Holy Cross Crusaders men's basketball

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Holy Cross Crusaders
2023–24 Holy Cross Crusaders men's basketball team
UniversityCollege of the Holy Cross
Head coachDave Paulsen (1st season)
ConferencePatriot
LocationWorcester, Massachusetts
ArenaHart Center
(Capacity: 3,536)
NicknameCrusaders
Student sectionTBD
ColorsRoyal purple[1]
 
Uniforms
Home jersey
Team colours
Home
Away jersey
Team colours
Away


NCAA tournament champions
1947
NCAA tournament Final Four
1947, 1948
NCAA tournament Elite Eight
1947, 1948, 1950, 1953
NCAA tournament appearances
1947, 1948, 1950, 1953, 1956, 1977, 1980, 1993, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2016
Conference tournament champions
ECAC: 1977, 1980
Patriot League: 1993, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2016
Conference regular season champions
MAAC: 1990
Patriot League: 1994, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007

The Holy Cross Crusaders men's basketball team represents the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts (about 40 miles (64 km) west of Boston) in NCAA Division I competition. The team competes in the Patriot League and plays their home games in the Hart Center.[2] The program boasts such notable alumni as Boston Celtics legends Bob Cousy and Tom Heinsohn, and longtime Providence College basketball coach Joe Mullaney.

Under coach Doggie Julian, the Crusaders won a national championship in 1947. It is the only school from Massachusetts to win an NCAA Division I tournament. Dave Paulsen was appointed the program's 19th head coach on March 28, 2023.[3]

History

Beginnings and national prominence

Basketball first appeared at Holy Cross in 1900 but was discontinued several times until its reinstatement in 1939. The Crusaders originally played their home games at the Boston Garden and the South High Community School. In 1947, the Crusaders, behind coach Doggie Julian, NCAA tournament MVP George Kaftan, star Joe Mullaney and freshman point guard Bob Cousy, beat Oklahoma at Madison Square Garden to win the NCAA championship.[4]

The team entered the

UConn, Holy Cross is one of the two New England
schools to ever win the NCAA tournament.

Holy Cross finished the 1947 championship season with 23 straight wins and became the first college from the New England area (as well as from the state of

NBA
legend Cousy was named AP and UP player of the year. In 1989, the NCAA voted teammate George Kaftan to the all-decade team of the 1940s.

The Crusaders followed up their championship by advancing to the 1948 NCAA Tournament's Final Four. After advancing to the Elite Eight in 1953, the Crusaders would wait 63 years before claiming another win in the NCAA Tournament.

In 1954, Holy Cross won the

NBA Hall-of-famer and Celtics
legend Tom Heinsohn. This is widely recognized as the College's second national title in basketball due to the prestige of the NIT at the time.

In 1977, Holy Cross defeated a talented Providence team twice on last-second shots by forward Chris Potter and led top-ranked Michigan at the half in the first round of the NCAA tournament before being defeated.[7] The following year, Sports Illustrated ranked Holy Cross and freshman of the year Ronnie Perry ninth in its pre-season poll.

Following the team's championship years of the 40s and 50s, the Crusaders have been ranked only occasionally by the Associated Press. After appearing in 65 of 116 total weekly polls (56%) in the 1950s, the Crusaders appeared in only 5 of 126 weekly polls (4%) in the 1960s and 9 of 148 (6%) in the 1970s.[8] The Crusaders have not been nationally ranked since January 1978.[9]

Patriot League

Holy Cross could have joined the newly founded Big East Conference in 1980, but college President Rev. John E. Brooks, S.J., vetoed the move for academic reasons. Holy Cross stayed independent until joining the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) to start the 1983–84 season. It moved to the Patriot League in 1991.

In recent decades, the men's basketball team has been the leading varsity program of the Holy Cross' athletic department. The men's basketball team has won six Patriot League titles (1993, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2016) since the league's formation in 1991.

With Ralph Willard as head coach, the Holy Cross men's team nearly accomplished three major upsets in the NCAA tournament. In 2001 as a fifteen seed, the Crusaders lost 72–68 to a second-seeded Kentucky team who advanced to the Sweet Sixteen. In 2002, the sixteenth-seeded Crusaders nearly became the first #16 seed to defeat a #1 seed, losing 70–59 to a top-seeded Kansas squad who advanced to the Final Four. The Crusaders led 37–35 at halftime, 44–39 with 11 minutes remaining and trailed by three points with fewer than two minutes remaining. In 2003 as a fourteenth seed, the Crusaders lost 72–68 to third-seeded, Dwyane Wade-led Marquette that would advance to the Final Four.

In 2016, the Crusaders made a miraculous run in the postseason. The team entered the Patriot League Tournament as the ninth seed and ultimately defeated second-seeded Lehigh in the championship game to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2007. The Crusaders then defeated

Southern University
marking the first NCAA win for the program since 1953.

Seasons

Statistics overview
Season Coach Overall Conference Standing Postseason
1900–01 None 6–6 .500)
1901–02 Powers 4–5 .444)
1902–03 Powers 6–5 .545)
1903–04 Powers 10–2 .833)
1904–05 Powers 6–4 .600)
1905–06 Powers 12–3 .800)
1907–08 Powers 12–6 .667)
1908–09 Powers 4–8 .333)
1920–21 Casey 2–0 1.000)
1921–22 Casey 14–3 .824)
1922–23 Casey 7–13 .350)
1923–24 Casey 5–9 .357)
1924–25 Simendinger 10–5 .667)
1925–26 Reed 8–9 .471)
1926–27 Reed 7–6 .538)
1927–28 Reed 13–6 .684)
1928–29 Reed 10–7 .588)
1929–30 Reed 12–7 .632)
1930–31 Reed 10–6 .625)
1934–35 Riopel 3–12 .200)
1939–40 Krause 2–3 .400)
1940–41 Krause 4–7 .364)
1941–42 Krause 5–4 .556)
1942–43 Riopel 1–5 .167)
1943–44 Riopel 6–8 .429)
1944–45 Riopel 4–9 .308)
1945–46 Julian 12–3 .800)
1946-47 Julian 27–3 .900) NCAA Champions
1947–48 Julian 26–4 .867) NCAA Final Four
1948–49 Sheary 19–8 .704)
1949–50 Sheary 27–4 .871) NCAA Elite Eight
1950–51 Sheary 20–5 .800)
1951–52 Sheary 24–4 .857) NIT Quarterfinals
1952–53 Sheary 20–6 .769) NCAA Elite Eight
1953–54 Sheary 26–2 .929) NIT Champions
1954–55 Sheary 19–7 .731) NIT Quarterfinals
1955–56 Leenig 22–5 .815) NCAA First Round
1956–57 Leenig 12–12 .500)
1957–58 Leenig 16–9 .640)
1958–59 Leenig 14–11 .560)
1959–60 Leenig 20–6 .769) NIT First Round
1960–61 Leenig 22–5 .815) NIT Semifinals
1961–62 Oftring 20–6 .769) NIT Quarterfinals
1962–63 Oftring 16–9 .640)
1963–64 Oftring 15–8 .652)
1964–65 Oftring 13–10 .565)
1965–66 Donohue 10–13 .435)
1966–67 Donohue 16–9 .640)
1967–68 Donohue 15–8 .652)
1968–69 Donohue 16–8 .667)
1969–70 Donohue 16–9 .640)
1970–71 Donohue 18–8 .692)
1971–72 Donohue 15–11 .577)
1972–73 Blaney 9–17 .346)
1973–74 Blaney 8–18 .308)
1974–75 Blaney 20–8 .714) NIT First Round
1975–76 Blaney 22–10 .688) NIT Quarterfinals
1976–77 Blaney 23–6 .793) NCAA First Round
1977–78 Blaney 20–7 .741)
1978–79 Blaney 17–11 .607) NIT First Round
1979–80 Blaney 19–11 .633) NCAA First Round
1980–81 Blaney 20–10 .667) NIT Second Round
1981–82 Blaney 16–11 .593) 4−4 .500) 5th
1982–83 Blaney 17–13 .567) 5−3 .625) 3rd
1983–84 Blaney 12–18 .400) 5−9 .357) 5th
1984–85 Blaney 9–19 .321) 8−6 .571) 3rd
1985–86 Blaney 12–18 .400) 6−8 .429) 6th
1986–87 Blaney 9–19 .321) 6−8 .429) 6th
1987–88 Blaney 14–15 .483) 8−6 .571) 4th
1988–89 Blaney 13–15 .464) 5–9 .357) 6th
1989–90 Blaney 24–6 .800) 14–2 .875) 1st NIT First Round
1990–91 Blaney 18–12 .600) 8–4 .667) 3rd
1991–92 Blaney 18–11 .621) 10–4 .714) 3rd
1992–93 Blaney 23–7 .767) 12–2 .857) 2nd NCAA First Round
1993–94 Blaney 14–14 .500) 9–5 .643) 1st
1994–95 Raynor 15–12 .556) 9–5 .643) 4th
1995–96 Raynor 17–12 .586) 8–4 .667) 3rd
1996–97 Raynor 8–19 .296) 5–7 .417) 4th
1997–98 Raynor 7–20 .259) 3–9 .250) 6th
1998–99 Raynor 7–20 .259) 3–9 .250) 6th
1999-00 Willard 10–18 .357) 3–9 .250) 5th
2000–01 Willard 22–8 .733) 10–2 .833) 1st NCAA First Round
2001–02 Willard 18–15 .545) 9–5 .643) 2nd NCAA First Round
2002–03 Willard 26–5 .839) 13–1 .929) 1st NCAA First Round
2003–04 Willard 13–15 .464) 7–7 .500) 5th
2004–05 Willard 25–7 .781) 13–1 .929) 1st NIT Second Round
2005–06 Willard 20–12 .625) 11–3 .786) 2nd
2006–07 Willard 25–9 .735) 13–1 .929) 1st NCAA First Round
2007–08 Willard 15–14 .517) 5–9 .357) 8th
2008–09 Willard 18–14 .563) 11–3 .786) 2nd
2009–10 Kearney 9–22 .290) 5–9 .357) 7th
2010–11 Brown 8–21 .267) 7–7 .500) 3rd
2011–12 Brown 15–14 .517) 9–5 .643) 4th
2012–13 Brown 12–18 .400) 4–10 .286) 7th
2013–14 Brown 20–14 .588) 12–6 .667) 3rd CIT Second Round
2014–15 Brown 14–16 .467) 8–10 .444) 6th
2015–16 Carmody 15–20 .429) 5–13 .278) 9th NCAA First Round
2016–17 Carmody 15–17 .469) 9–9 .500) 5th
2017–18 Carmody 12–19 .387) 8–10 6th
2018–19 Carmody 16–17 .485) 6–12 .333) 10th
2019–20 Nelson 3–29 .094) 2–16 .111) 10th
2020–21 Nelson 5–11 .313) 5–11 .313) 8th
2021–22 Nelson 9–22 .300) 7–11 .389) 7th
2022–23 Nelson 10–22 .313) 7–11 .389)
2023–24 Paulsen 0–0 –) 0–0 –)
Total: 1446–1088 .571)

      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

[10]

Postseason

NCAA tournament results

The Crusaders have appeared in the

NCAA tournament
13 times. Their combined record is 8–13. They were national champions in 1947.

Year Seed Round Opponent Result
1947 Elite Eight
Final Four
National Championship Game		 Navy
CCNY
Oklahoma		 W 55–47
W 60–45
W 58–47
1948 Elite Eight
Final Four
National 3rd Place Game		 Michigan
Kentucky
Kansas State		 W 63–45
L 52–60
W 60–54
1950 Elite Eight
Regional 3rd Place Game		 NC State
Ohio State		 L 74–87
L 52–72
1953 Round of 22
Sweet Sixteen
Elite Eight		 Navy
Wake Forest
LSU		 W 87–74
W 79–71
L 73–81
1956 Round of 25 Temple L 72–74
1977 Round of 32 Michigan L 81–86
1980 #11 Round of 48 #6 Iona L 78–84
1993 #13 Round of 64 #4 Arkansas L 64–94
2001 #15 Round of 64 #2 Kentucky L 68–72
2002 #16 Round of 64 #1 Kansas L 59–70
2003 #14 Round of 64 #3 Marquette L 68–72
2007 #13 Round of 64 #4 Southern Illinois L 51–61
2016 #16 First Four
Round of 64		 #16 Southern
#1 Oregon		 W 59–55
L 52–91

Men's NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player

NIT results

The Crusaders have appeared in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) 12 times. Their combined record is 11–11. They were NIT Champions in 1954.

Year Round Opponent Result
1952 First Round
Quarterfinals		 Seattle
Duquesne		 W 77–72
L 68–78
1954 Quarterfinals
Semifinals
Championship Game		 St. Francis (NY)
WKU
Duquesne		 W 93–69
W 75–69
W 71–62
1955 Quarterfinals Saint Francis (PA) L 64–68
1960 First Round St. Bonaventure L 81–94
1961 First Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals
3rd Place Game		 Detroit Mercy
Memphis State
Providence
Dayton		 W 86–82
W 81–69
L 83–90
W 85–67
1962 First Round
Quarterfinals		 Colorado State
St. John's		 W 72–71
L 74–80
1975 First Round Princeton L 63–84
1976 First Round
Quarterfinals		 Saint Peter's
NC State		 W 84–78
L 68–78
1979 First Round Dayton L 81–105
1981 First Round
Second Round		 Southern Miss
Syracuse		 W 56–54
L 57–77
1990 First Round Rutgers L 78–87
2005 First Round
Second Round		 Notre Dame
Saint Joseph's		 W 78–73
L 60–68

Men's National Invitation Tournament Most Valuable Player

CIT results

The Crusaders have appeared in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) one time. Their record is 1–1.

Year Round Opponent Result
2014 First Round
Second Round		 Brown
Yale		 W 68–65
L 66–71

Appearances in final national polls

Holy Cross has made 79 appearances in the

AP Poll since it was introduced during the 1948-1949 season, peaking at No. 1 for five weeks in 1950.[11] The College last appeared in the AP Poll during the 1977–1978 season. Holy Cross has finished the year ranked by the Helms Athletic Foundation
in 1947 and in the final Associated Press poll of the season on six occasions:

Year Ranking Record
1947 1 27–3
1950 4 27–4
1952 13 24–4
1953 13 20–6
1954 3 26–2
1956 14 22–5
1960 16 20–6

Honored jerseys

Note: As the College program stated, the jerseys were retired but not the "numbers" so other players can wear them:[12]

Holy Cross Crusaders honored jerseys
No. Player Years Ref.
12 George Kaftan 1945–1949 [12]
15 Ron Perry 1976–1980 [12]
17 Bob Cousy 1946–1950 [12]
22 Togo Palazzi 1951–1954 [12]
24 Tom Heinsohn 1953–1956 [12]
32 Jack Foley 1959–1962 [12]

NBA players

Bob Cousy

International players

Jehyve Floyd

Awards

All-America

References

  1. ^ "College of the Holy Cross". NCAA.com. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  2. ^ Holy Cross Crusaders men's basketball 2007–08 media guide. Accessed April 20, 2008.
  3. ^ "Holy Cross Names Dave Paulsen Head Men’s Basketball Coach," College of the Holy Cross Athletics, Tuesday, March 28, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  4. ^ http://sportslifer.wordpress.com/2009/03/14/once-upon-a-time-holy-cross-was-king-of-hoops/ Once Upon a Time, Holy Cross Was King of Hoops
  5. ^ Reynolds, p51.
  6. ^ a b Reynolds, p52.
  7. ^ "Holy Cross Was Once King of Hoops". SportsLifer's Weblog. 2009-03-15. Retrieved 2016-09-14.
  8. ^ "Total AP Men's BB Poll Appearances Summary – College Poll Archive – Historical College Football and Basketball Polls and Rankings". www.collegepollarchive.com. Retrieved 2016-09-14.
  9. ^ "Holy Cross (MA) 1978 AP Men's Basketball Rankings – College Poll Archive – Historical College Football and Basketball Polls and Rankings". collegepollarchive.com. Retrieved 2016-09-14.
  10. ^ www.goholycross.com http://www.goholycross.com/fls/33100/sports/m-basketball/archives/year-by-year.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=33100. Retrieved 28 February 2017. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)[title missing]
  11. ^ "Holy Cross AP Basketball Poll Summary – College Poll Archive – Historical College Football and Basketball Polls and Rankings". collegepollarchive.com. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g Holy Cross to Raise Jerseys of Four Basketball Greats at College of the Holy Cross, 12 Nov 2008

External links

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