1974–75 Montana Grizzlies basketball team

American college basketball season March 2026 August 2023 1974–75 Montana Grizzlies Basketball Montana Griz logo.svg 150 Big Sky Conference Big Sky 21–8 13–1 Jud Heathcote 4th Jim Brandenburg Adams Fieldhouse Big Sky champions NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen The 1974–75 Montana Grizzlies basketball team represented the University of Montana during the 1974–75 NCAA Division I basketball season. Charter members of the Big Sky Conference, the Grizzlies were led by fourth-year head coach Jud Heathcote and played their home games on campus at Adams Fieldhouse in Missoula, Montana.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dahYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ufgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2374%2C1796338 Spokane Daily Chronicle Washington Bulldogs invade Grizzlies' lair February 7, 1975 11 They finished the regular season at 20–6, with a 13–1 record in conference to win the title (by four games)https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=tR5OAAAAIBAJ&sjid=I-0DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5409%2C1404445 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington College Standings: Big Sky March 4, 1975 16 and earned a berth in the expanded 32-team NCAA tournament. This season was the last for the Big Sky without a conference tournament; Montana's sole conference loss was on the road to defending champion Idaho State. In the opening round of the NCAA tournament at Pullman, Washington, Montana surprised Utah State and won by six points.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=55FYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=afgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4602%2C89010 Spokane Daily Chronicle Washington Brown Bruce UCLA, Montana paired Thursday March 17, 1975 17 It was a homecoming for Heathcote, an alumnus of Washington State and former assistant coach, so the Griz had plenty of support in the arena among the locals and traveling Montana supporters.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=brJfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BDMMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6164%2C3639594 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Associated Press Bruins, Grizzlies start title trek tonight March 15, 1975 3Bhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=35JYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=W_gDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7194%2C3975634 Spokane Daily Chronicle Washington Brown Bruce Bruins begin title search March 15, 1975 10 With the win, Montana advanced to the Sweet Sixteen at the West Regional in Portland, Oregon, and met second-ranked UCLA.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6pFYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=afgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7332%2C1308239 Spokane Daily Chronicle Washington Associated Press Montana prospects slim March 20, 1975 35 In a game that went down to the last seconds, the Bruins won by just three points;https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dLJfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BDMMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2505%2C5124974 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Associated Press Bruins slip past Montana 67-64 March 21, 1975 1Bhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=u8ZVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mNkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6913%2C5392122 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon Cawood Neil It's UCLA - despite Eric Hays' heroics March 21, 1975 3Chttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=65FYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=afgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7085%2C1594665 Spokane Daily Chronicle Washington Associated Press Kentucky five eager March 21, 1975 16 they went on to win the national championship in John Wooden's final season as head coach. Montana lost the third-place game to UNLV by eight points to finish the season at 21 8 y. Two seniors were on the all-conference team, center Ken McKenzie and swingman Eric Hays; freshman guard Micheal Ray Richardson was honorable mention.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bLJfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BDMMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4603%2C2954896 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Associated Press Four centers on all-conference March 13, 1975 1Bhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3JJYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=W_gDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3943%2C2865608 Spokane Daily Chronicle Washington Associated Press Zags' Tyler on star club March 12, 1975 12https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Ah1OAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vewDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7222%2C2068803 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Associated Press UM's biggest battle since... March 20, 1975 49 Richardson was all-conference the next three years, the fourth overall selection of the 1978 NBA draft, and a four-time NBA All-Star. Postseason results yes no |- !colspan=9 style=Montana Grizzlies| NCAA tournament Sat, March 15 8:10 pm yes yes no Utah State WSU Coliseum Pullman, Washington First round 69–63 21–6 10,500 Thu, March 20 8:10 pm yes yes no UCLA 2 Memorial Coliseum Portland, Oregon Regional semifinal (Sweet 16) 64–67 21–7 9,797 Sat, March 22 12:00 pm yes yes no UNLV 16 Memorial Coliseum Portland, Oregon Regional Third Place 67–75 21–8 8,534 no Mountain time References External links Sports Reference – Montana Grizzlies: 1974–75 basketball season Category:Montana Grizzlies basketball seasons Montana Montana