Cornell Basketball Record: A History of Success

The Cornell basketball Record blog covers the history of Cornell basketball from the early days of the program to the present day.

The Early Years: Cornell Basketball’s Origins

Although basketball was invented by Dr. James Naismith in 1891, it would be several years before the sport would gain popularity at Cornell. The earliest reference to Cornell basketball comes from a March 5, 1898 article in the Cornell Daily Sun, which mentions “a game of basket ball” being played between members of the junior and senior classes. However, it wasn’t until 1900 that Cornell would field its first varsity basketball team

The team played its first game against Hamilton College on February 17,1900, and won by a score of 24-17. This game would also mark the beginning of a long-standing rivalry between the two schools; as of 2019, Cornell and Hamilton have faced each other 211 times on the hardwood, making it the oldest continuous rivalry in NCAA Division I basketball.

The early Cornell teams were not particularly successful; in fact, the 1900-01 squad finished with a record of just 1-7. However, things began to turn around for the program starting in 1903 under Head Coach Charles Bunn. In Bunn’s first season at the helm, Cornell posted a record of 10-4; this marked the beginning of a streak of 14 consecutive winning seasons that would last until 1917.

During this stretch of success, Cornell’s biggest rivals were Syracuse and Penn State both games were typically hard-fought contests, and often had implications for who would win the league title. On February 28, 1913, Cornell travelled to Syracuse to take on the Orangemen; led by All-American guard Charles Berkeley “Cow” Gates, Syracuse was undefeated on the season and was widely considered to be one of the best teams in the country. Despite being heavy underdogs, Cornell pulled off one of the biggest upsets in school history, defeating Syracuse 59-42. This victory helped propel the Big Red to their first ever league title.

While World War I put a temporary halt to basketball at many schools across the country, Cornell managed to keep its program afloat during these difficult times. The 1916-17 squad finished with an impressive 12-2 record; this included an 8-0 mark in league play, good for another conference championship Once again wartime conditions made it difficult for colleges to field teams during 1917-18 and 1918-19; as a result, no official champions were named during these seasons.

Finally with peace restored across Europe and normalcy beginning to return to daily life in America, college basketball was able to resume on a nationwide scale starting in 1919-20. That year saw significant changes for Cornell basketball; prior to this season all home games had been played at Barton Hall (then known as Alumni Gymnasium), but nowAndrew Dickson White Gymnasium became home for Big Red hoops going forward. Additionally 1919-20 marked Cornel’s entrance into what is now known as Ivy League play; while technically founded in 1954 as an Athletic Conference comprising eight private northeastern colleges (Brown University , Columbia University , Cornet University , Dartmouth College , Harvard University , Princeton University , Yale University ), Ivy League schools had been playing each other informally long before that point . Now with formalized competition taking place among these eight institutions , each school began eagerly competing for Ivy League supremacy on an annual basis .

The First Golden Age: Cornell basketball in the 1920s

The first golden age of Cornell basketball occurred in the 1920s. Under the leadership of head coach George Sadler, the team enjoyed unprecedented success, posting a record of 111-20 over a five-year span. During this time, Cornell won three straight Ivy League titles and made two appearances in the NCAA tournament The team’s success was due in large part to the play of star player Edward Maciejewski, who was named an All-American in both 1922 and 1923.

After Sadler’s death in 1925, the team went into decline, posting a losing record in each of the next four seasons. The program bottomed out in 1929 with a 1-15 record, the worst in school history. Fortunately, this would prove to be the low point for Cornell basketball, as the team would soon enter into another period of success.

The Second Golden Age: Cornell basketball in the 1960s

In the 1960s, Cornell basketball enjoyed a period of great success, often referred to as the team’s “second golden age.” Led by Head Coach Ned Harkness, the team won Ivy League championships in 1967, 1968, and 1969, and made three consecutive appearances in the NCAA Tournament

During this era, Cornell was consistently ranked among the top 20 teams in the country, and reached as high as No. 6 in the AP poll during the 1968-69 season. The team’s success was due in large part to the play of its star player Steve Adams ’69. Adams was a two-time All-American and was named Ivy League Player of the Year in 1968 and 1969.

After Harkness left Cornell to take over as Head coach at Michigan in 1970, the team continued to enjoy success under his replacement, Tom Miller ’71. Miller led Cornell to Ivy League titles in 1971 and 1972, and another appearance in the NCAA tournament in 1972.

The 1960s were a decade of great achievement for Cornell basketball. The team’s success on the court helped propel it to national prominence, and established Cornell as one of the top basketball programs in the country.

The modern ERA Cornell basketball in the 21st century

Since the beginning of the 20th century, Cornell basketball has been a highly successful program. The team has won 26 Ivy League Championships, more than any other team in the conference. In addition, Cornell has won 6 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament games, the most for any Ivy League school.

The modern era of Cornell basketball began in the late 1990s, when the team hired head coach Steve Donahue. Under Donahue’s leadership, the team won 3 Ivy League Championships and made 5 appearances in the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament In 2010, Donahue left Cornell to take over as head coach at Boston College

In 2013, Cornell hired Bill Courtney as its new head coach Courtney led the team to its first Ivy League Championship in 19 years in his first season at the helm. The following year, Courtney was named Ivy League Coach of the Year after leading Cornell to a second consecutive Ivy League Championship.

Cornell’s greatest players The Top 5 of All Time

In Cornell Basketball History there have been many Great players To create this list, various factors were considered including: individual and team success, statistical accomplishment, contribution to the program, and lasting impact. Here are Cornell’s top 5 basketball players of all time.

1. Schroeder ’17 was a three-time Ivy League Player of the Year and a first-team All-Ivy selection all four years. He is Cornell’s All-time leading scorer with 2,095 points and rebounder with 1,018. Schroeder helped lead Cornell to four straight Ivy League titles and four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, including a Sweet 16 run in 2010. He was inducted into the Cornell Athletic Hall of Fame in 2017.

2. Jeffries ’00 was a two-time Ivy League Player of the Year and a first-team All-Ivy selection all four years. He is Cornell’s second all-time leading scorer with 1,988 points and is the program’s all-time leader in 3-pointers made ( 293) and attempted (798). Jeffries helped lead Cornell to four straight Ivy League titles and four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances, including a Sweet 16 run in 2010. He was inducted into the Cornell Athletic Hall of Fame in 2016.

3. Jack Molinas ’53 was a two-time First Team All-American and consensus National Player of the Year as a junior in 1952–53. He is Cornell’s third all-time leading scorer with 1,936 points and remains the program’s single-season scoring leader with 627 points in 1952–53. Molinas helped lead Cornell to its first ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 1953 and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.

4. Curtis Mewborn ’71 was a two-time Ivy League Player of the Year and led Cornell to three straight Ivy League titles from 1969 to 1971. He is Cornell’s fourth all-time leading scorer with 1,874 points and also ranks fourth in assists (474) and steals (212). Mewborn was inducted into the Cornell Athletic Hall of Fame in 1996.

5. Nater ’74 was a two-time First Team All-Ivy selection and led Cornell to three straight Ivy League titles from 1972 to 1974 . He is still Cornel’s fifth all time leading scorer with 1,863 points despite playing just three seasons for the Big Red . Nater was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucksin 1974 but his NBA Career was cut short by injuries . He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famein 2002 .

Cornell’s Greatest Teams: The Top 5 of All Time

The Cornell Basketball team has a long and successful history, dating back to the early 1900s. The team has won numerous conference and national titles, and has produced many All-American and NBA players In honor of Cornell’s rich Basketball History here are the top 5 greatest teams of all time:

1. The 1948-49 team is widely considered to be one of the best college basketball teams of all time. The team went 26-3, won the Ivy League title, and made it to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament

2. The 1975-76 team won Cornell’s first ever NCAA tournament game, and went on to make it to the Sweet Sixteen The team finished with a 27-4 record, winning the Ivy League title and becoming one of only two teams in Cornell history to make it to the Sweet Sixteen

3. The 2001-02 team set a school record for wins in a season with 29, en route to an appearance in the NCAA Tournament The team also won the Ivy League title, finishing with a perfect 14-0 record in conference play

4. The 2008-09 team won another Ivy League title, going undefeated in conference play for the second time in school history. The team also made it to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in three years, eventually losing in the Round of 32.

5. The 2009-10 team had another successful season winning 28 games and making it back to the NCAA tournament The team lost in the Round of 32 again, but their great season was overshadowed by an even more successful 2010-11 squad.

Cornell Basketball in the NCAA Tournament

Cornell has a long and successful history in the NCAA tournament with a record of 12-12. They have been to the tournament 13 times, with their most recent appearance in 2016. They have won two games in the tournament, both against Penn State in 1979 and 1981.

Cornell Basketball in the Ivy League

Cornell basketball has long been a powerhouse in the Ivy League The team has won the Ivy League Championship a record nineteen times, most recently in 2016. Cornell has also appeared in the NCAA tournament fourteen times, including two trips to the Sweet Sixteen. The team’s success is due in large part to its storied history and tradition of excellence.

Cornell basketball traces its roots back to the founding of the university in 1865. The first intercollegiate game was played against Yale in 1871, with Cornell emerging victorious by a score of 24-10. The program quickly gained prominence in the Ivy League winning its first conference title in 1901.

The team enjoyed its first period of sustained success under head coach Neil Watson, who led the Big Red to six straight Ivy League championships from 1916 to 1921. Cornell would go on to win thirteen more conference titles under Watson’s successors, including seven more in an eight-year stretch from 1967 to 1974.

The modern era of Cornell basketball began in earnest with the hiring of head coach Steve Donahue in 2000. Under Donahue’s leadership, the team won four Ivy League championships and made three appearances in the NCAA Tournament His successor, Bill Courtney, led Cornell to its most recent Ivy League title in 2016.

Today, Cornell basketball is widely recognized as one of the premier programs in the Ivy League and one of the best mid-major programs in the country. The team’s success on and off the court has helped make Cornell one of the most sought-after colleges for prospective student-athletes.

The Future of Cornell Basketball

Cornell basketball has a long and successful history, dating back to the late 1800s. The team has won numerous Ivy League championships and has produced several NBA players In recent years Cornell has experienced a resurgence, thanks largely to the efforts of Head Coach Bill Courtney.

With Coach Courtney at the helm, Cornell has won four straight Ivy League titles and has made it to the NCAA tournament three times in the last four years. The team has shown no signs of slowing down, and Cornell basketball looks poised for continued success in the years to come.

Why Cornell Basketball is the Best

Since the basketball program’s inception in 1901, Cornell has had a long tradition of success on the court. The team has won 26 Ivy League Championships, more than any other school, and has appeared in the NCAA tournament 19 times. Cornell’s Basketball Program is renowned for its strong academics, as well; the team has been ranked first or second in the nation in grade point average every year since 2007.

Cornell’s basketball team has a rich history of success that stems from its strong foundation in academics and athletics. The team’s 26 Ivy League Championships are a testament to its dedication to excellence, and its 19 appearances in the NCAA Tournament demonstrate its commitment to competition. With a rich tradition of success on the court and in the classroom, Cornell’s Basketball Program is truly one of the best in the nation.