1998–99 Weber State Wildcats men's basketball team

The 1998–99 Weber State Wildcats men's basketball team represented Weber State College during the 1998–99 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Members of the Big Sky Conference, the Wildcats were led by eighth-year head coach Ron Abegglen and played their home games on campus at Dee Events Center in Ogden, Utah.

1998–99 Weber State Wildcats men's basketball
NCAA tournament, second round
ConferenceBig Sky Conference
Record25–8 (13–3 Big Sky)
Head coach
Assistant coachJoe Cravens (2nd season)
Home arenaDee Events Center
1998–99 Big Sky men's basketball standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
Weber State †13–3 .81325–8  .758
Northern Arizona12–4 .75021–8  .724
Portland State9–7 .56317–11  .607
Cal State Northridge9–7 .56317–12  .586
Montana State9–7 .56316–13  .552
Eastern Washington7–9 .43810–17  .370
Montana6–10 .37513–14  .481
Idaho State4–12 .2506–20  .231
Sacramento State3–13 .1883–23  .115
† Conference tournament winner

The Wildcats were 22–7 overall in the regular season and 13–3 in conference play to finish atop the regular season conference standings. Weber State hosted the conference tournament, and defeated Montana State and Northern Arizona[1] to receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Junior Eddie Gill was named MVP of the conference tournament.

Seeded 14th in the West region, Weber State met No. 3 seed North Carolina in the first round at KeyArena in Seattle. The Wildcats stunned the Tar Heels, winning 76–74 and becoming the first school to win two first-round games in the NCAA Tournament as a No. 14 seed.[2] In the second, Weber State pushed the Florida Gators to OT before losing 82–74.[3]

Junior forward Harold Arceneaux was named Big Sky Player of the Year. Arceneaux would be named conference player of the year for a second time after his senior season (1999–2000).

Postseason result
Date
time, TV		 Rank# Opponent# Result Record Site (attendance)
city, state
Big Sky tournament
Mar 5, 1999*
 (1) (5) Montana State
Semifinals		 W 93–73  23–7
 Dee Events Center 
Ogden, Utah
Mar 6, 1999*
 (1) (2) Northern Arizona
Championship Game		 W 82–75  24–7
 Dee Events Center 
Ogden, Utah
NCAA tournament
Mar 11, 1999*
 (14 W) vs. (3 W) No. 13 North Carolina
First Round		 W 76–74  25–7
 KeyArena 
Seattle, Washington
Mar 13, 1999*
 (14 W) vs. (6 W) No. 23 Florida
Second Round		 L 74–82 OT 25–8
 KeyArena 
Seattle, Washington
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Mountain time.

References
  1. "Beast of the East Returns to Form". The Los Angeles Times. March 7, 1999. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  2. "Wildcats Stun Third-Seeded Tar Heels". The Washington Post. March 12, 1999. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  3. "Florida Survives Against 'The Show'". The Los Angeles Times. March 14, 1999. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
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