Southern Miss Basketball
Encyclopedia
Southern Miss Golden Eagles basketball program represents intercollegiate men's basketball
at the University of Southern Mississippi. The school competes in the Conference USA
in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association
(NCAA) and play their home games at Reed Green Coliseum
, which has a capacity of 8,095 and is considered to be the 2nd best collegiate basketball arena in the state behind Humphrey Coliseum
at Mississippi State.
took over coaching duties the following year. The Golden Eagles have appeared in the NAIA
National Tournament
four times in a row (1952
, 1953
, 1954
, and 1955
). Southern Miss had a 2-4 record in the NAIA Tournament.
Over the last decade, the Golden Eagles have had two NCAA teams. The program has also had an NIT
Championship team with its run in the 1987 postseason tournament. The team has had six players drafted including Clarence Weatherspoon
. Southern Miss has won two conference championships in basketball including a share of the 2001 regular-season title.
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
at the University of Southern Mississippi. The school competes in the Conference USA
Conference USA
Conference USA, officially abbreviated C-USA, is a college athletic conference whose member institutions are located within the Southern United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I in all sports...
in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
(NCAA) and play their home games at Reed Green Coliseum
Reed Green Coliseum
Reed Green Coliseum is an 8,095-seat multi-purpose arena, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, United States. It opened on December 6, 1965 and is home to The University of Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles basketball team. Prior to the Coliseum, USM's teams played at the USM Sports Arena, a 3,200 seat...
, which has a capacity of 8,095 and is considered to be the 2nd best collegiate basketball arena in the state behind Humphrey Coliseum
Humphrey Coliseum
Humphrey Coliseum is a 10,500-seat multi-purpose arena in Starkville, Mississippi, that opened for the 1975-76 basketball season. Nicknamed The Hump, it is home to the Mississippi State University Bulldogs men's and women's basketball teams. It is the largest on-campus basketball arena in the...
at Mississippi State.
History
From its first season (1912-13), when Coach R. G. Slay led the team to a 3-0 record, the men's basketball team has enjoyed its share of success. Coach A. B. DillieA. B. Dillie
A. B. Dillie was an American football and basketball player, coach, and sports figure in the United States.-Playing history:Dillie played halfback for the Mississippi A&M football team and was awarded a letter for the 1910 season.-Football:Dillie was the head coach of the Mississippi Normal...
took over coaching duties the following year. The Golden Eagles have appeared in the NAIA
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...
National Tournament
NAIA national men's basketball championship
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Men's Basketball National Championship has been held annually since 1937 . The tournament was established by James Naismith to crown a national champion for smaller colleges and universities...
four times in a row (1952
1952 NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1952 NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament was held in March at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri. The 15th annual NAIA basketball tournament featured 32 teams playing in a single-elimination format....
, 1953
1953 NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1953 NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament was held in March at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri. The 16th annual NAIA basketball tournament featured 32 teams playing in a single-elimination format . The championship game would feature Southwest Missouri State University,...
, 1954
1954 NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1954 NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament was held in March at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri. The 17th annual NAIA basketball tournament featured 32 teams playing in a single-elimination format . The Southwest Missouri State University Bears were out to claim an...
, and 1955
1955 NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1955 NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament was held in March at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri. The 18th annual NAIA basketball tournament featured 32 teams playing in a single-elimination format . The 1955 tournament was one for the record books...
). Southern Miss had a 2-4 record in the NAIA Tournament.
Over the last decade, the Golden Eagles have had two NCAA teams. The program has also had an NIT
National Invitation Tournament
The National Invitation Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. There are two NIT events each season. The first, played in November and known as the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off , was founded in 1985...
Championship team with its run in the 1987 postseason tournament. The team has had six players drafted including Clarence Weatherspoon
Clarence Weatherspoon
Clarence Weatherspoon, Sr. is a former American professional basketball player in the NBA.After a college career at the University of Southern Mississippi, Weatherspoon was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers as the ninth pick in the 1992 NBA Draft...
. Southern Miss has won two conference championships in basketball including a share of the 2001 regular-season title.
NCAA Tournament
Southern Miss Golden Eagles have appeared in two NCAA tournaments. They have an overall 0-2 record in tournament games. Darrin Chancellor holds the Southern Miss single-tournament scoring record with 24 points in 1991.| Year | Seed | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 1990 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1990 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 15, 1990, and ended with the championship game on April 2 in Denver, Colorado... |
#13 | First Round | #4 LaSalle 1989–90 La Salle Explorers men's basketball team The 1989–90 La Salle Explorers men's basketball team represented La Salle University. It would be Lionel Simmons final season with the school. Simmons finished his collegiate career third in NCAA scoring with 3217 points... |
L, 63–79 |
| 1991 1991 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament The 1991 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 14, 1991, and ended with the championship game on April 1 in Indianapolis, Indiana... |
#11 | First Round | #6 NC State NC State Wolfpack men's basketball The NC State Wolfpack men's basketball team represents North Carolina State University in NCAA Division I men's basketball competition. The Wolfpack currently competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference, of which it was a founding member.... |
L, 85–114 |
Notable alumni
- Don MaestriDon MaestriDon Maestri is an American college basketball coach and the current head men's basketball coach of the Troy University Trojans. He has held the same position since 1982 and is one of five current coaches to have coached the same team during its school's move from NCAA Division II to Division I...
- head basketball coach, Troy UniversityTroy UniversityTroy University is a public university that is located in Troy, Alabama, United States. It was originally founded in 1887 as Troy Normal School. Its main campus enrollment is 7,194 students. The total enrollment of all Troy University campuses is 29,689...
. - Clarence WeatherspoonClarence WeatherspoonClarence Weatherspoon, Sr. is a former American professional basketball player in the NBA.After a college career at the University of Southern Mississippi, Weatherspoon was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers as the ninth pick in the 1992 NBA Draft...
'93 - former NBA basketball player (retired). - Wendell LadnerWendell LadnerWendell Ladner was an American professional basketball player. He played college basketball at The University of Southern Mississippi where he became a member of Phi Kappa Tau fraternity....
- former ABA player