Washburn University Athletics

Men’s Basketball 1986-87 - NAIA National Champions
The 1986-87 Ichabods finished the year 35-4 with an NAIA national championship. The team was inducted into the Washburn Athletic Hall of Fame in 1997-98

Coached by Hall of Fame head coach Bob Chipman, who was then in his eighth year, the Ichabods went 35-4, won the Central States Intercollegiate Conference championship and ended the year on a 22-game winning streak, including the five games of the NAIA national tournament played in Kansas City, Mo., in Kemper Arena. Washburn defeated West Virginia State, 79-77 in the national championship game on March 17, 1987. The Ichabods were up 76-66 with just over two minutes remaining and then held off a late run by West Virginia State. 1986-87 Statistics

All-Americans Tom Meier and Rich Hamilton played on the team. Meier was a first team honoree that year, finishing his career as Washburn’s second leading scorer with 2,082 points. He is also one of just two members of Washburn’s 2,000 points/1,000 rebounds club as he had 1,155 boards during his four years. Hamilton earned all-conference honors that year and then went on the next year to earn honorable mention All-America.

Meier was inducted into the Washburn Athletic Hall of Fame in 1996-97, Chipman became a member in 2004-05 and Greg Wilson entered in 2006-07.

The team was honored during a 2006-07 basketball game as it celebrated the 20-year anniversary of its championship. Release

Other members of the team who are still with Washburn Athletics through 2020 include head trainer Steve Ice and equipment manager Ron Wessel.