Oxford University Men's Basketball

The Oxford University Men's Basketball team is one of the oldest and most successful university basketball teams in the United Kingdom. The University of Oxford has a rich basketball tradition dating back to 1921 when the first team was selected to compete in the inaugural Oxford-Cambridge Varsity Basketball Match.[1]

Oxford University Basketball Club
NicknameThe Blues, The Dark Blues, The All-Americans
ConferenceB.U.C.S. Midlands
Founded1921
ArenaIffley Road Sports Centre
Capacity500
LocationOxford, England
Team colorsOxford Blue and White
Head coachBenjamin Constable
B.S.S.F. / B.U.S.A. / B.U.C.S. National Championship titles1992, 1993, 1995, 1999, 2001
B.U.S.F. National Championship titles1966, 1967, 1968, 1971, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1990, 1991
A.B.B.A. National Championship titles1966, 1968
A.B.B.A. Founder's National Cup titles1955, 1977
Websitewww.oubbc.weebly.com
Home
Road

The 1940s

The first team of the post World War II era was assembled in 1947 in response to an invitation from the Czechoslovakian National Team to play Oxford University in a preparation game ahead of the 1948 Olympic Games. In January 1948, The Blues embarked on an eight-game tour of Czechoslovakia. The Czechoslovakian National Team beat Oxford 58–32 in the opening game of the tour, but Oxford finished the trip with a 4–4 record.[2]

The first post World War II Varsity Game was held on June 11, 1949, at RAF Halton. Oxford dominated their rivals with a convincing 47–11 victory.[2]

The 1950s

In 1955, a team captained by Fred Seigler that included future U.S. Senators Richard Lugar and Paul Sarbanes won the first A.B.B.A. Non-League National Championship, later known as the Founder's National Cup.[3][4]

The 1960s

In 1963, the arrival of Rhodes Scholar, John Edgar Wideman, had a major impact on the upward trajectory of the basketball program. In his first season, Wideman led Oxford to their first ever appearance in the A.B.B.A. National Championship Semi-Finals where they lost a two-point thriller, 74–76, to eventual three-peat national champions, London Central YMCA. In 1964-65 Wideman's Blues would do one better, advancing to the A.B.B.A. National Championship game against the British Army team, the Aldershot Warriors. The Warriors would win this first meeting 79–63, but this was just the beginning of a fierce rivalry between the Scholars of Oxford and the Soldiers of the British Army that would continue for the rest of the decade.

In 1965, the arrival of four more Rhodes Scholars provided a much welcomed boost to an already talented roster. The incoming class was highlighted by 1965 NCAA Player of the Year Bill Bradley who had just been drafted by the NBA's New York Knicks. The Oxford Blues won the B.U.S.F. National Championship in December, 1965 and then went on to win the A.B.B.A. National Championship in a 91-70 rematch victory against the Aldershot Warriors. Wideman was named A.B.B.A National Championship MVP.[5]

In 1966–67, Oxford University were considered favourites for the A.B.B.A. National Championship and had what Basketball magazine described as "undoubtedly the finest group of players in the country at present".[6] On November 16, 1966, Oxford took on reigning EuroLeague Champions, Simmenthal Milan, in a game that was broadcast live on BBC. 500 fans managed to pack themselves into Iffley Road Sports Centre to witness one of the most exciting games ever to be played at Iffley Road. Milan ended up edging Oxford 69–70 in what was a back-and-forth affair. The Blues retained their B.U.S.F. National Championship, however the team was denied the opportunity to defend their national title when they were disqualified for arriving late to their third-round game against London Central YMCA.[7]

In 1967-68 Oxford claimed a third consecutive B.U.S.F. National Championship with a 71-37 thrashing of Cambridge University in the final held in Birmingham. On March 16, 1968, an enthusiastic crowd of 1,400 fans filled Crystal Palace to watch the A.B.B.A. National Championship game. It was a repeat of the 1966 Final, with the Oxford Blues beating Aldershot Warriors 61–57. Tom Ward was named A.B.B.A National Championship MVP.[8]

The 1970s

Oxford University missed out on a third A.B.B.A. national title in 1970, losing 67–73 in the championship final against the Liverpool and Bootle Police who were led by legendary player-coach Jimmy Rogers.[9] The following season (1970–71), Oxford suffered a shock early exit from the A.B.B.A. National Championship when they lost 65–67 to Manchester University.[10]

In 1971–72, the arrival of 1970 NBA draft pick, Hayward Dotson, would change Oxford's fortunes. Dotson led the Blues to the 1971 B.U.S.F. National Championship, while also guiding a combined Oxford and Cambridge side, nicknamed "Oxbridge", to the final of the 1972 A.B.B.A. National Championship.[11]

The 1990s

With its large contingent of Americans, the Dark Blues continued to dominate British university basketball throughout the 1990s. In 1989-90, Oxford were runners-up to Loughborough in the annual B.U.S.F. (British Universities Sports Federation) tournament. They were back-to-back B.U.S.F. National Champions in 1990-91 and 1991-92, defeating Northern Ireland in both finals; and, in 1992 they also captured the B.S.S.F. (British Students Sports Federation) crown over heavily favored defending national champion Doncaster, 102-69, on the latter's home court.

In 1992-93 O.U.Bb.C. successfully defended its B.S.S.F national crown against arch-rival Cambridge. That year, Jodi Evans made international headlines as the first woman to represent Oxford University Men's Basketball team in the annual Varsity Match against Cambridge. Evans played 16 minutes and scored 4 points in the 86-64 loss.[12] Evans, a member of the Canadian Women's National Team, had previously been ruled ineligible to play in any B.S.S.F. men's league games in a controversial decision by the sport's governing body because she was a woman.[13] She was not allowed to play in the B.S.S.F. tournament at the end of the season.

The Blues again won the national championship in 1995.[14]

Oxford's success on the hardwoods continued through the late 1990s. In 1997–98, the Blues posted a 25–2 season record and a B.U.S.A. Final Four appearance. A 24–1 season followed in 1998–99, with Oxford capturing the B.U.S.A. national championship with a 73–61 win over Loughborough University.[15]

The 2000s

Following their National Championship in 1999, Oxford University continued their dominance in British university basketball into the new millennium with a further four straight trips to the B.U.S.A. Championship Final in 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003. The 2000 championship game saw a rematch against Loughborough who they had beaten the previous year. This time Loughborough were the victors. Oxford regained the title in 2001, but couldn't out match back-to-back champions, College of St Mark and St John, in the 2002 and 2003 Finals.

The 2010s

Oxford began the 2010s with a pair of B.U.C.S. Premier League South Division titles and consecutive appearances in the B.U.C.S. National Championship Final Four where they lost to Leeds Metropolitan University in 2010 and Worcester in 2011. Since 2011, Oxford have failed to advance further than the Super Eights. In 2018, The Blues went winless (0-10) in the Premier League South and were relegated to B.U.C.S. Midlands League Division One.[16] The team continued to struggle in 2018–19, finishing the season 3–7 in league play to finish in the bottom two of the league and demotion to B.U.C.S. Midlands League Division Two.[17]

Oxford Blues in the NBA

George Monroe - St. Louis Bombers (1946–47), Boston Celtics (1947-48).[18]

Bill Bradley - New York Knicks (1967-68 to 1976-77).[18]

Heyward Dotson - Phoenix Suns (10th pick in 7th round of 1970 NBA Draft).[18]

Tom McMillen - Buffalo Braves (1975-76 to 1976-77), New York Knicks (1976–77), Atlanta Hawks (1977-78 to 1982-83), Washington Bullets (1983-84 to 1985-86).[18]

Glen Fine - San Antonio Spurs (15th pick in 10th round of 1979 NBA Draft).[18]

Notable Oxford University Men's Basketball Alumni

George Rebh - United States General

Amos Jordan - United States General

Edgar Shannon - President of the University of Virginia

George Monroe - NBA Basketball Player

Robert Massie - American Historian

Dr John Brademas - American Politician and President of New York University

Richard Lugar - US Senator

Paul Sarbanes - US Senator

Willie Morris - American Writer

John Edgar Wideman - American Writer

Bill Bradley - NBA Basketball Player and US Senator

John Ritch - American Diplomat

William McGrew - Evolutionary Primatologist

Bill Clinton - President of the United States

Rick Mann - England National Team Basketball Player

Heyward Dotson - Professional Basketball Player and Lawyer

Willie Bogan - NFL American Football Player

Clayton Christensen - American Academic

Tom McMillen - NBA Basketball Player and American Politician

Robert McCallum Jr. - American lawyer, U.S. Associate Attorney General, 2003 -

Glen Fine - Inspector General of the Department of Justice

Sir Steve Cowley - Theoretical Physicist

Mike Hoffman - Hollywood Director

F. King Alexander - President of Oregon State University

Michael T. Benson - President of Eastern Kentucky University

Jodi Evans - Canadian Women's National Team Basketball Player

Peter Henry - American Economist

Cory Booker - US Senator

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References
  1. Harrison, Brian. The History of the University of Oxford: Volume VIII. p. 538.
  2. "West Point Association of Graduates". www.westpointaog.org. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
  3. Lamb, Karl A. (1998). Reasonable Disagreement: Two U.S. Senators and the Choices They Make. Taylor & Francis. pp. 28–33.
  4. National Competitions Handbook. English Basketball Assosciation. 1996.
  5. "National Championship Finals 1966". Basketball. 6:1: 10. October 1966.
  6. "Literally All Stars at the Albert Hall". Basketball. 6:3: 14. February 1967.
  7. "1967 Champions". Basketball. 7:1: 16. October 1967.
  8. "Oxford Bags Senior Title". Basketball. 7:4: 22–23. April 1968.
  9. Godfrey, Michael (April 1970). "Liverpool 'Cop' Title". Basketball. 9:4: 14–15.
  10. "National Senior Championships: Second Round - Results". Basketball. 10:3: 10. February 1971.
  11. "Avenue Take National Title: Dotson Overshadowed by Hoy and Mann". Basketball. 11:4: 4–7. Summer 1972.
  12. Herald Writer, Canadian Press (February 15, 1993). "Evans Breaks Hoops Blue Barrier". Calgary Herald.
  13. Associated Press (February 16, 1993). "An Oxford First". Fort Worth Star Telegram.
  14. "Oxford University Basketball Club". web.archive.org. 2009-02-06. Retrieved 2020-07-24.
  15. "kingsvale.com". www.kingsvale.com. Retrieved 2020-07-24.
  16. "2017-18". OXFORD UNIVERSITY BASKETBALL CLUB. Retrieved 2020-07-24.
  17. "2018-19". OXFORD UNIVERSITY BASKETBALL CLUB. Retrieved 2020-07-24.
  18. "OXFORD BLUES IN THE NBA". OXFORD UNIVERSITY BASKETBALL CLUB. Retrieved 2020-07-25.
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