Shatterproof: Loud and Proud NCAA Records Never to Be Duplicated (#10)
The NCAA Tournament commenced in 1939, which was one year after the NIT triggered national postseason competition. An overlooked "versatile athlete" feat occurring in 1938 that never will be duplicated took place at Arkansas, where the quarterback for the football squad (Jack Robbins) repeated as an All-SWC first-team basketball selection, leading the Razorbacks (19-3) to the SWC title. After the season, Robbins became an NFL first-round draft choice by the Chicago Cardinals (5th pick overall) and senior football/basketball teammates Jim Benton (11th pick) and Ray Hamilton (41st pick) went on to become wide receivers for at least six years in the NFL. Yes, three members of a league championship basketball squad promptly were among the top 41 selections in the NFL draft.
What are other school and individual records that never will come close to being matched, let along exceeded? CollegeHoopedia.com is acknowledging an "Untouchables" list regarding the ultimate team and individual standards of excellence. Records were made to be broken, but perhaps not always in our lifetime. Following is #10 in the celebration countdown of most illustrious NCAA achievements:
10. Bill Chambers' 51 rebounds in a single game (for William & Mary vs. Virginia on February 14, 1953).
Chambers, standing a mere 6-4, grabbed an NCAA-record 51 rebounds for William & Mary in a 105-84 victory against Virginia on Valentine's Day. He finished third in the nation as a senior in 1952-53 in retrieving missed shots with 21.8 rpg, finishing behind Fordham's Ed Conlin (23.5 rpg) and Seton Hall's Walter Dukes (22.2 rpg). Chambers, who passed away in 2017, later became his alma mater's all-time winningest coach in a nine-year coaching career with the Tribe from 1957-58 through 1965-66 (modest win total could be surpassed in 2012-13).
No individual has grabbed more than 35 rebounds in a single NCAA Division I game since Pacific's Keith Swagerty (39 vs. UC Santa Barbara) and East Tennessee State's Tommy Woods (38 vs. Middle Tennessee State) in 1964-65. None of the last 44 teams leading the nation in rebounding margin, averaging 42 rebounds per contest, posted as many as 51 caroms per outing. Following is the line score of Chambers' performance:
WILLIAM & MARY (105): Johnny Mahoney 5 6-11 16, Dick Savage 0 0-4 0, Dave Berry 1 1-2 3, Jerry Harris 10 0-1 20, Bill Chambers 16 5-6 37 51, Joe Hume 6 4-7 16, Lennie Drake 0 0-0 0, Bobby Hoitsma 4 5-6 13. Team 42 21-37 (.568) 105.
VIRGINIA (84): Mel Roach 2 2-5 6, Jerry Burlage 1 3-4 5, Dave Cooke 2 1-1 5, Lee Eschilson 6 1-5 13, Charlie Gamble 2 5-6 9, Buzzy Wilkinson 10 8-8 28, John Dohner 7 2-2 16, William Casey 1 0-0 2. Team 31 22-31 (.710) 84.