Denver Pioneers men's basketball

Denver Pioneers
2018–19 Denver Pioneers men's basketball team
University University of Denver
Head coach Rodney Billups (3rd season)
Conference Summit League
Location Denver, Colorado
Arena Magness Arena
(Capacity: 7,200)
Nickname Pioneers
Colors Crimson and Gold[1]
         
NCAA Tournament appearances
1992*, 1994*, 1996*
*at Division II level

The Denver Pioneers men's basketball team represents the University of Denver and competes in the NCAA Division I men's college basketball in Denver, Colorado. They are coached by second year head coach Rodney Billups and are members of the Summit League. They play their home games at Magness Arena.

Denver has never qualified for the NCAA Division I Tournament.

History

Denver played basketball at the regional level prior to World War II and at the Division I level between the 1940s and 1979, dropping down to the Division II and NAIA levels between 1979 and 1998. DU moved back up to Division I in 1998 and joined the Sun Belt Conference in 1999. In 2012, the Pioneers moved from the Sun Belt to the Western Athletic Conference. After only one year in the WAC, they joined The Summit League in July, 2013.

Alumni

Notable former Denver basketball players include:

  • Vince Boryla, All-American, Gold Medal US Olympian, NBA player, coach and executive
  • Sinbad, who played at Denver in the 1970s, later became known as comedian/TV actor Sinbad.
  • Phil Heath, Current Mr. Olympia Bodybuilder
  • Byron Beck, ABA and NBA player, Number retired by Denver Nuggets
  • Rodney Billups, Euroleague player, current Denver Men's Basketball head coach
  • Patrick Boyle, Managing Director and Senior Investment Strategist, Bessemer Trust
  • Lowell Hare, Managing Director, H&L Investment Company

Postseason results

NCAA Division II Tournament results

The Pioneers have appeared in two NCAA Division II Tournaments. Their combined record is 1–3.

Year Round Opponent Result
1992Regional Semifinals
Regional Finals
North Dakota
South Dakota State
W 73–68
L 57–87
1994Regional QuarterfinalsNorth Dakota StateL 72–87
1996Regional QuarterfinalsNorth Dakota StateL 70–71

NAIA Tournament results

The Pioneers have appeared in two NAIA Tournaments. Their combined record is 0–2.

Year Round Opponent Result
1948First RoundMankato StateL 46–49
1984First RoundWaynesburgL 56–58 OT

NIT results

The Pioneers have appeared in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) three times. Their combined record is 1–3.

Year Round Opponent Result
1959First RoundNYUL 81–90
2005Opening RoundSan FranciscoL 67–69
2013First Round
Second Round
Ohio
Maryland
W 61–57
L 52–62

References

  1. University of Denver Brand: Visual Guide (PDF). Retrieved April 16, 2016.


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