Mens basketball celebrate centennial

The men’s program began over 100 years ago in 1898. However, during Rose’s history, there were breaks in the program including 1898–1901, 1932–35 and 1944–47, the latter due to World War II. Going into tomorrow’s game, Rose has built a program record of 963–962, one game over an even .500. Over the years, Rose-Hulman has had a unique collection of players, as nearly every player at the NCAA Division III institution has majored in engineering.

The Engineers have earned their reputation on the court in addition to off the court. Over the years, Rose has captured nine conference championships and has earned eight trips to the NCAA Division III Tournament. During the 1998–99 season, the Engineers earned a national top 10 ranking. However, the 1977–78 team was perhaps the best team in engineer history, at least on paper, finishing the season at 24–4 and advanced as far as the NCAA Quarterfinals.

The celebration will bring basketball alumni from years past. Some notable graduates from the basketball program include Bob Bright, retired Vice-President of the 3M Corporation, Tim Cindric, President of Penske Racing, and Don Ings, the all-time leading scorer who served as Vice-President at Caterpillar.

Off the court, Rose-Hulman began unique traditions and was the first institution to play a college basketball game in the Soviet Union. The Fightin’ Engineers also were the first squad to welcome a team from the Soviet Union into the United States for a matchup. Both events occurred under the tutelage of 25-year head coach John Mutchner, who holds the school record with 341 victories.

Mutchner also brought character to the Rose-Hulman program. The pregame at Shook Fieldhouse consisted of a cannon fired in the northeast corner, along with a siren indicating the team was taking the floor. The combination helped create a festive atmosphere for the next generation of games in Shook Fieldhouse, which served as the team’s home court from 1948–97.