Northern Colorado Bears men's basketball
College basketball team
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The Northern Colorado Bears men's basketball team is the basketball team that represents University of Northern Colorado (UNC) in Greeley, Colorado, United States. The school's team currently competes in the Big Sky Conference. Northern Colorado made its first and to date only NCAA tournament appearance in 2011.
(capacity: 2,992)
| Northern Colorado Bears men's basketball | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
| |||
| University | University of Northern Colorado | ||
| Head coach | Steve Smiley (6th season) | ||
| Location | Greeley, Colorado | ||
| Arena | Bank of Colorado Arena (capacity: 2,992) | ||
| Conference | Big Sky | ||
| Nickname | Bears | ||
| Colors | Blue and gold[1] | ||
| NCAA Division I tournament Sweet Sixteen | |||
| Division II 1989 | |||
| NCAA Division I tournament appearances | |||
| Division I 2011* Division II 1964, 1965, 1966, 1989 | |||
| Conference regular-season champions | |||
| 2011*, 2025 | |||
* - vacated by NCAA | |||
Team History
Northern Colorado began men’s basketball play in 1901. The program joined the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference in 1924 and remained in that conference into 1973. From 1973 to 1976, Northern Colorado moved and competed in the Great Plains Athletic Conference before a brief period as an independent. In 1979, the Bears joined the North Central Conference. Northern Colorado then competed as an independent during the 2003-04 through 2005–06 seasons while transitioning to NCAA Division I men's basketball.[2] The move was finalized in 2006 with the program’s entry into Division I and membership in the Big Sky Conference.[3]
Coaches
The following is a list of Northern Colorado Bears men's basketball head coaches. There have been 20 head coaches of the Bears in their 120-season history.[4]
Northern Colorado's current head coach is Steve Smiley. He was hired as the Bears' head coach in March 2020, replacing Jeff Linder, who left to become the head coach at Wyoming. Smiley served as associate head coach before moving to the head coaching role.[5]
Northern Colorado has had three Big Sky Coach of the Year award winners. B.J. Hill won in 2011, Jeff Linder won in 2019, and Steve Smiley won in 2024.
| Coach | Tenure | Record | Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown^ | 1901-1914 | 5-3 | .423 |
| Royce Long | 1914-1916 | 3-5 | .375 |
| Paul Abbott | 1916-1917 | 5-7 | .417 |
| Ralph Glaze | 1917-1919 | 8-13 | .381 |
| William E. Search | 1919-1922 | 11-13 | .458 |
| George E. Cooper | 1922-1931 | 88-48 | .647 |
| John S. Davis | 1931-1937 | 71-53 | .573 |
| Jules Doubenmeier | 1937-1940 | 33-24 | .579 |
| Pete Butler | 1940-1943 1945-1956 | 151-133 | .532 |
| John W. Hancock | 1943-1945 | 1-25 | .038 |
| John Bunn | 1956-1963 | 73-94 | .437 |
| George Sage | 1963-1968 | 95-36 | .725 |
| Thurm Wright | 1968-1983 | 156-216 | .419 |
| Ron Brillhart | 1983-1992 | 121-132 | .478 |
| Ken Smith | 1992-1999 | 78-111 | .413 |
| Craig Rasmusson | 1999-2006 | 63-129 | .328 |
| Tad Boyle | 2006-2010 | 56-66 | .459 |
| B.J. Hill* | 2010-2016 | 10-21 | .323 |
| Jeff Linder | 2016-2020 | 80-50 | .615 |
| Steve Smiley | 2020-present | 109-82 | .571 |
- ^ Northern Colorado did not field a team for the 1903–04, 1907–08, or 1909–10 seasons.
- * Northern Colorado vacated all results between 2010 and 2015. Hill's on-court record is 86–98 (.467).[6]
Players
Career leaders
| Rank | Player | Career | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jordan Davis | 2015-2019 | 2,272 |
| 2 | Mike Higgins | 1985-1989 | 2,112 |
| 3 | Chuck Knostman | 1981-1985 | 1,664 |
| 4 | Daylen Kountz | 2021-2023 | 1,649 |
| 5 | Devon Beitzel | 2006-2011 | 1,568 |
| 6 | Bodie Hume | 2018-2022 | 1,530 |
| 7 | Derek Chaney | 1990-1994 | 1,491 |
| 8 | Matt Johnson II | 2018-2023 | 1,425 |
| 9 | Brock Wisne | 2022-2026 | 1,398 |
| 10 | Tevin Svihovec | 2010-2015 | 1,391 |
| Rank | Player | Career | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jordan Davis | 2015-2019 | 516 |
| 2 | Sean Nolen | 2000-2005 | 427 |
| 3 | Jonah Radebaugh | 2015-2020 | 384 |
| Derek Chaney | 1990-1994 | 384 | |
| 5 | Matt Johnson II | 2018-2023 | 358 |
| 6 | Matt Kline | 2003-2007 | 337 |
| 7 | Tevin Svihovec | 2010-2015 | 331 |
| 8 | John Olander | 1988-1992 | 327 |
| 9 | Carlos Martinez | 1996-2000 | 313 |
| 10 | Troy Graefe | 1983-1985 | 299 |
| Rank | Player | Career | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mike Higgins | 1985-1989 | 959 |
| 2 | Jonah Radebaugh | 2015-2020 | 776 |
| 3 | Robert Skinner | 1976-1980 | 767 |
| 4 | Jim Hruska | 1956-1960 | 754 |
| 5 | Kur Jongkuch | 2018-2022 | 698 |
| 6 | Bodie Hume | 2018-2022 | 676 |
| 7 | Toby Moser | 1986-1990 | 669 |
| 8 | Tom Kummer | 1971-1975 | 648 |
| 9 | Mike Proctor | 2008-2012 | 639 |
| 10 | Robert Ruffin | 1959-1962 | 617 |
| Rank | Player | Career | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Knute Peterson | 1981-1985 | 160 |
| 2 | Jordan Davis | 2015-2019 | 155 |
| 3 | Devon Beitzel | 2006-2011 | 151 |
| 4 | Jonah Radebaugh | 2015-2020 | 148 |
| 5 | Antwine Williams | 1996-1998 | 134 |
| 6 | Mike Higgins | 1985-1989 | 131 |
| Sean Nolen | 2000-2005 | 131 | |
| 8 | Derek Chaney | 1990-1994 | 130 |
| 9 | Erik Olson | 2002-2006 | 123 |
| 10 | Tedd Sabus | 1984-1988 | 113 |
| Rank | Player | Career | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mike Higgins | 1985-1989 | 302 |
| 2 | Ryan Adle | 1996-1999 | 158 |
| 3 | Dave Mellick | 1989-1992 | 146 |
| 4 | Bodie Hume | 2018-2022 | 131 |
| 5 | Jason Jacob | 1993-1997 | 78 |
| 6 | Connor Osborne | 2009-2014 | 71 |
| 7 | Dennis Jenkins | 1984-1985 | 69 |
| 8 | Jalen Sanders | 2017-2019 | 67 |
| 9 | Todd Lane | 1990-1993 | 66 |
Individual awards
| Player | Year(s) | Team(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Devon Beitzel | 2011 | AP (Honorable Mention) |
| Jordan Davis | 2019 | AP (Honorable Mention) |
- Devon Beitzel – 2011
- Jordan Davis – 2019
Big Sky Rookie of the Year
- Bodie Hume – 2019
Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year
- Yahosh Bonner - 2010
- Jonah Radebaugh - 2017, 2019, 2020
Big Sky Sixth Man of the Year
- Kai Edwards - 2020
- Dejour Reaves - 2024
- Devon Beitzel - 2011
Big Sky All-Conference First Team
- Jabril Banks - 2009
- Will Figures - 2010
- Devon Beitzel - 2011
- Derrick Barden - 2013
- Andre Spight - 2018
- Jordan Davis - 2019
- Jonah Radebaugh - 2020
- Daylen Kountz - 2022
- Saint Thomas - 2024
- Langston Reynolds - 2025
- Isaiah Hawthorne - 2025
- Jaron Rillie - 2025
- Quinn Denker - 2026
Big Sky All-Conference Second Team
- Devon Beitzel - 2010
- Neal Kingman - 2011
- Tate Unrah - 2013, 2014
- Derrick Barden - 2014
- Bodie Hume - 2020
- Dalton Knecht - 2023
- Dejour Reaves - 2024
- Brock Wisne - 2026
Big Sky All-Conference Third Team
- Jordan Davis - 2017, 2018
- Bodie Hume - 2021
- Matt Johnson II - 2021, 2022
Big Sky All-Conference Defensive Team
- Zach Bloch - 2025, 2026
Postseason history
NCAA Division I tournament results
The Bears have appeared in the NCAA Division I Tournament once, where they lost to San Diego State in 2011 (led by coach B. J. Hill).[8]
| Year | Seed | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 15 | Round of 64 | (2) San Diego State | L 50–68 |
NCAA Division II tournament results
The Bears have appeared in the NCAA Division II Tournament four times. Their combined record is 1–6.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | Regional semifinals Regional 3rd-place game | Southeast Missouri State Lamar | L 79–83 L 85–116 |
| 1965 | Regional semifinals Regional 3rd-place game | Minnesota State–Moorhead Minnesota–Duluth | L 73–74 L 58–86 |
| 1966 | Regional semifinals | North Dakota | L 71–84 |
| 1989 | Regional semifinals Regional Finals | Alaska–Fairbanks Wisconsin-Milwaukee | W 92–70 L 88–89 OT |
NIT results
The Bears have appeared in one National Invitation Tournament (NIT). Their record is 0–1.
CBI results
The Bears have appeared in two College Basketball Invitational (CBI). Their combined record is 2–2.
| Year | Seed | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | No. 12 | First round Quarterfinals Semifinals | No. 5 Florida Atlantic No. 13 UNC Asheville No. 9 UNC Wilmington | W 74–71 W 87–84 L 64–80 |
| 2024 | No. 8 | First round | No. 9 Cleveland State | L 49-51 |
CIT results
The Bears have appeared in the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) three times under three different head coaches (Tad Boyle, B. J. Hill, Jeff Linder). Their combined record is 5–2. They were CIT champions in 2018.
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | First round Quarterfinals | Loyola Marymount Pacific | W 86–76 L 59–63 |
| 2014 | First round | Texas A&M–Corpus Christi | L 71–82 |
| 2018 | Second Round Quarterfinals Semifinals Championship Game | Drake San Diego Sam Houston State UIC | W 81–72 W 86–75 W 99–80 W 76–71 |
Bears in the NBA
NBA players
| Player | Years active |
Teams | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Higgins | 1989-1991 | Lakers, Nuggets, Kings | Appeared in NBA 18 games |
| Dalton Knecht | 2024-present | Lakers | Drafted 17th overall in the 2024 NBA draft |
