1974–75 Montana Grizzlies basketball team

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.[1]

1974–75 Montana Grizzlies men's basketball
NCAA tournament, Sweet Sixteen
ConferenceBig Sky Conference
Record21–8 (13–1 Big Sky)
Head coach
Assistant coachJim Brandenburg
Home arenaAdams Fieldhouse
1974–75 Big Sky men's basketball standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
Montana13–1 .92921–8  .724
Idaho State9–5 .64316–10  .615
Boise State7–7 .50013–13  .500
Gonzaga7–7 .50013–13  .500
Weber State6–8 .42911–15  .423
Montana State5–9 .35711–15  .423
Northern Arizona5–9 .3579–17  .346
Idaho4–10 .28610–16  .385

They finished the regular season at 20–6, with a 13–1 record in conference to win the title (by four games)[2] 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.[3] 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.[4][5]

With the win, Montana advanced to the Sweet Sixteen at the West Regional in Portland, Oregon, and met second-ranked UCLA.[3][6] In a game that went down to the last seconds, the Bruins won by just three points;[7][8][9] 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 (.724).

Two seniors were on the all-conference team, center Ken McKenzie and swingman Eric Hays; freshman guard Micheal Ray Richardson was honorable mention.[10][11][12] 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
Date
time, TV		 Opponent Result Record Site (attendance)
city, state
NCAA tournament
Sat, March 15*
8:10 pm 		vs. Utah State
First round		 W 69–63  21–6
 WSU Coliseum (10,500)
Pullman, Washington
Thu, March 20*
8:10 pm 		vs. No. 2 UCLA
Regional semifinal (Sweet 16)		 L 64–67  21–7
 Memorial Coliseum (9,797)
Portland, Oregon
Sat, March 22*
12:00 pm 		vs. No. 16 UNLV
Regional Third Place		 L 67–75  21–8
 Memorial Coliseum (8,534)
Portland, Oregon
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Mountain time.

References
  1. "Bulldogs invade Grizzlies' lair". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). February 7, 1975. p. 11.
  2. "College Standings: Big Sky". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). March 4, 1975. p. 16.
  3. Brown, Bruce (March 17, 1975). "UCLA, Montana paired Thursday". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). p. 17.
  4. "Bruins, Grizzlies start title trek tonight". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. March 15, 1975. p. 3B.
  5. Brown, Bruce (March 15, 1975). "Bruins begin title search". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). p. 10.
  6. "Montana prospects slim". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. March 20, 1975. p. 35.
  7. "Bruins slip past Montana 67-64". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. March 21, 1975. p. 1B.
  8. Cawood, Neil (March 21, 1975). "It's UCLA - despite Eric Hays' heroics". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). p. 3C.
  9. "Kentucky five eager". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. March 21, 1975. p. 16.
  10. "Four centers on all-conference". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. March 13, 1975. p. 1B.
  11. "Zags' Tyler on star club". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. March 12, 1975. p. 12.
  12. "UM's biggest battle since..." Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. March 20, 1975. p. 49.
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