The Pan American Broncs joined some mighty good company during the 1980-81 season.
White’s decision to play a ‘suicide schedule’ paid off, in the end. Pan American’s schedule could match up, in quality, with nearly any team in the nation. The Broncs faced four teams that led, or won, major conferences. Those four conferences were ranked among the top nine (out of 26) conferences by the NCAA in terms of basketball quality.
Another Bronc ‘first’ was defeating the reigning and current Big 10 Conference champions, the University of Indiana at the Maui Classic. The Broncs recorded a 66-60 victory over Bobby Knight’s Hoosiers, who were led at the time by All-American and future NBA Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas. At the tournament, the Broncs also knocked off Doc Rivers and Marquette University by a 71-70 count.
The Broncs also knocked off Missouri Valley Conference’s regular-season king in Wichita State University at the Pan American Fieldhouse by a close, 83-82 score, snapping the Shockers’ unbeaten streak.
The schedule included over 26,000 miles of travel, and as a major Independent institution, Pan American played powers wherever, and whenever, the Broncs could. Pan American competed in five different time zones as well as a dozen states, and ended up winning four of those contests.
This brutal schedule didn’t ease PAU’s quest as wear and tear, both physically and mentally, became a factor during the 18-10 regular season record. Lacking a big arena of their own, the Broncs played before nine crowds that topped Fieldhouse’s capacity of 5,000. Pan American set an all-time attendance record for one season with 129,292 total spectators, averaging 4,458 Green and Orange faithful for the season.
Following the season, the Broncs lost six seniors – including all five starters – as well as six of the seven athletes that competed in the National Invitation Tournament against Tulsa.
Kenneth “Apple” Green finished the season, averaging 21.0 points and 11.0 rebounds per game, and went on to play one season in the NBA with the New York Knicks. Mike Carroll led all NCAA Division I players with 275 assists, which was the fourth most in program history.
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Roster |
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No. |
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Name |
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POS |
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CL |
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HT |
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Hometown |
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10 |
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Mike Carroll |
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G |
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SR |
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5-11 |
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Fort Worth, TX |
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12 |
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Kim Owen |
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G |
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JR |
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6-3 |
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Calhoun, GA |
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14 |
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Thad Wilkinson |
G |
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SO |
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6-1 |
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Corpus Christi, TX |
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24 |
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Rueben Cole |
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G |
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SR |
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6-4 |
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Milwaukee, WI |
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31 |
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Robert Kirby |
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F |
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JR |
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6-6 |
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Memphis, TN |
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32 |
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Mark Frazier |
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C |
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JR |
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6-8 |
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Bronx, NY |
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35 |
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Kenneth Green |
C |
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SR |
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6-9 |
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Atlanta, GA |
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42 |
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Paul George |
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F |
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SR |
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6-7 |
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New Roads, LA |
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44 |
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Curtis Glasper |
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F |
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SR |
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6-6 |
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LaBelle, FL |
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50 |
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Tim McGrath |
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F |
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SR |
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6-7 |
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Savannah, GA |
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51 |
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Alan Martin |
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F |
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SO |
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6-7 |
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San Antonio, TX |
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52 |
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Clinton Cobb |
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F |
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JR |
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6-4 |
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Fort Myers, FL |
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Head Coach |
Bill White |
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Schedule / Results |
Overall Record: 18-11 |
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Nov. 28 |
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UNLV |
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L |
78-62 |
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Dec. 2 |
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St. Mary’s (TX) |
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W |
73-69 |
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Dec. 9 |
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Trinity (TX) |
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W |
83-57 |
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Dec. 11 |
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West Texas State |
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L |
85-77 |
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Dec. 13 |
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Houston |
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L |
84-70 |
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Dec. 18 |
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New Mexico State |
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W |
77-73 |
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Dec. 20 |
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East Texas State |
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W |
84-59 |
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Dec. 23 |
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Wichita State |
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W |
83-82 |
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Dec. 27 |
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Marquette |
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W |
71-70 |
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Dec. 29 |
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Hawaii |
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L |
79-75 |
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Dec. 30 |
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Indiana |
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W |
66-60 |
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Jan. 5 |
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Texas Lutheran |
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W |
88-70 |
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Jan. 7 |
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Southwestern Louisiana |
W |
93-77 |
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Jan. 10 |
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East Carolina |
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W |
82-67 |
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Jan. 15 |
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Lamar |
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L |
104-80 |
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Jan. 17 |
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Northern Iowa |
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W |
94-70 |
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Jan. 22 |
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Southwestern Louisiana |
L |
88-85 |
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Jan. 24 |
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Lamar |
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L |
78-70 |
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Jan. 29 |
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Southern Mississippi |
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L |
81-68 |
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Jan. 31 |
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New Orleans |
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W |
66-56 |
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Feb. 4 |
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Southern Mississippi |
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L |
68-67 |
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Feb. 9 |
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East Carolina |
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W |
86-75 |
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Feb. 12 |
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Northern Iowa |
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L |
71-69 |
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Feb. 14 |
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Illinois State |
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W |
69-67 |
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Feb. 16 |
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New Orleans |
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W |
75-65 |
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Feb. 23 |
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North Texas State |
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W |
77-73 |
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Feb. 25 |
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Nicholls State |
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W |
88-74 |
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Mar. 2 |
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North Texas State |
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W |
89-79 |
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NIT |
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Mar. 13 |
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Tulsa |
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L |
81-71 |
