1940–41 Washington State Cougars men's basketball team

American college basketball season March 2026 August 2023 Basketball 1940–41 Washington State Cougars 150 Pacific Coast Conference PCC 26–6 13–3 Jack Friel 13th WSC Gymnasium NCAA tournament, Runner-upPCC Champions National Championship Game L Lost 34–39 vs. Wisconsin The 1940–41 Washington State Cougars men's basketball team represented Washington State College for the 1940–41 college basketball season. Led by thirteenth-year head coach Jack Friel, the Cougars were members of the Pacific Coast Conference and played their home games on campus at WSC Gymnasium in Pullman, Washington. The Cougars were 22–5 overall in the regular season and 13–3 in conference play, first place in Northern division. They met Southern division Stanford in a best-of-three series in Pullman for the PCC title,https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=km5WAAAAIBAJ&sjid=C-QDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6837%2C4127383 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Stanford team reaches scene March 14, 1941 15 which the Cougars swept in two games.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GMdeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JTIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1655%2C5454872 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Associated Press Cougars defeat Stanford, 46-43 in opening tilt March 15, 1941 10https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=km5WAAAAIBAJ&sjid=C-QDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6809%2C4348797 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Bankson Rod Washington State stages great second half rally to defeat Stanford March 15, 1941 11https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=aihWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BOQDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6681%2C316712 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Bankson Rod Washington State wins Pacific Coast Conference basketball crown March 16, 1941 1, sportshttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=aOJXAAAAIBAJ&sjid=R_UDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7073%2C3696328 Spokane Daily Chronicle Washington (photos) Jack Friel, happiest man in land, gets and gives congratulation after Cougars win Pacific Coast hoop title March 17, 1941 11 Washington State advanced to the eight-team NCAA tournament in Kansas City; they defeated Creighton and Arkansas to advance to the final, but lost to Wisconsin by five points. This remains the most successful season for Cougar men's basketball; WSU has made six NCAA tournament appearances since (1980, 1983, 1994, 2007, 2008, 2024), and the best result is the Sweet Sixteen in 2008. Postseason results yes no |- !colspan=5 style=Washington State Cougars| Pacific Coast Conference Playoff Series Fri, March 14 8:00 pm no Stanford WSC Gymnasium Pullman, Washington Game One 46–43 23–5 5,600 Sat, March 15 8:00 pm no Stanford WSC Gymnasium Pullman, Washington Game Two 44–40 24–5 5,600 |- !colspan=5 style=Washington State Cougars| NCAA tournament Fri, March 21 8:30 pm yes yes no Creighton Municipal Auditorium Kansas City, Missouri Quarterfinal 48–39 25–5 Sat, March 22 8:30 pm yes yes no Arkansas Municipal Auditorium Kansas City, Missouri Semifinal 64–53 26–5 Sat, March 29 6:30 pm yes yes no Wisconsin Municipal Auditorium Kansas City, Missouri Final 34–39 26–6 no no Pacific time References 2 External links Sports Reference – Washington State Cougars: 1940–41 basketball season Category:Washington State Cougars men's basketball seasons Washington State Cougars Category:NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament Final Four seasons Washington State Washington State Washington State