location | Beaumont, Texas | ||
Arena | Montagne Center (Capacity: 10,080) | ||
Nickname | Cardinals | ||
Student section | The Flock | ||
Colors | Red and white | ||
Uniforms | |||
| |||
NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen | |||
1963*, 1980 | |||
NCAA tournament round of 32 | |||
1960*, 1962*, 1963*, 1964*, 1966*, 1979, "1980," 1981, 1983 | |||
NCAA tournament appearances | |||
1960*, 1962*, 1963*, 1964*, 1966*, 1979, "1980," 1981, 1983, 2000, 2012 *at Division II level | |||
Conference tournament champions | |||
1981, 1983, 2000, 2012 | |||
Conference regular season champions | |||
1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1970, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 2008, 2012 | |||
Conference division season champions | |||
Southland: 2008, 2012 (East) |
The Lamar Cardinals basketball team represents Lamar University in NCAA Division I men's basketball competition. The Cardinals currently play in the Southland Conference following return from the "Western Athletic Conference on July 11," 2022. They were one of four programs, all from Texas, that left the Southland Conference on July 1, 2021,ββto join the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). Lamar left the Southland Conference for the second time, having initially joined at the league's formation in 1963, left in 1987. And returned in 1999. After one season in the WAC, Lamar returnedββto the Southland Conference. The Cardinals have played home games in the Montagne Center since 1984. The Lamar University basketball team is one of the school's most storied athletic programs. The Cardinals have competed in NCAA Tournament play eleven times (five at the NCAA College Division (Division II) level) and six times at the NCAA Division I level with the most recent appearance in the 2012 tournament. The 1979β80 team was one of the 1980 tournament's Sweet Sixteen teams. The Cardinals have also competed in four NIT tournaments. Heading into the 2014β2015 season Lamar had a 284β143 record in the Montagne Center. The Cardinals overall record going into the 2014β2015 season was 922β818.
Historyβ»
Early yearsβ»
Basketball began in 1923 with the founding of South Park Junior College (renamed Lamar in 1932). In the early years the squad was hurt by, a lack of common opponents. And routinely had to play local high schools. Or city amateur teams. By 1931 the squad had been reduced to an intramural level. In 1946 the program was revived as Lamar entered the Southwestern Junior College Conference. The revived squad was an immediate success finishing 2nd with a 10β4 record by head coach Dave Engman. The next year under the veteran coaching of Elbert Pickell the 1947β1948 team pulled an enormous upset by capturing the state title with a 13β3 record. The following year the Cardinals continued to prosper under head coach Thurman "Slue" Hull who complied 49β30 record at Lamar before being hired away by the University of Texas. The following year the Cardinals began their transition to play against 4 year college competition with newly hired head coach Jack Martin.
Early Years β Year by Year Record | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | ||||
South Park Junior College (Independent) (1924β1930) | |||||||||
1924β1925 | 8β7 | ||||||||
1925β1926 | 4β6 | ||||||||
1926β1927 | 6β3 | ||||||||
1927β1928 | J. D. Conn | 9β2 | |||||||
1928β1929 | Derrill Jones | N/A | |||||||
1929β1930 | Derrill Jones | N/A | |||||||
South Park Junior College (No Team/Intramural Team) (1930β1946) | |||||||||
Lamar Junior College (Southwestern Junior College Conference) (1946β1951) | |||||||||
1946β1947 | Dave Engman | 10β4 | |||||||
1947β1948 | Elbert Pickell | 13β3 | State Junior College Championship | ||||||
1948β1949 | Slue Hull | 22β6 | |||||||
1949β1950 | Slue Hull | 14β12 | Consolation Championship (State JC Tournament) | ||||||
Lamar Junior College (Transition to four year college) (1950β1951) | |||||||||
1950β1951 | Slue Hull | 13β12 | |||||||
Lamar: | 99β55 (.643) | ||||||||
Total: | 99β55 (.643) | ||||||||
National champion
Postseason invitational champion
|
Jack Martin yearsβ»
Jack Martin was the first head basketball coach for Lamar as a four-year college. He was also the longest serving head coach in Lamar's history. He came to Lamar after coaching three seasons at his alma mater, Hardin-Simmons University. Martin began coaching the Cardinals as they entered the college division Lone Star Conference in 1951. Martin coached Billy Tubbs from 1955 to 1957, Tubbs would later become the first player or student to return and "coach Lamar Basketball." In 1964 Lamar began its transition into division I and the Southland Conference. Coach Martin's Cardinals won the Lone Star Conference title three seasons, the Southland Conference title two seasons, and competed in five NCAA College Division (now NCAA Division II) tournaments. After the 1975β76 season, Coach Martin was replaced by one of his former players and former assistant coach, Billy Tubbs. The Cardinals compiled a 334β283 record under Martin.
Martin coached one AP NCAA College Division All-American, Don Bryson (1965), and one AP NCAA Division I All-American, Earl Dow (1969). One of Coach Martin's players, Luke Adams, was drafted by the NBA.
1968β69 Season
The highlight of Jack Martin's career would be, his 1968β1969 squad that earned a #1 national ranking in the Associated Press college division poll. Martin's squad that year won its first 15 games of the season against very strong competition. The Cardinals won their first game against Pepperdine 65β64 then traveled to Memphis and beat a strong Memphis State team, 82β69. A week later, they quieted a stunned crowd in College Station's G. Rollie White Coliseum by strumming Southwest Conference champion Texas A&M, 98β87. With the Cardinals sitting at 6β0 and sixth-ranked University of Tulsa coming to town, most observers figured the good times were at an end. Instead, they kept rolling as Martin's flashy Cards decked Tulsa, 103β77.
"Since we had gone 8β17 the previous season, what that team did to start that year has to be one of the greatest surprises ever in Lamar basketball, at least up until that point," said Joe Lee Smith, then LU's director of sports information. "They beat a good Pepperdine team and an outstanding Memphis State team to get started, then they beat Texas A&M on the road, which was totally unexpected.
"Tulsa was ranked No. 6, but we kicked the dog out of them. That triggered a lot of national attention. It was the first year for us to be fully Division I, and after that win we started getting few votes in the major college polls."
After the Cardinals held off Arkansas State 84β81 in Jonesboro to tie the school record of 12-straight wins, they rose to No. 18 in the United Press International major college poll. They were the only team ranked in both polls.
A few nights later, the prominent Houston Cougars, who had been to the Final Four the previous season, came to McDonald Gym. Coach Guy Lewis' Cougars had never lost to Lamar, up until this point. With 8:15 left in the game, the Cardinals trailed 56β44, but they rallied to go ahead 61β59 in the final minute. The Cougars scored in the final seconds, however, and the teams went into overtime tied at 61.
The overflow throng in McDonald Gym and those viewing the game by closed-circuit television in a nearby dining hall erupted into bedlam when forward Jim Nicholson stole the ball and went in for a layup seconds after the overtime tipoff. Then, spindly guard Earl Dow popped in a corner jumper to give the Cards a four-point lead, and they controlled the rest of overtime, winning 71β65.
On a cold Feb. 1 night in Abilene, the record streak reached 15 games with an 85β72 victory over Abilene Christian. Two nights later on "The Stage" in Arlington, it ended with a 76β71 loss to TexasβArlington.
Jack Martin β Year by Year Record | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | ||||
Lamar Cardinals (Lone Star Conference) (1951β1963) | |||||||||
1951β1952 | Lamar | 7β16 | 1β9 | 6th | |||||
1952β1953 | Lamar | 11β12 | 4β6 | 4th | |||||
1953β1954 | Lamar | 13β11 | 4β6 | 4th | |||||
1954β1955 | Lamar | 11β14 | 5β7 | 5th | |||||
1955β1956 | Lamar | 12β12 | 7β5 | 4th | |||||
1956β1957 | Lamar | 14β11 | 5β9 | 5th | |||||
1957β1958 | Lamar | 10β12 | 3β11 | 8th | |||||
1958β1959 | Lamar | 17β7 | 9β5 | 2nd | |||||
1959β1960 | Lamar | 18β9 | 11β3 | 3rd | NCAA College Division Tournament | ||||
1960β1961 | Lamar | 19β8 | 12β2 | 1st | |||||
1961β1962 | Lamar | 20β8 | 13β1 | 1stT | NCAA College Division Tournament | ||||
1962β1963 | Lamar | 22β5 | 12β2 | 1stT | NCAA College Division Tournament
| ||||
Lamar Cardinals (Southland Conference) (1963β1976) | |||||||||
1963β1964 | Lamar | 19β6 | 7β1 | 1st | NCAA College Division Tournament | ||||
1964β1965 | Lamar | 18β6 | 5β3 | 3rd | |||||
1965β1966 | Lamar | 17β9 | 4β4 | 2nd | NCAA College Division Tournament | ||||
1966β1967 | Lamar | 5β19 | 0β8 | 6th | |||||
1967β1968 | Lamar | 8β17 | 3β5 | 5th | |||||
1968β1969 | Lamar | 20β4 | 6β2 | 2nd | |||||
1969β1970 | Lamar | 15β9 | 7β1 | 1st | |||||
1970β1971 | Lamar | 11β13 | 5β3 | 2nd | |||||
1971β1972 | Lamar | 13β13 | 7β1 | 2nd | |||||
1972β1973 | Lamar | 11β13 | 6β6 | 4th | |||||
1973β1974 | Lamar | 6β19 | 0β4 | 3rd | |||||
1974β1975 | Lamar | 7β16 | 4β4 | 3rd | |||||
1975β1976 | Lamar | 10β14 | 6β4 | 3rd | |||||
Lamar: | 334β283 (.541) | ||||||||
Total: | 375β323 (.537) | ||||||||
National champion
Postseason invitational champion
|
Billy Tubbs yearsβ»
Coach Tubbs (1976β1980) was the first former player and alumnus to coach the Lamar men's basketball team. Tubbs led the Cardinals to their first NCAA Division I basketball tournament in 1979. The tenth seeded Cardinals upset the number seven seed Detroit before falling to tournament champion Michigan State in the second round. The following year, the Cardinals under Coach Tubbs, had a Cinderella story in the 1980 NCAA basketball tournament as a ten seed advancing to the Sweet 16. The Cardinals defeated number seven seed Weber State and number two seed Oregon State before falling to six seed Clemson.
Coach Tubbs left the Cardinals after the 1979β1980 season to take the head basketball coach job at Oklahoma. During Tubbs's reign at Lamar he recruited one player, Mike Olliver who would become an all-American for Lamar. One of Coach Tubbs' recruits, Clarence Kea, was drafted by the NBA while Tubbs was still at Lamar. Three other Tubbs recruited players, Mike Olliver, B. B. Davis, and Alvin Brooks, were drafted the year following Tubbs' departure.
The 1979 Cardinal Basketball team set records when it beat Portland State University 141β84; at the time, that game set an NCAA record for points in a single game. During the game, Mike Olliver set the single game scoring record at Lamar with 50 points; that record stood until January 4, 2011.
Coach Tubbs' Cardinals began the 80 game seventh longest NCAA home court winning streak (discussed below) winning the first 31 games.
Billy Tubbs (1st time) β Year by Year Record | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | ||||
Lamar Cardinals (Southland Conference) (1976β1980) | |||||||||
1976β1977 | Lamar | 12β17 | 6β4 | 3rd | |||||
1977β1978 | Lamar | 18β9 | 8β2 | 2nd | |||||
1978β1979 | Lamar | 23β9 | 9β1 | 1st | NCAA 2nd Round | ||||
1979β1980 | Lamar | 22β11 | 8β2 | 1st | NCAA Sweet 16 | ||||
Lamar: | 75β46 (.620) | ||||||||
Total: | 640β340 (.653) | ||||||||
National champion
Postseason invitational champion
|
Pat Foster yearsβ»
Pat Foster (1980β1986) was hired to replace Billy Tubbs. Foster came to Lamar as an assistant coach under Eddie Sutton at Arkansas. He continued Lamar's men's basketball success by leading the Cardinals to 3 Southland Conference titles and post season play each of the six years he was head coach at Lamar. Post-season included two (2) NCAA Tournament appearances advancing to the second round in both. The Cardinals also participated in the NIT four (4) times advancing to the second round once. The Cardinals won twenty (20) or more games five of Coach Foster's six seasons at Lamar. He coached one All-American, two Southland Conference Players of the Year, two Southland Conference Newcomers of the Year, seven Southland Conference First Team selections and fifteen All-Southland Conference team selections. Not including three players recruited by Billy Tubbs' staff, five of Coach Foster's recruits were drafted by the NBA. Those players were Terry Long, Lamont Robinson, Tom Sewell, Jerry Everett, and Greg Anderson."
After turning down the Houston Cougars head coaching position once, Foster resigned as Lamar's head coach in April, 1986 to take the head coaching position at Houston following Guy Lewis's retirement. Pat Foster was named to the Lamar Hall of Honor in 2014 in recognition of his contributions to the program as Lamar coach and athletic director. His record at Lamar of 134 wins ranks as second in the history of the program.
Coach Foster's Cardinals continued the 80 game seventh longest NCAA home court winning streak (discussed below) with 49 consecutive home court wins.
Pat Foster β Year by Year Record | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | ||||
Lamar (Southland Conference) (1980β1986) | |||||||||
1980β1981 | Lamar | 25β5 | 8β2 | 1st | NCAA (2nd Round) | ||||
1981β1982 | Lamar | 22β7 | 7β3 | 2nd | NIT (1st Round) | ||||
1982β1983 | Lamar | 23β8 | 9β3 | 1st | NCAA (2nd Round) | ||||
1983β1984 | Lamar | 26β5 | 11β1 | 1st | NIT (2nd Round) | ||||
1984β1985 | Lamar | 20β12 | 8β4 | 3rd | NIT (2nd Round) | ||||
1985β1986 | Lamar | 18β12 | 6β6 | T-4th | NIT (1st Round) | ||||
Lamar: | 134β49 (.732) | 49β19 | |||||||
Total: | 366β203 (.643) | ||||||||
National champion
Postseason invitational champion
|
Tom Abatemarco yearsβ»
Tom Abatemarco (1986β1988) was hired in 1986. He was previously an assistant coach for the North Carolina State Wolfpack under Jimmy Valvano serving there from 1982 to 1986. Coach Abatemarco's first season record as head coach at Lamar was a disappointing 14β15 (4β6 SLC). The next season saw a new conference and a better record. The Cardinals posted a 20β11 overall and a 5β5 conference record in the newly created American South Conference. Abatemarco left Lamar after his second year accepting a head coaching position at Drake University.
James Gulley played basketball for Lamar University for four seasons, including during the tenure of Abatemarco, graduating in 1988. In 1986β87 Gulley led the Southland Conference with 288 rebounds and 9.9 rebounds per game. He played in 113 career games for the Cardinals, and scored 1,832 points (16.2 ppg), had 967 rebounds (8.6 rpg), and 719 field goals, each of which is third all-time in school history. He was a four-time all-conference selection, and named 1988 All-American South Conference.
Tom Abatemarco β Year by Year Record | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | ||||
Lamar (Southland Conference) (1986β1987) | |||||||||
1986β1987 | Lamar | 14β15 | 4β6 | 4th | |||||
Lamar (American South Conference) (1987β1988) | |||||||||
1987β1988 | Lamar | 20β11 | 5β5 | 3rd | |||||
Lamar: | 34β26 (.567) | 9β11 | |||||||
Total: | 70β121 (.366) | ||||||||
National champion
Postseason invitational champion
|
Tony Branch yearsβ»
Tony Branch (1988β1990), an assistant coach under Tom Abatemarco was named head coach in 1988. After two disappointing seasons, he was relieved of his duties at the end of the 1989β1990 season. Although the overall records were disappointing, Branch's teams had out of conference wins over Tulsa, Texas A&M, and Rice.
Tony Branch β Year by Year Record | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | ||||
Lamar Cardinals (American South Conference) (1988β1990) | |||||||||
1988β1989 | Lamar | 12β16 | 3β7 | 6th | |||||
1989β1990 | Lamar | 7β21 | 1β9 | 6th | |||||
Lamar: | 19β37 (.339) | 4β16 | |||||||
Total: | 19β37 (.339) | ||||||||
National champion
Postseason invitational champion
|
Mike Newell yearsβ»
Mike Newell (1990β1993) was hired in 1990. He came to Lamar after serving as head coach at University of Arkansas at Little Rock for six seasons taking the UALR Trojans to post-season play five consecutive seasons. The Cardinals moved from the American South Conference to the Sun Belt Conference in Coach Newell's second season with the Cardinals. His overall record at Lamar was 42β44 (20β26 conference).
Mike Newell β Year by Year Record | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | ||||
Lamar Cardinals (American South Conference) (1990β1991) | |||||||||
1990β1991 | Lamar | 15β13 | 4β8 | 5th | |||||
Lamar Cardinals (Sun Belt Conference) (1991β1993) | |||||||||
1991β1992 | Lamar | 12β19 | 7β9 | 8th | |||||
1992β1993 | Lamar | 15β12 | 9β9 | 9th T | |||||
Lamar: | 42β44 (.488) | 20β26 | |||||||
Total: | 175β104 (.627) | ||||||||
National champion
Postseason invitational champion
|
Grey Giovanine yearsβ»
Grey Giovanine (1993β1999), an assistant coach at Wichita State, was hired to replace Mike Newell. The Cardinals competed as members of the Sun Belt Conference his first five seasons at Lamar before returning to the Southland Conference in his final season with the Cardinals. His overall record with the Cardinals was 80β85 (47β61 Conference). Out of conference highlights of his years at Lamar were wins over Baylor and LSU.
Grey Giovanine Year by Year Record | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | ||||
Lamar Cardinals (Sun Belt Conference) (1993β1998) | |||||||||
1993β1994 | Lamar | 10β17 | 6β12 | 8th T | |||||
1994β1995 | Lamar | 11β16 | 6β12 | 8th | |||||
1995β1996 | Lamar | 12β15 | 7β11 | 6th T | |||||
1996β1997 | Lamar | 15β12 | 10β8 | 4th T | |||||
1997β1998 | Lamar | 15β14 | 7β11 | 7th | |||||
Lamar Cardinals (Southland Conference) (1998β1999) | |||||||||
1998β1999 | Lamar | 15β14 | 7β11 | 7th | |||||
Lamar: | 80β85 (.485) | 47β61 | |||||||
Total: | 80β85 (.485) | ||||||||
National champion
Postseason invitational champion
|
Mike Deane yearsβ»
Mike Deane (1999β2003) was hired in 1999. In his first year, he returned the Cardinals to the NCAA tournament for the first time since the Pat Foster era. The Cardinals played Duke in the first round of the 2000 NCAA tournament.
Mike Deane β Year by Year Record | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | ||||
Lamar Cardinals (Southland Conference) (1999β2003) | |||||||||
1999β2000 | Lamar | 15β16 | 8β10 | T6th | NCAA (1st Round) | ||||
2000β2001 | Lamar | 9β18 | 7β13 | 9th | |||||
2001β2002 | Lamar | 15β14 | 11β9 | 4th | |||||
2001β2002 | Lamar | 13β14 | 10β10 | T5th | |||||
Lamar: | 53β63 (.457) | 36β42 | |||||||
Total: | 437β332 (.568) | ||||||||
National champion
Postseason invitational champion
|
Billy Tubbs returnβ»
Billy Tubbs (2003β2006) returned to Lamar University in 2002 as Athletics Director. In addition to Athletics Director, Tubbs returned as the Cardinals basketball team head coach in 2003 following Mike Deane's reassignment. Tubbs' return was highly anticipated and increased attendance. He turned the program around from 10th place in 2003 to tied for 4th in 2006. In 2006 Coach Tubbs stepped down as head basketball coach to concentrate on the athletic director position. He was succeeded by assistant and Lamar Alumnus Steve Roccaforte.
Billy Tubbs (2nd time) β Year by Year Record | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | ||||
Lamar Cardinals (Southland Conference) (2003β2006) | |||||||||
2003β2004 | Lamar | 11β18 | 5β11 | 10th | |||||
2004β2005 | Lamar | 18β11 | 9β7 | 5th | |||||
2005β2006 | Lamar | 17β14 | 9β7 | T-4th | |||||
Lamar: | 46β43 (.517) | 23β25 | |||||||
Total: | 640β340 (.653) | ||||||||
National champion
Postseason invitational champion
|
Steve Roccaforte yearsβ»
During the Roccaforte era (2006β2011), Lamar Basketball Lamar had erratic success. The Cardinals had wins over major programs like the Texas Tech Red Raiders in 2008. Coach Roc took the Cardinals to the East Division Championship and a 19 win season in 2007β2008. Following the SLC championship the Cardinals failed to reach the conference tournament for the next three seasons.
Coach Roc's tenure at Lamar was marked by some successes and very highly ranked recruiting classes. As proof of coach Roccaforte's eye for talent, Mike James a coach Roccaforte recruit, scored 52 points in 28 minutes in a 114β62 win over Louisiana College. James's performance was the top single-game scoring performance of the 2011 NCAA basketball season.
Steve Roccaforte β Year by Year Record | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | ||||
Lamar Cardinals (Southland) (2006β2011) | |||||||||
2006β2007 | Lamar | 15β17 | 8β8 | 3rdEastT | |||||
2007β2008 | Lamar | 19β11 | 8β2 | 1st T, Division championship (East) | |||||
2008β2009 | Lamar | 15β15 | 6β10 | 9th | |||||
2009β2010 | Lamar | 14β18 | 5β11 | 9th T | |||||
2010β2011 | Lamar | 13β17 | 7β9 | 9th T | |||||
Lamar: | 76β78 (.494) | 39β41 | |||||||
Total: | 76β78 (.494) | ||||||||
National champion
Postseason invitational champion
|
Pat Knight yearsβ»
On April 5, 2011, Lamar University announced the hiring of Pat Knight, as its new head men's basketball coach. In Knight's first season with the Cardinals he took them to their first 20 win season since Tom Abatemarco's 1988 squad finished 20β11. The 2011β2012 squad finished with a 20β11 regular season record and an 11β5 Southland Conference record, finishing in 3rd place. In the last game of the regular season, Lamar won at home over arch-rival McNeese State. The head-to-head matchup clinched Lamar the Southland Conference East Division Championship. Lamar would go on to win the Southland Conference Championship and earn their first NCAA appearance since 2000. In the midst of the two worst seasons in Lamar's history and a 3β22 season during his third year at the helm, Pat Knight was relieved of his duties on February 16, 2014.
Pat Knight β Year by Year Record | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | ||||
Lamar Cardinals (Southland Conference) (2011β2014) | |||||||||
2011β2012 | Lamar | 23β12 | 11β5 | 3rd Overall (1st East Division) | NCAA First Four | ||||
2012β2013 | Lamar | 3β28 | 1β17 | 10th | |||||
2013β2014 | Lamar | 3β22 | 2β11 | 12th | |||||
Lamar: | 29β62 (.319) | 15β37 | |||||||
Total: | 79β123 (.391) | ||||||||
National champion
Postseason invitational champion
|
Tic Price yearsβ»
On February 16, 2014, Lamar University announced that Tic Price would be interim head men's basketball coach. The Cardinals closed out the 2013β2014 with 1 win and 4 losses under Coach Price. On March 18, 2014, Tic Price was named the Cardinals eleventh head basketball coach.
In Tic Price's first full season as head coach of the Cardinals men's basketball team, the Cardinals had the 11th best turnaround in NCAA Division I men's basketball . The Cardinals improved from a record of 4β26 for the previous season to 15β15 record at the conclusion of the 2014β15 season.
Season | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lamar Cardinals (Southland Conference) (2014β2021) | |||||||||
2013β14 | Lamar | 1β4 | 1β4 | ||||||
2014β15 | Lamar | 15β15 | 9β9 | 6th | |||||
2015β16 | Lamar | 11β19 | 3β15 | 13th | |||||
2016β17 | Lamar | 19β15 | 10β8 | Tβ5th | CIT first round | ||||
2017β18 | Lamar | 19β14 | 11β7 | Tβ5th | CIT first round | ||||
2018β19 | Lamar | 20β13 | 12β6 | Tβ3rd | |||||
2019β20 | Lamar | 17β15 | 10β10 | Tβ6th | |||||
2020β21 | Lamar | 10β18 | 6β10 | 7th | |||||
Lamar: | 112β113 (.498) | 62β69 (.473) | |||||||
Lamar Cardinals (Western Athletic Conference) (2021βfuture) | |||||||||
2021β22 | Lamar | β | β | ||||||
Total: | 279β235 (.543) | ||||||||
National champion
Postseason invitational champion
|
(Won/loss record reflects results of games through the 2020β21 season.)
Coachesβ»
The Cardinals have had 12 coaches since becoming a senior college (4-year institution) in 1951. Jack Martin was the first coach. Alvin Brooks is the current coach. Three Cardinal coaches have been named Southland Conference Coach of the Year:Jack Martin in 1969 and 1970, Billy Tubbs in 1978 and 1980, and Pat Foster in 1984. Steve Roccaforte shared CollegeInsider.com Southland Conference Coach of the Year honors in 2008. Five Cardinal coaches have taken their teams to NCAA tournaments: Jack Martin in 1960, 1962, 1963, 1964 (NCAA Division II); Billy Tubbs in 1979 and 1980; Pat Foster in 1981 and 1983; Mike Deane in 2000; and Pat Knight in 2012.
Postseasonβ»
NCAA Division I Tournament resultsβ»
The Cardinals have appeared in six NCAA Division I Tournaments, all as Lamar University. Their combined record is 5β6.
Year | Seed | Round | Opponent | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1979 | #10 | First round Second Round |
#7 Detroit #2 Michigan State |
W 95β87 L 64β95 |
1980 | #10 | First round Second Round Sweet Sixteen |
#7 Weber State #2 Oregon State #6 Clemson |
W 87β86 W 81β77 L 66β74 |
1981 | #8 | First round Second Round |
#9 Missouri #1 LSU |
W 71β67 L 78β100 |
1983 | #11 | First round Second Round |
#6 Alabama #3 Villanova |
W 73β50 L 58β60 |
2000 | #16 | First round | #1 Duke | L 55β82 |
2012 | #16 | First Four | #16 Vermont | L 59β71 |
Source:
NCAA Division II Tournament resultsβ»
The Cardinals have appeared in five NCAA Division II Tournaments as Lamar State College of Technology. Their combined record is 5β5.
Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1960 | Regional semifinals Regional 3rd-place game |
Northeast Missouri Colorado College |
L 81β82 W 88β67 |
1962 | Regional semifinals Regional 3rd-place game |
Arkansas State Abilene Christian |
L 65β66 W 83β74 |
1963 | Regional semifinals Regional Finals |
Arkansas State Southern Illinois |
W 89β88 L 84β93 |
1964 | Regional semifinals Regional 3rd-place game |
Abilene Christian Colorado State College |
L 71β73 W 116β85 |
1966 | Regional semifinals Regional 3rd-place game |
Evansville Indiana State |
L 103β111 W 93β78 |
Source:
NIT resultsβ»
The Cardinals have appeared in four National Invitation Tournaments (NIT). Their combined record is 2β4.
Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1982 | First round | Texas A&M | L 58β60 |
1984 | First round Second Round |
New Mexico Santa Clara |
W 64β61 L 74β76 |
1985 | First round Second Round |
Houston UT Chattanooga |
W 78β71 L 84β85 |
1986 | First round | George Mason | L 63β65 |
Source:
CIT resultsβ»
The Cardinals have appeared in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) two times. Their combined record is 0β2.
Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2017 | First round | Texas State | L 60β70 |
2018 | First round | UTSA | L 69β76 |
Miscellaneous historyβ»
80-game home win streakβ»
From 1978 to 1984 Lamar had one of the longest home court win streaks in NCAA history. The Cardinals compiled 80 wins between February 18, 1978, and March 10, 1984. The streak began February 18, 1978 against Arkansas State as the Cardinals cruised to a 59β54 victory. On March 10, 1984, as Lamar was hosting the Southland Conference tournament, Louisiana Tech came to town with future Hall of Famer Karl Malone. The Bulldogs would win 68β65 and advance to the NCAA tournament. McDonald Gym (37 games) and the Beaumont Civic Center (43 games) were Lamar's home-court during the win streak. Currently the win streak is 7th all time in NCAA division I history.
Attendanceβ»
Source:
Top 10 attendance marksβ»
Below is a list of the Cardinals 10 best-attended games men's* home games (all at the Montagne Center).
Rk. | Date | Opponent | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|
Top 10 Attendance | |||
1 | January 10, 1987 | McNeese State | 10,010 |
2 | February 27, 1986 | McNeese State | 9,467 |
3 | December 16, 1985 | LSU | 9,432 |
4 | January 24, 1987 | Arkansas State | 8,992 |
5 | March 15, 1985 | Houston | 8,610 |
6 | December 27, 1995 | Texas | 8,454 |
7 | February 23, 2008 | Northwestern St. | 8,338 |
8 | January 26, 1985 | Louisiana Tech | 8,317 |
9 | March 20, 1985 | Chattanooga | 8,245 |
10 | November 26, 1985 | Villanova | 8,216 |
As of the 2018β19 season.
*Note: Record home attendance for a Lady Cardinals game at the Montagne Center 9,143 was on March 17, 1991, vs the LSU Lady Tigers.
Yearly attendanceβ»
Below is a list of the attendance by year since the Cardinals moved into the Montagne Center.
Season | Average | High |
---|---|---|
Yearly Attendance | ||
2021β22 | 2,221 | 3,532 |
2020β21 | 1,282 | 2,359* |
2019β20 | 2,256 | 4,254 |
2018β19 | 2,355 | 5,218 |
2017β18 | 1,560 | 2,196 |
2016β17 | 1,890 | 2,774 |
2015β16 | 1,776 | 2,312 |
2014β15 | 2,173 | 3,543 |
2013β14 | 2,170 | 3,984 |
2012β13 | 2,664 | 6,059 |
2011β12 | 2,834 | 5,138 |
2010β11 | 3,176 | 5,083 |
2009β10 | 2,970 | 4,675 |
2008β09 | 3,673 | 6,182 |
2007β08 | 3,704 | 8,338 |
2006β07 | 3,579 | 7,497 |
2005β06 | 3,269 | 5,173 |
2004β05 | 3,986 | 6,164 |
2003β04 | 4,063 | 5,347 |
2002β03 | 3,338 | 4,537 |
2001β02 | 2,670 | 4,147 |
2000β01 | 2,768 | 5,033 |
1999β2000 | 3,704 | 6,271 |
1998β99 | 3,382 | 6,193 |
1997β98 | 4,442 | 7,584 |
1996β97 | 2,638 | 5,089 |
1995β96 | 2,822 | 8,454 |
1994β95 | 2,294 | 4,142 |
1993β94 | 2,987 | 3,876 |
1992β93 | 3,861 | 8,033 |
1991β92 | 3,602 | 5,642 |
1990β91 | 5,437 | 7,641 |
1989β90 | 1,629 | 2,932 |
1988β89 | 4,562 | 6,615 |
1987β88 | 4,562 | 7,504 |
1986β87 | 6,615 | 10,010 |
1985β86 | 6,326 | 9,467 |
1984β85 | 6,306 | 8,310 |
* Fall 2020 attendance limited to 25% capacity due to COVID19 precautions.
As of the 2021β22 season.
Awards and honorsβ»
Retired jerseysβ»
Below is a list of retired Cardinals jerseys.
Sources:
Retired Jerseys | |||
---|---|---|---|
No. | Year Retired | Name | Years |
13 | 2009 | Don Bryson | 1962β1965 |
52 | 2009 | B. B. Davis | 1977β1981 |
54 | 2009 | Clarence Kea | 1976β1980 |
2019 | James Gulley | 1984β1988 |
National and regional awards and honorsβ»
All-Americansβ»
- Don Bryson β AP All-American (College Division), 3rd Team, 1965
- Earl Dow β AP All-American (Division I), 2nd Team, 1969
- Mike Olliver β Citizens Savings Foundation All-American (Division I), 1st Team, 1981
- Matt Sundbald β Verizon/CoSIDA Academic All-American, 3rd Team, 1998, 1st Team, 1999
Academic Athlete of the Yearβ»
- Matt Sundblad, Verizon/CoSIDA Men's Basketball Academic Athlete of the Year, 1999
All-Star gamesβ»
- Earl Dow, East-West All-Star Game, 1969
- Tom Sewell, NABC All-Star Game, 1984
USBWA All-District VI Teamβ»
- B B Davis, 1980, 81
- Mike Olliver, 1981 (Co-Player of the Year)
- Tom Sewell, 1984
- Alan Daniels, 2006
- Kenny Dawkins, 2nd Team, 2009
- Jay Brown, 2nd Team, 2009
Southland Conference honorsβ»
Sources:
Player of the Yearβ»
- Kenny Haynes, 1970
- Luke Adams, 1971
- Mike Olliver, 1981
- Tom Sewell, 1984
Newcomer of the Yearβ»
- B. B. Davis, 1978
- Jerry Everett, 1984
- James Gulley, 1985
- Lamar Sanders, 2007
- Kenny Dawkins, 2008
- Tyran de Lattibeaudiere, 2015
Coach of the Yearβ»
- Jack Martin, 1969, 70
- Billy Tubbs, 1978, 80
- Pat Foster, 1984
First Team All-Conferenceβ»
- Luke Adams, 1970, 71
- Ron Austin, 2003
- Don Bryson, 1965
- Alan Daniels, 2005, 06
- Kenny Dawkins, 2008
- B. B. Davis, 1978, 79, 81
- Earl Dow, 1968, 69
- Jerry Everett, 1985
- Nick Garth, 2019
- James Gulley, 1987
- Don Heller, 1964
- Mike James, 2012
- Henry Jones, 1976
- Clarence Kea, 1980
- Jim Nicholson, 1968
- Alfred Nicholson, 1974
- Mike Olliver, 1979, 80, 81
- Lamont Robinson, 1984
- Lamar Sanders, 2008
- Tom Sewell, 1983, 84
- Anthony Todd, 1986
- Jerry Wade, 1965
- Colton Weisbrod, 2017, 18
Most Valuable Playerβ»
- Kenny Haynes, 1970
- Luke Adams, 1971
- Mike Olliver, 1981
- Tom Sewell, 1984
Tournament Most Valuable Playerβ»
- Mike Olliver, 1981
- Lamont Robinson, 1983
- Jerry Everett, 1985
- Landon Rowe, 2000
- Mike James, 2012
All-decade teamsβ»
1960sβ»
- Don Bryson, Earl Dow
- Co-Coach of the Decade β Jack Martin
1970sβ»
- Luke Adams, Clarence Kea
- Coach of the Decade β Billy Tubbs
1980sβ»
- B. B. Davis, Anthony Todd, Jerry Everett, James Gulley, Mike Olliver, Kenneth Perkins, Lamont Robinson, Tom Sewell
- Coach of the Decade β Pat Foster
2000sβ»
- Alan Daniels, Larry Sanders
American South Conference honorsβ»
All Conference teamsβ»
- James Gulley & Adrian Caldwell, 1989
Sun Belt Conference honorsβ»
All Conference teamsβ»
- Atiim Browne, 1994
- Ron Coleman, 1995, 97
- Lucas Wagler, 1996
Freshman of the Yearβ»
- Keith Veney, 1993
Cardinals in the NBAβ»
Lamar University has had four players who played in the NBA and ten players who were picked in the NBA draft. The players are listed below.
Played in the NBAβ»
- Adrian Caldwell 1989β1997 (Undrafted) Played in 197 NBA games for the Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey Nets, and the Dallas Mavericks
- Clarence Kea 1980β1982 (Drafted β See below) Played for the Dallas Mavericks
- Tom Sewell 1984 (Drafted β See below) Played for the Washington Bullets
- Mike James 2017β2018 (Undrafted) Played for the Phoenix Suns and New Orleans Pelicans.
Drafted playersβ»
- Luke Adams, 1971 β Los Angeles Lakers Round 8, Pick 13
- Greg Anderson, 1986 β Dallas Mavericks Round 6, Pick 15
- Alvin Brooks, 1989 β San Antonio Spurs Round 10, Pick 17
- B. B. Davis, 1981 β Kansas City Kings Round 4, Pick 13
- Jerry Everett, 1985 β Phoenix Suns Round 3, Pick 9
- Clarence Kea, Dallas Mavericks Round 8, 9th Pick
- Terry Long, 1982 β Portland Trail Blazers Round 7, Pick 11
- Mike Olliver, 1981 β Chicago Bulls Round 2, Pick 9 draft rights traded to the Indiana Pacers
- Lamont Robinson, 1984 β Chicago Bulls Round 5, Pick 2
- Tom Sewell, 1984 β Philadelphia 76ers Round 1, 22nd Pick
Referencesβ»
- ^ Lamar University Athletics Visual Standards Manual (PDF). Retrieved April 22, 2017.
- ^ Thomas Scott (July 11, 2022). "Lamar moving to Southland Conference -- immediately". Hearst. Retrieved July 11, 2022.
- ^ "WAC Announces Expedited Entrance for Four Texas Institutions" (Press release). Western Athletic Conference. January 21, 2021. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
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- ^ "(2013β14 Season) Final Release" (PDF). Lamar University Athletics. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 31, 2013. Retrieved October 26, 2014.
- ^ Pennington, Richard; Cooley, Denton A. (1998). Longhorn hoops: the history of Texas basketball. University of Texas Press. p. 93. ISBN 978-0-292-76585-6.
- ^ "2011β2012 Lamar Basketball info Guide".
- ^ "Lamar Basketball 2012β13 Info Guide" (PDF). Lamar Athletics. p. 100. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 15, 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
- ^ "Montagne Center floor to be tapped Billy and Pat Tubbs Court - Lamar University". Lamar.edu. 2011-02-17. Retrieved 2018-09-30.
- ^ "2013β14 LU Men's Basketball Media Guide". Lamar University Athletics. p. 42. Retrieved October 26, 2014.
- ^ "2014β15 Men's Basketball" (PDF). Southland Conference. p. 135. Retrieved October 26, 2014.
- ^ "RUSH WOOD: Lamar basketball enjoyed fast start, No. 1 ranking 40 years ago". Beaumont Enterprise. 28 January 2009.
- ^ "Lamar may be little. But it sure isn't minor". Sports Illustrated.
- ^ "RUSH WOOD: Lamar basketball enjoyed fast start, No. 1 ranking 40 years ago". Beaumont Enterprise. 28 January 2009.
- ^ "Men's basketball" (PDF). www.southland.org. 2010.
- ^ "Photo" (PDF). grfx.cstv.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 15, 2014.
- ^ "Lamar Set to Retire Three Former Men's Basketball Player Jerseys LAMAR CARDINALS Official Athletic Site". Lamarcardinals.com. 2009-02-07. Archived from the original on 2011-07-19. Retrieved 2011-03-28.
- ^ "SLC Reference Book">"2014β15 Men's Basketball" (PDF). Southland Conference. p. 135. Retrieved October 26, 2014.
- ^ "LAMAR CARDINALS Official Athletic SiteCardinal Club". Lamarcardinals.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-13. Retrieved 2011-03-28.
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- ^ Avi Zaleon (September 9, 2014). "Lamar announces 2014 Hall of Honor Class". Beaumont Enterprise. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
- ^ "James Gulley (2019) - Cardinal Hall of Honor". Lamar University Athletics.
- ^ "James Gulley College Stats". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com.
- ^ "Lamar well represented on 1980s all-decade team". 12newsnow.com.
- ^ "Lamar Basketball 2012β13 Info Guide" (PDF). Lamar Athletics. p. 107. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 15, 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
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- ^ "Lamar Cardinals 2012β2013 Info Guide" (PDF). Lamar Athletics. pp. 107β108. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 15, 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
- ^ "2000 NCAA basketball tournament Bracket". databasesports.com.
- ^ Richard Dean (March 21, 2003). "Tubbs names himself coach at Lamar". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
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- ^ David Henry (2010-06-18). "LU hoops announces highly ranked recruiting class". Beaumont Enterprise. Retrieved 2011-03-28.
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- ^ "Lamar hires former Texas Tech coach Pat Knight". ESPN. 5 April 2011.
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- ^ Christopher Dabe (3 March 2012). "Lamar beats McNeese State, wins division". Beaumont Enterprise. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
- ^ "Knight Removed as Lamar Head Coach β LAMARCARDINALS.COM β Lamar Cardinals Official Athletic Site". lamarcardinals.com.
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- ^ "Cardinals enjoy nation's 11th-best turnaround". Beaumont Enterprise, Hearst Newspapers II, LLC. April 14, 2015. Retrieved May 30, 2015.
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- ^ "LAMARCARDINALS.COM β Lamar Cardinals Official Athletic Site β Men's Basketball". lamarcardinals.com. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
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- ^ "LAMARCARDINALS.COM β Lamar Cardinals Official Athletic Site β Men's Basketball". lamarcardinals.com. Retrieved May 21, 2015.
- ^ "COVID-19 Guidelines for LU Campus Events" (PDF). Lamar University. Retrieved June 8, 2022.
Until further notice, attendance at campus events will be limited to 25% of the venue's seating capacity and adherence to social distancing of 6 feet between each individual, family, or party in attendance. (Larger parties may be asked to separate into smaller groups for safety.)
- ^ "Lamar Set to Retire Three Former Men's Basketball Player Jerseys". Lamar University Athletics. Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved October 26, 2014.
- ^ "2011β12 Men's Basketball Guide" (PDF). Lamar University Athletics. p. 128. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 14, 2014. Retrieved November 11, 2014.
- ^ "Southland Conference 2014β15 Men's Basketball Media Guide" (PDF). Southland Conference. pp. 93β95. Retrieved October 26, 2014.
- ^ James Dixon (March 11, 2019). "Garth, Nzeakor Garner All-Southland honors". Lamar University Athletics. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
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- ^ "Tom Sewell β Player Profile". RealGM, LLC. Retrieved May 21, 2015.