The Graceland Basketball Story

The Graceland Basketball Story is a heartwarming tale of an underdog team that comes together to achieve the impossible. With grit and determination, they inspire us all to never give up on our dreams.

The history of Graceland Basketball

The Graceland Basketball story began in the early 1900s, when a group of young men from the small town of Graceland, Indiana, decided to start a basketball team The team quickly became one of the best in the state, and soon began to attract attention from colleges and universities across the country. In the years that followed, Graceland Basketball became one of the most successful programs in college basketball history, winning multiple National Championships and producing some of the game’s greatest players Today, the program remains one of the nation’s premier college basketball programs, and continues to produce some of the game’s most talented players.

The rise of Graceland Basketball

In just a few years, Graceland University’s men’s Basketball team has become one of the most successful small college programs in the country.

The team’s success is due in large part to Head Coach Ryan Stevens, who took over the program in 2014. In his first season, Stevens led Graceland to a 25-8 record and a berth in the NAIA Division I National Tournament

The following year, Graceland won the NAIA National Championship finishing with a 33-4 record. It was the school’s first national title in any sport.

Since then, Graceland has made three straight trips to the National Tournament including a runner-up finish in 2017. The team has also won four straight conference championships

Under Stevens’ leadership, Graceland has become one of the top small College Basketball programs in the country.

The golden years of Graceland Basketball

The late 1970s and early 1980s were the golden years of Graceland basketball. The program made five consecutive trips to the NAIA national tournament, winning it all in 1980. The team was stacked with talent, including future NBA player Larry Nance Sr.

During this time, the team was coached by Dick versace, who would go on to have a successful coaching career at the collegiate and professional levels. Under his leadership, the team adopted an up-tempo style of play that was ahead of its time.

The success of the team during this era helped put Graceland on the map, and it remains one of the most storied programs in NAIA history.

The decline of Graceland Basketball

It’s been more than two decades since the Glory Days of Graceland basketball. The program that produced five NAIA national titles and four Division I NCAA tournament appearances in an eight-year stretch from 1978 to 1985 has been in decline since.

The fall of Graceland Basketball

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the Graceland University men’s basketball team was one of the best in the nation. They won several championships and were consistently ranked in the top 25. However, in 2006, the team was rocked by a scandal that led to their downfall.

The scandal began when it was revealed that the team’s star player Charles “Chuck” Tatum, had been receiving illegal benefits from a booster. Tatum was suspended and the team was placed on probation. The following year, another player was found to be receiving benefits and the team was again placed on probation.

In 2008, accusations of academic fraud surfaced and the team was placed on probation for a third time. The following year, more academic fraud allegations were made and the team was given a “death penalty” by the NCAA. This meant that they were banned from competing for a period of time.

The ban took a toll on the team and they never fully recovered. In 2016, Graceland University announced that they were discontinuing their men’s Basketball Program

The resurrection of Graceland Basketball

Graceland University’s Basketball Program was resurrected in 2008 after a long hiatus. The school had last fielded a team in the early 1970s, but when new leadership took over in 2008, they decided to bring back the sport. Since then, Graceland has become a force to be reckoned with in the NAIA. In 2018, the team made it all the way to the NAIA national tournament, and they continue to be a top-ranked team year after year. If you’re looking for an underdog story of determination and grit, look no further than Graceland Basketball.

The return to glory of Graceland Basketball

Since the late 1990s, Graceland University’s men’s Basketball team has been on a steady decline. The team went fromposting winning records and appearing in conference championships to compiling losing seasons and failing to make the conference tournament However, under the leadership of new head coach Dwayne Goldman, the team has turned things around and is once again a contender for conference titles and post-season berths.

This past season, Graceland finished with a record of 23-7 overall and 15-3 in conference play The team won the Midwest Conference regular season title and earned the top seed in the conference tournament Unfortunately, the season came to an end in disappointing fashion as Graceland was upset in the semifinals of the Conference Tournament Nevertheless, it was a significant turnaround for a program that had been mired in mediocrity for nearly two decades.

Attendance at home games had decreased significantly over the years, but this past season there was a noticeable uptick in fans coming out to support the team. Goldman attributed this increase to the fact that people could see that Graceland Basketball was heading in the right direction.

The future looks bright for Graceland Basketball as coach Goldman has assembled a young and talented team that should be competitive for years to come.

The new era of Graceland Basketball

Since Coach Phelps took over the Graceland Basketball Program 5 years ago, the school has enjoyed a level of success it hasn’t seen in over a decade.

The team has won 3 conference championships and made 2 appearances in the NCAA Division II Sweet Sixteen This year, they have their sights set on even bigger goals.

With a core group of seniors that have been together since they were freshman, the team is poised to make a run at the National Championship

The school has also seen a resurgence in interest in basketball. average attendance at games has tripled since Coach Phelps arrived and the team has garnered national attention

This is a story of how one man turned around a struggling basketball program and turned it into a national power.

The future of Graceland Basketball

Graceland University’s Basketball Program has undergone a lot of changes in the past few years. The most significant change happened last year when the school decided to move from Division III to Division II. This meant that the school could offer scholarships to players, which helped attract some new talent to the team.

This year, the team is looking to build on that success and make a run at the Division II National Championship The school has invested a lot of money into the program, and they are committed to winning.

The future looks bright for Graceland Basketball. With a talented group of players and a dedicated Coaching Staff they have everything they need to be successful. Division II is full of tough competition, but Graceland is up for the challenge.

The legacy of Graceland Basketball

Graceland University’s Basketball Program has a long and storied history, dating back to the early days of the school. From its humble beginnings as a small college team, Graceland has grown into one of the most successful programs in the country.

The team has won numerous conference championships and made several appearances in the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament They have also produced a number of NBA players including two-time All-Star Jerry Stackhouse

Graceland’s basketball program is known for its high level of play and its commitment to developing players. The team has a reputation for being one of the most competitive programs in the country.