1981–82 Idaho Vandals men's basketball team

American college basketball season March 2026 August 2023 8 8 Basketball 1981–82 Idaho Vandals Idaho Vandals logo.svg 80 Big Sky Conference Big Sky 27–3 13–1 Don Monson 4th Barry Collier Rod Snook Kibbie Dome Big Sky champions NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen The 1981–82 Idaho Vandals men's basketball team represented the University of Idaho during the 1981–82 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The defending champions of the Big Sky Conference, Vandals were led by fourth-year head coach Don Monson and played their home games on campus at the Kibbie Dome in Moscow, Idaho. The 1982 basketball team was the most successful in the school's history, and has yet to be surpassed. Building upon the success of the previous season (25–4),https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8YJfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=sDAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4386%2C109952 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Emerson Paul Vandal cage hopes depend on filling center spot October 16, 1981 4B the Vandals won their first sixteen games and went 24–2 in the regular season. They defeated Gonzaga and all four Pac-10 teams from the Northwest. Idaho won the eight-team Far West Classic in Portland in late December 1981, winning all three games by at least 19 points (over Iowa State, Oregon State, and Oregon).http://issuu.com/uidahodigital/docs/gem1982/222 Gem of the Mountains, University of Idaho yearbook Basketball: A Solid Gold Season 1982 218 The Vandals' only setbacks during the regular season were consecutive two-point road losses in late January. The first was to rival Montana on a raucous Saturday night in Missoula on a tip-in at the buzzer.http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1125196/index.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20100328180851/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1125196/index.htm dead March 28, 2010 Sports Illustrated The Week (Jan. 18-24) February 1, 1982 40 The second was to Notre Dame in South Bend two days later, ending a three-games-in-four-nights road trip, which included multiple weather-related travel delays and re-routes,https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=T5lfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iTEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3600%2C1264326 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Associated Press Kenyon Quayne What if: without Big Sky travel schedule, Vandals might be 26-0 March 4, 1982 1B and a 4:30 am arrival in South Bend on game day.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=v1UaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WicEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7141%2C2014261 Spokane Chronicle Washington Devlin Vince Idaho at Notre Dame: look who's favored January 25, 1982 17 Although the Vandals hit 14 of their first 15 shots to jump to 28–10 lead over the Irish, Notre Dame regrouped at home to win by two in overtime. Idaho was awarded just four free throws in the 45 minutes of play and missed them all.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nLBeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=nC8MAAAAIBAJ&pg=2256%2C4130216 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Vandals die in 2nd half January 26, 1982 1Chttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wFUaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WicEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5652%2C2199035 Spokane Chronicle Washington Vandals stuck on 16 after OT loss to Irish Devlin Vince January 26, 1982 17 Notre Dame was led by future NBA guard John Paxson in 1982. The Vandals then won eight straight games to conclude the regular season, and won the four-team conference tournament, which they hosted for the second straight year as regular season champions.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UplfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iTEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4182%2C2444608 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Vandals dream of another playoff Killen John March 7, 1982 3C Their 26–2 record after the Big Sky tournament (& ten straight victories) earned the Vandals a #8 national ranking and a #3 seed in the West region of the 48-team NCAA tournament, which included a first round bye. NCAA tournament Idaho's first game (in the second round) was nearly a home game, played just 8 mi in west at Beasley Coliseum in Pullman on a Sunday afternoon. The opponent was 16th-ranked Iowa of the Big Ten, the region's sixth seed, then coached by Lute Olson. A Final Four team two years earlier, Iowa won their first-round game handily, but Idaho won this close game by two points, 69–67 in overtime, and advanced to the Sweet 16.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pvhLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iO4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6111%2C6045848 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Idaho: Next stop, Provo Missildine Harry March 15, 1982 15 http://idaho.scout.com/2/239130.html Idaho Scout.com Smith Marlin The Monson Era March 2, 2004 March 27, 2013 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20050118210439/http://idaho.scout.com/2/239130.html January 18, 2005 Four days later at the West regional in Provo, Utah, they met the nation's fourth-ranked team, Oregon State, the #2 seed in the West region. Idaho had defeated the Beavers by 22 points in December at the Far West Classic in Portland, but this time the result was far different, as the Beavers won 60–42. OSU was defeated two days later by the region's #1 seed Georgetown, led by freshman center Patrick Ewing. (Georgetown advanced to the national final, where they lost by a point to North Carolina.) Aftermath The Vandals ended the 1982 season at 27 3 y, and were ranked as high as sixth in the nation (AP and UPI polls) at the end of the regular season at 24–2.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7-pWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Z_kDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7290%2C276586 Spokane Chronicle Washington wire services Vandals No. 6 March 2, 1982 13 They entered the top twenty at #18 in early January and two weeks later were up to eighth,https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lrBeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=nC8MAAAAIBAJ&pg=2108%2C1890815 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Unbeaten Vandals continue to climb in both wire service polls Associated Press January 20, 1982 1Chttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VZBTAAAAIBAJ&sjid=t4YDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2403,3762516& The Bulletin Bend, Oregon Idaho basketball: Now its something to crow about Barton Gene January 20, 1982 D1 but the two losses dropped them back to fifteenth. Eight straight wins elevated them to sixth prior to the Big Sky tournament, and were eighth in both final polls entering the NCAA tournament. The 1982 starters Ken Owens (6 0) and Brian Kellerman (6 5) in the backcourt, with forwards Phil Hopson and Gordie Herbert and center Kelvin Smith, all at 6 6.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ovhLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iO4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6805%2C4398250 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Idaho roster March 11, 1982 26https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WJlfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iTEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4141%2C5568284 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Killen John Idaho may have trouble telling who's who March 14, 1982 3C Just before their two losses in January, the team was featured in a two-page article in Sports Illustrated.https://www.si.com/vault/1982/01/25/540928/a-case-of-vandalism-in-big-sky-country Sports Illustrated A case of Vandalism in Big Sky country McCallum Jack January 25, 1982 20–21 (team photo) The alley-oop was a frequently used play against man-to-man defenses,https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mbBeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=nC8MAAAAIBAJ&pg=5186%2C2965068 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Killen John Lob it or leave it January 23, 1982 1B and sophomore Pete Prigge (6 7) was the sixth man.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8OpWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Z_kDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6938%2C764362 Spokane Chronicle Washington Van Sickel Charlie The other Vandal March 3, 1982 42 Monson was named the Kodak Coach of the Year in Division I in 1982 (photo)https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=57peAAAAIBAJ&sjid=tzAMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2991%2C4917587 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho In Division I, Monson's No. 1 March 28, 1982 2Bhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GbQSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YvkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3393%2C3604367 Spokane Chronicle Washington Monson's 'overwhelmed' as coaches' No. 1 coach March 29, 1982 15 and rumors were rampant that he would jump to a higher league,https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9upWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Z_kDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6358%2C2631269 Spokane Chronicle Washington UPI Monson will talk jobs after NCAA playoffs March 10, 1982 35 maybe to struggling Arizona in the Pac-10.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8_ZWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=YvkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2682%2C78921 Spokane Chronicle Washington Associated Press Don't shed a tear for Idaho March 16, 1982 15 That position was eventually filled by Lute Olson (a year later), and Monson chose to stay for a fifth season at Idaho. With a salary of about $40,000 in 1982 and a one-year contract,https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Gf0yAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WoMDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6968%2C7333335 Deseret News Salt Lake City, Utah Associated Press Idaho may give Monson a reason to stay with Vandals March 25, 1982 6G an "appreciation fund" was set up by local fans to entice him to stay in Moscow.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iYBQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TxIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7071%2C4307089 Milwaukee Sentinel Idaho fans raise funds March 24, 1982 4, part 2 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=k_lLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=4u4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=1621%2C1793794 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Don Monson Appreciation Fund advertisement March 20, 1982 18 The 1982 team was inducted into the Vandal Athletics Hall of Fame, as was Monson, Kellerman, and Owens. All-conference All five starters were recognized by the conference. Senior point guard Owens was the Big Sky's player of the year and a repeat MVP in the conference tournament. He was joined in the backcourt of the all-conference team by junior guard Kellerman, the previous season's player of the year. Vandals on the second team were the forwards, senior Herbert and junior Hopson; junior center Smith was honorable mention.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9upWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Z_kDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5804%2C2626206 Spokane Chronicle Washington Vandals honored March 10, 1982 34https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VJlfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iTEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2246%2C3840537 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Associated Press Owens: Vandal guard named MVP March 10, 1982 1C Roster 1981 Idaho Vandals m y yes Mike Maben 4 G 6 3 185 SR Milwaukee, WI Milwaukee Tech HS Brian Kellerman y 12 G 6 5 190 JR Richland, WA Richland HS Ken Owens basketball y 14 G 6 0 180 SR New York, NY Treasure Valley (OR) Gordon Herbert y 20 F 6 6 205 SR y Penticton, BC N.Idaho, Penticton HS Pete Prigge 24 F 6 7 190 SO Vancouver, WA Fort Vancouver HS Zane Frazier y 30 F 6 5 205 SO yes Los Angeles, CA Fairfax HS Antwine Murchison 31 F 6 7 190 FR Stockton, CA St. Mary's HS Ben Ross 32 G 6 4 180 JR Coeur d'Alene, ID Coeur d'Alene HS Kevin Haatvedt 33 C 6 11 220 FR Woodland Hills, CA W.H. Taft HS Matt Haskins 34 G 6 3 170 FR Richland, WA Richland HS Kelvin Smith 40 C 6 6 195 JR Pasco, WA Taft (CA), Pasco HS Freeman Watkins 42 G 6 4 187 SO Utica, MI Eisenhower HS Phil Hopson 44 F 6 6 190 JR Portland, OR Jefferson HS Don Monson (Idaho) Barry Collier (Butler) Rod Snook (Whittier) https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ovhLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=iO4DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6805%2C4398250 Schedule and results yes yes Sat, Nov 28 8:00 pm yes Doane (NE) Kibbie Dome Moscow, Idaho 94–56 1–0 3,800 Mon, Nov 30 8:00 pm yes Concordia (MN) Kibbie Dome Moscow, Idaho 96–47 2–0 3,800 Wed, Dec 2 7:30 pm yes yes Washington Hec Edmundson Pavilion Seattle, Washington 86–61 3–0 2,329 Sat, Dec 5 8:00 pm yes Athletes in Action (USA) Kibbie Dome Moscow, Idaho (Exhibition) 73–77 2OT — 4,800 Wed, Dec 9 7:30 pm yes yes Washington State Beasley Coliseum Pullman, Washington Battle of the Palouse 68–48 4–0 8,300 Sat, Dec 12 8:00 pm yes Western Montana Kibbie Dome Moscow, Idaho 59–49 5–0 4,400 Thu, Dec 17 8:00 pm yes St. Martin's Kibbie Dome Moscow, Idaho 86–53 6–0 3,200 Sat, Dec 19 8:00 pm yes yes San Jose State San Jose Civic Auditorium San Jose, California 48–45 7–0 1,040 Sat, Dec 26 9:00 pm yes yes Iowa State Memorial Coliseum Portland, Oregon Far West Classic 88–68 8–0 11,040 Mon, Dec 28 7:00 pm yes yes Oregon State 15 Memorial Coliseum Portland, Oregon Far West Classic (semifinal) 71–49 9–0 12,083 Tue, Dec 29 9:00 pm yes yes Oregon Memorial Coliseum Portland, Oregon Far West Classic (final) 81–62 10–0 11,751 Sat, Jan 2 8:00 pm yes Gonzaga Kibbie Dome Moscow, Idaho Rivalry 65–57 11–0 5,460 Thu, Jan 7 7:30 pm yes 18 Nevada-Reno Centennial Coliseum Reno, Nevada 72–66 2OT 12–0 1–0 5,867 Sat, Jan 9 6:30 pm yes 18 Northern Arizona Walkup Skydome Flagstaff, Arizona 59–46 13–0 2–0 4,100 Fri, Jan 15 8:00 pm 14 Idaho State Kibbie Dome Moscow, Idaho 73–62 14–0 3–0 8,500 Sat, Jan 16 8:00 pm 14 Weber State Kibbie Dome Moscow, Idaho 59–44 15–0 4–0 7,500 Fri, Jan 22 7:00 pm yes 8 Montana State Brick Breeden Fieldhouse Bozeman, Montana 49–38 16–0 5–0 6,567 Sat, Jan 23 7:00 pm yes 8 Montana Dahlberg Arena Missoula, Montana 51–53 16–1 5–1 8,782 Mon, Jan 25 5:00 pm yes yes 11 Notre Dame Athletic & Convocation Center Notre Dame, Indiana USA 48–50 OT 16–2 11,345 Sat, Jan 30 8:00 pm 11 Boise State Kibbie Dome Moscow, Idaho 91–59 17–2 6–1 9,200 Fri, Feb 5 8:00 pm 15 Northern Arizona Kibbie Dome Moscow, Idaho 72–60 18–2 7–1 5,100 Sat, Feb 6 8:00 pm 15 Nevada-Reno Kibbie Dome Moscow, Idaho 91–79 19–2 8–1 9,500 Fri, Feb 12 6:30 pm yes 13 Weber State Dee Events Center Ogden, Utah 71–62 20–2 9–1 7,691 Sat, Feb 13 6:30 pm yes 13 Idaho State ISU Minidome Pocatello, Idaho 77–50 21–2 10–1 6,164 Thu, Feb 18 8:00 pm 11 Montana Kibbie Dome Moscow, Idaho 71–58 22–2 11–1 8,500 Sat, Feb 20 8:00 pm 11 Montana State Kibbie Dome Moscow, Idaho 77–63 23–2 12–1 8,500 Sat, Feb 27 6:30 pm yes 9 Boise State Bronco Gymnasium Boise, Idaho 83–77 24–2 13–1 3,946 |- !colspan=9 style=Idaho Vandals| Big Sky tournament Fri, Mar 5 7:10 pm 6 1 Weber State 4 Kibbie Dome Moscow, Idaho Semifinal 57–55 25–2 8,150 Sat, Mar 6 7:40 pm 6 1 Nevada-Reno 3 Kibbie Dome Moscow, Idaho Final 85–80 26–2 8,250 |- !colspan=9 style=Idaho Vandals| NCAA tournament Fri, Mar 12 8 3W Bye First round Sun, Mar 14 1:30 pm yes 8 3W Iowa 16 6W Beasley Coliseum Pullman, Washington Second round CBS 69–67 OT 27–2 12,340 Thu, Mar 18 6:10 pm yes 8 3W Oregon State 4 2W Marriott Center Provo, Utah Sweet Sixteen CBS 42–60 27–3 15,237 AP poll Pacific time References 2 External links Sports Reference – Idaho Vandals: 1981–82 basketball season Gem of the Mountains: 1982 University of Idaho yearbook – 1981–82 basketball season Idaho Argonaut – student newspaper – 1982 editions Category:Idaho Vandals men's basketball seasons Idaho Idaho Idaho Idaho