1977–78 Idaho Vandals men's basketball team

The 1977–78 Idaho Vandals men's basketball team represented the University of Idaho during the 1977–78 NCAA Division I basketball season. Members of the Big Sky Conference, the Vandals were led by fourth-year head coach Jim Jarvis and played their home games on campus at the Kibbie Dome in Moscow, Idaho. They were 4–22 overall and 1–13 in conference play.^[1][2]

1977–78 Idaho Vandals men's basketball
Conference	Big Sky Conference
Record	4–22 (1–13 Big Sky)
Head coach	Jim Jarvis (4th season)
Assistant coach	Wes Sodorff
MVP	Reed Jaussi
Home arena	Kibbie Dome
Seasons ← 1976–77 1978–79 →

1977–78 Big Sky men's basketball standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		PCT			W		L		PCT
Montana	12	–	2		.857			20	–	8		.714
Idaho State	11	–	3		.786			16	–	10		.615
Weber State †	9	–	5		.643			19	–	10		.655
Boise State	8	–	6		.571			13	–	14		.481
Gonzaga	7	–	7		.500			14	–	15		.483
Northern Arizona	5	–	9		.357			11	–	14		.440
Montana State	3	–	11		.214			9	–	17		.346
Idaho	1	–	13		.071			4	–	22		.154
† Big Sky Conference tournament winner

No Vandals were named to the all-conference team; sophomore forward Reed Jaussi was honorable mention.^[3][4]

After four seasons with last place finishes in the conference, Jarvis resigned in June 1978 under recurring allegations^[5][6] of illegal recruiting.^[7][8][9] The program had been placed on probation for one year in late January, resulting in a reprimand for Jarvis and assistant coach Wes Sodorff by the university.^[6][10][11]

Jarvis was succeeded in August by alumnus Don Monson, an assistant at Michigan State,^[8] who had significantly greater success; he led the Vandals to a conference title in 1981 and the NCAA Sweet Sixteen in 1982.

References

1. "College basketball standings". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). February 27, 1978. p. 4B.
2. "College cage standings". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). March 7, 1978. p. 17.
3. "Montana's Richardson all-conference for third year". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). Associated Press. March 7, 1978. p. 1B.
4. "Grizzlies' 'M.R.R.' 3-timer". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. March 8, 1978. p. 17.
5. Missildine, Harry (January 24, 1978). "Idaho will stand by Jarvis". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 15.
6. Drosendahl, Glenn (January 28, 1978). "Penalties harsher than necessary – Belknap". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 1B.
7. Payne, Bob (June 28, 1978). "Jim Jarvis resigns as new probe looms". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 20.
8. "Monson named UI basketball coach". Lewiston Morning Tribune. August 23, 1978. p. 1B.
9. "Vandals avoid further penalties". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). November 11, 1978. p. 2B.
10. "Vandals dealt one-year rap". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. January 27, 1978. p. 26.
11. Drosendahl, Glenn (January 27, 1978). "Idaho basketball on NCAA probation". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). p. 1B.

External links

• Sports Reference – Idaho Vandals: 1977–78 basketball season
• Gem of the Mountains: 1978 University of Idaho yearbook – 1977–78 basketball season
• Idaho Argonaut – student newspaper – 1978 editions