Lamar Cardinals men's basketball
Encyclopedia
The Lamar Cardinals
basketball team represents Lamar University
in NCAA Division I men's basketball
competition. The Cardinals currently compete in the Southland Conference
. Since 1984, the team has played its home games in the Montagne Center
. The Cardinals basketball team plays in the 10,080 seat Montagne Center
. The Lamar University
basketball
team
is one of the school's most storied athletic programs.
. Martin began coaching the cardinals as they entered the college division Lone Star Conference
in 1951. Martin coached Billy Tubbs
from 1955-1957, Tubbs would later become the first player or student to return and coach Lamar Basketball. In 1964 Lamar began it's transition into division I and the Southland Conference
. The highlight of Jack Martin's
career would be his 1968-1969 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 65-64 then traveled to Memphis and beat a strong Memphis State team, 82-69. A week later, they quieted a stunned crowd in College Station's G. Rollie White Coliseum
by strumming Southwest Conference champion Texas A&M, 98-87.
With the Cardinals sitting at 6-0 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, 103-77.
"Since we had gone 8-17 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 a few votes in the major college polls."
After the Cardinals held off Arkansas State 84-81 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 University of 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 56-44, but they rallied to go ahead 61-59 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 71-65.
On a cold Feb. 1 night in Abilene, the record streak reached 15 games with an 85-72 victory over Abilene Christian. Two nights later on "The Stage" in Arlington, it ended with a 76-71 loss to Texas–Arlington.
(1976–1980) had a Cinderella story
1980 NCAA Basketball Tournament
, advancing to the Sweet 16. During Tubbs's reign at Lamar he recruited 2 players, Clarence Kea
and B.B. Davis, who would become all-Americans for Lamar, while Clarence would go onto play professionally in the NBA.
The 1979 Cardinal Basketball team set records when it beat Portland State University
141-84; 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.
(1980–1986) continued the team's success by leading the cardinals to 3 Southland Conference
titles, 2 NCAA Tournament appearances and 4 NIT appearances.
(1999–2003) 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
.
(2003–2006) returned to Lamar University
in 2003 to again head the Cardinals basketball
team. His return was highly anticipated and increased attendance. He turned the program around from 10th place in 2003 to tied for 4th in 2006 in the conference. In 2006 Coach Tubbs stepped down as Head Basketball Coach to become the Athletic Director for Lamar. He was succeeded by assistant and Lamar Alumnus Steve Roccaforte
.
era (2006–2011), 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 2007-2008. 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 114-62 win over Louisiana College. James's performance was the top single-game scoring performance of the 2011 NCAA basketball season.
, the son of legendary basketball coach Bobby Knight
, as its new head men's basketball coach.
Lamar Cardinals
The Lamar Cardinals refers to the collegiate athletic teams of Lamar University. The inception of the nickname "Cardinals" dates back to the schools name change to Lamar in 1932. The teams compete in Division I of NCAA sports...
basketball team represents Lamar University
Lamar University
Lamar University, often referred to as Lamar or LU, is a comprehensive coeducational public research university located in Beaumont, Texas, United States. Lamar confers bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees and is classified as a Doctoral Research University by the Carnegie Commission on Higher...
in NCAA Division I men's basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
competition. The Cardinals currently compete in the Southland Conference
Southland Conference
The Southland Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the south central United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I for all sports; for football, it participates in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision...
. Since 1984, the team has played its home games in the Montagne Center
Montagne Center
Montagne Center is a 10,080-seat multi-purpose arena in Beaumont, Texas. It was built in 1984. It is home to the Lamar University Cardinals basketball team. The area floor can host sporting events like basketball, volleyball, wrestling, boxing and martial arts tournaments. With stadium and floor...
. The Cardinals basketball team plays in the 10,080 seat Montagne Center
Montagne Center
Montagne Center is a 10,080-seat multi-purpose arena in Beaumont, Texas. It was built in 1984. It is home to the Lamar University Cardinals basketball team. The area floor can host sporting events like basketball, volleyball, wrestling, boxing and martial arts tournaments. With stadium and floor...
. The Lamar University
Lamar University
Lamar University, often referred to as Lamar or LU, is a comprehensive coeducational public research university located in Beaumont, Texas, United States. Lamar confers bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees and is classified as a Doctoral Research University by the Carnegie Commission on Higher...
basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
team
Team
A team comprises a group of people or animals linked in a common purpose. Teams are especially appropriate for conducting tasks that are high in complexity and have many interdependent subtasks.A group in itself does not necessarily constitute a team...
is one of the school's most storied athletic programs.
Jack Martin era
Jack Martin was the first and longest serving head coach in Lamar's history. He came to Lamar after coaching three seasons at his Alma Mater, Hardin-Simmons UniversityHardin-Simmons University
Hardin–Simmons University is a private Baptist university located in Abilene, Texas, United States.-History:Hardin–Simmons University was founded as Abilene Baptist College in 1891 by the Sweetwater Baptist Association and a group of cattlemen and pastors who sought to bring Christian higher...
. Martin began coaching the cardinals as they entered the college division Lone Star Conference
Lone Star Conference
The Lone Star Conference is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II. Member institutions are located in the southwestern United States, with schools in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico...
in 1951. Martin coached Billy Tubbs
Billy Tubbs
Billy Tubbs is a former men's college basketball coach. The Tulsa, Oklahoma native has been the head coach of his alma mater Lamar University , the University of Oklahoma and Texas Christian University .Tubbs was known for his high scoring offense and full-court press defense.Tubbs achieved many...
from 1955-1957, Tubbs would later become the first player or student to return and coach Lamar Basketball. In 1964 Lamar began it's transition into division I and the Southland Conference
Southland Conference
The Southland Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the south central United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I for all sports; for football, it participates in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision...
. The highlight of Jack Martin's
Jack Martin (basketball)
Jack Martin is best known as head basketball coach of NCAA Division I Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. Martin Coached the Cardinals for 25 seasons in both the Lone Star and Southland Conferences.-Lamar:...
career would be his 1968-1969 squad that earned a #1 national ranking in the Associated Press college division poll
AP Poll
The Associated Press College Poll refers to weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in one of three Division I college sports: football, men's basketball and women's basketball. The rankings are compiled by polling sportswriters across the nation...
. 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 65-64 then traveled to Memphis and beat a strong Memphis State team, 82-69. A week later, they quieted a stunned crowd in College Station's G. Rollie White Coliseum
G. Rollie White Coliseum
The G. Rollie White Coliseum is an on-campus arena at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, in the United States. Often referred to as the "Jollie Rollie" or "The Holler House on the Brazos," the arena was the home of Texas A&M's Aggie volleyball team, which played there since its...
by strumming Southwest Conference champion Texas A&M, 98-87.
With the Cardinals sitting at 6-0 and sixth-ranked University of Tulsa
University of Tulsa
The University of Tulsa is a private university awarding bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. It is currently ranked 75th among doctoral degree granting universities in the nation by US News and World Report and is listed as one of the "Best 366 Colleges" by...
coming to town, most observers figured the good times were at an end. Instead, they kept rolling as Martin's flashy Cards decked Tulsa, 103-77.
"Since we had gone 8-17 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 a few votes in the major college polls."
After the Cardinals held off Arkansas State 84-81 in Jonesboro
Jonesboro
Jonesboro or Jonesborough is the name of a number of settlements in the United States and the United Kingdom:USA*Jonesboro, Arkansas**Jonesboro massacre, a school shooting incident*Jonesboro, Georgia, originally Jonesborough...
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 University of Houston Cougars, who had been to the Final Four
Final four
Final Four isa sports term that is commonly applied to the last four teams remaining in a playoff tournament, most notably NCAA Division I college basketball tournaments. The term usually refers to the four teams who compete in the two games of a single-elimination tournament's semi-final round...
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 56-44, but they rallied to go ahead 61-59 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
McDonald Gym
McDonald Gym is a volleyball gymnasium located on the campus of Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas USA. The Gym has been home solely to the Lamar Lady Cardinal Volleyball Team since its renovation was completed in 2007...
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 71-65.
On a cold Feb. 1 night in Abilene, the record streak reached 15 games with an 85-72 victory over Abilene Christian. Two nights later on "The Stage" in Arlington, it ended with a 76-71 loss to Texas–Arlington.
Tubbs era
Coach Tubbs was the first former player and alumnus to coach the Lamar men's basketball team. The Cardinals, under Coach Billy TubbsBilly Tubbs
Billy Tubbs is a former men's college basketball coach. The Tulsa, Oklahoma native has been the head coach of his alma mater Lamar University , the University of Oklahoma and Texas Christian University .Tubbs was known for his high scoring offense and full-court press defense.Tubbs achieved many...
(1976–1980) had a Cinderella story
Cinderella (sports)
In American and Canadian sports, a Cinderella or "Cinderella Story" refers to a team or player who advances much further in a tournament or career than originally anticipated. Cinderellas tend to gain much media and fan attention as they move closer to the championship game at the end of the...
1980 NCAA Basketball Tournament
1980 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1980 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 48 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 6, 1980, and ended with the championship game on March 24 in Indianapolis, Indiana...
, advancing to the Sweet 16. During Tubbs's reign at Lamar he recruited 2 players, Clarence Kea
Clarence Kea
Clarence Leroy Kea is a retired American professional basketball player. He was a 6'6" 218 lb small forward and played collegiately at Lamar University....
and B.B. Davis, who would become all-Americans for Lamar, while Clarence would go onto play professionally in the NBA.
The 1979 Cardinal Basketball team set records when it beat Portland State University
Portland State University
Portland State University is a public state urban university located in downtown Portland, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1946, it has the largest overall enrollment of any university in the state of Oregon, including undergraduate and graduate students. It is also the only public university in...
141-84; 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.
Foster era
Pat FosterPat Foster
Pat Foster is a former basketball head coach. Foster coached NCAA men's basketball at Lamar University, University of Houston, and University of Nevada, Reno.At Houston, he succeeded legendary head coach Guy Lewis.-Head coaching record:...
(1980–1986) continued the team's success by leading the cardinals to 3 Southland Conference
Southland Conference
The Southland Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the south central United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I for all sports; for football, it participates in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision...
titles, 2 NCAA Tournament appearances and 4 NIT appearances.
Mike Deane
Mike DeaneMike Deane
Mike Deane was most recently head basketball coach at Wagner College. He was relieved of his duties on 3/1/2010. He previously held the same position at Siena College, Marquette University, and Lamar University. Michael Deane recorded his 400th career victory on December 15, 2007 against the...
(1999–2003) 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
Duke
A duke or duchess is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy...
in the first round of the 2000 NCAA Tournament
2000 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2000 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 16, 2000, and ended with the championship game on April 3 in Indianapolis, Indiana...
.
Tubbs return
Billy TubbsBilly Tubbs
Billy Tubbs is a former men's college basketball coach. The Tulsa, Oklahoma native has been the head coach of his alma mater Lamar University , the University of Oklahoma and Texas Christian University .Tubbs was known for his high scoring offense and full-court press defense.Tubbs achieved many...
(2003–2006) returned to Lamar University
Lamar University
Lamar University, often referred to as Lamar or LU, is a comprehensive coeducational public research university located in Beaumont, Texas, United States. Lamar confers bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees and is classified as a Doctoral Research University by the Carnegie Commission on Higher...
in 2003 to again head the Cardinals basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
team. His return was highly anticipated and increased attendance. He turned the program around from 10th place in 2003 to tied for 4th in 2006 in the conference. In 2006 Coach Tubbs stepped down as Head Basketball Coach to become the Athletic Director for Lamar. He was succeeded by assistant and Lamar Alumnus Steve Roccaforte
Steve Roccaforte
Steve Roccaforte is an assistant coach at the University of South Florida.He previously was the head men's basketball coach at his alma mater Lamar University from 2006 through 2011. While at Lamar Steve graduated 18 of 18 seniors. He was relieved of his duties following his fifth year.-References:...
.
Roccaforte era
During the RoccaforteSteve Roccaforte
Steve Roccaforte is an assistant coach at the University of South Florida.He previously was the head men's basketball coach at his alma mater Lamar University from 2006 through 2011. While at Lamar Steve graduated 18 of 18 seniors. He was relieved of his duties following his fifth year.-References:...
era (2006–2011), 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 2007-2008. 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 114-62 win over Louisiana College. James's performance was the top single-game scoring performance of the 2011 NCAA basketball season.
Knight Era
April 5th, 2011, Lamar University announced the hiring of Pat KnightPat Knight
Patrick "Pat" Knight is an American college basketball coach for Lamar University. He became the coach of the Lamar Cardinals basketball team on April 5, 2011. He was previously the head coach of the Texas Tech Red Raiders men's basketball team until March 7, 2011...
, the son of legendary basketball coach Bobby Knight
Bobby Knight
-Indiana:When Indiana University was seeking a new coach in 1971, they turned to Knight. Knight was given the nickname "The General" by former University of Detroit and Detroit Pistons coach-turned-broadcaster Dick Vitale....
, as its new head men's basketball coach.