Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers men's basketball

The Kentucky Wesleyan College Panthers men's basketball team represents Kentucky Wesleyan College, a private college of less than 1000 students located in Owensboro, Kentucky. The Panthers, a member of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC), have won eight NCAA Division II championships, most recently in 2001 and dating back to 1966.

Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers
University	Kentucky Wesleyan College
Head coach	Drew Cooper (1st season)
Conference	Great Midwest Athletic Conference Division II Division
Arena	Sportscenter (Capacity: 5,500)
Nickname	Panthers
Colors	Purple and White
Uniforms
Home Away
NCAA Tournament Champions
1966, 1968, 1969, 1973, 1987, 1990, 1999, 2001
NCAA Tournament Runner-up
1957, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003
NCAA Tournament Elite Eight
1957, 1960, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1973, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003
NCAA Tournament Appearances
1957, 1960, 1961, 1964, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2017
Conference Tournament Champions
1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2010, 2016, 2017
Conference Regular Season Champions
1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2016, 2017

Joel Utley has been the "voice of the Panthers" since the 1962 season (including all eight championships), and calls all the Wesleyan basketball games on local Owensboro radio station WBIO.

Conference play

Kentucky Wesleyan is a charter member of the G-MAC (Great Midwest Athletic Conference) that will begin active competition in the 2013–2014 academic season with 8 current NCAA Division II members and one institution transitioning from the NAIA, giving the NCAA D 2 conference 9 members in its first season of full activation.[1] KWC will leave the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) after the 2012–13 academic season. Its basketball team frequently represented the GLVC in the NCAA Division II tournament, winning four national championships in basketball while members of the GLVC. After coming off NCAA probation, the Panthers finished 13–14 in the 2007 season, and participated in the NCAA Division 2 tournament for five straight seasons from 2008 to 2012, and were Regional Runners Up in the 2012 season.[2]

Division II Championship appearances

The Panthers advanced to the Division II championship game six consecutive years (1998–2003), winning in 1999 and 2001; the team later forfeited its 2003 runner-up status after it was revealed they had let two ineligible transfer players play.[3]

In addition, they won six other championships (1966, 1968, 1969, 1973, 1987, and 1990) and were runners-up in 1957. Overall, Kentucky Wesleyan has won eight NCAA Division II National Men's Basketball Championships, which is the most by any NCAA Division II School.

Notable players

Retired numbers

Eight Panthers have had their numbers retired. Seven players and team physician Dr. William McManus:[4]

Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers retired numbers
No.	Player	10	Rod Drake
22	Dallas Thornton
23	Corey Crowder
24	Dwight Higgs
29	Dr. William McManus
45	Kelly Coleman
50	George Tinsley
75	Fairce Woods

Three Kentucky Wesleyan basketball players played in the American Basketball Association: George Tinsley, Sam Smith, and Dallas Thornton. One Kentucky Wesleyan basketball player has played in the National Basketball Association: Corey Crowder. Crowder played two seasons in the NBA for the Utah Jazz (1991–1992) and the San Antonio Spurs (1994–1995) and later played 14 seasons in Italy, Spain, France and Israel. He was a key member of the 1990 NCAA Division II National Championship team. Crowder was a three-time All-American performer, newcomer of the year in the GLVC, two-time GLVC "Player of the Year" and the 1991 NABC "Player of The Year" in Division II, which helped get him elected to the Great Lakes Valley Conference Hall of Fame in 2002.Dazmond Starke 2012-2013, led the NCAA Division II in Field goal % with 67.4 %.

History

Overall
Years of basketball	105
First season	1907
Head coaches (all-time)	21
All Games
All-time record	1582–780
20+ win seasons	34
30+ win seasons	6
Home Games
Owensboro Sports Center	?-?
Winchester, Kentucky	?-?
Great Lakes Valley Conference Games
GLVC Record	430–157
GLVC Regular Season Championships	16 (1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2010)
GLVC Tournament Championships	(1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2010)
NCAA Division II Tournament
NCAA Div II Appearances	38
NCAA W-L record	98–32
Regional Final/Sweet Sixteen	26 (1957, 1960, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2012)
Elite Eight	21 (1957, 1960, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1973, 1982, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003)
Fourth Place	1 (1971)
Third Place	5 (1960, 1967, 1982, 1984, 1985)
Runner-up	5 (1957, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003)
NCAA Championships	8 (1966, 1968, 1969, 1973, 1987, 1990, 1999, 2001)
Accurate as of March 15th, 2012

Records

Statistics overview

Season	Team	Overall	Conference	Standing	Postseason
V.I. Moore (Independent) (1907–1910)
1907–08	Kentucky Wesleyan	0–1
1908–09	Kentucky Wesleyan	2–1
1909–10	Kentucky Wesleyan	5–3
V.I. Moore:		7–5
Unknown (Independent) (1910–1916)
1910–11	Kentucky Wesleyan	4–1
1911–12	Kentucky Wesleyan	N/A
1912–13	Kentucky Wesleyan	N/A
1913–14	Kentucky Wesleyan	0–6
1914–15	Kentucky Wesleyan	2–1
1915–16	Kentucky Wesleyan	0–6
Unknown:		6–14
John Cobb (Independent) (1916–1917)
1916–17	Kentucky Wesleyan	5–1
John Cobb:		5–1
Unknown (Independent) (1917–1919)
1917–18	Kentucky Wesleyan	6–7
1918–19	Kentucky Wesleyan	0–7
Unknown:		6–14
William E. Arnold (Independent) (1919–1920)
1919–20	Kentucky Wesleyan	11–3
William E. Arnold:		11–3
Jesse Sibley (Independent) (1920–1922)
1920–21	Kentucky Wesleyan	7–7
1921–22	Kentucky Wesleyan	5–4
Jesse Sibley:		12–11
Basil Hayden (Independent) (1922–1923)
1922–23	Kentucky Wesleyan	8–1
Basil Hayden:		8–1
L.G. Mansfield (Independent) (1923–1924)
1923–24	Kentucky Wesleyan	10–6
L.G. Mansfield:		10–6
C.A. Webb (Independent) (1924–1928)
1924–25	Kentucky Wesleyan	13–5
1925–26	Kentucky Wesleyan	17–6
1926–27	Kentucky Wesleyan	9–6
C.A. Webb:		45–17
E.R. Miller (Independent) (1927–1928)
1927–28	Kentucky Wesleyan	6–12
E.R. Miller:		6–12
Walter "Rip" Van Winkle (Independent) (1928–1932)
1928–29	Kentucky Wesleyan	14–7
1929–30	Kentucky Wesleyan	17–9
1930–31	Kentucky Wesleyan	12–7
1931–32	Kentucky Wesleyan	6–11
Walter "Rip" Van Winkle:		49–34
George Ditto (Independent) (1932–1941)
1932–33	Kentucky Wesleyan	8–9
1933–34	Kentucky Wesleyan	4–12
1934–35	Kentucky Wesleyan	9–8
1935–36	Kentucky Wesleyan	8–13
1936–37	Kentucky Wesleyan	8–7
1937–38	Kentucky Wesleyan	9–8
1938–39	Kentucky Wesleyan	3–11
1939–40	Kentucky Wesleyan	3–12
1940–41	Kentucky Wesleyan	9–7
George Ditto:		61–87
Arthur Gullette (Independent) (1941–1942)
1941–42	Kentucky Wesleyan	10–9
Arthur Gullette:		10–9
Robert "Bullet" Wilson (Independent) (1942–1957)
1942–43	Kentucky Wesleyan	9–5
1943–44	Kentucky Wesleyan	N/A
1944–45	Kentucky Wesleyan	N/A
1945–46	Kentucky Wesleyan	8–10
1946–47	Kentucky Wesleyan	11–9
1947–48	Kentucky Wesleyan	13–12
1948–49	Kentucky Wesleyan	13–14
1949–50	Kentucky Wesleyan	13–10
1950–51	Kentucky Wesleyan	16–7
1951–52	Kentucky Wesleyan	16–7
1952–53	Kentucky Wesleyan	12–10
1953–54	Kentucky Wesleyan	17–10
1954–55	Kentucky Wesleyan	14–10
1955–56	Kentucky Wesleyan	18–4
1956–57	Kentucky Wesleyan	16–12			NCAA Div II Runner-up
Robert "Bullet" Wilson (Independent, Division 1) (1957–1958)
1957–58	Kentucky Wesleyan	14–10
Robert "Bullet" Wilson (Independent, Division 2) (1958–1959)
1958–59	Kentucky Wesleyan	14–11
Robert "Bullet" Wilson:		204–141
T. L. Plain (Independent) (1959–1963)
1959–60	Kentucky Wesleyan	18–11			NCAA Div II Third Place
1960–61	Kentucky Wesleyan	15–8			NCAA Div II First Round
1961–62	Kentucky Wesleyan	21–4
1962–63	Kentucky Wesleyan	9–11
T.L. Plain:		63–34
Guy R. Strong (Independent) (1963–1967)
1963–64	Kentucky Wesleyan	15–8			NCAA Div II First Round
1964–65	Kentucky Wesleyan	9–12
1965–66	Kentucky Wesleyan	24–6			NCAA Div II Champion
1966–67	Kentucky Wesleyan	25–4			NCAA Div II Third Place
Guy R. Strong:		73–30
Bob Daniels (Independent) (1967–1972)
1967–68	Kentucky Wesleyan	28–3			NCAA Div II Champion
1968–69	Kentucky Wesleyan	28–5			NCAA Div II Champion
1969–70	Kentucky Wesleyan	18–10			NCAA Div II Regional Final
1970–71	Kentucky Wesleyan	22–8			NCAA Div II Fourth Place
1971–72	Kentucky Wesleyan	17–10			NCAA Div II Round of 32
Bob Daniels:		113–36
Bob Jones (Independent) (1972–1978)
1972–73	Kentucky Wesleyan	24–6			NCAA Div II Champion
1973–74	Kentucky Wesleyan	20–6			NCAA Div II Regional Final
1974–75	Kentucky Wesleyan	12–13
1975–76	Kentucky Wesleyan	14–11
1976–77	Kentucky Wesleyan	11–14
1977–78	Kentucky Wesleyan	14–11
Bob Jones (Great Lakes Valley Conference) (1978–1980)
1978–79	Kentucky Wesleyan	12–14	2–6	5th
1979–80	Kentucky Wesleyan	12–15	4–6	4th
Bob Jones:		119–90	6–12
Mike Pollio (Great Lakes Valley Conference) (1980–1985)
1980–81	Kentucky Wesleyan	16–12	7–4	2nd
1981–82	Kentucky Wesleyan	27–5	9–3	2nd	NCAA Div II Third Place
1982–83	Kentucky Wesleyan	22–8	10–2	1st	NCAA Div II Regional Final
1983–84	Kentucky Wesleyan	28–3	10–2	1st	NCAA Div II Third Place
1984–85	Kentucky Wesleyan	24–7	10–4	1st-T	NCAA Div II Third Place
Mike Pollio:		117–35	46–15
Wayne Chapman (Great Lakes Valley Conference) (1985–1990)
1985–86	Kentucky Wesleyan	22–8	12–4	2nd	NCAA Div II First Round
1986–87	Kentucky Wesleyan	28–5	13–3	1st	NCAA Div II Champion
1987–88	Kentucky Wesleyan	23–7	12–4	1st-T	NCAA Div II Regional Final
1988–89	Kentucky Wesleyan	24–7	13–3	1st	NCAA Div II Elite Eight
1989–90	Kentucky Wesleyan	31–2	16–2	1st	NCAA Div II Champion
Wayne Chapman:		128–29	66–16
Wayne Boultinghouse (Great Lakes Valley Conference) (1990–1996)
1990–91	Kentucky Wesleyan	22–8	14–4	1st-T	NCAA Div II First Round
1991–92	Kentucky Wesleyan	23–8	13–5	1st-T	NCAA Div II Elite Eight
1992–93	Kentucky Wesleyan	21–6	13–5	3rd
1993–94	Kentucky Wesleyan	23–7	13–5	2nd	NCAA Div II Regional Semifinal
1994–95	Kentucky Wesleyan	23–6	16–2	1st-T	NCAA Div II First Round
1995–96	Kentucky Wesleyan	17–10	13–7	4th
Wayne Boultinghouse:		129–45	82–28
Ray Harper (Great Lakes Valley Conference) (1996–2005)
1996–97	Kentucky Wesleyan	21–8	14–6	5th
1997–98	Kentucky Wesleyan	30–3	17–2	1st	NCAA Div II Runner-up
1998–99	Kentucky Wesleyan	35–2	20–2	1st	NCAA Div II Champion
1999–00	Kentucky Wesleyan	31–3	18–2	1st	NCAA Div II Runner-up
2000–01	Kentucky Wesleyan	30–3	17–3	2nd	NCAA Div II Champion
2001–02	Kentucky Wesleyan	31–3	19–1	1st	NCAA Div II Runner-up
2002–03	Kentucky Wesleyan	26–3***	18–2***	1st***	NCAA Div II Runner-up***
2003–04	Kentucky Wesleyan	22–8***	14–6***	3rd***	NCAA Div II First Round***
2004–05	Kentucky Wesleyan	15–12	9–11	6th
Ray Harper:		242–45***	146–35***
Todd Lee (Great Lakes Valley Conference) (2005–2013)
2005–06	Kentucky Wesleyan	7–19	4–15	12th
2006–07	Kentucky Wesleyan	13–14	6–13	12th
2007–08	Kentucky Wesleyan	28–8	14–5	3rd	NCAA Div II First Round
2008–09	Kentucky Wesleyan	19–9	11–7	5th	NCAA Div II First Round
2009–10	Kentucky Wesleyan	29–5	16–2	1st	NCAA Div II First Round
2010–11	Kentucky Wesleyan	19–10	10–8	5th	NCAA Div II First Round
2011–12	Kentucky Wesleyan	23–8	12–6	6th	NCAA Div II Regional Final
2012–13	Kentucky Wesleyan	20–8	11–7	7th
Todd Lee:		158–81	84–63
Happy Osborne (Great Midwest Athletic Conference) (2013–2017)
2013–14	Kentucky Wesleyan	22-9	12-2	2nd
2014–15	Kentucky Wesleyan	22-8	10-4	2nd
2015–16	Kentucky Wesleyan	27-4	11-1	1st	NCAA Div II First Round
2016–17	Kentucky Wesleyan	28-3	12-0	1st	NCAA Div II First Round
Happy Osborne:		99–24	45-7
Jason Mays (Interim) (Great Midwest Athletic Conference) (2017–2018)
2017–18	Kentucky Wesleyan	15-16	9-11	8th
Jason Mays:		15-16	9-11
Drew Cooper (Great Midwest Athletic Conference) (2018–present)
2018–19	Kentucky Wesleyan	0-0	0-0
Drew Cooper:		0-0	0-0
Total:		1595–794
National champion         Postseason invitational champion         Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion       Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion       Conference tournament champion

• *** 20 wins & 5 losses were vacated from the 2003–04 season and for the 2002–03 season the school had to vacate their NCAA Tournament Appearance, the 5 games of the NCAA Tournament, (including their NCAA Div II Runner-Up), along with the GLVC Regular Season Championship.

References

1. http://www.g-macsports.com/
2. http://kwcpanthers.com/index.aspx?path=mbball
3. "COLLEGE BASKETBALL: Kentucky Wesleyan Forfeits an Honor". The New York Times. August 7, 2003. Retrieved 2011-03-26.
4. Kentucky Wesleyan Men’s Basketball Record Book (PDF), 2018 Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers Men’s Basketball Record Book”, Kentucky Wesleyan College, Page 31.

External links

• Official website