Head Coach: Bob Gaillard
Overall Record: 29-2    WCC Record: 14-0
All-WCC Team: Winford Boynes, Bill Cartwright (POY), James Hardy
Top Scorer: Bill Cartwright (19.4)    Top Rebounder:  Bill Cartwright (8.5)
USF Hall-of-Famers: Winford Boynes, Bill Cartwright, Bob Gaillard

The Dons were the winningest team in college basketball for the 1976-77 season and were ranked number one in the polls for over two months. NBC’s choice for “Team of the Year” dominated college hoops with a 29-0 record before late season fatigue and the fierce competition of the NCAA tournament caught up with them.

Led by super sophomores Winford Boynes, Bill Cartwright and James Hardy the Dons got off to a quick start despite a tough schedule in the early going. USF defeated Tennessee and host Utah at the Utah Classic then swept past Pacific and Florida State at the Cow Palace to capture the Cable Car Classic. Then it was off to Hawaii where the Dons won their third tournament as they upended St. John’s, Arizona State and Houston at the Rainbow Classic.

USF flew home from Hawaii with a #1 ranking in the polls for the first time in over 20 years. The Dons then sailed through the West Coast Athletic Conference schedule with only one close call, a one-point win over rival Santa Clara at Toso Pavilion. Guard Chubby Cox scored the winning basket on a lay-up with just four seconds remaining.

USF finished conference play with a perfect 14-0 mark, a number one ranking and an overall record of 29-0. The Dons then flew to South Bend, Indiana for one final game before the NCAA tournament. Notre Dame ruined the Dons dreams of an undefeated season with a 93-82 win in front of a national TV audience.

From there the Dons travelled to Tucson, Arizona where they drew UNLV in the first round of the NCAA tournament. The game was billed as “The Run and Gun Show.” Unfortunately for USF, the Rebels outran the Dons to a 121-95 win sending the Hilltoppers home early despite a 29-2 overall record.

Did You Know? Senior guard Chubby Cox’s son John played for USF from 1999-05 and scored 1,540 points for the Green and Gold. Good enough to rank number eight on the USF career scoring list. Basketball talents run in the family as Chubby’s nephew is none other than NBA superstar Kobe Bryant.

They Said It:  “The dunk rule will be a tremendous asset to both the players and the fans. It indicates the NCAA rules makers lack of intelligence wasn’t indefinite,” USF coach Bob Gaillard. Dunking was officially banned in college basketball in 1967, but the ban was lifted prior to the 1976-77 season.