VMI Keydets men's basketball
Encyclopedia
The VMI Keydets basketball team represents the Virginia Military Institute
in Lexington, Virginia
. They compete in the Big South Conference
of the NCAA Division I. They have played their home games in Cameron Hall
since 1981. VMI has played basketball since 1908, and had played in the Southern Conference
until 2003, when they moved to the Big South. They are coached by Duggar Baucom
.
Perhaps the most famous run for the team was in 1976 and 77. The first year in 1975-76, the Keydets went 22-10 under head coach Bill Blair
. After winning the SoCon tournament, VMI defeated Tennessee and DePaul
before falling to Rutgers 91-75. The next year, VMI went 26-4 under first-year head coach Charlie Schmaus. After defeating Duquesne
73-66, they fell in the Sweet Sixteen to Kentucky
93-78.
When VMI joined the Big South in 2003, they had regular season records of 6-22, 9-18, and 7-20 over the next 3 years. In 2006-07, VMI reached the Big South Championship for the first time, losing to Winthrop
84-81. In 2008-09, VMI reached the championship again, but fell to Radford
108-94. The Keydets fell in the 2011 Big South semifinals to Coastal Carolina 89-81 to end an 18-13 season.
Cormack Field House, nicknamed "The Pit", served as the home of VMI basketball from the 1930's through 1980. There were many notable performances in its time, including a trio of SoCon championships and Elite 8 and Sweet Sixteen
VMI squads.
The 5,800-seat Cameron Hall has housed VMI basketball since 1981, and does so today. It replaced aging Cormack Field House, which is now used for indoor track and field.
Virginia Military Institute
The Virginia Military Institute , located in Lexington, Virginia, is the oldest state-supported military college and one of six senior military colleges in the United States. Unlike any other military college in the United States—and in keeping with its founding principles—all VMI students are...
in Lexington, Virginia
Lexington, Virginia
Lexington is an independent city within the confines of Rockbridge County in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 7,042 in 2010. Lexington is about 55 minutes east of the West Virginia border and is about 50 miles north of Roanoke, Virginia. It was first settled in 1777.It is home to...
. They compete in the Big South Conference
Big South Conference
The Big South Conference is a college athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I. The conference's football teams are part of the Football Championship Subdivision...
of the NCAA Division I. They have played their home games in Cameron Hall
Cameron Hall
Cameron Hall is a 5,020-seat multi-purpose arena in Lexington, Virginia. It was built in 1981 and is home to the Virginia Military Institute Keydets basketball team.-References:...
since 1981. VMI has played basketball since 1908, and had played in the Southern Conference
Southern Conference
The Southern Conference is a Division I college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Southern Conference football teams compete in the Football Championship Subdivision . Member institutions are located in the states of Alabama, Georgia, North...
until 2003, when they moved to the Big South. They are coached by Duggar Baucom
Duggar Baucom
Duggar Baucom is an American college basketball coach and the current head men's basketball coach at the Virginia Military Institute.Baucom was hired as VMI coach following the 2004–05 season. He was previously the head coach at NCAA Division II Tusculum College. Before becoming Tusculum's head...
.
History
VMI basketball started in 1908 under head coach Pete Krebs. The team went 3-3. In 1924, they joined the SoCon, and would leave nearly 80 years later for the Big South in 2003.Perhaps the most famous run for the team was in 1976 and 77. The first year in 1975-76, the Keydets went 22-10 under head coach Bill Blair
Bill Blair (basketball)
William Blair is a former head coach in the National Basketball Association. He served as an interim head coach for the New Jersey Nets, and coached the Minnesota Timberwolves for a season and a half.-External links:*...
. After winning the SoCon tournament, VMI defeated Tennessee and DePaul
DePaul Blue Demons men's basketball
The DePaul Blue Demons Men's Basketball program is the NCAA Division I intercollegiate men's basketball program of DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois...
before falling to Rutgers 91-75. The next year, VMI went 26-4 under first-year head coach Charlie Schmaus. After defeating Duquesne
Duquesne Dukes men's basketball
The Duquesne Dukes represent Duquesne University in college basketball. The team, which started in 1914, has only ever played in NCAA Division I and has had five appearances in the NCAA Tournament...
73-66, they fell in the Sweet Sixteen to Kentucky
Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball
The Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team, representing the University of Kentucky, is the winningest in the history of college basketball, both in all-time wins and all-time winning percentage. Kentucky's all-time record currently stands at 2058–647...
93-78.
When VMI joined the Big South in 2003, they had regular season records of 6-22, 9-18, and 7-20 over the next 3 years. In 2006-07, VMI reached the Big South Championship for the first time, losing to Winthrop
Winthrop Eagles men's basketball
The Winthrop Eagles basketball team represents Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina and competes in the Big South Conference. The Eagles are currently coached by Randy Peele and play their home games in the 6,100 seat Winthrop Coliseum. Winthrop has appeared in nine NCAA Tournaments...
84-81. In 2008-09, VMI reached the championship again, but fell to Radford
Radford Highlanders men's basketball
Radford Highlanders is the name of the basketball program at Radford University. A member of the Big South Conference, the current head coach is Mike Jones. The Highlanders play at the Dedmon Center, which has a capacity of 3,000.-Steve Robinson :...
108-94. The Keydets fell in the 2011 Big South semifinals to Coastal Carolina 89-81 to end an 18-13 season.
NCAA Tournament results
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result/Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 1964 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1964 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 25 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball in the United States. It began on March 9, 1964, and ended with the championship game on March 21 in Kansas... |
First Round | Princeton | L 86-60 |
| 1976 1976 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1976 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 32 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 13, 1976, and ended with the championship game on March 29 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania... |
First Round Sweet Sixteen Elite Eight |
Tennessee DePaul Rutgers |
W 81-75 W 71-66 L 91-75 |
| 1977 1977 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1977 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 32 American schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the National Champion of Men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 12, 1977, and ended with the championship game on March 28 in Atlanta, Georgia. A... |
First Round Sweet Sixteen |
Duquesne Kentucky |
W 73-66 L 93-78 |
Facilities
- Cormack Field House (1930's-1980)
Cormack Field House, nicknamed "The Pit", served as the home of VMI basketball from the 1930's through 1980. There were many notable performances in its time, including a trio of SoCon championships and Elite 8 and Sweet Sixteen
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
VMI squads.
- Cameron HallCameron HallCameron Hall is a 5,020-seat multi-purpose arena in Lexington, Virginia. It was built in 1981 and is home to the Virginia Military Institute Keydets basketball team.-References:...
(1981-present)
The 5,800-seat Cameron Hall has housed VMI basketball since 1981, and does so today. It replaced aging Cormack Field House, which is now used for indoor track and field.
Coaches
| Head Coach | Years | Win-Loss | Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pete Krebs | 1908-09 | 3-3 | .500 |
| F.J. Pratt | 1909-10 | 2-5 | .286 |
| J. Mitchell | 1910-11 | 3-5 | .375 |
| Alpha Brummage | 1911-13 | 14-9 | .609 |
| W. C. Raferty | 1913-14, 1922-34 | 68-112 | .378 |
| Frank Gorton Frank Gorton Frank H. Gorton was the 12th head football coach for the Virginia Military Institute Keydets located in Lexington, Virginia and he held that position for three seasons, from 1914 until 1916. His career coaching record at VMI was 14 wins, 11 losses, and 1 ties. This ranks him eighth at VMI in... |
1914-17 | 26-10 | .722 |
| Earl Abell Earl Abell Earl C. "Tuffy" Abell was an American football player and coach. He played college football as a tackle at Colgate University. He later returned to Colgate as an assistant coach in 1925, and took over the head coaching job in 1928. He spent the 1929 and 1930 football seasons as head coach of... |
1917–1919 | 14-12 | .538 |
| Pinky Spruhan | 1919-22 | 38-9 | .809 |
| Frank Summers | 1934-36, 1947-49 | 12-61 | .164 |
| Allison Hubert Allison Hubert Allison T. "Pooley" Hubert was an All American American football player who played at the University of Alabama from 1922 to 1925. He later became the head football and basketball coach at Southern Mississippi University and the Virginia Military Institute... |
1936-37, 194-43 | 14-19 | .424 |
| J. Elmore | 1937-38 | 4-11 | .267 |
| Jimmy Walker | 1938-42 | 27-39 | .409 |
| Joe Daher | 1943-45 | 2-24 | .077 |
| Jay McWilliams | 1945-46 | 1-10 | .091 |
| Lloyd Roberts Lloyd Roberts Lloyd "Mooseman" Roberts was an American heavy metal, punk and rap Bassist. He is best remembered for his tenure in the band Body Count. He was killed in a random shooting in front of a hardware store in South Central, Los Angeles on 22 February 2001.... |
1946-47 | 4-15 | .211 |
| Bill O'Hara | 1949-52 | 10-56 | .152 |
| Chuck Noe Chuck Noe -External links:*-References:... |
1952-55 | 24-46 | .343 |
| Jack Null | 1955-58 | 12-58 | .171 |
| L.F. Miller | 1958-64 | 41-83 | .331 |
| Gary McPherson | 1964-69 | 32-77 | .294 |
| Mike Schuler Mike Schuler Mike Schuler is a former head coach in the National Basketball Association. He coached the Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Clippers in 338 games, and compiled a win-loss record of 179–159.In his first year as coach of the Trail Blazers, Schuler led the team to a 49–33 record, winning the... |
1969-72 | 13-63 | .171 |
| Bill Blair Bill Blair (basketball) William Blair is a former head coach in the National Basketball Association. He served as an interim head coach for the New Jersey Nets, and coached the Minnesota Timberwolves for a season and a half.-External links:*... |
1972-76 | 48-60 | .444 |
| Charlie Schmaus | 1976-82 | 75-90 | .455 |
| Marty Fletcher | 1982-86 | 37-75 | .330 |
| Joe Cantafio | 1986-94 | 79-147 | .350 |
| Bart Bellairs | 1994-05 | 116-191 | .378 |
| Duggar Baucom Duggar Baucom Duggar Baucom is an American college basketball coach and the current head men's basketball coach at the Virginia Military Institute.Baucom was hired as VMI coach following the 2004–05 season. He was previously the head coach at NCAA Division II Tusculum College. Before becoming Tusculum's head... |
2005–present | 87-94 | .481 |