1976–77 Weber State Wildcats men's basketball team

The 1976–77 Weber State Wildcats men's basketball team represented Weber State College during the 1976–77 NCAA Division I basketball season. Members of the Big Sky Conference, the Wildcats were led by second-year head coach Neil McCarthy and played their home games on campus at Wildcat Gym in Ogden, Utah. They were 19–7 overall in the regular season and 11–3 in conference play.[1][2]

1976–77 Weber State Wildcats men's basketball
ConferenceBig Sky Conference
1976–77 record20–8 (11–3 Big Sky)
Head coachNeil McCarthy (2nd season)
Home arenaWildcat Gym
1976–77 Big Sky men's basketball standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L PCT  W L PCT
Idaho State †13–1 .929  25–5  .833
Weber State11–3 .786  20–8  .714
Gonzaga7–7 .500  11–16  .407
Montana State6–8 .429  12–14  .462
Northern Arizona5–9 .357  12–15  .444
Boise State5–9 .357  10–16  .385
Montana5–9 .357  7–19  .269
Idaho3–11 .214  5–21  .192
† Conference tournament winner

Weber State was second in the regular season standings and qualified for the four-team conference tournament, hosted by Idaho State in Pocatello.[1][3] The Wildcats won their semifinal by a point over underdog Gonzaga;[4] but advanced to the final again, this time to host Idaho State; the teams had split the season series with home wins. The trend continued as Idaho State won the tournament final at home by six points.[5] They advanced to the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight, upsetting #2 UCLA in the Sweet Sixteen. It remains the best-ever showing in the NCAA Tournament by a Big Sky team.

Weber State appeared in the first five finals of the conference tournament, winning the next three.

This was the last season in Wildcat Gym (now Swenson Gym); the new Dee Events Center opened in November 1977.

Postseason results
Date
time, TV		 Opponent Result Record Site (attendance)
city, state
Big Sky Tournament
Fri, March 4
7:00 pm		 vs. Gonzaga
Semifinal		 W 69–68  20–7
 ISU Minidome (4,427)
Pocatello, Idaho
Sat, March 5
8:00 pm		 at Idaho State
Final		 L 55–61  20–8
 ISU Minidome (9,300)
Pocatello, Idaho
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Mountain time.
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References
  1. "Zags draw Weber State". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). February 28, 1977. p. 17.
  2. "College cage standings". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). March 1, 1977. p. 16.
  3. "Gonzaga, Montana State in tough but not without chances". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). March 4, 1977. p. 31.
  4. English, Sue (March 5, 1977). "Cats survive GU scare". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). p. 11.
  5. Benson, Lee (March 7, 1976). "A secure 'Dome-ain' ISU". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). p. 4B.
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