1960–61 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team

{{Infobox NCAA team season

|mode=Basketball

|year=1960-61

|team=Illinois Fighting Illini

|image=1960–61_Illinois_Fighting_Illini_men's_basketball_team.jpg

|image_size= 300px

|conference=Big Ten Conference

|division=

|short_conf= Big Ten

|CoachRank=

|APRank=

|record= 9-15

|conf_record= 5-9

|head_coach=Harry Combes

|asst_coach1=Howie Braun

|asst_coach2=Jim Wright

|asst_coach3=

|hc_year=14th

|ac1_year=24th

|ac2_year=3rd

|ac3_year=

| captain = Selected each game

| mvp = Dave Downey

| mvp2 =

|stadium=Huff Hall

|champion=

|bowl=

}}

The 1960–61 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team represented the University of Illinois.

Regular season

Head coach Harry Combes experienced the worst record of his 20 years at the University of Illinois. His Fighting Illini basketball team, for the second year in a row, played in a mid-season tournament. The tournament they would compete in would be the Kentucky Invitational Tournament held at Memorial Coliseum in Lexington, Kentucky December 21–22.

The 1960-61 team utilized several returning lettermen including the leading scorer and team "MVP" Dave Downey. It also saw the return of Jerry Colangelo, John Wessels, Bill Burwell, Bill Small, as well as Doug Mills. The Illini also added sophomore Bob Starnes to their lineup. The Illini finished the season with a conference record of 5 wins and 9 losses, finishing 7th in the Big Ten. They would finish with an overall record of 9 wins and 15 losses. The starting lineup included Bill Burwell at the center position, Bill Small and Jerry Colangelo at guard and Dave Downey and John Wessels at the forward slots.Fighting Illini Basketball: A Hardwood History By News-Gazette, Sports Publishing LLC {{ISBN|1-58261-356-7}}

=Roster=

{{CBB roster/Header|year=1960|team=Illinois Fighting Illini|teamcolors=y|high_school=yes}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=John|last=Wessels|num=10|pos=C|ft=6|in=7|lbs=210|class=SR|rs=|home=Rockford, Illinois|high_school=Rockford West High School|link=y|alt=John Wessels (basketball)}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Jerry|last=Renner|num=20|pos=F|ft=6|in=1|lbs=180|class=JR|rs=|home=Aurora, Illinois|high_school=East High School|link=n}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Sam|last=Leeper|num=21|pos=G|ft=6|in=0|lbs=165|class=JR|rs=|home=Tolono, Illinois|high_school=Unity High School|link=n}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Jay|last=Lovelace|num=22|pos=G|ft=6|in=2|lbs=165|class=SO|rs=|home=Carbondale, Illinois|high_school=Carbondale Community High School|link=n}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Jerry|last=Colangelo|num=23|pos=G|ft=6|in=2|lbs=175|class=JR|rs=|home=Chicago Heights, Illinois|high_school=Bloom High School|link=y}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Bill|last=Burwell|num=25|pos=C|ft=6|in=8|lbs=243|class=SO|rs=|home=Brooklyn, New York|high_school=Boys High School|link=n}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Jeff|last=Ferguson|num=30|pos=G|ft=6|in=3|lbs=180|class=FR|rs=|home=Benton, Illinois|high_school=Benton Consolidated High School|link=n}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Doug|last=Mills|num=31|pos=G|ft=6|in=0|lbs=165|class=JR|rs=|home=Galesburg, Illinois|high_school=Galesburg High School|link=n}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=James|last=Knoefel|num=33|pos=F|ft=6|in=4|lbs=180|class=JR|rs=|home=Valparaiso, Indiana|high_school=Valparaiso High School|link=n}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Gary|last=McClung|num=34|pos=F|ft=6|in=4|lbs=185|class=JR|rs=|home=Maroa, Illinois|high_school=Maroa-Forsyth High School|link=n}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Dave|last=Downey|num=40|pos=F|ft=6|in=4|lbs=200|class=SO|rs=|home=Canton, Illinois|high_school=Canton High School|link=y}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Jerry|last=Curless|num=41|pos=G|ft=6|in=0|lbs=160|class=JR|rs=|home=Table Grove, Illinois|high_school=VIT High School|link=n}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Ed|last=Searcy|num=42|pos=F|ft=6|in=5|lbs=185|class=JR|rs=|home=Indianapolis, Indiana|high_school=Attucks High School|link=n}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Bob|last=Starnes|num=44|pos=F|ft=6|in=4|lbs=180|class=SO|rs=|home=Chicago, Illinois|high_school=Gage Park High School|link=n}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Bill|last=Mohlenbrock|num=51|pos=G|ft=6|in=3|lbs=178|class=SO|rs=|home=Murphysboro, Illinois|high_school=Murphysboro High School|link=n}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Bill|last=Small|num=53|pos=G|ft=6|in=2|lbs=185|class=SO|rs=|home=Aurora, Illinois|high_school=West Aurora High School|link=n}}

{{CBB roster/Footer

|head_coach=

Harry Combes (University of Illinois) (14th year)

|asst_coach=

Howie Braun (University of Illinois) (24th year)
Jim Wright (University of Illinois) (3rd year)

|roster_url=https://fightingillini.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/1960-61

|accessdate=

}}

Schedule

Source[https://fightingillini.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule/1960-61 University of Illinois Fighting Illini Statistics Summary for 1960-61], FightingIllini.com

{{CBB schedule start|attend=yes|rank=yes|tv=no|gamehighs=no|time=no}}[https://fightingillini.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule/1960-61 Schedule]

!colspan=12 style="background:#DF4E38; color:white;"| Non-Conference regular season

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 12/1/1960

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank =

|nonconf = yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|1960|team=Creighton Bluejays|title=Creighton}}

| site_stadium = Huff Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename =

| score = 99-74

| overtime =

| attend = 6,708

| record = 1-0}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 12/6/1960

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank =

|nonconf = yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|1960|team=Butler Bulldogs|title=Butler}}

| site_stadium = Huff Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename =

| score = 84-52

| overtime =

| attend = 6,689

| record = 2-0}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 12/12/1960

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank =

|nonconf = yes

|away=yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|1960|team=Colorado Buffaloes|title=Colorado}}

| site_stadium = Balch Fieldhouse

| site_cityst = Boulder, CO

| gamename =

| score = 81-90

| overtime =

| attend = 4,100

| record = 2-1}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 12/17/1960

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank =

|nonconf = yes

|away=yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|1960|team=Marquette Golden Eagles|title=Marquette}}

| site_stadium = Marquette Gymnasium

| site_cityst = Milwaukee, WI

| gamename =

| score = 88-96

| overtime =

| attend = 8,440

| record = 2-2 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 12/19/1960

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank =

|nonconf = yes

| opponent = Washington State

| site_stadium = Huff Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename =

| score = 79-58

| overtime =

| attend = 3,507

| record = 3-2 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 12/21/1960

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank =

|nonconf = yes

|away=yes

| opponent = Kentucky

| site_stadium = Memorial Coliseum

| site_cityst = Lexington, KY

| gamename = Kentucky Invitational Tournament

| score = 78-83

| overtime =

| attend = 7,500

| record = 3-3 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 12/22/1960

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank =

|nonconf = yes

|neutral=yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|1960|team=California Golden Bears|title=California}}

| site_stadium = Memorial Coliseum

| site_cityst = Lexington, KY

| gamename = Kentucky Invitational Tournament

| score = 54-72

| overtime =

| attend = 8,000

| record = 3-4 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 12/27/1960

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank =

|nonconf = yes

|away=yes

| opponent = Butler

| site_stadium = Hinkle Fieldhouse

| site_cityst = Indianapolis, IN

| gamename =

| score = 68-70

| overtime =

| attend = 6,100

| record = 3-5 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 12/28/1960

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank =

|nonconf = yes

|neutral=yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|1960|team=Notre Dame Fighting Irish|title=Notre Dame}}

| site_stadium = Hinkle Fieldhouse

| site_cityst = Indianapolis, IN

| gamename =

| score = 66-69

| overtime =

| attend = 6,591

| record = 3-6 }}

!colspan=9 style="background:#DF4E38; color:#FFFFFF;"|Big Ten regular season

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 1/7/1961

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank =

|nonconf = no

|away=yes

| opponent = Ohio State

|opprank=1

| site_stadium = St. John Arena

| site_cityst = Columbus, OH

| gamename =

| score = 65-91

| overtime =

| attend = 13,408

| record = 3-7 |conference=0-1}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 1/14/1961

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank =

|nonconf = no

| opponent = Michigan

| site_stadium = Huff Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename =

| score = 88-64

| overtime =

| attend = 6,705

| record = 4-7 |conference=1-1}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 1/16/1961

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank =

|nonconf = no

|away=yes

| opponent = Iowa

|opprank=6

| site_stadium = Iowa Field House

| site_cityst = Iowa City, IA

| gamename = Rivalry

| score = 71-78

| overtime =

| attend = 12,700

| record = 4-8 |conference=1-2}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 1/28/1961

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank =

|nonconf = yes |neutral=yes

| opponent = Notre Dame

| site_stadium = Chicago Stadium

| site_cityst = Chicago, IL

| gamename =

| score = 77-62

| overtime =

| attend = 11,800

| record = 5-8 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 1/30/1961

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank =

|nonconf = no

| opponent = {{cbb link|1960|team=Michigan State Spartans|title=Michigan State}}

| site_stadium = Huff Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename =

| score = 93-92

| overtime =

| attend = 3,132

| record = 6-8 |conference=2-2}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 2/4/1961

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank =

|nonconf = no

|away=yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|1960|team=Minnesota Golden Gophers|title=Minnesota}}

| site_stadium = Williams Arena

| site_cityst = Minneapolis, MN

| gamename =

| score = 65-60

| overtime =

| attend = 12,001

| record = 7-8 |conference=3-2}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 2/6/1961

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank =

|nonconf = no

| opponent = Wisconsin

| site_stadium = Huff Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename =

| score = 77-73

| overtime =

| attend = 6,775

| record = 8-8 |conference=4-2}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 2/11/1961

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank =

|nonconf = no

|away=yes

| opponent = {{cbb link|1960|team=Purdue Boilermakers|title=Purdue}}

| site_stadium = Lambert Fieldhouse

| site_cityst = West Lafayette, IN

| gamename =

| score = 73-89

| overtime =

| attend = 10,000

| record = 8-9 |conference=4-3}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 2/18/1961

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank =

|nonconf = no

| opponent = {{cbb link|1960|team=Northwestern Wildcats|title=Northwestern}}

| site_stadium = Huff Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename = Rivalry

| score = 72-78

| overtime =

| attend = 6,569

| record = 8-10 |conference=4-4}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 2/20/1961

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank =

|nonconf = no

|away=yes

| opponent = Michigan State

| site_stadium = Jenison Fieldhouse

| site_cityst = East Lansing, MI

| gamename =

| score = 80-90

| overtime =

| attend = 4,185

| record = 8-11 |conference=4-5}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 2/25/1961

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank =

|nonconf = no

|away=yes

| opponent = Indiana

| site_stadium = New Fieldhouse

| site_cityst = Bloomington, IN

| gamename = Rivalry

| score = 82-93

| overtime =

| attend = 600

| record = 8-12 |conference=4-6}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 2/27/1961

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank =

|nonconf = no

| opponent = Minnesota

| site_stadium = Huff Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename =

| score = 76-85

| overtime =

| attend = 6,569

| record = 8-13 |conference=4-7 }}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 3/4/1961

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank =

|nonconf = no

| opponent = Purdue

| site_stadium = Huff Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename =

| score = 85-75

| overtime =

| attend = 6,891

| record = 9-13 |conference=5-7}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 3/6/1961

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank =

|nonconf = no

|away=yes

| opponent = Michigan

| site_stadium = Yost Field House

| site_cityst = Ann Arbor, MI

| gamename =

| score = 66-74

| overtime =

| attend = 2,000

| record = 9-14 |conference=5-8}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = 3/11/1961

|time = no

|tv = no

|rank =

|nonconf = no

| opponent = Ohio State

|opprank=1

| site_stadium = Huff Hall

| site_cityst = Champaign, IL

| gamename =

| score = 66–95

| overtime =

| attend = 6,912

| record = 9-15 |conference=5-9}}

Player stats

style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle\|Illinois Fighting Illini\|color=white}}"\| Player !style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle\|Illinois Fighting Illini\|color=white}}"\| Games Played !style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle\|Illinois Fighting Illini\|color=white}}"\| Field Goals !style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle\|Illinois Fighting Illini\|color=white}}"\| Free Throws !style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle\|Illinois Fighting Illini\|color=white}}"\| Rebounds !style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle\|Illinois Fighting Illini\|color=white}}"\| Points
class="wikitable sortable"
align="center" bgcolor="" \|Dave Downey	24	157	88	267	402
align="center" bgcolor="" \|Jerry Colangelo	24	128	71	94	327
align="center" bgcolor="" \|John Wessels	24	119	83	217	321
align="center" bgcolor="" \|Bill Burwell	24	117	57	207	291
align="center" bgcolor="" \|Bill Small	22	73	42	56	188
align="center" bgcolor="" \|Bob Starnes	24	29	25	61	83
align="center" bgcolor="" \|Doug Mills	21	26	20	15	72
align="center" bgcolor="" \|Ed Searcy	13	23	12	62	58
align="center" bgcolor="" \|Jerry Curless	22	17	13	38	47
align="center" bgcolor="" \|Jerry Renner	19	11	2	22	24
align="center" bgcolor="" \|Jeff Ferguson	11	2	5	4	9
align="center" bgcolor="" \|Jay Lovelace	7	2	2	2	6
align="center" bgcolor="" \|Sam Leeper	7	1	2	5	2
align="center" bgcolor="" \|Bill Mohlenbrock	2	0	0	1	0
align="center" bgcolor="" \|Butch Jones	1	0	0	1	0
align="center" bgcolor=""

{{Cite web |url=http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/m-baskbl/records/year-1960.html |title=Season Stats |access-date=2014-03-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140311011020/http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/m-baskbl/records/year-1960.html |archive-date=2014-03-11 |url-status=dead }}

Awards and honors

Dave Downey
Converse Honorable Mention All-American
Team Most Valuable Player {{Cite web |url=http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/ill/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/05_mbb_guide_06.pdf |title=List of MVPs |access-date=2013-02-05 |archive-date=2014-10-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030004049/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/ill/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/05_mbb_guide_06.pdf |url-status=dead }}
John Wessels
Converse Honorable Mention All-American

Team players drafted into the NBA

class="wikitable" width="500"
style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle\|Illinois Fighting Illini\|color=white}}"\| Player !style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle\|Illinois Fighting Illini\|color=white}}"\| NBA Club !style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle\|Illinois Fighting Illini\|color=white}}"\| Round !style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle\|Illinois Fighting Illini\|color=white}}"\| Pick
align="center" bgcolor="" \|John Wessels	Chicago Packers \|8 \|8
align="center" bgcolor=""

class="wikitable" width="500"

style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Illinois Fighting Illini|color=white}}"| Player

!style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Illinois Fighting Illini|color=white}}"| NBA Club

!style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Illinois Fighting Illini|color=white}}"| Round

!style="{{CollegePrimaryStyle|Illinois Fighting Illini|color=white}}"| Pick

align="center" bgcolor=""

|John Wessels

Chicago Packers

align="center" bgcolor=""

[http://www.databasebasketball.com/draft/draftyear.htm?yr=1961&lg=N 1961 NBA Draft] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100523230844/http://www.databasebasketball.com/draft/draftyear.htm?yr=1961&lg=N |date=2010-05-23 }}

Rankings

{{main|1960–61 NCAA University Division men's basketball rankings}}

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:1960-61 Illinois Fighting Illini Men's Basketball Team}}

Illinois Fighting Illini

Category:Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball seasons

Category:1960 in sports in Illinois

Category:1961 in sports in Illinois