Trisha Shetty (Editor)

1967–68 Houston Cougars men's basketball team

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Conference
  
Independent

AP
  
No. 1

Head coach
  
Guy Lewis

Coaches
  
No. 1

1967–68 record
  
31–2

Assistant coach
  
Harvey Pate

1967–68 Houston Cougars men's basketball team

The 1967–68 Houston Cougars men's basketball team represented the University of Houston in the 1967–68 NCAA University Division men's basketball season. The team played its home games at Delmar Fieldhouse in Houston for the second consecutive season. This season marked the team's ninth year as an independent member of the NCAA's University Division. Houston was led by twelfth-year head coach Guy Lewis.

During the regular season, the Elvin Hayes-fronted Cougars team would beat the Lew Alcindor-led UCLA Bruins on January 20, 1968, in what was known as the Game of the Century. Houston obtained a perfect 28–0 record for regular season play, and eventually finished with a 31–2 overall record. It was the first time in the program's history that at least 30 wins were achieved. The team finished as number one in both the AP Poll and the Coaches' Poll. The team was invited to the 1968 NCAA Men's University Division Basketball Tournament, and finished as a semifinalist. It was the second Final Four appearance in Houston's history.

Following the season, Elvin Hayes was drafted into the National Basketball Association by the San Diego Rockets as the first overall draft pick in the 1968 NBA Draft. Don Chaney was also taken as the twelfth overall draft pick by the Boston Celtics.

Schedule

Houston's regular season included the notable Game of Century against #1 UCLA. With an attendance of 52,693, the game had the highest attendance of any basketball game at any level at the time. It was also the first national broadcast of an NCAA basketball game in prime-time.

References

1967–68 Houston Cougars men's basketball team Wikipedia