The oldest basketball program in the NCAA?

[Bally #50]

In looking up something in WIKIPEDIA, I came across this statement in reference to Indiana State basketball.

In referring to ISU hoops, Wiki says "Their first season was 1896; making the Sycamores the oldest basketball team in the NCAA, along with Bucknell, Minnesota and Washington."

Had anyone else ever heard that? That caught me totally by surprise. I am also surprised if it is correct, that we don't capitalize on that more.

 

[SycamorePsycho]

Yea...I was shocked when I heard that too.

 

[treeman]

yeah i saw that about a week ago. i was gonna post it but i would have thought it was already discussed. i believe there is so much history in Indiana State basketball that the university is not capitalizing on.

 

[Bally #50]

yeah i saw that about a week ago. i was gonna post it but i would have thought it was already discussed. i believe there is so much history in Indiana State basketball that the university is not capitalizing on.

Remember, they (ISU) are in possession of some of John Wooden's memorabilia. I suspect that in due time, that will dominate a corner of Hulman Center's outer concourse. I never have heard exactly what they received from Coach's estate but I imagine, it will be pretty special stuff. Then add the long awaited Larry Bird statue outside of HC and.............???

 

[mohoops247]

In the 2010-2011 Basketball Yearbook, it states that

1896-1899 The first Indiana State basketball team was organized in 1896 under the authority of the Normal School Athletic Association which
administered competitive team events. Records for the years 1896-1899 are not available.

http://www.gosycamores.com//pdf8/719679.pdf?SPSID=65154&SPID=7259&DB_OEM_ID=15200

So it looks like ISU did have a team in 1896, but it would be hard to verify if any other NCAA members had a team prior to that.

 

[dr. bucket]

1891, Dec 21 - 18 students play 1st college basketball game (Springfield College, Massachusetts).

1892, Jan 20 - The first official basketball game was played by students at the Springfield, MA YMCA Training School.

1894, Jan 27 - The University of Chicago played its first college basketball game, defeating the Chicago YMCA Training School 19-11. The University of Chicago was the first basketball team to play a full schedule of games, winding up with a 6-1 record.

1895, Feb 9 - The first college basketball game was played as Minnesota State School of Agriculture defeated the Porkers of Hamline College, 9-3.

1896, Jan 16 - The first five-player college basketball game was played at Iowa City, Iowa. The University of Chicago defeated the University of Iowa by the score of 15-12.

1896, Dec 10 - Intercollegiate basketball was played for the first time as Wesleyan University defeated Yale, 4-3, in New Haven, Connecticut.

 

[4Q_iu]

In the 2010-2011 Basketball Yearbook, it states that

http://www.gosycamores.com//pdf8/719679.pdf?SPSID=65154&SPID=7259&DB_OEM_ID=15200

So it looks like ISU did have a team in 1896, but it would be hard to verify if any other NCAA members had a team prior to that.

Not too likely --- since Naismith was working for/at the YMCA when he invented the game; the earliest teams were centered around the Y.

Pretty sure the NCAA doesn't look too far beyond 1896

 

[4Q_iu]

Remember, they (ISU) are in possession of some of John Wooden's memorabilia. I suspect that in due time, that will dominate a corner of Hulman Center's outer concourse. I never have heard exactly what they received from Coach's estate but I imagine, it will be pretty special stuff. Then add the long awaited Larry Bird statue outside of HC and.............???

From the accompanying story at time; the various schools/universities received some specific, unique memorabilia from the family...

for instance, the family sent west laffy Coach Wooden's Letterman's Sweater.

The HS in South Bend where he coached as been closed for years; but maybe the family sent the SB School Corporation the memorabilia... believe the HS in Dayton KY (his first job) is still open; no idea who got his pro basketball gear, perhaps the family kept it.

As to the rest of 'what we should do at the HC...' Don't just focus on Wooden's two years or Larry's three; include the multiple NAIB (aka NAIA) Finals Appearances. The 1968 College Division R/U team, ALL of the Conference Titles, not just from the MVC.

Include a section on the 1951 Pan Am Team and Larry's and Carl Nicks USA Basketball participation

Devote a section to all of the Sycamores in the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame; the great coaches with ties to State, Wooden, Glenn Curtis, Howard Sharpe, etc, etc

 

[4Q_iu]

From 2009-2010 NCAA Record Book:

The oldest Division I MBB programs:

1. Temple 1894-95
2. Bucknell 1895-96
3. Minnesota 1895-96
4. Washington 1895-96
5. Yale 1895-96
6. Butler 1896-97
7. Nebraska 1896-97
8. Pennsylvannia 1896-97
9. Penn St 1896-97
10. Purdue 1896-97
11. Wisc-Milwaukee 1896-97
12. N. Dakota St 1897-98
13. Notre Dame 1897-98
14. Coll o Charleston 1898-99
15. Cornell 1898-99
16. Illinois St 1898-99
17. Ohio St 1898-99
18. Wisconsin 1898-99
19. STATE 1899-1900
20. Kansas 1899-1900
21. Michigan St 1899-1900

 

[Bob Evans]

ISU probably had a team in 96 but had to wait a few years to play because Bucknell, Minnesota, and Washington didn't want to schedule them.

 

[TreeTop]

ISU probably had a team in 96 but had to wait a few years to play because Bucknell, Minnesota, and Washington didn't want to schedule them.

Hilarious

 

[SycamoreFan317]

No records, no credit.

 

[4Q_iu]

Temple's first season...

From the 2010-2011 Temple Owls MBB Media Guide...

1894-95 (8-3)
Purple Crescent A.C...............................3-1 W
Germantown YMCA...............................9-8 W
Turnegemeinde ......................................3-0 W
Temple J.V. ............................................5-1 W
W. Phila. YMCA ...................................10-1 W
Kensington YMCA..................................0-8 L
Central H. S............................................6-2 W
Haverford College ..................................4-6 L
Delhi Club ..............................................9-1 W
Northwest YMCA...................................1-2 L
W. Phila. YMCA .....................................9-3 W

The only college on the list is a Div III school today...

ALL universities have these types of opponents; YMCAs, Athl Clubs, High Schools, Independent teams...

Makes you wonder why the NCAA includes them in victory totals...