1968–69 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team

The 1968–69 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team represented Michigan State University in the 1968–69 NCAA Division I men's basketball season as members of the Big Ten Conference. They played their home games at Jenison Fieldhouse in East Lansing, Michigan and were coached by John E. Benington in his fourth year as head coach of the Spartans. The Spartans finished the season 11–12, 6–8 in Big Ten play to finish in a three-way tie for fifth place.[2]

1968–69 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
1968–69 record11–12 (6–8 Big Ten)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
CaptainLee Lafayette
Home arenaJenison Fieldhouse
1968–69 Big Ten Conference men's basketball standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L PCT  W L PCT
No. 6 Purdue131 .929  235  .821
No. 20 Illinois95 .643  195  .792
Ohio State95 .643  177  .708
Michigan77 .500  1311  .542
Northwestern68 .429  1410  .583
Minnesota68 .429  1212  .500
Michigan State68 .429  1112  .478
Iowa59 .357  1212  .500
Wisconsin59 .357  1113  .458
Indiana410 .286  915  .375
Rankings from AP Poll[1]

The season marked the final season for head coach John Benington. Prior to the next season, on September 10, 1969, Benington suffered a heart attack and died after jogging at Jenison Fieldhouse at the age of 47.[3] Ganakas, an assistant under Benington, was promoted to head coach for the season.[3]

Previous season

The Spartans finished the 1967–68 season 12–12, 6–8 in Big Ten play to finish in a three-way tie for sixth place.

Roster and statistics

1968–69 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team
No Name Pos Year Height Pts Reb
11 Lloyd Ward G JR 5–10 4.3 1.3
12 Tim Bograkos G SO 6–1 5.8 1.7
14 Eddie Humphrey G SO 6–2 0.7
15 Steve Sizemore F SO 6–2 0.2
21 Rudy Benjamin G SO 6–3 7.7 2.6
24 John Holms F SR 6–4 3.1 2.0
25 Robert Gale F JR 6–5 3.1 2.4
31 Harrison Stepter G SR 6–3 9.2 4.0
32 Steve Kirkpatrick G JR 6–2 1.2
33 Paul Dean G SO 6–1 1.6 1.1
34 Tom Lick C SR 6–10 3.7 3.0
35 Lee Lafayette C SR 6–6 18.7 10.3
41 James Gibbons F JR 6–5 10.7 5.7
44 Ron Binge F JR 6–5 1.3 0.9
45 Bernie Copeland F SR 6–6 10.3 6.9

Source[4][5]

Schedule and results

Date
time, TV
Rank# Opponent# Result Record Site
city, state
Regular season
Dec 3, 1968*
Southwestern Louisiana W 90–84  1–0
Jenison Fieldhouse 
East Lansing, MI
Dec 6, 1968*
Western Michigan W 86–71  2–0
Jenison Fieldhouse 
East Lansing, MI
Dec 7, 1969*
at Toledo W 81–80  3–0
The Field House 
Toledo, OH
Dec 13, 1960*
Butler W 70–60  4–0
Jenison Fieldhouse 
East Lansing, MI
Dec 14, 1968*
vs. No. 15 Western Kentucky L 63–67  4–1
Chicago Stadium 
Chicago, IL
Dec 16, 1968*
at Nebraska L 59–73  4–2
Nebraska Coliseum 
Lincoln, NE
Dec 27, 1968*
at St. John's
ECAC Holiday Festival
L 51–61  4–3
Madison Square Garden 
New York, NY
Dec 28, 1968*
vs. No. 5 Villanova
ECAC Holiday Festival
L 66–75  4–4
Madison Square Garden 
New York, NY
Jan 4, 1969
Northwestern L 71–85  4–5
(0–1)
Jenison Fieldhouse 
East Lansing, MI
Jan 7, 1969
Wisconsin W 77–67  5–5
(1–1)
Jenison Fieldhouse 
East Lansing, MI
Jan 14, 1969
at Iowa L 76–77  5–6
(1–2)
Iowa Field House 
Iowa City, IA
Jan 18, 1969
at No. 19 Northwestern W 89–75  6–6
(2–2)
Welsh-Ryan Arena 
Evanston, IL
Jan 25, 1968
Michigan
Rivalry
L 70–75  6–7
(2–3)
Jenison Fieldhouse 
East Lansing, MI
Feb 1, 1969
at Indiana L 76–79  6–8
(2–4)
Assembly Hall 
Bloomington, IN
Feb 8, 1969
at Michigan
Rivlary
W 86–82  7–8
(3–4)
Crisler Arena 
Ann Arbor, MI
Feb 11, 1969*
at Notre Dame W 71–59  8–8
Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center 
South Bend, IN
Feb 15, 1969
No. 8 Illinois W 75–70  9–8
(4–4)
Jenison Fieldhouse 
East Lansing, MI
Feb 18, 1969
Iowa W 78–60  10–8
(5–4)
Jenison Fieldhouse 
East Lansing, MI
Feb 22, 1969
at Wisconsin L 64–76  10–9
(5–5)
Wisconsin Field House 
Madison, WI
Feb 25, 1969
No. 9 Purdue L 72–74  10–10
(5–6)
Jenison Fieldhouse 
East Lansing, MI
Mar 1, 1969
Ohio State W 85–72  11–10
(6–6)
Jenison Fieldhouse 
East Lansing, MI
Mar 4, 1969
at No. 20 Illinois L 57–71  11–11
(6–7)
Assembly Hall 
Champaign, IL
Mar 8, 1969
at Minnesota L 65–78  11–12
(6–8)
Williams Arena 
Minneapolis, MN
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.

Source[6][7]

References

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