1975–76 Western Michigan Broncos men's basketball team

{{Infobox college sports team season

| year = 1975–76

| team = Western Michigan Broncos

| sport = Basketball

| image =

| conference = Mid-American Conference

| short_conf = MAC

| CoachRank = 19

| APRank = 10

| record = 25–3

| conf_record = 15–1

| head_coach = Eldon Miller

| asst_coach1 = Dick Shilts

| asst_coach2 = Rich Walker

| asst_coach3 =

| stadium = University Arena

| champion = Mid-American Conference Champions

| tourney = NCAA tournament

| tourney_result = Sweet Sixteen

}}

The 1975–76 Western Michigan Broncos men's basketball team was a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I college basketball team that played in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The Broncos, representing Western Michigan University (WMU), finished the season 25–3 overall and 15–1 in the conference, won the MAC championship and reached the Sweet Sixteen of the 1976 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament. They finished the season ranked No. 10 in the AP Poll and No. 19 in the UPI Poll.{{cite web |url=http://www.wmubroncos.com/pdf9/792571.pdf |title=2013–14 WMU Men's Basketball Record Book |publisher=Western Michigan University |pages=54 |accessdate=January 22, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203190941/http://www.wmubroncos.com/pdf9/792571.pdf |archive-date=2014-02-03 |url-status=dead }}

Season

The Broncos were featured in a Sports Illustrated article in the February 9, 1976, issue.{{cite web |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1090747/index.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091102040935/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1090747/index.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 2, 2009 |title=Who's Who In Kalamazoo. Western Michigan (16–0) is a new big shot, but just in its hometown |publisher=Sports Illustrated |first=Kent |last=Hannon |date=February 9, 1976 |accessdate=January 22, 2014}}

After starting the season 16–0, the Broncos entered the AP Poll as the No. 17-ranked team.{{cite web |url=http://www.collegepollarchive.com/mbasketball/ap/teams/by_season.cfm?teamid=158&seasonid=1976 |title=Western Michigan 1976 AP Men's Basketball Rankings |publisher=College Poll Archive |accessdate=January 22, 2014}} In the MAC showdown against Miami in Kalamazoo, a Western Michigan University (WMU) record 10,519 fans attended the game.

In an early-season game, WMU beat {{cbb link |year=1975 |sex=men |team=Wisconsin–Green Bay Phoenix |school=University of Wisconsin–Green Bay |title=Wisconsin–Green Bay}} (UWGB) 51–50 on a put-back by Jeff Tyson with one second left on the clock. The Broncos led by 10 points early in the second half, but UWGB took the lead by one point with 10 seconds remaining. After a timeout, WMU missed a long 25-foot field goal, but Tyson was able to get the rebound and score.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/18342603/green_bay_pressgazette/ |title=Last Shot Tips UWGB |newspaper=Green Bay Press Gazette |first=Bob |last=McGinn |page=D-1 |date=December 7, 1975 |accessdate=March 16, 2018 |via=newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}

=NCAA tournament=

In the NCAA tournament, Western Michigan defeated {{cbb link |year=1975 |sex=men |team=Virginia Tech Hokies |school=Virginia Tech |title=Virginia Tech}} 77–67 in overtime. They lost to No. 2-ranked Marquette in the Sweet Sixteen by 5 points, 62–57.{{cite web |url=http://www.wmubroncos.com//pdf8/718571.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=4600 |title=Official Basketball Box Score – Marquette vs Western Michigan – 3/18/76 |publisher=Western Michigan University |date=March 18, 1976 |accessdate=January 24, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203210334/http://www.wmubroncos.com//pdf8/718571.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=4600 |archive-date=February 3, 2014 |url-status=dead }}

Roster

The following players were on the 1975–76 team:{{cite web |url=http://www.wmubroncos.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=4600&ATCLID=3759273 |title=Statistics Summary for 1975–76 |publisher=Western Michigan University |date=July 2, 2009 |accessdate=January 24, 2014}}

Dave Carnegie
Rod Curry
Tom Cutter
Dale DeBruin
Paul Griffin
Jimmie Harvey
Jim Kurzen
Marty Murray
Bob Pyykkonen
Herman Randle
Mark Rayner
Mike Reardon
Dave Roland
S. L. Sales
Marc Throop
Jeff Tyson

The team was coached by Eldon Miller, along with assistant coaches Dick Shilts and Rich Walker.{{cite web |url=http://www.wmubroncos.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=4600&ATCLID=205017294 |title=NCAA Tournament Team |publisher=Western Michigan University |date=October 23, 2010 |accessdate=January 24, 2014}}

Schedule

The Broncos finished the season 25–3 and first place in the MAC with a 15–1 record.{{cite web |url=http://www.wmubroncos.com/pdf9/792571.pdf |title=2013–14 WMU Men's Basketball Record Book |publisher=Western Michigan University |pages=85–86 |accessdate=January 22, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203190941/http://www.wmubroncos.com/pdf9/792571.pdf |archive-date=2014-02-03 |url-status=dead }}

{{CBB schedule start | time=yes | rank=yes | tv=yes | gamehighs=no | attend=yes}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = December 1, 1975

| time =

| nonconf = yes

| opponent = {{cbb link |year=1975 |sex=men |team=Grand Valley State Lakers |school=Grand Valley State University |title=Grand Valley State}}

| site_stadium = Read Fieldhouse

| site_cityst = Kalamazoo, MI

| tv =

| score = 107–73

| attend =

| record = 1–0

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = December 3, 1975

| time =

| nonconf = yes

| opponent = {{cbb link |year=1975 |sex=men |team=Wisconsin–Parkside Rangers |school=University of Wisconsin–Parkside |title=Wisconsin–Parkside}}

| site_stadium = Read Fieldhouse

| site_cityst = Kalamazoo, MI

| tv =

| score = 77–74

| attend =

| record = 2–0

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = December 6, 1975

| time =

| nonconf = yes

| away = yes

| opponent = {{cbb link |year=1975 |sex=men |team=Wisconsin–Green Bay Phoenix |school=University of Wisconsin–Green Bay |title=Wisconsin–Green Bay}}

| site_stadium = Brown County Veterans Memorial Arena

| site_cityst = Ashwaubenon, WI

| tv =

| score = 51–50

| attend = 2,052

| record = 3–0

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = December 10, 1975

| time =

| nonconf = yes

| away = yes

| opponent = {{cbb link |year=1975 |sex=men |team=Northern Iowa Panthers |school=University of Northern Iowa |title=Northern Iowa}}

| site_stadium = McElroy Auditorium

| site_cityst = Waterloo, IA

| tv =

| score = 91–61

| attend = ~850{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/18343078/the_courier/ |title=UNI outclassed by Broncos 91–61 |newspaper=The Courier |first=Burke |last=Evans |page=23 |date=December 10, 1975 |accessdate=March 16, 2018 |via=newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/18343144/the_courier/ |title=UNI outclassed by Broncos 91–61 |newspaper=The Courier |first=Burke |last=Evans |page=24 |date=December 10, 1975 |accessdate=March 16, 2018 |via=newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}

| record = 4–0

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = December 13, 1975

| time =

| nonconf = yes

| opponent = Michigan State

| site_stadium = Read Fieldhouse

| site_cityst = Kalamazoo, MI

| tv =

| score = 78–68

| attend =

| record = 5–0

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = December 15, 1975

| time =

| nonconf = yes

| opponent = {{cbb link |year=1975 |sex=men |team=Detroit Titans |school=University of Detroit Mercy |title=Detroit}}

| site_stadium = Read Fieldhouse

| site_cityst = Kalamazoo, MI

| tv =

| score = 81–71

| attend =

| record = 6–0

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = December 20, 1975

| time =

| nonconf = yes

| opponent = {{cbb link |year=1975 |sex=men |team=Wisconsin–Oshkosh Titans |school=University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh |title=Wisconsin–Oshkosh}}

| site_stadium = Read Fieldhouse

| site_cityst = Kalamazoo, MI

| tv =

| score = 115–83

| attend =

| record = 7–0

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = January 3, 1976

| time =

| away = yes

| opponent = {{cbb link |year=1975 |sex=men |team=Bowling Green Falcons |school=Bowling Green State University |title=Bowling Green}}

| site_stadium = Anderson Arena

| site_cityst = Bowling Green, OH

| tv =

| score = 67–57

| attend =

| record = 8–0

| conference = 1–0

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = January 7, 1976

| time =

| away = yes

| opponent = {{cbb link |year=1975 |sex=men |team=Eastern Michigan Hurons |school=Eastern Michigan University |title=Eastern Michigan}}

| site_stadium = Bowen Field House

| site_cityst = Ypsilanti, MI

| tv =

| score = 78–58

| attend =

| record = 9–0

| conference = 2–0

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = January 10, 1976

| time =

| opponent = {{cbb link |year=1975 |sex=men |team=Toledo Rockets |school=University of Toledo |title=Toledo}}

| site_stadium = Read Fieldhouse

| site_cityst = Kalamazoo, MI

| tv =

| score = 78–73

| attend =

| record = 10–0

| conference = 3–0

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = January 14, 1976

| time =

| nonconf = yes

| opponent = {{cbb link |year=1975 |sex=men |team=Loyola Ramblers |school=Loyola University Chicago |title=Loyola (IL)}}

| site_stadium = Read Fieldhouse

| site_cityst = Kalamazoo, MI

| tv =

| score = 79–77

| attend =

| record = 11–0

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = January 17, 1976

| time =

| away = yes

| opponent = {{cbb link |year=1975 |sex=men |team=Northern Illinois Huskies |school=Northern Illinois University |title=Northern Illinois}}

| site_stadium = Chick Evans Field House

| site_cityst = DeKalb, IL

| tv =

| score = 78–65

| attend =

| record = 12–0

| conference = 4–0

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = January 21, 1976

| time =

| opponent = {{cbb link |year=1975 |sex=men |team=Kent State Golden Flashes |school=Kent State University |title=Kent State}}

| site_stadium = Read Fieldhouse

| site_cityst = Kalamazoo, MI

| tv =

| score = 75–53

| attend =

| record = 13–0

| conference = 5–0

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = January 24, 1976

| time =

| away = yes

| opponent = Ball State

| site_stadium = Irving Gymnasium

| site_cityst = Muncie, IN

| tv =

| score = 62–57

| attend =

| record = 14–0

| conference = 6–0

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = January 28, 1976

| time =

| opponent = {{cbb link |year=1975 |sex=men |team=Miami Redskins |school=Miami University |title=Miami}}

| site_stadium = Read Fieldhouse

| site_cityst = Kalamazoo, MI

| tv =

| score = 82–68

| attend = 10,519

| record = 15–0

| conference = 7–0

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = January 31, 1976

| time =

| opponent = Ohio

| site_stadium = Read Fieldhouse

| site_cityst = Kalamazoo, MI

| tv =

| score = 75–59

| attend =

| record = 16–0

| conference = 8–0

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = February 4, 1976

| time =

| nonconf = yes

| away = yes

| rank = 17

| opponent = Loyola (IL)

| site_stadium = Alumni Gym

| site_cityst = Chicago, IL

| tv =

| score = 80–73

| attend =

| record = 17–0

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = February 7, 1976

| time =

| away = yes

| rank = 17

| opponent = {{cbb link |year=1975 |sex=men |team=Central Michigan Chippewas |school=Central Michigan University |title=Central Michigan}}

| site_stadium = Daniel P. Rose Center

| site_cityst = Mount Pleasant, MI

| tv =

| score = 76–73

| attend =

| record = 18–0

| conference = 9–0

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = February 11, 1976

| time =

| rank = 15

| opponent = Eastern Michigan

| site_stadium = Read Fieldhouse

| site_cityst = Kalamazoo, MI

| tv =

| score = 85–73

| attend =

| record = 19–0

| conference = 10–0

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = February 14, 1976

| time =

| away = yes

| rank = 15

| opponent = Toledo

| site_stadium = Field House

| site_cityst = Toledo, OH

| tv =

| score = 80–88

| attend =

| record = 19–1

| conference = 10–1

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = February 21, 1976

| time =

| rank = 17

| opponent = Northern Illinois

| site_stadium = Read Fieldhouse

| site_cityst = Kalamazoo, MI

| tv =

| score = 91–74

| attend =

| record = 20–1

| conference = 11–1

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = February 25, 1976

| time =

| away = yes

| rank = 16

| opponent = Kent State

| site_stadium = Memorial Gym

| site_cityst = Kent, OH

| tv =

| score = 73–63

| attend =

| record = 21–1

| conference = 12–1

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = February 28, 1976

| time =

| rank = 16

| opponent = Ball State

| site_stadium = Read Fieldhouse

| site_cityst = Kalamazoo, MI

| tv =

| score = 93–67

| attend =

| record = 22–1

| conference = 13–1

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = March 1, 1976

| time =

| nonconf = yes

| away = yes

| rank = 16

| opponent = Notre Dame

| opprank = 8

| site_stadium = Athletic and Convocation Center

| site_cityst = South Bend, IN

| tv =

| score = 86–95

| overtime = OT

| attend =

| record = 22–2

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = March 3, 1976

| time =

| away = yes

| rank = 14

| opponent = Miami

| site_stadium = Millett Hall

| site_cityst = Oxford, OH

| tv =

| score = 73–58

| attend =

| record = 23–2

| conference = 14–1

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = March 6, 1976

| time =

| rank = 14

| opponent = Bowling Green

| site_stadium = Read Fieldhouse

| site_cityst = Kalamazoo, MI

| tv =

| score = 71–58

| attend =

| record = 24–2

| conference = 15–1

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = March 13, 1976

| time =

| nonconf = yes

| neutral = yes

| rank = 16

| opponent = {{cbb link |year=1975 |sex=men |team=Virginia Tech Hokies |school=Virginia Tech |title=Virginia Tech}}

| site_stadium = Athletic and Convocation Center

| site_cityst = South Bend, IN

| gamename = NCAA tournament Round of 32

| tv =

| score = 77–67

| overtime = OT

| attend =

| record = 25–2

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = March 18, 1976

| time =

| nonconf = yes

| neutral = yes

| rank = 10

| opponent = Marquette

| opprank = 2

| site_stadium = LSU Assembly Center

| site_cityst = Baton Rouge, LA

| gamename = NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen

| tv =

| score = 57–62

| attend = 14,150

| record = 25–3

}}

{{CBB schedule end

| rank = yes

| poll = AP Poll

| timezone =

}}

Statistics

The following table lists the individual player statistics for the season.{{cite web |url=http://www.wmubroncos.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=4600&ATCLID=3759273 |title=1975–76 Men's Basketball Stats |publisher=Western Michigan University |date=July 2, 2009 |accessdate=January 24, 2014}}

Player \|\| GP \|\| GS \|\| Pts \|\| Avg \|\| FG \|\| FGA \|\| Pct \|\| FT \|\| FTA \|\| Pct \|\| Reb \|\| Avg \|\| PF \|\| FO \|\| A
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
Jeff Tyson	28	28	501	17.9	212	425	.499	77	109	.706	132	4.7	83	3	63
Tom Cutter	28	28	362	12.9	140	217	.645	82	108	.759	298	10.6	84	2	57
Jimmie Harvey	28	28	356	12.7	163	323	.505	30	44	.682	100	3.6	73	1	42
Paul Griffin	28	28	303	10.8	115	192	.599	73	100	.730	277	9.9	82	5	84
Marty Murray	28	0	248	8.9	85	218	.390	78	108	.722	41	1.5	64	2	50
Jim Kurzen	28	28	198	7.1	79	170	.465	40	51	.784	44	1.6	53	0	72
Dave Carnegie	24	0	63	2.6	27	50	.540	9	17	.529	61	2.5	29	0	2
Dale DeBruin	19	0	48	2.5	17	33	.515	14	27	.519	40	2.1	25	0	7
S. L. Sales	18	0	42	2.3	18	40	.450	6	15	.400	19	1.1	15	0	0
Mike Reardon	21	0	40	1.9	17	36	.472	6	11	.545	9	0.4	8	0	0
Herman Randle	21	0	38	1.8	15	50	.300	8	14	.571	9	0.4	7	0	0
Marc Throop	12	0	10	0.8	2	8	.250	6	13	.462	15	1.3	9	0	0
Bob Pyykkonen	5	0	4	0.8	2	6	.333	0	1	.000	3	0.6	1	0	0
Dave Roland	6	0	3	0.5	0	5	.000	3	7	.429	1	0.2	1	0	1
Rod Curry	5	0	2	0.4	1	6	.167	0	0	–	5	1.0	1	0	0
Mark Rayner	1	0	0	0.0	0	0	–	0	0	–	2	2.0	1	0	0
WMU totals \|\| colspan=2 \| 28 \|\| 2218 \|\| 79.2 \|\| 893 \|\| 1779 \|\| .502 \|\| 432 \|\| 625 \|\| .691 \|\| 1176 \|\| 42.0 \|\| 536 \|\| 14 \|\| 392
Opp. totals \|\| colspan=2 \| 28 \|\| 1898 \|\| 67.8 \|\| 776 \|\| 1817 \|\| .427 \|\| 346 \|\| 484 \|\| .715 \|\| – \|\| – \|\| 581 \|\| – \|\| 330

Rankings

References

External links

[https://admin.xosn.com/pdf5/652145.pdf Western Michigan University men's basketball media guide] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120927223436/https://admin.xosn.com/pdf5/652145.pdf |date=2012-09-27 }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1975-76 Western Michigan Broncos Men's Basketball Team}}

Western Michigan

Category:Western Michigan Broncos men's basketball seasons

Western Michigan Broncos men's basketball