History
The first Xavier Basketball game on record was February 20, 1920 at the Fenwick Club in Cincinnati, OH. Coached by Joe Meyer, the Musketeers compiled a 94-52 record during Meyer's 13 year run as head coach from 1920 to 1933. The Musketeer's success continued under second head coach Clem Crowe. During Crowe's 10 years as Xavier head coach, Xavier compiled a record of 96-78. Crowe's 96 wins as a head coach rank fourth all-time among Xavier head coaches.
Following the 1942-43 season, play was suspended for the following two seasons because of World War 2. In 1945 the program resumed under the leadership of head coach Ed Burns. In his one season as head coach, Burns compiled a record of 3-16.
In 1946, Burns was replaced by Lew Hirt. Under Hirt, he Musketeers first post season appearance was in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) during the 1948 NAIA National Basketball Tournament, the national tournament for small colleges. Xavier finished in 4th place, losing to Hamline University in the national third-place game, 58–59. 1948 was the only year Xavier appeared in the NAIA Tournament.
In 1951, Hirt was replaced as head coach by Ned Wulk. Wulk guided the Musketeers to National Invitational Tournament appearances in 1956 and 1957. The 1956 appearance marked Xavier's first NIT win, an 84–80 victory over Saint Louis University.
After a loss to Bradley in the 1957 NIT, Hirt was replaced as head coach by Jim McCafferty. McCafferty led the Musketeers back to a third straight NIT. With wins over Niagara, Bradley, Saint Bonaventure and Dayton, Xavier captured the NIT. That was the first post-season championship won by any Ohio Division I school.
In 1961, McCafferty led Xavier to their first appearance in the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship. On March 14, 1961, Xavier fell to Morhead at the Kentucky State Fairgrounds in Louisville, Kentucky.
McCafferty was replaced as head coach in 1963. He would be followed by Don Ruberg (1963–67), George Krajack (1967–71), Dick Campbell (1971–73) and Tay Baker (1973–79).
In 1979, Xavier was one of the charter members of the Midwestern City Conference (nicknamed the MCC or Midwestern City 6), which initially included members Butler University, University of Evansville, Loyola University (Chicago), Oklahoma City University, Oral Roberts University and Xavier. 1979 also marked the hiring of head coach Bob Staak. Staak compiled an 88–86 record during his six seasons as head coach, including a return to both the NCAA Tournament and NIT.
Read more about this topic: Xavier Musketeers Men's Basketball
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