Doane Basketball: A Brief History

Doane basketball is one of the most storied programs in NCAA Division II. The Tigers have won 27 conference championships and made 15 appearances in the NCAA Division II tournament, including a run to the Elite Eight in 2008.

The Early Years

Doane basketball began in 1897 with the first official game being played against Fremont Normal (now Midland University). The first years of Doane basketball were marked by inconsistent results. The team would sometimes go on winning streaks, only to lose several games in a row. There was no real Head Coach during these early years either, with various faculty members taking on the role on an interim basis.

It wasn’t until 1908 that Doane hired its first full-time head coach E.G. Lewis. Under Coach Lewis, the team began to experience more success, particularly against their rival Midland University In fact, during the 1909-1910 season, Doane did not lose a single game, finishing with a perfect record of 12-0.

The early years of Doane basketball were clearly a time of experimentation and inconsistency. However, the hiring of E.G. Lewis marked a turning point for the program and laid the foundation for future success.

The Doane-Nebraska Rivalry

The Doane-Nebraska Basketball rivalry is one of the oldest and most storied in college basketball It began in 1898, when the two schools first met on the hardwood. Since then, the two teams have met over 200 times, making it one of the oldest and most continuous rivalries in college basketball

The two teams first met in 1898, when Nebraska was still a relatively new school. The Cornhuskers had only been playing basketball for four years when they faced off against Doane, who had been playing for six. Nebraska won that first game by a score of 18-15.

The rivalry took a break from 1903-1913 due to a disagreement between the two schools over which rules to use. When they resumed play in 1913, Nebraska won by a score of 41-13.

Since then, the two teams have met almost every year, with only a few breakouts here and there. The series is currently tied at 103-103.

The National Championships

In 1932, the team advanced to the Elite 8 where they lost to eventual champion, USC. The following year, the team had another successful season with a record of 20-4. They again made it to the Elite 8, this time losing to Notre Dame The 1934 season saw the team make it to the Final 4 for the first time in school history. They lost in the semifinals to Louisiana State University

The Coaches

In just under four decades of Division III basketball, Doane has been blessed with some very successful coaches. Of the nine coaches in school history, four have led the Tigers to at least one conference tournament title and six have finished their Doane coaching careers with a winning percentage of .500 or better. The coaching carousel began in 1979 when Jim Tschetter took over the program.

Tschetter put together a four-year record of 52-48 before turning the program over to Dick Hunzeker. Hunzeker would lead Doane to its first conference tournament appearance in 1984 and two more in his three seasons at the helm. His best season came in 1985-86 when the Tigers finished 20-7 overall and 13-3 in conference play That team still holds the school record for wins in a season.

The Players

Doane College has a rich history when it comes to basketball. The school has produced some of the best players in the game, dating all the way back to its early days in the sport.

Some of the most notable names to come out of Doane include George Mikan Bob Kurland, and Bill Russell These players helped revolutionize the game and take it to new heights. They also paved the way for future generations of players, both at Doane and around the country.

Today, Doane continues to produce top-tier basketball players The school’s rich tradition and history attract some of the best talent in the country. As a result, Doane is always competitive at the highest levels of play.

The Doane Arena

The Doane Arena is a 3,500-seat multi-purpose arena in Crete, Nebraska. It is home to the Doane University Gers Basketball teams. The arena opened in 1969 and has a capacity of 3,500 people. It was originally named the Alonzo Knowlton Memorial Gymnasium after the former Doane president. In 1984, it was renamed the Doane Arena. The Doane Arena is also used for commencement ceremonies, concerts, and other events.

The Doane Basketball Program Today

The Doane Basketball Program has a long and storied history. Today, the program is one of the most successful in Division III winning regular season and Conference Tournament titles, as well as making deep runs in the NCAA tournament The current Head Coach is Steve Bohn, who has been at the helm since 2002. Under Coach Bohn’s leadership, the Doane Basketball Program has won six conference championships and made five appearances in the NCAA Division III tournament.

The Future of Doane Basketball

In the late 1800s, James Naismith invented the game of basketball The first official game was played in 1892 at a YMCA in Springfield, Massachusetts. Less than a decade later, the sport had spread across the country and Doane College became one of the first schools west of the Mississippi River to field a team.

Doane College has a long and proud tradition of basketball excellence. Invented in the late 1800s, basketball quickly spread across the country. Doane fielded one of the first teams west of the Mississippi River and has been competitive ever since. The future of Doane basketball is bright, with a new Head coach leading the way.

10 Reasons to Love Doane Basketball

1. We’ve got a storied history. Doane basketball began in 1898, just one year after the school was founded.
2. We’ve got a National Championship In the NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball National Championship game in 2009, Doane defeated Southern Nazarene University 77-74. It was an incredible moment for our team, our school and our fans.
3. We’ve got a great home court advantage The George & Sally Haddix Recreation & Athletic Center, affectionately known as the “Haddix Center,” is one of the finest facilities in NCAA Division III athletics. It’