The 1961–62 Creighton Bluejays men's basketball team represented Creighton University during the 1961–62 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Bluejays, led by third year head coach John J. 'Red' McManus, played their home games at the Omaha Civic Auditorium. They finished the season 21-5. The Creighton Bluejays earned a bid into the 1962 NCAA Tournament where they defeated Memphis State in the Midwest Region Quarterfinals round before falling in the Midwest Region Semifinals to the #2 ranked, and eventual 1962 National Champion, Cincinnati Bearcats. The Bluejays defeated Texas Tech in the Midwest Region Third Place game.[1]
1961–62 Creighton Bluejays men's basketball | |
---|---|
1962 NCAA Tournament, Sweet Sixteen | |
Conference | Independent |
Record | 21–5 |
Head coach | |
Home arena | Omaha Civic Auditorium |
Before the season started, Red appeared before the Quarterback Club in Omaha and with his first words stated that Creighton was going to a post season tournament. A majority of the people felt that McManus had a fatal case of over-optimism. The previous year's 8-17 record was far from good. McManus worked tirelessly to turn Creighton into a basketball power. He utilized sharp recruiting and tough coaching to put the Bluejays back on the road to fame. The hard work paid off. Sophomore Paul Silas would blossom into a force in the middle, leading the nation in rebounding for the 1961–62 and 1962-63 seasons.[2]
Roster
editNumber | Name | Position | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
21 | Herb Millard | Senior | ||||
22 | Santos Jimenez | |||||
23 | Pete McManamon | |||||
24 | Chuck Officer | Guard | 6-2 | 175 | Junior | Moline, Illinois |
25 | Harry Forehand | |||||
31 | John Callaghan | |||||
32 | Tom Dowling | |||||
33 | Larry Wagner | |||||
35 | Paul Silas | Center | 6-7 | 220 | Sophomore | Oakland, California |
41 | Carl Silvestrini | |||||
42 | Jim Swassing | |||||
43 | Bob Eickholt | |||||
45 | Jim Bakos | Sophomore | East Chicago, Indiana | |||
52 | Mike Lynch |
Schedule
editReferences
edit- ^ "Go Creighton". Creighton Athletic Department. Archived from the original on August 8, 2014. Retrieved March 9, 2013.
- ^ The Bluejay. Creighton University. 1962.
- ^ "Number 24: Chuck Officer". White & Blue Review. Retrieved March 9, 2013.