Army Black Knights men's basketball
The Army Black Knights men's basketball team represents the United States Military Academy in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college basketball. Army West Point currently competes as a member of the Patriot League and plays its home games at Christl Arena in West Point, New York.
Bob Knight, the one-time most successful men's basketball coach in NCAA history, began his head coaching career at Army from 1965 to 1971 before moving on to Indiana. One of Knight's players at Army West Point was Mike Krzyzewski, who later was head coach at Army West Point before moving on to Duke and is the current most successful men's basketball coach in NCAA history.
Army West Point has generally not done well on the court. The Black Knights are one of only four original Division I teams in history to have never participated in the NCAA Tournament. Army West Point shares this dubious distinction with William & Mary, The Citadel, and St. Francis. However, the Black Knights have played in the National Invitational Tournament 8 times, and were retroactively named national champions by Premo-Porretta for 1923 and by the Helms Athletic Foundation for 1944. The Black Knights played in the 2016 edition of the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament, their first appearance in a postseason tournament in 38 years, losing to NJIT in the first round.
Seasons
In 118 seasons, the Black Knights have a record of 1250–1266.Postseason results
National Invitation Tournament
The Black Knights' have appeared in the National Invitation Tournament eight times. Their combined record is 13–10.| 1961 | First Round | Temple | L 66–79 |
| 1964 | First Round Quarterfinals Semifinals 3rd Place Game | St. Bonaventure Duquesne Bradley NYU | W 64–62 W 67–65 L 52–67 W 60–59 |
| 1965 | First Round Quarterfinals Semifinals 3rd Place Game | St. Louis Western Kentucky St. John's NYU | W 70–66 W 58–54 L 60–67 W 75–74 |
| 1966 | First Round Quarterfinals Semifinals 3rd Place Game | Manhattan San Francisco BYU Villanova | W 71–66 W 80–63 L 60–66 L 65–76 |
| 1968 | First Round | Notre Dame | L 58–62 |
| 1969 | First Round Quarterfinals Semifinals 3rd Place Game | Wyoming South Carolina Boston College Tennessee | W 51–49 W 59–45 L 61–73 L 52–64 |
| 1970 | First Round Quarterfinals Semifinals 3rd Place Game | Cincinnati Manhattan St. John's LSU | W 72–67 W 77–72 L 59–60 W 75–68 |
| 1978 | First Round | Rutgers | L 70–72 |
CollegeInsider.com Tournament
The Black Knights have appeared in one CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament. Their record is 0–1.| 2016 | First Round | NJIT | L 65–79 |
All-Americans
The following Army West Point players were named NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans:- William Copthorne – 1910
- William Roberts – 1913
- Elmer Oliphant – 1915
- Gene Vidal – 1918
- Harry Wilson – 1927
- Dale Hall – 1944, 1945
- Gary Winton – 1977, 1978
- Kevin Houston – 1987
Academic All-Americans
- Mike Silliman – 1964
- John Ritch – 1965
- Robert Sherwin – 1972, 1973
- Steve Rothert – 1989
Basketball Hall of Fame
- Ernest Blood – 1960, coach
- John Roosma – 1961, player
- Elmer Ripley – 1972, coach
- Harry A. Fisher – 1973, coach
- Bob Knight – 1991, coach
- Mike Krzyzewski – 2001, coach
Major awards
- Robert Sherwin – 1973
- Kevin Houston – 1987
- Randy Cozzens – 1985
- Kevin Houston – 1987
- Les Wothke – 1985
- Pat Harris – 2001-02
- Zach Spiker – 2012-13
- David Ardayfio – 1990-91
- Alex Morris – 1992-93
- Kyle Wilson – 2012-13
- Marcus Nelson – 2008-09