1901–02 Oregon Agricultural Aggies men's basketball team

Basketball was invented in December 1891 by physical education teacher James Naismith and rapidly achieved popularity as an indoor sport for the winter season.

[5] A news item in the Corvallis Gazette of January 8, 1901 mentions the name of former OAC student Fred W. Smith as "the father of basketball at that institution.

[7] While the 1901-02 team was OAC's first school-sanctioned men's club, the sport was played competitively on campus with an admission fee charged during previous academic years.

[8] Played before a substantial audience, the exhibition basketball game was won by a team calling itself the "White Roses" by a score of 4 to 0.

[10] The OAC basketball team was independent during the 1901-02 academic year, scheduling its games on an ad hoc basis rather than as part of a formal sports conference.