On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make News on April 21 MLB Games

April 21st, 2020 - 10:17

Extra! Extra! Amid coronavirus postponement, you have time to read news all about memorable major league baseball achievements, moments and transactions involving former college basketball players! Numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games and dates in MLB history.

Former hoops All-Americans Ernie Andres (Indiana) and Billy Werber (Duke) made news as infielders for the Boston Red Sox on this date. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an April 21 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

APRIL 21

  • Lone MLB RBI for 3B Ernie Andres (NCAA consensus first-team basketball All-American with Indiana in 1939) helped the Boston Red Sox outlast the Philadelphia Athletics, 12-11, in the opener of a 1946 doubleheader.

  • St. Louis Browns rookie RF Beau Bell (two-year hoops letterman for Texas A&M in early 1930s) contributed four hits and four RBI against the Chicago White Sox in a 1935 game.

  • Chicago White Sox 1B Zeke Bonura (best basketball forward for Loyola LA in late 1920s and early 1930s) banged out four hits against the St. Louis Browns in 1937 season opener.

  • Baltimore Orioles CF Al Bumbry (Virginia State's runner-up in scoring with 16.7 ppg as freshman in 1964-65) supplied four hits against the Boston Red Sox in a 1982 contest.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates INF Gene Freese (West Liberty WV hoops captain of 1952 NAIA Tournament team) pinch-hitting for Willie Stargell, delivered a decisive three-run homer in the top of the ninth inning for an 8-5 win against the Chicago Cubs in 1964.

  • In his MLB debut, Philadelphia Phillies RHP Bob Greenwood (St. Mary's hoops letterman second half of 1940s) tossed 4 2/3 innings of scoreless relief against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1954. His first strikeout victim was All-Star CF Duke Snider.

  • LHP Steve Hamilton (All-OVC selection was Morehead State's leading scorer and rebounder in 1956-57 and 1957-58) traded by the Washington Senators to the New York Yankees for P Jim Coates in 1963.

  • Chicago White Sox RHP Howie Judson (Illinois' third-leading scorer with 8.5 ppg as sophomore in 1944-45) won his 1949 season debut (5-2 against Detroit Tigers) before dropping next 14 decisions through August.

  • California Angels C Art Kusnyer (led Kent State in field-goal percentage in 1965-66 as team's third-leading scorer and rebounder) contributed a career-high three hits against the Texas Rangers in a 1972 outing.

  • Cleveland Indians CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's hoops leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling 35-3 record) collected three hits and three stolen bases against the Minnesota Twins in a 1994 contest.

  • St. Louis Cardinals LF Wally Moon (averaged 4.3 ppg with Texas A&M in 1948-49 and 1949-50) went 4-for-4 against the Chicago Cubs in the nightcap of a 1957 doubleheader.

  • Oakland Athletics CF Billy North (played hoops briefly for Central Washington in 1967-68) went 4-for-4 against the Detroit Tigers in a 1976 game.

  • Boston Red Sox SS Billy Werber (first Duke hoops All-American in 1929-30) registered multiple extra-base hits in his third consecutive contest in 1934.

  • St. Louis Cardinals 1B Bill White (two-year hooper with Hiram OH in early 1950s) supplied multiple hits in five of his first seven games in 1962.

  • Chicago White Sox RHP Jim Wilson (hoops letterman for San Diego State's 1942 NAIA Tournament participant) opened the 1957 campaign with a 10-inning shutout against the Kansas City Athletics.

  • New York Yankees DH Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) smacked two homers against the Texas Rangers in a 1990 game.

Lost That Finger Feeling: Transfer Players Missing Out on Championship Ring

April 21st, 2020 - 10:11

At least the NCAA Tournament cancellation means a player didn't miss out on some championship bling because he transferred before playoff title run. A striking number of original Duke recruits are on the following alphabetical list of transfer players denied receiving an NCAA championship ring because they left a school subsequently capturing a national crown:

Transfer Player Alma Mater Original College (Title Year)
Mohamed Abukar San Diego State '07 Florida (2006)
Ryan Appleby Washington '08 Florida (2006 and 2007)
Craig Bardo The Citadel '87 Indiana (1987)
Larry Bird Indiana State '79 Indiana (1976)
Mario Boggan Oklahoma State '07 Florida (2006)
Adam Boone Minnesota '06 North Carolina (2005)
Bob Brannum Michigan State '48 Kentucky (1947)
Delray Brooks Providence '88 Indiana (1987)
Rakeem Buckles Florida International '14 Louisville (2013)
Chris Burgess Utah '02 Duke (2001)
Deward Compton Louisville '48 Kentucky (1947 and 1948)
Olek Czyz Nevada '12 Duke (2010)
Doug Davis Miami (Ohio) '02 Michigan State (2000)
Darnell Dodson Southern Mississippi '13 Kentucky (2012)
Micah Downs Gonzaga '09 Kansas (2008)
Dylan Ennis Oregon '17 Villanova (2016)
Bob Fowler Iowa State '80 Kentucky (1978)
Alex Galindo Florida International '09 Kansas (2008)
Michael Gbinije Syracuse '16 Duke (2015)
C.J. Giles Oregon State '08 Kansas (2008)
Mike Giomi North Carolina State '87 Indiana (1987)
Danny Hall Marshall '78 Kentucky (1978)
Kenny Harris Virginia Commonwealth '94 North Carolina (1993)
Scott Hazelton Rhode Island '05 Connecticut (2004)
Derek Holcomb Illinois '81 Indiana (1981)
David Huertas Mississippi '10 Florida (2007)
*Karl James South Alabama '91 UNLV (1990)
Taylor King Villanova '12 Duke (2010)
Jack Kramer UAB '91 Michigan (1989)
Darrell Lorrance Missouri '47 Kentucky (1947)
Billy McCaffrey Vanderbilt '94 Duke (1992)
Malcolm McMullen Xavier '50 Kentucky (1948)
Mike Miday Bowling Green State '81 Indiana (1981)
Danny Miller Notre Dame '03 Maryland (2002)
Alex Murphy Florida '16 Duke (2015)
Semi Ojeleye Southern Methodist '18 Duke (2015)
Crawford Palmer Dartmouth '93 Duke (1992)
Stacey Poole Georgia Tech '14 Kentucky (2012)
Jarred Reuter George Mason '19 Virginia (2019)
Rodrick Rhodes Southern California '97 Kentucky (1996)
Clifford Rozier Louisville '95 North Carolina (1993)
Marty Simmons Evansville '88 Indiana (1987)
Oliver Simmons Florida State '00 Kentucky (1998)
Will Smethers Bowling Green State '51 Kentucky (1949)
Roscoe Smith UNLV '15 Connecticut (2014)
Alex Stephenson Southern California '11 North Carolina (2009)
Rasheed Sulaimon Maryland '16 Duke (2015)
Barry Sumpter Austin Peay State '87 Louisville (1986)
Andre Sweet Seton Hall '05 Duke (2001)
Jared Swopshire Northwestern '13 Louisville (2013)
James Thues Detroit '05 Syracuse (2003)
Jeff Tropf Central Michigan '79 Michigan State (1979)
Jason Webber Central Michigan '00 Michigan State (2000)
DeShaun Williams Iona '04 Syracuse (2003)
Elliot Williams Memphis '12 Duke (2010)

*Played for a junior college between four-year schools

NOTES: McCaffrey and Palmer played for an NCAA champion with Duke in 1991 and Huertas did with Florida in 2006. . . . King played only one season for Villanova in 2009-10. . . . E. Williams left Memphis after 2009-10 campaign when he declared early for the NBA draft. Likewise for Smith at UNLV following 2013-14 season.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make News on April 20 MLB Games

April 20th, 2020 - 12:40

Extra! Extra! Amid coronavirus outbreak postponement of season, you have time to read news all about memorable major league baseball achievements, moments and transactions involving former college basketball players! Numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games and dates in MLB history.

Former college hoopers Joe Adcock (LSU), Dick Gernert (Temple) and Bill Nicholson (Washington College MD) belted multiple homers in MLB games on this date. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an April 20 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

APRIL 20

  • Cincinnati Reds LF Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading basketball scorer in 1945-46) jacked two homers against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the nightcap of a 1952 twinbill.

  • Cincinnati Reds RF Frankie Baumholtz (MVP in 1941 NIT and first player in Ohio University history to score 1,000 career points) contributed four hits against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1948 game.

  • Philadelphia Phillies rookie 1B Ed Bouchee (freshman hooper for Washington State in 1951-52) went 4-for-4 with three runs scored in a 6-5 win against the New York Giants in 1957 contest. His seventh-inning homer provided decisive tally.

  • In his first appearance in 1956, Brooklyn Dodgers RHP Roger Craig (forward with North Carolina State's 1949-50 freshman hoops team) fired a four-hit shutout against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

  • Boston Red Sox 1B Dick Gernert (Temple hoops letterman in 1948-49) smashed three homers in a doubleheader sweep of the Washington Senators in 1953.

  • In his MLB debut in 1923, pinch-runner Hinky Haines (Penn State hoops letterman in 1919-20 and 1920-21) scored the tying tally on Babe Ruth's ninth-inning, game-winning two-run double in the New York Yankees' 4-3 win against the Boston Red Sox.

  • Washington Senators RF Chuck Hinton (played multiple sports for Shaw NC before serving two years in U.S. Army in mid-1950s) went 4-for-4 against the New York Yankees in a 1963 contest.

  • New York Giants RHP Walt Huntzinger (All-Ivy League forward with Penn in 1921-22) didn't allow an earned run in 8 1/3 innings en route to registering his first MLB victory (2-1 against the Boston Braves in 1924).

  • Chicago Cubs 3B Davey Lopes (NAIA All-District 15 selection for Iowa Wesleyan averaged 16.9 ppg as freshman in 1964-65 and 12.1 ppg as sophomore in 1965-66 before transferring with his coach to Washburn KS) went 5-for-5 and walked twice in a 17-inning game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1986.

  • A single by Kansas City Royals RF Jerry Martin (Furman's second-leading scorer in 1969-70 and third-leading scorer in 1970-71) was the only hit Detroit Tigers P Milt Wilcox surrendered in an 8-0 shutout in 1982.

  • In 1981, Philadelphia Phillies RF Bake McBride (averaged 12.7 ppg and 8.1 rpg in 21 games for Westminster MO in 1968-69 and 1969-70) provided his third two-double outing in a six-game span.

  • Chicago Cubs RF Bill Nicholson (Washington College MD hooper in mid-1930s) blasted two homers, including a grand slam, and supplied six RBI in a 7-4 win at St. Louis in 1947.

  • In 1961, 2B Mel Roach (averaged 9.3 ppg for Virginia in 1952-53) tied the score with the Philadelphia Phillies by ripping a two-out, three-run pinch-hit homer in the ninth inning and the Milwaukee Braves went on to prevail, 7-6, in 11 frames.

  • Minnesota Twins RHP Mike Smithson (teammate of Tennessee All-American Ernie Grunfeld averaged 1.9 ppg and 1.6 rpg under coach Ray Mears in 1974-75 and 1975-76) won his first three starts in 1987.

  • Cleveland Indians rookie 2B Riggs Stephenson (Alabama hoops letterman in 1920) accounted for multiple hits in each of first six MLB outings in 1921.

  • RHP Kent Tekulve (freshman hooper for Marietta OH in mid-1960s) traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates to the Philadelphia Phillies in 1985. Two years earlier, Tekulve permitted his only earned run in first 17 relief appearances of the 1983 campaign.

  • 2B Wayne Terwilliger (two-year letterman for Western Michigan averaged 5.6 ppg in his final season in 1947-48) collected an eighth-inning single for the Washington Senators' lone safety in a 7-0 loss against the Philadelphia Athletics in 1954.

  • Boston Red Sox C Sammy White (All-PCC Northern Division first-five selection for Washington in 1947-48 and 1948-49) stroked three doubles against the Washington Senators in the nightcap of a 1953 doubleheader.

  • New York Yankees RF Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) doubled in his fifth straight game in 1986.

  • Tampa Bay Devil Rays CF Randy Winn (Santa Clara backcourtmate of eventual two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash in 1993-94) supplied an extra-base safety in his sixth consecutive contest in the midst of eight multiple-hit outings in a 10-game span in 2002.

Musical Chairs: 1/3 of Nation's Universities Switched Leagues This Century

April 20th, 2020 - 12:05

"Man, that's messed up!" This concise summation certainly depicts higher education, which simply isn't what it used to be. Unless fear-mongering bureaucrats dictate otherwise, the changes could accelerate because of financial shortfalls stemming from coronavirus shutdown. Keeping remedial mathematics in mind, the Atlantic 10 Conference has more than that number of members; the Big Ten has more than 10 members and the Big 12 has fewer than 12 members. With respect to precise directions and logistics, the Atlantic Coast features Boston, Indiana (Notre Dame), Louisville, Pittsburgh and Syracuse, much of the Big East absorbs flyover country and the Southeast(ern) extends to the Midlands (Missouri and Texas A&M).

Amid Colon Krapernick-influenced Nike pulling "Betsy Ross" flag shoes off market plus all of the bizarre trans this and trans that, the most ardent fan probably can't come anywhere close to naming half of the schools transferring conferences the last several years. Heaven knows how future generations will explain the Big East split and UConn's leaving and returning. After Hampton abandoned the MEAC for the Big South, the resulting HBCU vindictiveness made one think the school was coercing its students to exhibit a little diversity and vote for Republicans because they were more supportive than Democrats of the Civil Rights Act. As NFL Hall of Famer Vince Lombardi, who coached freshman basketball with Fordham, would famously say: "What the hell's going on out here?"

When Appalachian State (Sun Belt), Elon (CAA) and Davidson (Atlantic 10) departed in recent years, they became the 32nd, 33rd and 34th schools to leave the Southern Conference. Following is a school-by-school look at league affiliations over the years after Hampton took off from the MEAC for the Big South:

School Latest League Previous DI Conference(s)
Abilene Christian Southland (1969-73 and since 2014)
Air Force Mountain West (since 2000) WAC (1981-99)
Akron Mid-American (since 1993) Ohio Valley (1981-87)/Mid-Continent (1991 and 1992)
Alabama SEC (since 1933) Southern (1922-32)
Alabama A&M SWAC (since 2000)
Alabama State SWAC (since 1983)
Albany America East (since 2002)
American Patriot League (since 2002) ECC (1967-84)/CAA (1985-2001)
Appalachian State Sun Belt (since 2015) Southern (1972-2014)
Arizona Pac-12 (since 1979) Border (1932-61)/WAC (1963-78)
Arizona State Pac-12 (since 1979) Border (1932-62)/WAC (1963-78)
Arkansas SEC (since 1992) SWC (1924-91)
Arkansas State Sun Belt (since 1992) Southland (1969-87)/American South (1988-91)
Army Patriot League (since 1991) MAAC (1982-90)
Auburn SEC (since 1933) Southern (1922-32)
Austin Peay Ohio Valley (since 1964)
Ball State Mid-American (since 1976)
Baylor Big 12 (since 1997) SWC (1915-96)
Bellarmine Atlantic Sun (since 2021)
Belmont Ohio Valley (since 2013) Atlantic Sun (2002-12)
Bethune-Cookman MEAC (since 1981)
Binghamton America East (since 2002)
Boise State Big West (1997-2001 and since 2014) Big Sky (1971-96)/WAC (2002-11)/Mountain West (2012 and 2013)
Boston College ACC (since 2006) Big East (1980-2005)
Boston University Patriot League (since 2014) Yankee (1973-76)/America East (1980-2013)
Bowling Green Mid-American (since 1954)
Bradley Missouri Valley (1949-51 and since 1956)
Brigham Young West Coast (since 2012) Rocky Mountain (1925-37)/Skyline (1938-62)/WAC (1963-99)/Mountain West (2000-11)
Brown Ivy League (since 1954)
Bryant Northeast (since 2009)
Bucknell Patriot League (since 1991) ECC (1959-80)
Buffalo Mid-American (since 1999) ECC (1992 and 1994)/Mid-Continent (1995-98)
Butler Big East (since 2014) Missouri Valley (1933 and 1934)/Mid-American (1947-50)/Horizon League (1980-2012)/Atlantic 10 (2013)
California Pac-12 (since 1916)
UC Davis Big West (since 2008)
UC Irvine Big West (since 1978)
Cal Poly Big West (since 1997) American West (1995 and 1996)
UC Riverside Big West (since 2002)
UC Santa Barbara Big West (1970-74 and since 1977) West Coast Athletic (1965-69)
Cal State Bakersfield WAC (since 2014)
Cal State Fullerton Big West (since 1975)
Cal State Northridge Big West (since 2002) American West (1995 and 1996)/Big Sky (1997-2001)
Campbell Big South (1986-94 and since 2012) Atlantic Sun (1995-2011)
Canisius MAAC (since 1990) ECAC North Atlantic (1980-89)
Central Arkansas Southland (since 2007)
Central Connecticut State Northeast (since 1998) ECC (1991-94)/Mid-Continent (1995-97)
Central Florida American Athletic (since 2014) Sun Belt (1992)/Atlantic Sun (1994-2005)/C-USA (2006-2013)
Central Michigan Mid-American (since 1973)
Charleston Southern Big South (since 1986)
Charlotte C-USA (1996-2005 and since 2014) Sun Belt (1977-91)/Metro (1992-95)/Atlantic 10 (2006-13)
Chattanooga Southern (since 1978)
Chicago State WAC (since 2014) Mid-Continent (1995-2006)/Great West (2010-13)
Cincinnati American Athletic (since 2014) Mid-American (1947-53)/Missouri Valley (1958-70)/Metro (1976-91)/Great Midwest (1992-95)/C-USA (1996-2005)/Big East (2006-13)
The Citadel Southern (since 1937)
Clemson ACC (since 1954) Southern (1922-53)
Cleveland State Horizon League (since 1995) Mid-Continent (1983-94)
Coastal Carolina Sun Belt (since 2017) Big South (1986-2016)
Colgate Patriot League (since 1991) ECAC North Atlantic (1980-90)
College of Charleston CAA (since 2014) TAAC (1994-98)/Southern (1999-2013)
Colorado Pac-12 (since 2012) Rocky Mountain (1923-37)/Big Eight (1948-96)/Big 12 (1997-2011)
Colorado State Mountain West (since 2000) Rocky Mountain (1924-37)/Skyline (1938-62)/WAC (1970-99)
Columbia EIBL/Ivy League (since 1902)
Connecticut Big East (1980-2013 and since 2021) New England/Yankee (1938-43 and 1946-76)/American Athletic (2014-20)
Coppin State MEAC (since 1986)
Cornell EIBL/Ivy League (since 1902)
Creighton Big East (since 2014) Missouri Valley (1929-48 and 1977-2013)
Dartmouth EIBL/Ivy League (since 1912)
Davidson Atlantic 10 (since 2015) Southern (1937-88 and 1993-2014)/Big South (1991 and 1992)
Dayton Atlantic 10 (since 1996) Midwestern Collegiate (1989-93)/Great Midwest (1994 and 1995)
Delaware CAA (since 2002) ECC (1959-91)/America East (1992-2001)
Delaware State MEAC (since 1972)
Denver Summit League (since 2014) Rocky Mountain (1923-37)/Skyline (1938-62)/Sun Belt (2000-12)/WAC (2013)
DePaul Big East (since 2006) Great Midwest (1992-95)/C-USA (1996-2005)
Detroit Horizon League (since 1981) Missouri Valley (1950-57)
Drake Missouri Valley (1908-51 and since 1957)
Drexel CAA (since 2002) ECC (1959-91)/America East (1992-2001)
Duke ACC (since 1954) Southern (1929-53)
Duquesne Atlantic 10 (since 1977 except for 1993) Midwestern Collegiate (1993)
East Carolina American Athletic (since 2015) Southern (1966-77)/ECAC South/CAA (1983-2001)/C-USA (2002-14)
Eastern Illinois Ohio Valley (since 1997) Mid-Continent (1983-96)
Eastern Kentucky Ohio Valley (since 1949)
Eastern Michigan Mid-American (since 1975)
Eastern Washington Big Sky (since 1988)
East Tennessee State Southern (1980-2005 and since 2015) Ohio Valley (1959-78)/Southern (1980-2005)/Atlantic Sun (2006-14)
Elon CAA (since 2015) Big South (1998-2003)/Southern (2004-2014)
Evansville Missouri Valley (since 1995) Ohio Valley (1949-52)/Midwestern Collegiate (1980-94)
Fairfield MAAC (since 1982)
Fairleigh Dickinson Northeast (since 1982) Metropolitan Collegiate (1966-69)
Florida SEC (since 1933)
Florida A&M MEAC (since 1980)
Florida Atlantic C-USA (since 2014) Atlantic Sun (1996-2004)/Sun Belt (2005-13)
Florida Gulf Coast Atlantic Sun (since 2008)
Florida International C-USA (since 2014) TAAC (1992-98)/Sun Belt (1999-2013)
Florida State ACC (since 1992) Metro (1977-91)
Fordham Atlantic 10 (since 1996) MAAC (1982-90)/Patriot League (1991-95)
Fresno State Mountain West (since 2013) WCAC (1956 and 1957)/Big West (1970-92)/WAC (1993-2012)
Furman Southern (since 1937)
Gardner-Webb Big South (since 2009) Atlantic Sun (2003-08)
George Mason Atlantic 10 (since 2014) CAA (1983-2013)
Georgetown Big East (since 1980)
George Washington Atlantic 10 (since 1977) Southern (1942, 1943 and 1946-70)
Georgia SEC (since 1933) Southern (1922-32)
Georgia Southern Sun Belt (since 2015) TAAC (1981-92)/Southern (1993-2014)
Georgia State Sun Belt (1977-81 and since 2014) Atlantic Sun (1985-2005)/CAA (2006-13)
Georgia Tech ACC (since 1980) Southern (1922-32)/SEC (1933-64)/Metro (1976-78)
Gonzaga West Coast (since 1980) Big Sky (1964-79)
Grambling State SWAC (since 1959)
Grand Canyon WAC (since 2014)
Green Bay Horizon League (since 1995) Mid-Continent (1983-94)
Hampton Big South (since 2019) MEAC (1996-2018)
Harvard EIBL/Ivy League (1902-09 and since 1934)
Hawaii Big West (since 2013) WAC (1980-2012)
High Point Big South (since 2000)
Hofstra CAA (since 2002) ECC (1966-94)/America East (1995-2001)
Holy Cross Patriot League (since 1991) ECAC North (1980-83)/MAAC (1984-90)
Houston American Athletic (since 2014) Missouri Valley (1951-60)/SWC (1976-96)/C-USA (1997-2013)
Houston Baptist Southland (since 2014) TAAC (1980-89)/Great West (2009-13)
Howard University MEAC (since 1972)
Idaho Big Sky (1964-96 and since 2015) Pacific Coast (1922-59)/Big Sky (1964-96)/Big West (1997-2005)/WAC (2006-14)
Idaho State Big Sky (since 1964) Rocky Mountain (1950-60)
Illinois Big Ten (since 1896)
Illinois-Chicago Horizon League (since 1995) Mid-Continent (1983-94)
Illinois State Missouri Valley (since 1981)
Incarnate Word Southland (since 2014)
Indiana Big Ten (since 1899)
Indiana State Missouri Valley (since 1977)
IUPUI Horizon League (since 2018) Summit League (1999-2017)
Iona MAAC (since 1982) Metropolitan Collegiate (1966-69)
Iowa Big Ten (since 1899)
Iowa State Big 12 (since 1997) Missouri Valley (1908-28)/Big Eight (1929-96)
Jackson State SWAC (since 1959)
Jacksonville Atlantic Sun (since 1999) Sun Belt (1977-98)
Jacksonville State Ohio Valley (since 2004) TAAC/Atlantic Sun (1996-2003)
James Madison CAA (since 1983)
Kansas Big 12 (since 1997) Missouri Valley (1908-28)/Big Eight (1929-96)
Kansas State Big 12 (since 1997) Missouri Valley (1914-28)/Big Eight (1929-96)
Kennesaw State Atlantic Sun (since 2006)
Kent State Mid-American (since 1952)
Kentucky SEC (since 1933) Southern (1922-32)
Lafayette Patriot League (since 1991) ECC (1959-90)
Lamar Southland (1969-87 and since 1999) American South (1988-91)/Sun Belt (1992-98)
La Salle Atlantic 10 (since 1996) ECC (1959-83)/MAAC (1984-92)/Midwestern Collegiate (1993-95)
Lehigh Patriot League (since 1991) ECC (1959-90)
Liberty Big South (since 1992)
Lipscomb Atlantic Sun (since 2004)
Long Beach State Big West (since 1970)
Long Island Northeast (since 1982) Metropolitan Collegiate (1966-69)
Longwood Big South (since 2013)
Louisiana-Lafayette Sun Belt (since 1992) Southland (1972-82)/American South (1988-91)
Louisiana-Monroe Sun Belt (since 2007) TAAC (1980-82)/Southland (1983-2006)
Louisiana State SEC (since 1933) Southern (1923-32)
Louisiana Tech C-USA (since 2014) Southland (1972-87)/American South (1988-91)/Sun Belt (1992-2001)/WAC (2002-13)
Louisville ACC (since 2015) Missouri Valley (1965-75)/Metro (1976-95)/C-USA (1996-2005)/Big East (2006-13)/American Athletic (2014)
Loyola of Chicago Missouri Valley (since 2014) Horizon League (1980-2013)
Loyola (Md.) Patriot League (since 2014) Northeast (1982-89)/MAAC (1990-2013)
Loyola Marymount West Coast (since 1956)
Maine America East (since 1980) New England/Yankee (1938-43 and 1946-76)
Manhattan MAAC (since 1982) Metropolitan Collegiate (1966-69)
Marist MAAC (since 1998) Northeast (1982-97)
Marquette Big East (since 2006) Midwestern Collegiate (1990 & 1991)/Great Midwest (1992-95)/C-USA (1996-2005)
Marshall C-USA (since 2006) Ohio Valley (1949-52)/Mid-American (1954-69 and 1998-2005)/Southern (1978-97)
Maryland Big Ten (since 2015) Southern (1924-53)/ACC (1954-2014)
Maryland-Baltimore County America East (since 2004) ECC (1991 and 1992)/Big South (1993-98)/Northeast (1999-2003)
Maryland-Eastern Shore MEAC (1972-79 and since 1983)
Massachusetts Atlantic 10 (since 1977) New England/Yankee (1947-76)
Massachusetts-Lowell America East (since 2014)
McNeese State Southland (since 1973)
Memphis American Athletic (since 2014) Missouri Valley (1968-73)/Metro (1976-91)/Great Midwest (1992-95)/C-USA (1996-2013)
Mercer Southern (since 2015) Atlantic Sun (1980-2014)
Merrimack Northeast (since 2020)
Miami (Fla.) ACC (since 2005) Big East (1992-2004)
Miami (Ohio) Mid-American (since 1948)
Michigan Big Ten (since 1896)
Michigan State Big Ten (since 1949)
Middle Tennessee State C-USA (since 2014) Ohio Valley (1953-2000)/Sun Belt (2001-13)
Milwaukee Horizon League (since 1995) Mid-Continent (1993 and 1994)
Minnesota Big Ten (since 1896)
Mississippi SEC (since 1933) Southern (1923-32)
Mississippi State SEC (since 1933) Southern (1922-32)
Mississippi Valley State SWAC (since 1969)
Missouri SEC (since 2013) Missouri Valley (1908-28)/Big Eight (1929-96)/Big 12 (1997-2012)
Missouri-Kansas City WAC (since 2014) Summit League (1995-2013)
Missouri State Missouri Valley (since 1991) Mid-Continent (1983-90)
Monmouth MAAC (since 2014) Northeast (1986-2013)
Montana Big Sky (since 1964) Pacific Coast (1924-29)/Skyline (1952-62)
Montana State Big Sky (since 1964) Rocky Mountain (1925-57 except for 1948)/Skyline (1952-62)
Morehead State Ohio Valley (since 1949)
Morgan State MEAC (1972-80 and since 1985)
Mount St. Mary's Northeast (since 1990)
Murray State Ohio Valley (since 1949 except for 1962)
Navy Patriot League (since 1992) CAA (1983-91)
Nebraska Big Ten (since 2012) Missouri Valley (1908-28)/Big Eight (1929-96)/Big 12 (1997-2011)
Nebraska-Omaha Summit League (since 2013)
Nevada Mountain West (2013) WCAC (1970-79)/Big Sky (1980-92)/Big West (1993-2000)/WAC (2001-12)
New Hampshire America East (since 1980) New England/Yankee (1938-43 and 1946-76)
NJIT Atlantic Sun (since 2016) Great West (2009-13)
New Mexico Mountain West (since 2000) Border (1932-42 and 1945-51)/Skyline (1952-62)/WAC (1963-99)
New Mexico State WAC (since 2006) Border (1932-62)/Missouri Valley (1971-83)/Big West (1984-2000)/Sun Belt (2001-05)
New Orleans Southland (since 2014) Sun Belt (1977-80 and 1992-2011)/American South (1988-91)
Niagara MAAC (since 1990) ECAC North Atlantic (1980-89)
Nicholls State Southland (since 1992) Gulf Star (1985-87)
Norfolk State MEAC (since 1998)
North Alabama Atlantic Sun (since 2019)
North Carolina ACC (since 1954) Southern (1922-53)
UNC Asheville Big South (since 1986)
North Carolina A&T MEAC (since 1972)
North Carolina Central MEAC (1972-80 and since 2012)
UNC Greensboro Southern (since 1998) Big South (1993-97)
North Carolina State ACC (since 1954) Southern (1922-53)
UNC Wilmington CAA (since 1985)
North Dakota Big Sky (since 2013)
North Dakota State Summit League (since 2008)
Northern Arizona Big Sky (since 1971) Border (1932-53)
Northern Colorado Big Sky (since 2007)
Northern Illinois Mid-American (1976-86 and since 1998) Mid-Continent (1991-94)/Midwestern Collegiate (1995-97)
Northern Iowa Missouri Valley (since 1992) Mid-Continent (1983-91)
Northern Kentucky Horizon League (since 2016) Atlantic Sun (2013-15)
North Florida Atlantic Sun (since 2006)
North Texas C-USA (since 2014) Missouri Valley (1958-75)/Southland (1983-96)/Big West (1997-2000)/Sun Belt (2001-13)
Northwestern Big Ten (since 1896)
Northwestern State Southland (since 1988) TAAC (1981-84)/Gulf Star (1985-87)
Notre Dame ACC (since 2014) Big East (1996-2013)
Oakland Horizon League (since 2014) Summit League (1999-2013)
Ohio University Mid-American (since 1947)
Ohio State Big Ten (since 1912)
Oklahoma Big 12 (since 1997) Missouri Valley (1920-28)/Big Eight (1929-96)
Oklahoma State Big 12 (since 1997) SWC (1918 and 1922-25)/Missouri Valley (1926-57)/Big Eight (1959-96)
Old Dominion C-USA (since 2014) Sun Belt (1983-91)/CAA (1992-2013)
Oral Roberts Summit League (1998-2012 and since 2015) Midwestern Collegiate (1980-87)/Southland (2013 and 2014)
Oregon Pac-12 (1916-59 and since 1965)
Oregon State Pac-12 (1916-59 and since 1965)
Pacific WCAC/WCC (1953-71 and since 2014) Big West (1972-2013)
Penn EIBL/Ivy League (since 1904)
Penn State Big Ten (since 1993) Atlantic 10 (1977-79 and 1983-91)
Pepperdine West Coast (since 1956)
Pittsburgh ACC (since 2014) Eastern 8 (1977-82)/Big East (1983-2013)
Portland West Coast (since 1977)
Portland State Big Sky (since 1997)
Prairie View SWAC (since 1921 except for 1991)
Presbyterian Big South (since 2010)
Princeton EIBL/Ivy League (since 1902)
Providence Big East (since 1980)
Purdue Big Ten (since 1896)
Purdue Fort Wayne Horizon League (since 2021) Summit League (2008-20)
Quinnipiac MAAC (since 2014) Northeast (1999-2013)
Radford Big South (since 1986)
Rhode Island Atlantic 10 (since 1981) New England/Yankee (1938-43 and 1946-76)/ECAC North (1980)
Rice C-USA (since 2006) SWC (1915-96)/WAC (1997-2005)
Richmond Atlantic 10 (since 2002) Southern (1937-76)/CAA (1983-2001)
Rider MAAC (since 1998) ECC (1967-92)/Northeast (1993-97)
Robert Morris Northeast (since 1982)
Rutgers Big Ten (since 2015) Middle Atlantic (1959-62)/Atlantic 10 (1977-95)/Big East (1996-2013)/American Athletic (2014)
Sacramento State Big Sky (since 1997) American West (1995 and 1996)
Sacred Heart Northeast (since 2000)
St. Bonaventure Atlantic 10 (since 1980)
St. Francis (N.Y.) Northeast (since 1982) Metropolitan Collegiate (1966-68)
Saint Francis (Pa.) Northeast (since 1982)
St. John's Big East (since 1980)
Saint Joseph's Atlantic 10 (since 1983) ECC (1959-82)
Saint Louis Atlantic 10 (since 2006) Missouri Valley (1938-74)/Metro (1976-82)/Midwestern Collegiate (1983-91)/Great Midwest (1992-95)/C-USA (1996-2005)
Saint Mary's West Coast (since 1953)
Saint Peter's MAAC (since 1982) Metropolitan Collegiate (1966-69)
Samford Southern (since 2008) Atlantic Sun (1980-2003)/Ohio Valley (2004-07)
Sam Houston State Southland (since 1988) Gulf Star (1985-87)
San Diego West Coast (since 1980)
San Diego State PCAA/Big West (1970-78 and since 2014) WAC (1979-99)/Mountain West (2000-13)
San Francisco West Coast (since 1953)
San Jose State Mountain West (since 2014) WCAC (1953-69)/Big West (1970-96)/WAC (1997-2013)
Santa Clara West Coast (since 1953)
Savannah State MEAC (since 2012)
Seattle WAC (since 2013) WCAC (1972-80)
Seton Hall Big East (since 1980) Metropolitan Collegiate (1966-69)
Siena MAAC (since 1990) Northeast (1982-84)/ECAC North Atlantic (1985-89)
South Alabama Sun Belt (since 1977)
South Carolina SEC (since 1992) Southern (1923-53)/ACC (1954-71)/Metro (1984-91)
South Carolina State MEAC (since 1972)
USC Upstate Big South (since 2019) Atlantic Sun (2008-18)
South Dakota Big Sky (since 2013) Great West (2009-12)
South Dakota State Summit League (since 2008)
Southeastern Louisiana Southland (since 1998) Gulf Star (1985-87)/TAAC (1992-97)
Southeast Missouri State Ohio Valley (since 1992)
Southern (La.) SWAC (since 1935)
Southern California Pac-12 (since 1922)
Southern Illinois Missouri Valley (since 1975)
SIU-Edwardsville Ohio Valley (since 2012)
Southern Methodist American Athletic (since 2014) SWC (1919-96)/WAC (1997-2005)/C-USA (2006-13)
Southern Mississippi C-USA (since 1996) Metro (1983-95)
Southern Utah Big Sky (since 2013) American West (1995 and 1996)/Summit League (1998-2012)
South Florida American Athletic (since 2014) Sun Belt (1977-91)/Metro (1992-95)/C-USA (1996-2005)/Big East (2006-13)
Stanford Pac-12 (since 1917)
Stephen F. Austin Southland (since 1988) Gulf Star (1985-87)
Stetson Atlantic Sun (since 1987)
Stony Brook America East (since 2002)
Syracuse ACC (since 2014) Big East (1980-2013)
Temple American Athletic (since 2014) ECC (1959-82)/Atlantic 10 (1983-2013)
Tarleton State WAC (since 2021)
Tennessee SEC (since 1933) Southern (1922-32)
Tennessee-Martin Ohio Valley (since 1993)
Tennessee State Ohio Valley (since 1988)
Tennessee Tech Ohio Valley (since 1949)
Texas Big 12 (since 1997) SWC (1915-96)
Texas A&M SEC (since 2013) SWC (1915-96)/Big 12 (1997-2012)
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Southland (since 2007)
Texas-Arlington Sun Belt (since 2014) Southland (1969-2012 except for 1987)/WAC (2013)
Texas Christian Big 12 (since 2013) SWC (1924-96)/WAC (1997-2001)/C-USA (2002-05)/Mountain West (2006-12)
Texas-El Paso C-USA (since 2006) Border (1936-62)/WAC (1970-2005)
Texas-Pan American WAC (since 2014) TAAC (1980)/American South (1988-91)/Sun Belt (1992-98)/Great West (2009-13)
Texas-San Antonio C-USA (since 2014) TAAC (1987-91)/Southland (1992-2012)/WAC (2013)
Texas Southern SWAC (since 1955)
Texas State Sun Belt (since 2014) Gulf Star (1985-87)/Southland (1988-2012)/WAC (2013)
Texas Tech Big 12 (since 1997) Border (1933-56)/SWC (1958-96)
Toledo Mid-American (since 1952)
Towson CAA (since 2002) Northeast (1982)/ECC (1983-92)/Big South (1993-95)/America East (1996-2001)
Troy Sun Belt (since 2006) ECC (1994)/Mid-Continent (1995-97)/Atlantic Sun (1998-2005)
Tulane American Athletic (since 2015) Southern (1923-32)/SEC (1933-66)/Metro (1976-85 and 1990-95)/C-USA (1996-2014)
Tulsa American Athletic (since 2015) Missouri Valley (1935-96)/WAC (1997-2005)/C-USA (2006-14)
UAB C-USA (since 1996) Sun Belt (1980-91)/Great Midwest (1992-95)
UALR Sun Belt (since 1992) TAAC (1981-91)
UCLA Pac-12 (since 1928)
UNLV Mountain West (since 2000) WCAC (1970-75)/Big West (1983-96)/WAC (1997-99)
Utah Pac-12 (since 2012) Rocky Mountain (1925-37)/Skyline (1938-62)/WAC (1963-99)/Mountain West (2000-11)
Utah State Mountain West (since 2014) Rocky Mountain (1925-37)/Skyline (1938-62)/Big West (1979-2005)/WAC (2006-13)
Utah Valley WAC (since 2014) Great West (2009-13)
Valparaiso Missouri Valley (since 2018) Mid-Continent (1983-2007)/Horizon League (2008-17)
Vanderbilt SEC (since 1933) Southern (1923-32)
Vermont America East (since 1980) New England/Yankee (1947-76)
Villanova Big East (since 1981) Eastern Athletic Association (1977-80)
Virginia ACC (since 1954) Southern (1922-37)
Virginia Commonwealth Atlantic 10 (since 2013) Sun Belt (1980-91)/Metro (1992-95)/CAA (1996-2012)
Virginia Military Southern (1926-2003 and since 2015) Big South (2004-14)
Virginia Tech ACC (since 2005) Southern (1922-65)/Metro (1979-95)/Atlantic 10 (1996-2000)/Big East (2001-04)
Wagner Northeast (since 1982)
Wake Forest ACC (since 1954) Southern (1937-53)
Washington Pac-12 (since 1916)
Washington State Pac-12 (1917-59 and since 1964)
Weber State Big Sky (since 1964)
Western Carolina Southern (since 1978)
Western Illinois Summit League (since 1983)
Western Kentucky C-USA (since 2015) Ohio Valley (1949-82)/Sun Belt (1983-2014)
Western Michigan Mid-American (since 1948)
West Virginia Big 12 (since 2013) Southern (1951-68)/Atlantic 10 (1977-95)/Big East (1996-2012)
Wichita State American Athletic (since 2018) Missouri Valley (1946-2017)
William & Mary CAA (since 1983) Southern (1937-77)
Winthrop Big South (since 1986)
Wisconsin Big Ten (since 1896)
Wofford Southern (since 1998)
Wright State Horizon League (since 1995) Mid-Continent (1992-94)
Wyoming Mountain West (since 2000) Rocky Mountain (1923-37)/Mountain States (1938-62)/WAC (1963-99)
Xavier Big East (since 2014) Midwestern Collegiate (1980-95)/Atlantic 10 (1996-2013)
Yale EIBL/Ivy League (since 1902)
Youngstown State Horizon League (since 2002) Ohio Valley (1982-88)/Mid-Continent (1992-2001)

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make Mark on April 19 MLB Games

April 19th, 2020 - 8:19

Extra! Extra! Amid a coronavirus postponement of season, you have time to read news all about memorable major league baseball achievements, moments and transactions involving former college basketball players! Numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games and dates in MLB history.

Former hoops All-Americans Danny Ainge (Brigham Young) and Bosey Berger (Maryland) made MLB news on this date. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an April 19 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

APRIL 19

  • Toronto Blue Jays LF Danny Ainge (three-time Brigham Young basketball All-American and national player of year as senior in 1980-81) went 3-for-3 in an 8-1 setback against the Cleveland Indians in 1980.

  • Only MLB decision for RHP Steve Barber (J.C. starter under coach Jerry Tarkanian before attending La Verne CA) was a 9-8 victory for the Minnesota Twins against the Kansas City Royals in 1971.

  • 3B Bosey Berger (Maryland's first hoops All-American in 1931-32) awarded on waivers from the Cleveland Indians to the Chicago White Sox in 1937.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates 1B Donn Clendenon (four-sport letterman with Morehouse GA) provided four hits against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1966 game.

  • In 2017 in his third MLB start, Amir Garrett (averaged 7.4 ppg and 4 rpg for St. John's under coach Steve Lavin in 2011-12 and 2012-13 before RS transfer year at Cal State Northridge) tied a Cincinnati Reds record for a rookie LHP by fanning 12 Baltimore Orioles batters.

  • Cincinnati Reds RHP Ken Hunt (freshman hooper for Brigham Young in 1957-58) won his first MLB start (4-2 against the San Francisco Giants in 1961), fanning Felipe Alou and Willie McCovey.

  • St. Louis Cardinals RHP Walt Huntzinger (All-Ivy League forward with Penn in 1921-22) toiled 14 innings but lost, 5-4, against the Chicago Cubs in 1926. He was waived to the Cubbies two months later.

  • Toronto Blue Jays 3B Garth Iorg (juco hooper with College of the Redwoods CA in mid-1970s) went 4-for-4, including a game-winning triple in bottom of the ninth inning, in 2-1 win against the Baltimore Orioles in 1984.

  • New York Giants 1B Monte Irvin (Lincoln PA hooper 1 1/2 years in late 1930s) collected six RBI against the Boston Braves in the nightcap of a 1951 doubleheader.

  • St. Louis Cardinals 1B George Kernek (Oklahoma hoops letterman in 1959-60 and 1960-61) contributed three hits for the second time in four games in 1966.

  • Five hits by CF Bake McBride (averaged 12.7 ppg and 8.1 rpg in 21 games for Westminster MO in 1968-69 and 1969-70) were in vain as the St. Louis Cardinals incurred a 17-inning, 4-3 loss against the New York Mets in 1976.

  • In a 1961 contest, Los Angeles Dodgers LF Wally Moon (averaged 4.3 ppg with Texas A&M in 1948-49 and 1949-50) supplied two homers and five RBI against his original team (St. Louis Cardinals).

  • In 1942, Chicago Cubs RHP Claude Passeau (Millsaps MS hooper in late 1920s and early 1930s) didn't yield a hit until there was one out in the eighth inning when CF Harry Craft (Mississippi College hooper first half of 1930s) singled for the Cincinnati Reds.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers LF Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) went 4-for-4 against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1954.

  • RHP Sonny Siebert (team-high 16.7 ppg for Missouri in 1957-58 as All-Big Eight Conference second-team selection) traded by the Cleveland Indians to the Boston Red Sox in a six-player swap in 1969.

Winner From Start: Few Among Few Mentors With Nothing But Winning Marks

April 19th, 2020 - 8:10

North Carolina's blue-blood program went from no-show classes several years ago to no-show premier players this past campaign. Carolina Coach Roy Williams suffered his first losing record in 32 seasons (14-19). Despite incurring at least 14 defeats each of last four campaigns since aligning with UNC in ACC, the most illuminating item about Jim Boeheim ranking among the nation's all-time winningest coaches is the bespectacled "Baron of Upstate New York" assembled a stunning streak of nothing but winning records in his first 44 seasons with Syracuse. En route to cracking 1,000-win plateau, Boeheim's worst worksheet was 16-13 in 1981-82 when the NIT-bound Orange dropped four of its last five outings.

Adolph Rupp never had a losing record in 41 campaigns but did post one break-even mark with Kentucky (13-13 in 1966-67). Among active coaches, Michigan State's Tom Izzo never has registered a losing record in his first 25 seasons but had one break-even mark (16-16 in inaugural campaign in 1995-96). When assessing this topic, keep in mind the following mentors among the all-time biggest winners each had multiple non-winning seasons: Phog Allen (four non-winning records), Jim Calhoun (six), Lefty Driesell (four), Lou Henson (eight), Hank Iba (eight), Bob Knight (two), Mike Krzyzewski (four), Lute Olson (three), Dean Smith (two) and Eddie Sutton (two).

Gonzaga's Mark Few, who never has finished a season without being at least 12 games above .500, joined the following list of six major-college coaches in history with winning marks every year in college careers spanning more than 20 years:

Coach Seasons Campaign Closest to Non-Winning Record
Jim Boeheim 44 16-13 (Syracuse in sixth season in 1981-82)
*Jerry Tarkanian 31 16-12 (UNLV in eighth of 19 seasons with Rebels in 1980-81) and 19-15 (Fresno State in seventh of seven seasons with Bulldogs in 2001-02)
John Wooden 29 14-12 (UCLA in 12th of 27 seasons with Bruins in 1959-60)
Lou Carnesecca 24 17-12 (St. John's in 20th season in 1987-88)
Peck Hickman 23 13-12 (Louisville in 14th season in 1957-58)
Mark Few 21 23-11 (Gonzaga in eighth season in 2006-07)

*Tarkanian also compiled seven more winning records in as many seasons for two community colleges in California, where he won five consecutive state championships after notching a 14-13 mark in 1961-62 at Riverside City College to begin his coaching odyssey.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make News on April 18 MLB Games

April 18th, 2020 - 10:20

Extra! Extra! Amid coronavirus postponement of season, you have time to read news all about memorable major league baseball achievements, moments and transactions involving former college basketball players. Numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games and dates in MLB history.

Arizona, Cincinnati, Duke, Kansas, Michigan State, Syracuse and UCLA - NCAA playoff kingpins at some point in their respective histories - had former hoopers make MLB news on this date. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an April 18 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

APRIL 18

  • Chicago White Sox rookie 1B Zeke Bonura (best basketball forward for Loyola LA in late 1920s and early 1930s) belted two homers against the Detroit Tigers in 1934 in his second MLB game. Four years later with the Washington Senators, Bonura contributed three hits and four RBI in a 12-8 win against the Philadelphia Athletics in 1938 season opener.

  • Philadelphia Phillies INF Gene Freese (West Liberty WV basketball captain of 1952 NAIA Tournament team) smacked a pinch grand slam against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1959 game.

  • Atlanta Braves RHP Kevin Gryboski (backup hooper for Wilkes PA in 1991-92 and 1992-93) surrendered his only run in first 17 relief appearances of 2004 campaign.

  • San Diego Padres RF Tony Gwynn (All-WAC second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81) went 5-for-5 against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1993 contest.

  • Texas Rangers 1B Mike Hargrove (Northwestern Oklahoma State hoops letterman) collected four hits and five RBI against the Milwaukee Brewers in the opener of a 1976 doubleheader.

  • RHP Jim Konstanty (Syracuse hooper in late 1930s) traded by the Cincinnati Reds with cash to the Boston Braves in 1946.

  • Los Angeles Dodgers LHP Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman hoops squad in 1953-54) threw the second of two immaculate innings in his career when he struck out the side on nine pitches against the Cincinnati Reds in third frame in 1964.

  • Atlanta Braves CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling 35-3 record) provided a homer among his five hits in a 14-0 romp over the Colorado Rockies in 1997. Five years later with the Chicago White Sox, Lofton delivered multiple safeties seven times in a span of eight games while raising his batting average from .250 to .426 in 2002.

  • Davey Lopes (NAIA All-District 15 selection for Iowa Wesleyan averaged 16.9 ppg and 3.4 rpg as freshman in 1964-65 and 12.1 ppg as sophomore in 1965-66 before transferring with his coach to Washburn KS) fired as manager of the Milwaukee Brewers in 2002.

  • San Francisco Giants CF Billy North (played hoops briefly for Central Washington in 1967-68) stole three bases against the Atlanta Braves in a 1981 contest.

  • Montreal Expos RHP Steve Renko (averaged 9.9 ppg and 5.8 rpg as Kansas sophomore in 1963-64) won his first start of season against the New York Mets before dropping last 10 decisions of the 1972 campaign.

  • Hall of Fame RHP Robin Roberts (one of Michigan State's top three scorers each season from 1944-45 through 1946-47) surrendered the first hit on artificial turf in 1966 when Los Angeles Dodgers SS Maury Wills singled to center at Houston's Astrodome.

  • 1B Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) ripped his first homer for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947 (against New York Giants). The blast was Robinson's lone round-tripper in his first 30 MLB games.

  • New York Yankees RHP Roy Sherid (Albright PA hoops center in 1926-27 and 1927-28) toiled 15 innings but lost, 5-4, against the Boston Red Sox in 1931.

  • Chicago White Sox DH Jim Thome (played junior-college hoops for Illinois Central in 1988-89) swatted two homers in 2007 game against the Texas Rangers.

  • RHP Cecil Upshaw (led Centenary in scoring as junior while averaging 13.7 ppg and 6 rpg from 1961-62 through 1963-64) registered his fourth victory hurling at least three innings of relief in the Atlanta Braves' first 11 games of the 1971 season.

  • Philadelphia Athletics 3B Billy Werber (first Duke hoops All-American in 1929-30) provided four safeties in season opener en route to seven multiple-hit games in his first 11 outings of the 1938 campaign.

Swallowing Your Pride: Former Power-League Coaches at Mid-Major Schools

April 17th, 2020 - 13:08

Grand Canyon (Bryce Drew), Iona (Rick Pitino), Tarleton State (Billy Gillispie) and UAB (Andy Kennedy) feature new head coaches previously piloting at least one power-conference member. Following is an alphabetical list of former power-league mentors swallowing their pride and currently toiling in more obscurity at mid-major level:

Active Head Coach Current Mid-Major School Previous Power League School(s)
Steve Alford Nevada (since 2019-20) Iowa (1999-00 through 2006-07) and UCLA (2013-14 to 2018-19)
Tommy Amaker Harvard (since 2007-08) Seton Hall (1997-98 through 2000-01) and Michigan (2001-02 through 2006-07)
Rod Barnes Cal State Bakersfield (since 2011-12) Mississippi (1998-99 through 2005-06)
Keno Davis Central Michigan (since 2012-13) Providence (2008-09 through 2010-11)
Mike Davis Detroit (since 2018-19) Indiana (2000-01 through 2005-06)
Johnny Dawkins UCF (since 2016-17) Stanford (2008-09 through 2015-16)
Ed DeChellis Navy (since 2011-12) Penn State (2003-04 through 2010-11)
Steve Donahue Penn (since 2015-16) Boston College (2010-11 through 2013-14)
Bryce Drew Grand Canyon (since 2020-21) Vanderbilt (2016-17 through 2018-19)
Cliff Ellis Coastal Carolina (since 2007-08) Clemson (1984-85 through 1993-94) and Auburn (1994-95 through 2003-04)
Travis Ford Saint Louis (since 2016-17) Oklahoma State (2008-09 through 2015-16)
Billy Gillispie Tarleton State (since 2020-21) Texas A&M (2004-05 through 2006-07), Kentucky (2007-08 and 2008-09) and Texas Tech (2011-12)
Mark Gottfried CSU Northridge (since 2018-19) Alabama (1998-99 to 2008-09) and North Carolina State (2011-12 through 2016-17)
Anthony Grant Dayton (since 2017-18) Alabama (2009-10 through 2014-15)
Brian Gregory South Florida (since 2017-18) Georgia Tech (2011-12 through 2015-16)
John Groce Akron (since 2017-18) Illinois (2012-13 through 2016-17)
Frank Haith Tulsa (since 2014-15) Miami FL (2004-05 through 2010-11) and Missouri (2011-12 through 2013-14)
Darrin Horn Northern Kentucky (since 2019-20) South Carolina (2008-09 through 2011-12)
Jeff Jones Old Dominion (since 2013-14) Virginia (1990-91 through 1997-98)
Johnny Jones Texas Southern (since 2018-19) Louisiana State (2012-13 through 2016-17)
Andy Kennedy UAB (since 2020-21) Cincinnati (2005-06) and Mississippi (2006-07 to 2017-18)
Todd Lickliter Evansville (since middle of 2019-20) Iowa (2007-08 through 2009-10)
Bobby McCullum Florida A&M (since 2017-18) South Florida (2003-04 through 2006-07*)
Ritchie McKay Liberty (2007-08, 2008-09 and since 2015-16) Oregon State (2000-01 and 2001-02)
Dan Monson Long Beach State (since 2007-08) Minnesota (1999-00 to 2006-07)
John Pelphrey Tennessee Tech (since 2019-20) Arkansas (2007-08 through 2010-11)
Rick Pitino Iona (since 2020-21) Providence (1985-86 and 1986-87), Kentucky (1989-90 through 1996-97) and Louisville (2001-02 through 2016-17)
Kelvin Sampson Houston (since 2014-15) Washington State (1987-88 through 1993-94), Oklahoma (1994-95 through 2005-06) and Indiana (2006-07 and 2007-08)
Herb Sendek Santa Clara (since 2016-17) North Carolina State (1996-97 through 2005-06) and Arizona State (2006-07 through 2014-15)
Tubby Smith High Point (since 2018-19) Georgia (1995-96 and 1996-97), Kentucky (1997-98 through 2006-07), Minnesota (2007-08 through 2012-13) and Texas Tech (2013-14 through 2015-16)

*South Florida's inaugural season in Big East Conference was 2006-07.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make News on April 17 MLB Games

April 17th, 2020 - 7:22

Extra! Extra! Amid a coronavirus postponement of season, you have time to read news all about memorable major league baseball achievements, moments and transactions involving former college basketball players! Numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games and dates in MLB history.

Former college hoopers Joe Adcock (LSU), Frank Bolling (Spring Hill AL) and Johnny Logan (Binghamton) supplied significant offensive performances for the Milwaukee Braves on this date while ex-Oklahoma hoopers Eddie Fisher and Elmer Ponder provided sterling pitching performances. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an April 17 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

APRIL 17

  • Milwaukee Braves 1B Joe Adcock (Louisiana State's leading basketball scorer in 1945-46) contributed four hits against the Cincinnati Reds in the nightcap of a 1955 twinbill.

  • Philadelphia Phillies LF Harry Anderson (averaged 7.7 ppg and 8.9 rpg for West Chester PA in 1951-52) hammered two homers against the Milwaukee Braves in a 1960 game.

  • Milwaukee Braves 2B Frank Bolling (averaged 7.3 ppg for Spring Hill AL in 1950-51) smacked two homers in a 5-2 win against the Houston Colt .45s in 1964.

  • Baltimore Orioles CF Al Bumbry (Virginia State's runner-up in scoring with 16.7 ppg as freshman in 1964-65) stroked four hits against the Kansas City Royals in 1981.

  • Detroit Tigers 1B Tony Clark (San Diego State's leading scorer in WAC games in 1991-92) homered in his third consecutive contest in 1997.

  • Cincinnati Reds CF Harry Craft (four-sport hoops letterman with Mississippi College in early 1930s) accumulated four hits and five RBI in a 7-6 setback against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1941.

  • Chicago White Sox RHP Eddie Fisher (hooper for Oklahoma's 1954-55 freshman squad) hurled his first complete game in 10 years. Fisher also won his next three starts by yielding only one earned run covering 18 innings.

  • Kansas City Royals RHP Dave Frost (averaged 10.5 ppg and 4 rpg for Stanford from 1971-72 through 1973-74) registered his third relief victory in four games early in 1982.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates LHP Joe Gibbon (two-time All-SEC forward for Ole Miss was the nation's second-leading scorer as a senior in 1956-57), making his MLB debut in the nightcap of a doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds in 1960, threw two scoreless innings of relief and emerged as the winner when the Bucs erupted for six runs in the ninth.

  • Utilityman Chuck Harmon (freshman starter was Toledo's second-leading scorer for 1943 NIT runner-up) became the second black player for the Cincinnati Reds when pinch-hitting against the Milwaukee Braves in a 1954 contest.

  • Boston Red Sox LHP Bill Henry (hoops letterman for Houston's 1947 NAIA Tournament team featuring co-captain Guy Lewis) won his MLB debut, yielding only five hits in eight innings of 9-2 triumph against the Washington Senators in 1952.

  • Baltimore Orioles 2B Davey Johnson (averaged 1.7 ppg with Texas A&M in 1961-62) provided back-to-back four-hit games against the Boston Red Sox in 1969.

  • Chicago White Sox RHP Bob Keegan (Bucknell hoops letterman in 1941-42 and 1942-43) toiled at least eight innings for the first of 10 straight starts in 1954, including a pair of shutouts.

  • Detroit Tigers SS Harvey Kuenn (played briefly for Wisconsin in 1951-52 after competing on JV hoops squad previous season) stroked three doubles among his four hits against the Kansas City Athletics in a 1955 game.

  • Milwaukee Braves SS Johnny Logan (Binghamton hooper in 1948-49) jacked two homers in a 5-1 win against the Cincinnati Reds in 1954.

  • Chicago White Sox RHP Ted Lyons (two-time All-SWC first-team selection for Baylor in early 1920s) hurled a shutout against the Cleveland Indians in his season debut. The 41-year-old Lyons went the distance in all 20 starts during the 1942 campaign en route to posting an A.L.-best 2.10 ERA.

  • Philadelphia Phillies RF Bake McBride (averaged 12.7 ppg and 8.1 rpg in 21 games for Westminster MO in 1968-69 and 1969-70) collected two homers and five RBI against the Pittsburgh Pirates in a 1979 contest.

  • California Angels 3B Bob Oliver (All-Valley Conference basketball choice for American River Community College CA in 1962) smacked two homers in a 5-3 win against the Minnesota Twins in 1974.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates RHP Elmer Ponder (Oklahoma hoops letterman in 1913-14 and 1915-16) tossed a 13-inning shutout against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1920.

  • New York Giants RF Dave Robertson (one of two reserves on North Carolina State's first basketball team in 1911) contributed three hits and five RBI in an 8-3 triumph against the Brooklyn Robins in 1917.

  • Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) secured his first safety with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. It was one of his 19 bunt hits as a rookie.

  • Chicago Cubs LF Riggs Stephenson (Alabama hoops letterman in 1920) supplied three extra-base hits, including a homer, in a six-inning, 3-0 victory against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1930.

  • Detroit Tigers RF Champ Summers (led SIUE in scoring in 1969-70 after doing same with Nicholls State in 1964-65) collected four hits against the Boston Red Sox, igniting a career-high 17-game hitting streak in 1980.

  • In 1989, Cincinnati Reds RHP Kent Tekulve (freshman hooper in mid-1960s for Marietta OH) passed Hoyt Wilhelm as MLB's all-time leader in relief appearances.

  • Kansas City Royals 1B John Wathan (averaged 3.7 ppg in 11 games for San Diego in 1968-69) hit safely in his first eight games of the 1983 campaign.

Retirement Planners: Coaches Sleep On It/Weep On It/Think on It/Drink to It

April 16th, 2020 - 11:25

It's patently clear not every coach departs with pomp-and-circumstance style such as luminaries John Wooden, Al McGuire, Ray Meyer and Dean Smith when they bowed out. From 1964 to 1975 with Wooden at the helm, UCLA won an NCAA-record 10 national titles, including seven straight from 1967 through 1973. McGuire's goodbye in 1977 with an NCAA title marked Marquette's eighth straight season finishing among the Top 10 in a final wire-service poll. Meyer directed DePaul to a Top 6 finish in a final wire-service poll six times in his final seven seasons from 1978 through 1984. Smith won at least 28 games with North Carolina in four of his final five seasons from 1992-93 through 1996-97.

But fond farewells are the exception, not the rule, in coping with Father Time. Just ask Phil Martelli, who departed Saint Joseph's recently following his third consecutive non-winning campaign and fourth in five years. How many other school all-time winningest mentors rode off into the sunset donning at least a partial black rather than white hat? How much they may have tarnished their legacy is debatable but hanging around too long probably caused a few of the following celebrated coaches to lose a portion of their luster:

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make News on April 16 MLB Games

April 16th, 2020 - 9:13

Extra! Extra! Amid conoravirus postponement of start of season, you have time to read news all about memorable major league baseball achievements, moments and transactions involving former college basketball players. Numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games and dates in MLB history. Former San Diego State hoopers Tony Gwynn and Graig Nettles supplied significant MLB hitting performances as lefthanded batters on this date.

Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an April 16 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

APRIL 16

  • Detroit Tigers 2B Frank Bolling (averaged 7.3 ppg for Spring Hill AL basketball team in 1950-51), en route to hitting .632 through first five games of the 1958 campaign, banged out four hits in a 5-4 win against the Chicago White Sox.

  • Kansas City Athletics LF Bob Cerv (ranked fourth on Nebraska's career scoring list in 1949-50 when finishing college career) collected three extra-base hits and five RBI in a 9-4 triumph against the Cleveland Indians in 1958.

  • Philadelphia Athletics starting LHP Chubby Dean (reserve guard for Duke in 1936) did not allow an earned run in 10 innings in a 2-1 win against the New York Yankees in 1940.

  • 1B Kerby Farrell (key hooper for couple of strong Freed-Hardeman TN squads in mid-1930s) purchased from the Boston Braves by the Chicago White Sox in 1945.

  • Houston Astros C Joe Ferguson (played in 1967 NCAA playoffs with Pacific) furnished three extra-base hits against the Atlanta Braves in a 1977 game.

  • Philadelphia Athletics RF Walt French (hoops letterman for Rutgers and Army) furnished four hits against the Washington Senators in a 1926 contest.

  • Debut with San Francisco Giants for RHP Rich Gale (led New Hampshire with 7.2 rpg in 1975-76) was a success, hurling a three-hit, 6-1 victory against the Cincinnati Reds in 1982.

  • St. Louis Cardinals RHP Bob Gibson (Creighton's leading scorer and rebounder in 1955-56 and 1956-57) and Philadelphia Phillies P Cal McLish both failed to finish first inning when each starter allowed six runs in the Cards' 12-6 win at Philly in 1962.

  • Chicago White Sox C Frank Grube (Lafayette starting hoops guard as senior in 1926-27) went 4-for-4 against the Cleveland Indians in a 1932 game.

  • San Diego Padres RF Tony Gwynn (All-WAC second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81) went 5-for-5 against the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 1987 contest en route to N.L.-high 218 hits.

  • Cleveland Indians CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling 35-3 record) delivered three extra-base hits against the Toronto Blue Jays in a 1993 contest.

  • Milwaukee Braves SS Johnny Logan (Binghamton hooper in 1948-49) went 5-for-5 against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1955 game.

  • Rookie C Cal Neeman (Illinois Wesleyan's leading scorer in 1947-48 and 1948-49) scored the Chicago Cubs' only run of 1957 season opener after notching his initial big-league hit (single to right-center off Warren Spahn in bottom of fifth inning of 4-1 setback).

  • Final blast of 390 MLB career homers by 3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) was a pinch-hit, game-tying round-tripper for the Montreal Expos against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1988.

  • RHP Roy Parmelee (hoops letterman for Eastern Michigan in 1924-25 and 1925-26) purchased from the Chicago Cubs by the Boston Red Sox in 1938.

  • In a 1931 contest, Cincinnati Reds RF Wally Roettger (Illinois hoops letterman in 1921-22 and 1922-23) went 5-for-5 against his original team (St. Louis Cardinals).

  • Texas Rangers RHP Mike Smithson (teammate of Tennessee All-American Ernie Grunfeld averaged 1.9 ppg and 1.6 rpg under coach Ray Mears in 1974-75 and 1975-76) won his first three starts in 1984.

  • Philadelphia Phillies 1B Jim Thome (played junior-college hoops for Illinois Central in 1988-89) went 4-for-4 in 2004 game against the Montreal Expos.

MLB Celebrates Former Hooper Jackie By Wearing Uniform Number 42

April 15th, 2020 - 7:50

"A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives." - Jackie Robinson

Although postponed this year because of coronavirus, the entirety of SportsNation accepts the cultural significance of Jackie Robinson Day, an annual event commemorating and honoring the groundbreaking day he made his debut 73 years ago with the Brooklyn Dodgers as MLB's first African-American player.

But what many observers might not know about Robinson is the impact he also had in basketball. UCLA's initial all-conference hooper in the 1940s was a forward who compiled the highest scoring average in the Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with the Bruins (12.3 points per league game in 1939-40 and 11.1 ppg in 1940-41) after transferring from Pasadena (Calif.) City College. Continuing his scoring exploits, the six-time National League All-Star also materialized as the leading scorer for the Los Angeles Red Devils' barnstorming team in 1946-47.

In 1949, Jackie triggered a streak of eight different African-Americans winning a total of 11 N.L. MVPs in 14-year span through 1962. In deference to Robinson's uniform number, following is an alphabetical list of 42 more of the best African-American basketball players for four-year colleges who subsequently competed at the MLB level:

College Hooper Four-Year College Summary of College Basketball Career Summary of MLB Career
Ron Allen Youngstown State Averaged 14.7 ppg from 1961-62 through 1963-64, leading Penguins in scoring and rebounding as sophomore. Only hit in 11 MLB at-bats for 1B and brother of Dick Allen and Hank Allen was homer with St. Louis Cardinals at San Diego in 1972.
George Altman Tennessee State Four-year letterman was forward on teams compiling 88-17 record from 1951-52 through 1954-55 (including two NAIA Tournament appearances). Two-time All-Star 1B hit .269 with 102 home runs in nine seasons from 1959 through 1967 with Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals and New York Mets before playing eight years in Japan.
Jim Bibby Fayetteville State (N.C.) Backup hooper's brother, Fred, set Fayetteville State single-season record with 18.1 rpg in 1963-64. Their younger brother, Henry, was consensus first-team All-American guard with UCLA in 1971-72. RHP compiled 111-101 record and 3.76 ERA with St. Louis Cardinals, Texas Rangers, Cleveland Indians and Pittsburgh Pirates in 12 seasons from 1972 through 1984. Hurled first no-hitter in Rangers history in 1973 and started two games for victorious Pirates in 1979 World Series.
Dorian "Doe" Boyland Wisconsin-Oshkosh Averaged 5.6 ppg and 3.4 rpg in half a season in 1974-75. 1B had two hits in 19 at-bats with Pittsburgh Pirates in three years from 1978 to 1981. Traded to San Francisco Giants but never played for them.
Al Bumbry Virginia State Averaged 16.7 ppg (team runner-up) as freshman in 1964-65 and 12.4 ppg plus 4.6 rpg as junior in 1966-67. Lefthanded-swinging OF hit .281 with Baltimore Orioles and San Diego Padres in 14 years from 1972 through 1985. Hit .337 as A.L. Rookie of the Year in 1973 when tying MLB single-game record with three triples. Finished among top nine in stolen bases five times in first nine years. Participated in World Series in 1979 and 1983.
Ray Burris Southwestern Oklahoma State Two-sport standout is in school's Hall of Fame. RHP compiled 108-134 record and 4.17 ERA with Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees, New York Mets, Montreal Expos, Oakland A's, Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals in 15 years from 1973 through 1987. Started three postseason games for Expos in 1981 after averaging 227 innings pitched last four full seasons with Cubs.
Tony Clark Arizona/San Diego State Swingman averaged 11.6 ppg and 4.6 rpg for Aztecs as sophomore in 1991-92, leading them in scoring in WAC games. 1B averaged 31 HRs annually in four-year span from 1996 through 1999 with Detroit Tigers. Tallest switch-hitter (6-7) in MLB history hit .262 with 251 homers and 824 RBI in 15 seasons from 1995 through 2009 with Tigers, Red Sox, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres.
Donn Clendenon Morehouse (Ga.) Earned letters in four collegiate sports before leading Army base at Fort Jackson (Columbia, S.C.) to hoop title before discharge in time for spring training in 1959. 1B hit .274 with 159 home runs and 682 RBI with Pittsburgh Pirates, Montreal Expos, New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals in 12 years from 1961 through 1972. World Series MVP with "Miracle Mets" in 1969 when hitting three home runs (Games 2, 4 and 5).
Vince Colbert East Carolina ECU's first African-American hooper averaged 14.3 ppg and 7.3 rpg in 1966-67 and 1967-68. J.C. transfer led Pirates in rebounding as junior. RHP compiled 9-14 record and 4.57 ERA with Cleveland Indians in three years from 1970 through 1972. He was their only winning pitcher (7-6) with 10 or more starts in 1971.
George Crowe Indiana Central Four-year hoops letterman from 1939-40 through 1942-43 for college now known as University of Indianapolis after becoming first Indiana H.S. player named state's "Mr. Basketball." 1B hit .270 in nine years (1952, 1953 and 1955 through 1961) with Boston/Milwaukee Braves, Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals. One year after named All-Star, led N.L. in pinch-hits (17) in first season with Cards in 1959 before slugging MLB-record 11th pinch-hit HR in 1960.
Arthur "Bill" Davis Minnesota Averaged 6.4 ppg and 5 rpg from 1961-62 through 1963-64 under coach John Kundla. Forward contributed 12.5 ppg as senior for team including eventual NBA standouts Archie Clark and Lou Hudson. 1B hit .181 with Cleveland Indians and San Diego Padres in three seasons (1965, 1966 and 1969).
Larry Doby Virginia Union Attended LIU on hoops scholarship but transferred to VU after Uncle Sam summoned him for World War II service. Reserve guard on team winning 1943 CIAA title. Seven-time All-Star OF hit .283 with 253 HRs and 969 RBI in 13 years from 1947 through 1959 with Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox. First black player in A.L. twice led league in homers (1952 and 1954). Smacked 20 or more HRs eight seasons in row from 1949 through 1956.
Don Eaddy Michigan One of first two African-Americans to play hoops for Wolverines averaged 11.4 ppg in four seasons from 1951-52 through 1954-55. Led team in scoring in Big Ten Conference competition as sophomore. INF played briefly with Chicago Cubs in 1959.
Amir Garrett St. John's Averaged 7.4 ppg and 4 rpg in 2011-12 and 2012-13 under coach Steve Lavin prior to transferring to Northridge State, where he had RS year before focusing only on baseball. After representing Cincinnati Reds at 2016 All-Star Futures Game, LHP won his first two MLB decisions in April 2017 with six shutout innings in each start. In his third start, he tied Reds record for rookie LHP by fanning 12 Baltimore Orioles batters. In 2018, Garrett didn't allow a run in his first eight relief appearances and had a 1.35 ERA after 21 outings.
Bob Gibson Creighton First Bluejays player to average 20 ppg for his career (20.2). Led school in scoring in 1955-56 (40th in country with 22 ppg) and 1956-57 after being second-leading scorer in 1954-55. Hall of Famer compiled 251-174 pitching record with 3,117 strikeouts and 2.91 ERA in 17 seasons from 1959 through 1975 with St. Louis Cardinals. In 1968, RHP tossed 13 shutouts en route to a 1.12 ERA. Ranked among N.L. top six in strikeouts 11 times from 1961 through 1972. He hit 24 home runs and won nine consecutive Gold Gloves (1965 through 1973). Notched 7-2 mark and 1.89 ERA in nine World Series games, including strikeout record of 17 Tigers in 1968 contest.
Tony Gwynn San Diego State Averaged 8.6 ppg and 5.5 apg from 1977-78 through 1980-81. Second-team All-WAC selection as junior and senior set school DI single-game mark with 18 assists vs. UNLV. San Diego Padres OF hit .338 in 20 seasons (1982 through 2001), winning eight N.L. batting titles - 1984, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997. Played in 15th All-Star Game in 1999 before topping 3,000-hit plateau later in year.
Chuck Harmon Toledo Second-leading scorer as sophomore in 1946-47 (13.6 ppg) and as junior in 1947-48 (8.8). As freshman starter in 1942-43, swingman was second-leading scorer for 22-4 team finishing NIT runner-up. Utilityman hit .238 in four seasons from 1954 through 1957 with Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis Cardinals and Philadelphia Phillies.
Billy Harrell Siena When school's first African-American player finished career, he held school records for most points in season (396 in 1951-52), career and game (28 against Arizona State in 1951) plus most rebounds in season (387 in 1949-50). INF hit .231 in 173 games with Cleveland Indians (1955, 1957, 1958) and Boston Red Sox (1961).
Chuck Hinton Shaw (N.C.) Played multiple sports before serving two years in U.S. Army in mid-1950s. His brother, Checo, was lineman with him on football squad and power forward for hoops team. OF-INF played every defensive position while hitting .264 with Washington Senators, Cleveland Indians and California Angels in 11 A.L. seasons from 1961 through 1971. In 1962, he was runner-up in stolen bases in A.L. and finished fourth in batting average. First expansion Senator to be named to All-Star team was final Senator to hit .300.
Monte Irvin Lincoln (Pa.) Athletic career was nearly prematurely ended when infection from scratched hand in hoops game kept him close to death for seven weeks. Hall of Fame OF-1B hit .293 with 99 HRs and 443 RBI in eight years from 1949 through 1956 with New York Giants and Chicago Cubs. Irvin led N.L. in RBI with 121 in 1951 (same year led World Series in hitting with .458 mark vs. crosstown Yankees).
Anthony "Tony" Johnson LeMoyne-Owen (Tenn.) J.C. transfer forward was All-VSAC selection in 1976-77 and 1979-80 as team's top scorer. LF hit .232 with Montreal Expos and Toronto Blue Jays in two years in 1981 and 1982.
"Sweet" Lou Johnson Kentucky State Teammate of legendary Alcorn State coach Davey Whitney averaged 5.7 ppg and 2 rpg in 1951-52. OF hit .258 with Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles/California Angels, Milwaukee Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers and Cleveland Indians in eight seasons from 1960 through 1969. Contributed two homers and two doubles for Dodgers in 1965 World Series against Minnesota Twins.
Lynn Jones Thiel (Pa.) Averaged 10.4 ppg from 1970-71 through 1973-74. OF hit .252 with Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals in eight seasons from 1979 through 1986. Doubled and tripled as pinch-hitter for Royals in 1985 World Series against St. Louis Cardinals.
David Justice Thomas More (Ky.) Led team in assists in 1984-85 while averaging 9.3 ppg and 3.5 rpg. Three-time All-Star OF hit .279 in 14 seasons from 1989 through 2002 with Atlanta Braves, Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees and Oakland A's. Jacked 40 homers (N.L. runner-up) with 120 RBI (also runner-up) in 1993 with Braves and total of 41 homers (fourth in A.L.) with 118 RBI in 2000 with Indians and Yanks.
Kenny Lofton Arizona Averaged 4.8 ppg and 2.6 apg in four seasons from 1985-86 through 1988-89 under coach Lute Olson. Leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling 35-3 record. Lefthanded CF hit .299 and stole 622 bases in 17 seasons from 1991 through 2007 with Houston Astros, Cleveland Indians, Atlanta Braves, Chicago White Sox, San Francisco Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, Los Angeles Dodgers and Texas Rangers. Four-time Gold Glover led Indians with .325 batting mark (fourth in A.L.) and paced majors with 70 stolen bases in 1993. After trade to Cleveland, hit .285 for Indians in 1992 and led the A.L. in stolen bases with 66 (record for A.L. rookie). Six-time All-Star led A.L. in stolen bases five consecutive years from 1992 through 1996, hitting career-high .349 in 1994.
Davey Lopes Iowa Wesleyan/Washburn (Kan.) NAIA All-District 15 selection averaged 16.9 ppg and 3.4 rpg as All-IIAC first-team choice freshman in 1964-65 and 12.1 ppg as sophomore in 1965-66 before transferring with his coach. All-CIC selection in 1967-68 when averaging 7.6 ppg for NAIA Tournament team. Four-time All-Star 2B hit .263 with Los Angeles Dodgers, Oakland A's, Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros in 16 seasons from 1972 through 1987. Led N.L. in stolen bases in back-to-back campaigns in 1975 (77) and 1976 (63) after finishing runner-up in 1974 (59). Swiped five bases in game in 1974, tying 70-year-old N.L. record before establishing since-broken N.L. mark with 38 consecutive successful thefts in 1975.
Terrell Lowery Loyola Marymount Two-time All-WCC first-team selection and league-leading scorer. Tallied career-high 48 points against Idaho State as junior in 1990-91 when finishing among top five nationally in scoring (28.5 ppg) and assists (9.1 apg). OF hit .282 with Chicago Cubs, Tampa Bay Devil Rays and San Francisco Giants from 1997 through 2000. Stroked five hits for Giants in single game against Milwaukee Brewers in 2000.
Arnold "Bake" McBride Westminster (Mo.) Averaged 12.7 ppg and 8.1 rpg in 21 games in 1968-69 and 1969-70. Lefthanded-swinging OF hit .299 with St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies and Cleveland Indians in 11 seasons from 1973 through 1983. N.L. Rookie of the Year in 1974 when hitting .309 with Cardinals was named to N.L. All-Star team two years later.
Lyle Mouton Louisiana State Averaged 8.2 ppg and 3.2 rpg as sophomore in 1988-89 under coach Dale Brown. Started in backcourt with All-American Chris Jackson when Tigers lost to UTEP in West Regional of NCAA playoffs. OF hit .280 for Chicago White Sox, Baltimore Orioles, Milwaukee Brewers and Florida Marlins in seven years from 1995 through 2001.
Billy North Central Washington Collected two points and two rebounds in four games in 1967-68. Switch-hitting CF posted .261 batting average with Chicago Cubs, Oakland Athletics, Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants in 11 years from 1971 through 1981. Paced A.L. in stolen bases in 1974 (54) and 1976 (75).
Curtis Pride William & Mary Averaged 5.6 ppg and 3.1 apg from 1986-87 through 1989-90. Led team in steals three times and assists twice. Named to CAA All-Rookie team pick as freshman and All-Defensive team selection next two seasons. Born with 95% hearing disability, lefthanded-swinging OF hit .250 in 11 seasons from 1993 to 2006 with seven franchises (Montreal Expos, Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves, Montreal Expos, New York Yankees and Anaheim/California Angels).
Dave Ricketts Duquesne Three-year starter led Dukes in scoring as senior with 17.9-point average in 1956-57, finishing fourth in nation in free-throw percentage (86.2%). Converted school-record 42 FTAs in row. Catcher hit .249 in six seasons (1962, 1965 and 1967 through 1970) with St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates. Switch-hitter played with Cards in 1967 and 1968 World Series.
Dick Ricketts Duquesne Second-team consensus All-American choice as junior in 1953-54 and first five consensus All-American selection as senior in 1954-55. Converted all 19 FTAs in game against Dayton. School's all-time leading scorer averaged 17.7 ppg and 12.2 rpg in starting all 111 games during four-year career. Compiled 1-6 pitching record in only season with St. Louis Cardinals in 1959.
Earl Robinson California Three-time All-PCC second-team selection averaged at least 10 ppg each season from 1955-56 through 1957-58 under coach Pete Newell. Averaged 15.5 points in four NCAA Tournament games his last two years, leading Bears in scoring in two of four playoff contests. OF hit .268 in four seasons from 1958 to 1964 with Los Angeles Dodgers and Baltimore Orioles.
Ted Savage Lincoln (Mo.) Led in scoring average with 13.5 ppg in 1955-56 before averaging 14.5 ppg and 5.6 rpg in 1956-57. OF hit .233 in nine seasons (1962, 1963 and 1965 through 1971) with Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers, Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers and Kansas City Royals.
Ken Singleton Hofstra Freshman hooper in mid-1960s. Three-time All-Star OF hit .282 with 246 HRs and 1,065 RBI with New York Mets, Montreal Expos and Baltimore Orioles in 15 years from 1970 through 1984. Switch-hitter exceeded 20 HRs in five seasons, including high of 35 (fifth in A.L.) in 1979 with Orioles.
Lee Smith Northwestern State Forward averaged 3.4 ppg and 1.9 rpg in 1976-77 as teammate of Billy Reynolds, the nation's ninth-leading scorer that season. Seven-time All-Star was all-time saves leader when he retired, notching 478 in 18 seasons from 1980 through 1997 with Chicago Cubs, Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles, California Angels, Cincinnati Reds and Montreal Expos until Trevor Hoffman broke his mark in 2006. Set N.L. record in 1991 (subsequently broken) for most saves in season with 47 for Cardinals. RHP led N.L. in saves three times (1983-91-92) and A.L. once (1994).
Nate Smith Tennessee State Letterman in 1953-54 and 1954-55. Catcher went 2 for 9 in five games with Baltimore Orioles in 1962.
Bob Veale Benedictine (Kan.) Scored 1,160 points from 1955-56 through 1957-58 as center for school previously called St. Benedict's. LHP compiled 120-95 record and 3.08 ERA in 13 seasons from 1962 through 1974 with Pittsburgh Pirates and Boston Red Sox. Led N.L. in strikeouts with 250 in 1964 (first of four consecutive years he won at least 16 games and ranked among top seven in strikeouts).
Will Venable Princeton All-Ivy League first-team selection as junior and second-team choice as senior averaged 9.3 ppg under coach John Thompson III from 2001-02 through 2004-05. Lefthanded OF hit .249 with San Diego Padres, Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Dodgers in nine seasons from 2008 through 2016. Finished among N.L. top 10 in triples (8th with 7) and stolen bases (9th with 29) in 2010.
Bill White Hiram (Ohio) Three-sport letterman played two years of hoops. Five-time All-Star 1B hit .286 with New York/San Francisco Giants, St. Louis Cardinals and Philadelphia Phillies in 13 N.L. seasons in 1956 and from 1958 through 1969. Lefthander ranked among N.L. top 10 in RBI five times (1961-62-63-64-66). Placed among N.L. top eight in both doubles and triples three straight campaigns from 1959 through 1961. Gold Glover seven consecutive years from 1960 through 1966.
Desi Wilson Fairleigh Dickinson FDU's all-time leading scorer (1,902 points) was NEC player of year in 1989-90. Leading scorer (23.8 ppg) and rebounder (9.2 rpg) for 1990-91 league co-champion. Lefthanded-swinging 1B hit .271 with San Francisco Giants in 1996.
Dave Winfield Minnesota Averaged 6.9 ppg and 5.4 rpg as junior in 1971-72 and 10.5 ppg and 6.1 rpg as senior in 1972-73 under coach Bill Musselman. Played entire playoff game in 1972, collecting eight points and eight rebounds against eventual Final Four participant Florida State, in Gophers' first NCAA Tournament appearance. Hall of Fame OF hit .283 with 465 home runs, 1,833 RBI and 3,110 hits in 22 seasons (1973 through 1988 and 1990 through 1995) with San Diego Padres, New York Yankees, California Angels, Toronto Blue Jays, Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Indians. Led N.L. in total bases in 1979 with 333 before ranking among A.L. top four in batting average in 1984 (.340) and 1988 (.322). Seven-time Gold Glover appeared in 12 All-Star Games after never playing in minors. Participated in World Series with Yankees (1981) and Blue Jays (1992).

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make News on April 15 MLB Games

April 15th, 2020 - 7:37

Extra! Extra! Amid coronavirus outbreak, you have time to read news all about memorable major league baseball achievements, moments and transactions involving former college basketball players! Numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games and dates in MLB history.

Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. In a historical milestone, Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) debuted for the Brooklyn Dodgers as a first baseman in 1947, becoming the first black player to appear in a MLB game. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is a taxing April 15 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

APRIL 15

  • New York Giants 2B Andy Cohen (Alabama basketball letterman in 1924 and 1925) went 3-for-4 for the second time in first three games of 1928 campaign.

  • LHP Chubby Dean (reserve guard for Duke in 1936) hurled a complete game in the Philadelphia Athletics' season opener to give them a 3-1 win against the New York Yankees in 1941.

  • Brooklyn Dodgers RF Ox Eckhart (Texas hoops letterman in 1923) smacked his lone MLB homer (against New York Giants in 1936).

  • RHP Bob Gibson (Creighton's leading scorer and rebounder in 1955-56 and 1956-57) made his St. Louis Cardinals debut at Los Angeles in 1959, hurling the final two innings in a 5-0 setback against the Dodgers. He became the first future Hall of Famer to yield a homer to first batter he faced in the majors (3B Jim Baxes went downtown in seventh inning).

  • First appearance and start in 1961 for Philadelphia Phillies RHP Dallas Green (Delaware's second-leading scorer and rebounder in 1954-55) wound up becoming a five-hit shutout against the San Francisco Giants.

  • INF Gene Handley (Bradley hoops letterman in 1932-33 and 1933-34) purchased from the Pittsburgh Pirates by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1940.

  • Boston Red Sox LHP Bill Henry (hoops letterman for Houston's 1947 NAIA Tournament team featuring co-captain Guy Lewis) restricted the Washington Senators to three hits in a complete-game victory in 1954.

  • C Cal Neeman (Illinois Wesleyan's leading scorer in 1947-48 and 1948-49), not Ernie Banks, collected the Chicago Cubs' first homer of 1958 (at St. Louis in season opener).

  • Kansas City Royals RF Bob Oliver (All-Valley Conference basketball choice for American River Community College CA in 1962) whacked a two-out, game-tying homer in the bottom of the ninth inning en route to an 11-inning, 2-1 win against the Chicago White Sox in 1972 season opener.

  • 1B Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) debuted for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, becoming the first black player to appear in a MLB game. Before Robinson was replaced by Howie Schultz (Hamline MN hooper in early 1940s), he went hitless in three at-bats against the Boston Braves a year before President Truman desegregated the military.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates CF Bill Virdon (Drury MO hooper in 1949) belted two homers in a 4-1 triumph against the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1961.

  • Washington Senators rookie RHP Monte Weaver (hoops center for Emory & Henry VA in mid-1920s) won his season debut in 1932 with a four-hit shutout against the Boston Red Sox.

  • Boston Red Sox C Sammy White (All-PCC Northern Division first-five selection for Washington in 1947-48 and 1948-49) went 4-for-4 against the Washington Senators in a 1954 contest.

  • Philadelphia Phillies CF Cy Williams (Notre Dame forward in 1909-10) homered twice against the Boston Braves in a 1922 game.

  • San Diego Padres RHP Chris Young (All-Ivy League first-team selection as Princeton's leading scorer and rebounder in 1999-00) tied a MLB record with 25 straight starts on the road without a defeat before bowing at Los Angeles against the Dodgers in 2007.

Tiny Dancers: What Could Have Been for Mid-Majors in 2020 NCAA Playoffs?

April 14th, 2020 - 8:52

Prior to coronavirus cancellation, the national tourney this season was expected to be a bonanza year for mid-majors with Dayton (Atlantic 10), Gonzaga (West Coast) and San Diego State (Mountain West) ranked in Top 10. When given an opportunity via an at-large invitation to the Big Dance, members from 11 different mid-major conferences have more than held their own against opponents from elite leagues. The greatest example was Virginia Commonwealth, which defeated members from five different power leagues en route to the 2011 Final Four. It was preposterous there were any questions at all about Belmont (Ohio Valley) as an at-large team this campaign.

Power-conference setback totals against mid-major at-large entrants since 1992 include: Big Eight/Big 12 (22), Big East (19), Big Ten (15), SEC (15), ACC (13) and Pac-12 (11). In the previous 28 years (all but 2009 and 2017), the following total of 39 different mid-major at-large entrants went on to win in the NCAA playoffs against a total of 53 different power-conference members (listed in reverse chronological order):

Year At-Large Entrant Mid-Major Conference Power-League Victim(s) in NCAA Tournament
2019 Houston American Athletic Ohio State (Big Ten)
2018 Nevada Mountain West Texas (Big 12)
2016 Virginia Commonwealth Atlantic 10 Oregon State (Pac-12)
2016 Wichita State Missouri Valley Vanderbilt (SEC) and Arizona (Pac-12)
2015 Dayton Atlantic 10 Providence (Big East)
2015 San Diego State Mountain West St. John's (Big East)
2015 UAB C-USA Iowa State (Big 12)
2015 Wichita State Missouri Valley Indiana (Big Ten) and Kansas (Big 12)
2014 Dayton Atlantic 10 Ohio State (Big Ten), Syracuse (ACC) and Stanford (Pac-12)
2013 Colorado State Mountain West Missouri (SEC)
2013 La Salle Atlantic 10 Kansas State (Big 12) and Ole Miss (SEC)
2013 San Diego State Mountain West Oklahoma (Big 12)
2013 Temple Atlantic 10 North Carolina State (ACC)
2013 Wichita State Missouri Valley Pittsburgh (Big East) and Ohio State (Big Ten)
2012 Gonzaga West Coast West Virginia (Big East)
2012 Xavier Atlantic 10 Notre Dame (Big East)
2011 George Mason Colonial Villanova (Big East)
2011 Temple Atlantic 10 Penn State (Big Ten)
2011 Virginia Commonwealth Colonial USC (Pacific-10), Georgetown (Big East), Purdue (Big Ten), Florida State (ACC) and Kansas (Big 12)
2010 Brigham Young Mountain West Florida (SEC)
2010 Gonzaga West Coast Florida State (ACC)
2010 Xavier Atlantic 10 Minnesota (Big Ten) and Pittsburgh (Big East)
2008 Xavier Atlantic 10 Georgia (SEC), Purdue (Big Ten) and West Virginia (Big East)
2007 Butler Horizon League Maryland (ACC)
2007 Southern Illinois Missouri Valley Virginia Tech (ACC)
2006 Bradley Missouri Valley Kansas (Big 12) and Pittsburgh (Big East)
2006 George Mason Colonial Michigan State (Big Ten), North Carolina (ACC) and Connecticut (Big East)
2006 Wichita State Missouri Valley Seton Hall (Big East) and Tennessee (SEC)
2005 Cincinnati C-USA Iowa (Big Ten)
2005 Nevada WAC Texas (Big 12)
2005 Pacific Big West Pittsburgh (Big East)
2005 UAB C-USA Louisiana State (SEC)
2005 Utah Mountain West Oklahoma (Big 12)
2004 Memphis C-USA South Carolina (SEC)
2004 Saint Joseph's Atlantic 10 Texas Tech (Big 12) and Wake Forest (ACC)
2004 UAB C-USA Washington (Pacific-10) and Kentucky (SEC)
2003 Butler Horizon League Mississippi State (SEC)
2003 Utah Mountain West Oregon (Pacific-10)
2002 Southern Illinois Missouri Valley Texas Tech (Big 12) and Georgia (SEC)
2001 Fresno State WAC California (Pacific-10)
2001 Saint Joseph's Atlantic 10 Georgia Tech (ACC)
2000 Pepperdine West Coast Indiana (Big Ten)
1999 Miami (Ohio) Mid-American Washington (Pacific-10)
1999 Missouri State Missouri Valley Wisconsin (Big Ten) and Tennessee (SEC)
1999 New Mexico WAC Missouri (Big 12)
1998 Detroit Midwestern Collegiate St. John's (Big East)
1998 Rhode Island Atlantic 10 Kansas (Big 12)
1998 Utah WAC Arkansas (SEC), West Virginia (Big East), Arizona (Pacific-10) and North Carolina (ACC)
1998 Western Michigan Mid-American Clemson (ACC)
1997 Charlotte C-USA Georgetown (Big East)
1997 Louisville C-USA Texas (Big 12)
1997 Temple Atlantic 10 Ole Miss (SEC)
1996 Louisville C-USA Villanova (Big East)
1996 Santa Clara West Coast Maryland (ACC)
1996 Temple Atlantic 10 Oklahoma (Big 12)
1996 Utah WAC Iowa State (Big 12)
1995 Manhattan Metro Atlantic Oklahoma (Big Eight)
1995 Miami (Ohio) Mid-American Arizona (Pacific-10)
1995 Saint Louis Great Midwest Minnesota (Big Ten)
1995 Tulsa Missouri Valley Illinois (Big Ten)
1994 Tulsa Missouri Valley UCLA (Pacific-10) and Oklahoma State (Big Eight)
1993 New Mexico State Big West Nebraska (Big Eight)
1993 Rhode Island Atlantic 10 Purdue (Big Ten)
1993 Temple Atlantic 10 Missouri (Big Eight) and Vanderbilt (SEC)
1993 Tulane Metro Kansas State (Big Eight)
1993 Utah WAC Pittsburgh (Big East)
1992 Louisville Metro Wake Forest (ACC)
1992 Texas-El Paso WAC Kansas (Big Eight)
1992 Tulane Metro St. John's (Big East)

NOTE: Butler (Big East), Cincinnati (Big East), Louisville (Big East and ACC), Utah (Pac-12) and Xavier (Big East) subsequently joined a power conference.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make News on April 14 MLB Games

April 14th, 2020 - 8:35

Extra! Extra! Amid postponement of start of season, you have time to read news all about memorable major league baseball achievements, moments and transactions involving former college basketball players! Numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games and dates in MLB history.

Former college hoopers Denny Doyle, Sandy Koufax, Rick Leach, Kenny Lofton, Graig Nettles, Paul Splittorff and Ed Wells made MLB news as lefthanded hitters or pitchers on this date. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an April 14 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

APRIL 14

  • 2B Denny Doyle (averaged 2.7 ppg for Morehead State's basketball squad in 1962-63) stroked a two-run single in the bottom of the eighth inning to give the Philadelphia Phillies a 6-5 win against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1971.

  • Los Angeles Dodgers LHP Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman hoops team in 1953-54) threw the ninth complete game without permitting a walk in his career by blanking the St. Louis Cardinals, 4-0, in 1964 in his only Opening Day start.

  • A two-run pinch single by Rick Leach (averaged 15.5 ppg for Michigan's JV squad in 1975-76) provided the margin of victory in the Texas Rangers' 4-2 verdict over the Detroit Tigers in 1989.

  • Atlanta Braves CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling a 35-3 record) contributed five hits and five runs scored in a 14-5 rout of the Cincinnati Reds in 1997.

  • New York Yankees 3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64), en route to tying a MLB record with 11 homers in the month of April, collected four round-trippers - two in each game - during a 1974 doubleheader split opposing his former team (Cleveland Indians).

  • LF Paul Schramka (JV hooper for San Francisco in late 1940s for coach Pete Newell's program) served as a pinch-runner with the Chicago Cubs in their 1953 season-opening victory. Schramka wore uniform #14 before Hall of Famer Ernie Banks inherited it late in the season.

  • Kansas City Royals LHP Paul Splittorff (runner-up in scoring and rebounding for Morningside IA in 1967-68) tossed a two-hit shutout against the Chicago White Sox in 1973.

  • RHP Jack Spring (freshman hooper for Washington State in 1951-52) obtained from the Kansas City Athletics by Los Angeles Angels as part of a minor league working agreement.

  • LHP Ed Wells (multi-sport athlete graduated in 1924 from Bethany WV) purchased from the New York Yankees by the St. Louis Browns in 1933.

National Review: State-By-State Winners and Sinners in NCAA Tournament

April 13th, 2020 - 8:39

No state has won as much as 64% of its NCAA Tournament games and none has as many as five different schools with winning playoff records. The Michigan Wolverines reaching the 2018 NCAA final instead of the Kansas Jayhawks enabled Michigan (.6284) to nudge ahead of Kansas (.6279) as the state with highest all-time winning percentage before the Michigan State Spartans padded the state's advantage with a 2019 Final Four appearance. Kansas, one of 20 states represented by four or fewer members in the U.S. House of Representatives, is represented much more in the NCAA playoffs by ranking seventh with 163 victories from only three universities. Additional stately views of national winners and sinners you might want to review include:

  • Schools from the state of North Carolina have collected more NCAA Tournament triumphs (324) than a total of 22 states including those with power-conference members such as Georgia, Missouri, New Jersey and West Virginia.
  • All four ACC members in Carolina have more than 25 playoff triumphs. Each of them (Duke, North Carolina, North Carolina State and Wake Forest) has more all-time wins than entire states such as Colorado, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Mexico, Rhode Island and South Carolina.
  • California is the only state with as many as 18 schools winning at least one NCAA Tournament game. Alas, less than 1/4 of them (four) have winning marks.
  • Other than Syracuse, Canisius is the only current New York Division I school to compile a winning NCAA playoff record (6-4). CCNY, the NCAA's DI champion in 1950, assembled a 4-2 mark ledger before de-emphasizing its program.
  • Despite Villanova's two NCAA titles in the last four seasons, Pennsylvania is the only state with at least 140 tourney victories to compile an overall losing mark (187-206).
  • Syracuse (plus 28 in NY; 68-40) and Villanova (plus 28 in PA; 65-37) are the most games above .500 in states with overall losing playoff marks. On the flip side, Miami OH (minus 13; 6-19) and Murray State KY (minus 13; 4-17) are tied for most games below .500 in states with overall winning worksheets.
  • Abilene Christian enabled Texas to nudge ahead of California for most different schools participating in the tourney with 24 although Houston (29-26) is the only institution from the Lone Star State posting a winning record. Texas (147-193) has a total of 13 Final Four teams after Texas Tech's success but is more games under .500 than any state (minus 46 including 11 different universities never winning a playoff contest).
  • LSU is the only one of Louisiana's 12 schools appearing in the playoffs notching a winning record. South Carolina has the most universities participate in the tourney (nine) without any of them posting a break-even or winning playoff record. Kansas has only three different colleges appear in the NCAA Tournament but boasts seven times as many victories as South Carolina and four times as many triumphs as Louisiana.
  • All six Mid-American Conference members from Ohio have losing records, combining for a 19-52 mark (.268).
  • Tennessee, the winningest state in NCAA playoff history (78 triumphs) despite never having a national champion, is the only state with as many as six schools at least five games below .500 in NCAA tourney competition.
  • Virginia is the only one of 12 different schools from its state and Memphis is only one of 11 different Tennessee schools appearing in the tourney to post a winning record.
  • Memphis (34-26) is joined by Spokane, Wash.-based Gonzaga (34-22) as the only mid-major schools leading a state with more than 60 playoff wins.
  • The only states with fewer than 45 tourney triumphs to assemble overall winning records are Nevada (39-28 by 6-9 Nevada and 33-19 UNLV) plus New Hampshire (10-7 by Dartmouth).
  • Utah is the only state saddled with as many as three schools posting tourney marks more than 10 games below .500 - Brigham Young (15-32), Utah State (6-23) and Weber State (6-17).

Former #VicePlagiarist Joe Biden, amid aspiring details about his soap-opera family aren't circulated, hopes his prospects of success telling truth about attending HBCU Delaware State and as a presidential candidate are a mite higher than the NCAA Tournament win total of the state he served as Senator because Delaware is 0-6. Belmont, UCF, UC Irvine, Fairleigh Dickinson, Liberty and Wofford posted their initial NCAA tourney triumph in 2019. Following are NCAA Division I playoff cumulative records listed by most state victories through 2019 and coronavirus cancellation of 2020 tourney:

STATE (# of Tourney Schools) Overall Record Pct. School-By-School NCAA Playoff Marks
NORTH CAROLINA (16) 324-195 .6243 Appalachian State (0-2), Campbell (0-1), Charlotte (7-12), Davidson (8-15), Duke (114-38), East Carolina (0-2), Gardner-Webb (0-1), North Carolina (126-47), North Carolina A&T (1-10), North Carolina Central (0-4), North Carolina State (37-26), UNC Asheville (2-4), UNC Greensboro (0-3), UNC Wilmington (1-6), Wake Forest (28-23) and Western Carolina (0-1)
KENTUCKY (seven) 236-156 .602 Eastern Kentucky (0-8), Kentucky (131-53), Louisville (76-44), Morehead State (6-8), Murray State (4-17), Northern Kentucky (0-2) and Western Kentucky (19-24)
CALIFORNIA (23) 235-214 .523 California (20-19), UC Davis (0-1), UC Irvine (1-2), Cal Poly (1-1), UC Santa Barbara (1-5), Cal State Bakersfield (0-1), Cal State Fullerton (2-3), Cal State Los Angeles (0-1), Cal State Northridge (0-2), Fresno State (2-6), Long Beach State (7-10), Loyola Marymount (5-5), Pacific (4-10), Pepperdine (5-14), Saint Mary's (5-10), San Diego (1-4), San Diego State (6-12), San Francisco (21-14), San Jose State (0-3), Santa Clara (11-13), Southern California (14-20), Stanford (23-16) and UCLA (106-42)
PENNSYLVANIA (15) 188-208 .475 Bucknell (2-8), Drexel (1-4), Duquesne (4-5), Lafayette (0-5), La Salle (14-11), Lebanon Valley (1-2), Lehigh (1-5), Penn (13-26), Penn State (9-11), Pittsburgh (24-27), Robert Morris (2-8), Saint Francis (0-1), Saint Joseph's (19-25), Temple (33-33) and Villanova (65-37)
INDIANA (nine) 181-147 .552 Ball State (3-7), Butler (24-16), Evansville (1-5), Indiana (66-34), IUPUI (0-1), Indiana State (5-4), Notre Dame (38-40), Purdue (42-31) and Valparaiso (2-9)
OHIO (12) 172-169 .504 Akron (0-4), Bowling Green (1-5), Cincinnati (46-32), Cleveland State (3-2), Dayton (19-20), Kent State (4-6), Miami (6-19), Ohio University (7-14), Ohio State (57-32), Toledo (1-4), Wright State (0-3) and Xavier (28-28)
KANSAS (three) 163-98 .6245 Kansas (108-47), Kansas State (37-35) and Wichita State (18-16)
TEXAS (24) 147-193 .432 Abilene Christian (0-1), Baylor (14-14), Hardin-Simmons (0-2), Houston (29-26), Houston Baptist (0-1), Lamar (5-6), North Texas (0-3), Prairie View A&M (0-2), Rice (2-5), Sam Houston State (0-2), Southern Methodist (10-14), Stephen F. Austin (2-5), Texas (35-37), Texas A&M (13-15), Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (0-1), Texas-Arlington (0-1), Texas Christian (5-8), Texas-El Paso (14-16), Texas-San Antonio (1-4), Texas Southern (1-8), Texas State (0-2), Texas Tech (16-18), Trinity (0-1) and West Texas A&M (0-1)
MICHIGAN (eight) 143-83 .633 Central Michigan (3-4), Detroit (3-6), Eastern Michigan (3-4), Michigan (61-28), Michigan State (69-32), Oakland (1-3), Wayne State (1-2) and Western Michigan (2-4)
NEW YORK (22) 140-171 .450 Albany (1-5), Binghamton (0-1), Buffalo (2-4), Canisius (6-4), CCNY (4-2), Colgate (0-3), Columbia (2-4), Cornell (2-6), Fordham (2-4), Hofstra (0-4), Iona (1-14), Long Island (0-7), Manhattan (3-9), Marist (0-2), NYU (9-9), Niagara (2-4), St. Bonaventure (7-9), St. John's (27-32), Siena (4-6), Stony Brook (0-1), Syracuse (68-40) and Wagner (0-1)
OKLAHOMA (five) 102-93 .523 Oklahoma (42-32), Oklahoma City (8-13), Oklahoma State (38-27), Oral Roberts (2-5) and Tulsa (12-16)
ILLINOIS (10) 95-95 .500 Bradley (11-9), DePaul (21-25), Eastern Illinois (0-2), Illinois (40-31), Illinois-Chicago (0-3), Illinois State (3-6), Loyola of Chicago (13-5), Northern Illinois (0-3), Northwestern (1-1) and Southern Illinois (6-10)
FLORIDA (11) 87-69 .558 Florida (47-20), Florida A&M (1-3), Florida Atlantic (0-1), Florida Gulf Coast (3-3), Florida International (0-1), Florida State (21-17), Jacksonville (4-5), Miami (8-10), North Florida (0-1), South Florida (2-3) and UCF (1-5)
VIRGINIA (12) 84-99 .459 George Mason (5-6), Hampton (2-6), James Madison (4-5), Liberty (1-4), Norfolk State (1-1), Old Dominion (3-12), Radford (1-3), Richmond (8-9), Virginia (35-22), Virginia Commonwealth (13-17), Virginia Military (3-3) and Virginia Tech (8-11)
WISCONSIN (four) 83-66 .557 Green Bay (1-5), Marquette (41-34), Milwaukee (3-4) and Wisconsin (38-23)
TENNESSEE (11) 78-117 .400 Austin Peay (2-8), Belmont (1-8), Chattanooga (3-11), East Tennessee State (2-11), Lipscomb (0-1), Memphis (34-26), Middle Tennessee State (4-9), Tennessee (22-23), Tennessee State (0-2), Tennessee Tech (0-2) and Vanderbilt (10-16)
ARIZONA (three) 70-53 .569 Arizona (56-34), Arizona State (14-17) and Northern Arizona (0-2)
WASHINGTON (five) 69-61 .531 Eastern Washington (0-2), Gonzaga (34-22), Seattle (10-13), Washington (19-18) and Washington State (6-6)
UTAH (five) 65-105 .382 Brigham Young (15-32), Southern Utah (0-1), Utah (38-32), Utah State (6-23) and Weber State (6-17)
CONNECTICUT (four) 60-42 .588 Central Connecticut State (0-3), Connecticut (59-30), Fairfield (0-3) and Yale (1-6)
IOWA (four) 59-60 .496 Drake (5-4), Iowa (30-28), Iowa State (19-20) and Northern Iowa (5-8)
MARYLAND (eight) 54-56 .491 Coppin State (1-4), Loyola (0-2), Maryland (42-27), Maryland-Baltimore County (1-2), Morgan State (0-2), Mount St. Mary's (2-5), Navy (8-12) and Towson (0-2)
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (five) 51-47 .520 American University (0-3), Catholic (0-2), George Washington (4-11), Georgetown (47-29) and Howard University (0-2)
ALABAMA (nine) 49-64 .434 Alabama (21-21), Alabama A&M (0-1), Alabama State (0-4), Auburn (17-10), Jacksonville State (0-1), Samford (0-2), South Alabama (1-8), Troy (0-2) and UAB (10-15)
MASSACHUSETTS (nine) 48-67 .417 Boston College (22-19), Boston University (2-7), Harvard (2-6), Holy Cross (8-13), Massachusetts (11-9), Northeastern (3-9), Springfield (0-1), Tufts (0-2) and Williams (0-1)
ARKANSAS (four) 45-39 .536 Arkansas (42-32), Arkansas-Pine Bluff (1-1), Arkansas State (0-1) and UALR (2-5)
LOUISIANA (12) 41-76 .350 Louisiana-Lafayette (4-11), Louisiana-Monroe (0-7), Louisiana State (26-25), Louisiana Tech (4-5), Loyola of New Orleans (0-3), McNeese State (0-2), New Orleans (1-5), Nicholls State (0-2), Northwestern State (2-3), Southeastern Louisiana (0-1), Southern (1-9) and Tulane (3-3)
NEVADA (two) 39-28 .582 Nevada (6-9) and UNLV (33-19)
OREGON (four) 37-39 .487 Oregon (25-15), Oregon State (12-20), Portland (0-2) and Portland State (0-2)
NEW JERSEY (seven) 36-65 .356 Fairleigh Dickinson (1-6), Monmouth (1-4), Princeton (13-29), Rider (0-3), Rutgers (5-7), Saint Peter's (0-3) and Seton Hall (16-13)
GEORGIA (five) 33-39 .458 Georgia (7-12), Georgia Southern (0-3), Georgia State (2-5), Georgia Tech (23-16) and Mercer (1-3)
WEST VIRGINIA (two) 32-35 .478 Marshall (1-6) and West Virginia (31-29)
MISSOURI (four) 31-45 .408 Missouri (22-27), Missouri State (3-6), Saint Louis (6-11) and Southeast Missouri State (0-1)
RHODE ISLAND (three) 23-33 .411 Brown (0-2), Providence (15-21) and Rhode Island (8-10)
SOUTH CAROLINA (nine) 23-59 .280 Charleston Southern (0-1), Clemson (11-12), Coastal Carolina (0-4), College of Charleston (1-5), Furman (1-7), South Carolina (8-10), South Carolina State (0-5), Winthrop (1-10) and Wofford (1-5)
MISSISSIPPI (six) 19-37 .339 Alcorn State (3-6), Jackson State (0-3), Mississippi (5-9), Mississippi State (11-11), Mississippi Valley State (0-5) and Southern Mississippi (0-3)
NEW MEXICO (two) 18-43 .295 New Mexico (8-16) and New Mexico State (10-27)
MINNESOTA (one) 14-14 .500 Minnesota (14-14)
COLORADO (four) 14-32 .304 Air Force (0-4), Colorado (10-16), Colorado State (4-11) and Northern Colorado (0-1)
NEBRASKA (two) 12-29 .293 Creighton (12-22) and Nebraska (0-7)
NEW HAMPSHIRE (one) 10-7 .588 Dartmouth (10-7)
WYOMING (one) 9-20 .310 Wyoming (9-20)
IDAHO (three) 9-24 .273 Boise State (0-7), Idaho (1-4) and Idaho State (8-13)
NORTH DAKOTA (two) 2-5 .286 North Dakota (0-1) and North Dakota State (2-4)
VERMONT (one) 2-7 .222 Vermont (2-7)
MONTANA (two) 2-16 .111 Montana (2-13) and Montana State (0-3)
HAWAII (one) 1-5 .167 Hawaii (1-5)
SOUTH DAKOTA (one) 0-5 .000 South Dakota State (0-5)
DELAWARE (two) 0-6 .000 Delaware (0-5) and Delaware State (0-1)

NOTE: Two states - Alaska and Maine - never had a school participate in the NCAA Division I Tournament.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make News on April 13 MLB Games

April 13th, 2020 - 8:33

Extra! Extra! Amid a coronavirus outbreak, you have time to read news all about memorable major league baseball achievements, moments and transactions involving former college basketball players. Numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games and dates in MLB history.

Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Ivy League hoopers Bill Almon (Brown) and Tony Lupien (Harvard) made MLB news on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an April 13 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

APRIL 13

  • Montreal Expos SS Bill Almon (averaged 2.5 ppg in half season for Brown's 1972-73 basketball team ending school's streak of 12 straight losing records) stroked four hits in a 5-4 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1980.

  • In his first MLB game in 1954, Detroit Tigers 2B Frank Bolling (averaged 7.3 ppg for Spring Hill AL in 1950-51) belted a homer off Baltimore Orioles P Don Larsen.

  • San Diego Padres RF Tony Gwynn (All-WAC second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81) and two teammates establish a MLB record by each hitting a homer as the first three batters in the bottom of the first inning of their 1987 home opener against San Francisco Giants RHP Roger Mason (multiple-year letterman in late 1970s for Saginaw Valley State MI).

  • Boston Red Sox C Duane Josephson (led Northern Iowa in scoring in 1962-63 and 1963-64 under coach Norm Stewart) opened the scoring with a second-inning, two-run homer off Denny McLain in a 5-3 victory against the Washington Senators in 1971.

  • 1B Tony Lupien (Harvard hoops captain in 1938-39) awarded on waivers from the Boston Red Sox to the Philadelphia Phillies in 1944.

  • St. Louis Cardinals CF Wally Moon (averaged 4.3 ppg with Texas A&M in 1948-49 and 1949-50) swatted a homer against the Chicago Cubs in his first at-bat en route to becoming 1954 N.L. Rookie of the Year.

  • Detroit Tigers RHP Jeff Robinson (two-time NAIA All-District 3 hoops honoree in early 1980s left Azusa Pacific CA as school's No. 9 all-time scorer) hurled a four-hit shutout against the Minnesota Twins in 1989.

  • St. Louis Cardinals closer Lee Smith (averaged 3.4 ppg and 1.9 rpg with Northwestern State in 1976-77) set MLB record for most career saves in 1993 (mark subsequently broken).

  • Chicago White Sox DH Jim Thome (played junior-college hoops for Illinois Central in 1988-89) smacked a homer in his fourth consecutive contest in 2006.

  • RHP Jim Wilson (hoops letterman for San Diego State's 1942 NAIA Tournament participant) purchased from the Milwaukee Braves by the Baltimore Orioles in 1955.

  • California Angels RF Dave Winfield (starting forward with Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) collected 15 total bases and six RBI on three homers, a double and single in a 15-9 verdict over the Minnesota Twins in 1991.

How West Has Lost: Majority of Tourney Dirty Dozen West of Old Man River

April 12th, 2020 - 8:36

An unsightly Pac-12 Conference flop in the NCAA playoffs the previous two years shouldn't have been a surprise unless you put stock in creepy porn lawyer #Avenaughty as a #Dimorat presidential candidate or always believe contrived comments from Muslim Brotherhood apologist/former CIA chief John "NBC News' Snoopy" Brennan. But at tourney time, the West frequently is worst. Oregon State (12-20) has the worst tourney record among longstanding power-league members. Moreover, Wyoming is the only former national champion (1943) to compile an all-time NCAA playoff record more than five games below .500 (9-20).

Everett Shelton, coach of Wyoming's titlist, is the only championship team bench boss to finish with a non-winning playoff record (4-12 from 1941 through 1958) and was more games under .500 in NCAA Division I Tournament competition than any coach in history until supplanted by Fran Dunphy (3-17 with Penn and Temple from 1993 through 2019). Also, Shelton is the only coach to lose three consecutive regional final games (1947, 1948 and 1949).

Joining Dunphy and Shelton among the eight coaches more than six games under .500 in NCAA playoff play are Rick Byrd (1-8 with Belmont from 2006 through 2019), Pete Carril (4-11 with Princeton from 1969 through 1996), Don Corbett (0-7 with North Carolina A&T from 1982 through 1988), Hugh Greer (1-8 with Connecticut from 1951 through 1960), Stew Morrill (1-9 with Montana and Utah State from 1991 through 2011) and Mike Vining (0-7 with Louisiana-Monroe from 1982 through 1996).

BYU, New Mexico State and Utah State are more games below .500 than any institutions in NCAA playoff history (minus 17). Would any of this trio emerged from tourney tomb this year if not for coronavirus cancellation? More than half of the following 12 schools at least 10 games below .500 in NCAA tourney competition are from west of the Mississippi River:

School Playoff Record Games Below .500 Mark Summary of Tournament Tumult
Brigham Young 15-32 minus 17 only one of victories was by fewer than six points
New Mexico State 10-27 minus 17 lost last 12 games since 1993 after winning seven of 11 contests from 1968 through 1970
Utah State 6-23 minus 17 lost 17 of last 18 games with only victory in that span in OT against Ohio State in 2001
Princeton 13-29 minus 16 lost eight of first nine games from 1952 through 1963 and last five contests since 1998
Iona 1-14 minus 13 13 straight setbacks with first four of them by fewer than four points from 1980 through 1998
Miami (Ohio) 6-19 minus 13 only victory in 10-game span from 1969 through 1992 was in OT against defending NCAA champion Marquette in 1978
Murray State 4-17 minus 13 lost 11 games in a row from 1988 through 2006
Penn 13-26 minus 13 lost last 10 games and 15 of last 16 after entering 1979 Final Four with winning playoff record (11-9)
Montana 2-13 minus 11 won inaugural game in 1975 but lost last four contests since 2012 by an average of 26 points
Weber State 6-17 minus 11 seven of last nine defeats since 1979 were by fewer than 12 points
Wyoming 9-20 minus 11 1943 NCAA titlist before losing 12 of 13 games from 1947 through 1967
Creighton 12-22 minus 10 incurred four defeats by fewer than five points from 1974 through 1981

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make News on April 12 MLB Games

April 12th, 2020 - 8:17

Extra! Extra! As a new season still needs to shift into gear, you have time to read news all about memorable major league baseball achievements, moments and transactions involving former college basketball players! Numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games and dates in MLB history.

Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Two small-college hoopers from Pennsylvania - Dick Hall (Swarthmore) and Lynn Jones (Thiel) - made MLB news on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an April 12 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

APRIL 12

  • RHP Rich Beck (listed on Gonzaga's basketball roster in 1961-62) purchased from the Philadelphia Phillies by the New York Yankees in 1965.

  • In his initial MLB appearance in 1961, San Francisco Giants INF Ernie Bowman (East Tennessee State hoops letterman in 1954-55 and 1955-56) scored the game-winning tally as a pinch-runner in a 2-1 victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

  • RHP Dick Hall (averaged 13.5 ppg from 1948-49 through 1950-51 for Swarthmore PA Middle Atlantic States Conference Southern Division champions) traded by the Kansas City Athletics to the Baltimore Orioles in 1961.

  • In 1961, San Francisco Giants C Tom Haller (backup forward for Illinois in 1956-57 and 1957-58 under coach Harry Combes) stroked his first MLB hit, a homer off Pittsburgh Pirates P Vern Law.

  • A pinch-hit homer by OF Lynn Jones (averaged 10.4 ppg for Thiel PA from 1970-71 through 1973-74) accounted for the Detroit Tigers' only runs in a 6-2 loss against the Toronto Blue Jays in 1981.

  • Cleveland Indians rookie CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling 35-3 record) swiped four bases against the Boston Red Sox in the opener of a 1992 doubleheader.

  • Seattle Mariners RF Leon Roberts (grabbed one rebound in four basketball games for Michigan in 1970-71 under coach Johnny Orr) contributed a sacrifice fly and two solo homers, including game-winning blast in bottom of the 10th inning, in 3-2 win against the Toronto Blue Jays in 1980.

  • Detroit Tigers RHP Jeff Robinson (two-time NAIA All-District 3 hoops honoree in early 1980s left Azusa Pacific CA as school's No. 9 all-time scorer) won his MLB debut, allowing only one run in seven innings in a 7-1 victory against the Chicago White Sox in 1987.

  • After a pair of rainouts, 1B-OF Norm Siebern (member of Southwest Missouri State's back-to-back hoops NAIA Tournament titlists in 1952 and 1953) socked a decisive eighth-inning HR to give the New York Yankees a season-opening 3-2 win over the visiting Boston Red Sox in 1959.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates RHP Kent Tekulve (freshman hooper for Marietta OH in mid-1960s) commenced a streak of 12 relief appearances in a row without allowing an earned run in 1978.

  • Pittsburgh Pirates LHP Bob Veale (scored 1,160 points from 1955-56 through 1957-58 with Benedictine KS) outdueled San Francisco Giants P Juan Marichal, 1-0, in 1965.

  • San Diego Padres RF Will Venable (All-Ivy League first-team selection as junior and second-team choice as senior averaged 9.3 ppg under Princeton coach John Thompson III from 2001-02 through 2004-05) scored four runs against the Atlanta Braves in 2010.

Beat 'Em/Then Join 'Em: Non-Conference Game Serves as Coaching Audition

April 11th, 2020 - 15:57

"Success is simple. Do what's right, the right way, at the right time." - Arnold H. Glasow

Here is another reason to schedule wisely. Bench boss switch for Jeff Linder (Northern Colorado to Wyoming) probably stems at least partially from what can be designated a job audition last season when UNC won easily at WY (74-53). The shift resembles 1970-71 when Digger Phelps guided Fordham to its winningest season in school history. But what likely really impressed Notre Dame's administration was a 94-88 victory that season over the Irish. He was UND's bench boss the next campaign and went on to compile seven triumphs against nationally top-ranked opponents in his career at South Bend.

Non-conference schedules frequently are frustrating for fans of power-league members because of what seems like feasting on a steady diet of cupcake opponents. But you never know when a single game becomes a career changer. Initial research of results in this category shows Mick Cronin's 29-point margin of victory two seasons ago for Cincinnati against UCLA is exceeded only by Tommy Amaker's 32-point difference when Michigan overwhelmed Harvard. Similar to almost any job, timing is everything. Following is an alphabetical list of impressionable coaches such as Linder generating such favorable reviews after defeating a school (in non-conference game) they were hired by for the same role before the next campaign:

Coach Departing School Triumph(s) Over Non-League Foe Hiring Him Next Season
Tommy Amaker Michigan Defeated Harvard, 82-50, in 2006-07
Duggar Baucom Virginia Military Defeated The Citadel, 66-65, at Army* in 2014-15
John Brady Samford Defeated Louisiana State, 53-50, in 1996-97
Tom Brennan Yale Defeated Vermont, 84-75, in 1985-86
Jim Calhoun Northeastern Defeated Connecticut, 90-73, in 1985-86
Joe Callero Seattle Defeated Cal Poly, 60-59, in 2008-09
Ben Carnevale North Carolina Defeated Navy, 51-49, in 1945-46
Jamion Christian Siena Defeated George Washington, 69-61, in 2018-19
Mick Cronin Cincinnati Defeated UCLA, 93-64, in 2018-19
Kermit Davis Jr. Middle Tennessee State Defeated Mississippi, 77-58, in 2017-18
Charles "Lefty" Driesell Davidson Defeated Maryland, 83-69, in 1968-69
Pat Foster Houston Defeated Nevada, 92-80, in 1992-93
Jim Hayford Eastern Washington Defeated Seattle, 80-76 in 2OT and 93-88 in 2OT, in 2016-17
Ron Hunter Georgia State Defeated Tulane, 80-76, in 2018-19
Maury John Drake Defeated Iowa State, 87-63, in 1970-71
Ed Kelleher Fordham Defeated Army, 68-42, in 1942-43
Lake Kelly Austin Peay State Defeated Oral Roberts, 80-76, in 1976-77
Jeff Linder Northern Colorado Defeated Wyoming, 74-53, in 2019-20
Billy McCann Washington & Lee (VA) Defeated Virginia, 73-69, in 1956-57
Neil McCarthy Weber State Defeated New Mexico State, 62-56, in 1984-85
Dan Monson Gonzaga Defeated Minnesota, 75-63, in 1998-99
Don Monson Idaho Defeated Oregon, 56-53, in 1982-83
Donald "Dudey" Moore Duquesne Defeated La Salle, 74-55, in 1957-58
Stew Morrill Colorado State Defeated Utah State, 68-59, in 1997-98
Richard "Digger" Phelps Fordham Defeated Notre Dame, 94-88, in 1970-71
Elmer Ripley Georgetown Defeated John Carroll (Ohio), 73-53, in 1948-49
Les Robinson East Tennessee State Defeated North Carolina State, 92-82, in 1989-90
Lorenzo Romar Saint Louis Defeated Washington, 71-70, in 2001-02
Charles "Sonny" Smith Auburn Defeated Virginia Commonwealth, 85-79, in 1988-89
Charlie Spoonhour Southwest Missouri State Defeated Saint Louis, 66-59, in 1991-92
Bill Strannigan Colorado State Defeated Iowa State, 65-57, in 1953-54
Bill Wade Virginia Commonwealth Defeated Louisiana State, 85-74, in 2016-17
Raymond "Bucky" Waters West Virginia Defeated Duke, 90-88, in 1968-69
Paul Weir New Mexico State Defeated New Mexico, 84-71, in 2016-17
Tim Welsh Iona Defeated Providence, 68-62, in 1997-98
Gary Williams Boston College Defeated Ohio State, 87-74, in 1985-86
Matt Zunic Boston University Defeated Massachusetts, 75-55 and 61-56, in 1958-59

*Competed in season-opening Military Classic before VMI defeated The Citadel twice in Southern Conference competition.

States of Success: California and Kentucky Tied for Most Men's Hoop Titles

April 11th, 2020 - 8:36

Kentucky (32), buttressed by Georgetown College's two NAIA championships in the previous seven years, is tied with California as the state with the most national titles from each level of four-year college men's basketball - NCAA Division I, NIT, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.

Illinois and Ohio are the only states to boast at least one champion from all five levels. Among the 14 states amassing a total of more than 10 national crowns, Missouri is the only one in that group without a Division I championship after Virginia's success in 2019. Drury (Mo.), Central Missouri and Northwest Missouri State won DII titles last decade but the state's two headline schools - Mizzou and Saint Louis - never have reached the NCAA DI Final Four.

The biggest surprise among states fond of hoops but never capturing a four-year school national title was Iowa until Graceland won NAIA crown two years ago. Following is how states stack up by national four-year school titles including the NIT and various levels of small-college basketball:

State DI NIT DII DIII NAIA Total
California 15 8 5 0 4 32
Kentucky 11 3 10 0 8 32
North Carolina 13 2 3 0 1 19
Ohio 3 6 3 5 2 19
Missouri 0 1 5 2 8 16
Oklahoma 2 2 1 0 11 16
Pennsylvania 4 7 2 3 0 16
Wisconsin 2 1 0 13 0 16
Illinois 1 6 1 6 1 15
New York 2 10 0 3 0 15
Indiana 5 2 6 0 1 14
Texas 1 4 0 0 8 13
Kansas 3 1 1 0 6 11
Virginia 1 4 5 1 0 11
Minnesota 0 3 2 2 3 10
Michigan 3 3 1 2 0 9
Tennessee 0 2 1 1 4 8
Georgia 0 0 1 0 6 7
Massachusetts 1 1 1 4 0 7
Alabama 0 0 3 0 3 6
Connecticut 4 1 1 0 0 6
Maryland 1 1 2 0 1 5
Arizona 1 0 0 0 3 4
District of Columbia 1 1 1 1 0 4
Florida 2 0 2 0 0 4
South Carolina 0 2 0 0 2 4
Utah 1 3 0 0 0 4
West Virginia 0 2 0 0 2 4
Colorado 0 1 2 0 0 3
Louisiana 0 0 0 0 3 3
New Jersey 0 2 0 1 0 3
South Dakota 0 0 3 0 0 3
Arkansas 1 0 0 0 1 2
Nebraska 0 1 0 1 0 2
Rhode Island 0 2 0 0 0 2
Washington 0 0 2 0 0 2
Hawaii 0 0 0 0 1 1
Iowa 0 0 0 0 1 1
Mississippi 0 1 0 0 0 1
Montana 0 0 0 0 1 1
Nevada 1 0 0 0 0 1
New Mexico 0 0 0 0 1 1
Oregon 1 0 0 0 0 1
Wyoming 1 0 0 0 0 1

NOTE: Seven states - Alaska, Delaware, Idaho, Maine, New Hampshire, North Dakota and Vermont - never have had a four-year school win a men's national championship.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make News on April 11 MLB Games

April 11th, 2020 - 8:09

Extra! Extra! As we're still waiting for a new season to gain steam, you have time to read news all about memorable major league baseball achievements, moments and transactions involving former college basketball players! Numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games and dates in MLB history.

Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Eventual MLB managers in the news as players on this date after previously competing as college basketball hoopers included Roger Craig, Dallas Green, Gil Hodges, Davey Johnson and Bill Virdon. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an April 11 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

APRIL 11

  • RHP Roger Craig (forward with North Carolina State's 1949-50 freshman basketball team) released by the Cincinnati Reds and promptly signed as a free agent by the Philadelphia Phillies in 1966.

  • RHP Dallas Green (Delaware's runner-up in scoring and rebounding in 1954-55) purchased from the Philadelphia Phillies by the Washington Senators in 1965. Returned to the Phillies a month later.

  • In 1932, utilityman Harvey Hendrick (Vanderbilt hoops letterman in 1918) traded with P Benny Frey and cash by the Cincinnati Reds to the St. Louis Cardinals for holdout OF Chick Hafey, the previous year's N.L. batting champion.

  • 1B Gil Hodges (hooper for St. Joseph's IN in 1943 and Oakland City IN in 1947 and 1948) supplied the first homer in New York Mets history (at St. Louis in 1962).

  • Atlanta Braves 2B Davey Johnson (averaged 1.7 ppg with Texas A&M in 1961-62) went 4-for-4 against the San Diego Padres in a 1973 game.

  • In his second MLB game, Boston Red Sox RF Joe Lahoud (New Haven CT hoops letterman in mid-1960s) socked a homer off the Detroit Tigers' Denny McLain in 1968.

  • Toronto Blue Jays DH Rick Leach (averaged 15.5 ppg for Michigan's JV squad in 1975-76) registered four hits against the New York Yankees in 1988.

  • Cleveland Indians CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling 35-3 record) notched at least one double or triple in each of first six games of 1999 campaign while hitting .467.

  • Chicago Cubs CF Jerry Martin (1971 Southern Conference MVP after he was Furman's runner-up in scoring the previous season) whacked two homers against the New York Mets in a 1980 contest.

  • Chicago White Sox RF Lyle Mouton (starter in LSU's backcourt with All-American Chris Jackson for 1989 NCAA playoff team) launched a game-winning, three-run homer in the bottom of the 11th inning against the Texas Rangers in 1996.

  • In 1961, Hall of Fame RHP Robin Roberts (one of Michigan State's top three scorers each season from 1944-45 through 1946-47) tied Grover Cleveland Alexander's N.L. record with a 12th straight Opening Day start for the Philadelphia Phillies.

  • St. Louis Cardinals rookie LF Wally Roettger (Illinois hoops letterman in 1921-22 and 1922-23) registered five RBI against the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1928 season opener.

  • CF Bill Virdon (Drury MO hooper in 1949) traded by the New York Yankees to the St. Louis Cardinals in a deal involving OF Enos Slaughter in 1954. Seven years later, Virdon socked a two-out, three-run homer to give the Pittsburgh Pirates an 8-7 victory at San Francisco.

  • New York Yankees RF Dave Winfield (starting forward for Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) went 4-for-4 against the Boston Red Sox in 1985.

  • 3B Eddie Yost (NYU freshman hooper in 1943-44 under coach Howard Cann) became the first-ever batter in Los Angeles Angels' history.

Boys Gone Wild: Doolittle's Aerial Raid was Surprise Attack vs. #1 Kansas

April 10th, 2020 - 15:49

Kansas, ranked #1 at end of the regular season before postseason play unraveled, is the premier-team reference point for an abbreviated campaign. Which individual scored the most points against Jayhawks this year? It was Oklahoma senior forward Kristian Doolittle (15.8 ppg), who had five three-pointers en route to amassing 27 points vs. KU after posting an anemic average of 2.9 ppg two years ago.

Three years ago, Kentucky freshman guard Malik Monk may have manufactured the highest single-game scoring output in history against an NCAA champion-to-be when he erupted for 47 points against North Carolina in a non-conference contest at Las Vegas. In 2019, Purdue's Carsen Edwards poured in 42 points against kingpin-to-be Virginia in the South Regional final, matching Bo Kimble's output for Loyola Marymount vs. UNLV in 1990 NCAA playoffs. Notre Dame senior guard Austin Carr poured in 46 against UCLA in 1970-71. Statistical research is sketchy in the 1940s and 1950s in trying to discern if anyone contributed a higher total than Monk or Carr.

Since UCLA's first NCAA championship in 1964, Louisville guard Russ Smith has the lowest scoring average (11.5 ppg in 2011-12) for any player who posted the single-game high against an NCAA titlist. Some of the names probably will be surprising, but following is a look in reverse order at the previous 56 individuals notching the season-high scoring total against the eventual NCAA kingpin:

Year Opposing High Scorer vs. NCAA Titlist Avg. Single-Game High
2019 Carsen Edwards, G, Jr., Purdue 24.3 42 points vs. Virginia in South Regional final
2018 Shamorie Ponds, G, Soph., St. John's 21.6 37 vs. Villanova
2017 Malik Monk, G, Fr., Kentucky 19.8 47 vs. North Carolina at Las Vegas
2016 Ben Bentil, F, Soph., Providence 21.1 31 vs. Villanova
2016 L.J. Peak, G, Soph., Georgetown 12.3 31 vs. Villanova
2015 Michael Gbinije, F, Jr., Syracuse 12.7 27 vs. Duke
2014 Dustin Hogue, F, Jr., Iowa State 11.6 34 vs. Connecticut in NCAA playoffs
2013 Tyler Brown, G, Sr., Illinois State 18.1 25 at Louisville
2012 Russ Smith, G, Soph., Louisville 11.5 30 at Kentucky
2011 Dwight Hardy, G, Sr., St. John's 18.3 33 vs. Connecticut
2010 Trevon Hughes, G, Sr., Wisconsin 15.3 26 vs. Duke
2009 Kyle McAlarney, G, Sr., Notre Dame 15.0 39 vs. North Carolina at Maui
2008 Michael Beasley, F-C, Fr., Kansas State 26.2 39 at Kansas
2007 Al Thornton, F, Sr., Florida State 19.7 28 vs. Florida
2006 Chris Lofton, G, Soph., Tennessee 17.2 29 vs. Florida
2005 Will Bynum, G, Sr., Georgia Tech 12.5 35 vs. North Carolina in ACC Tournament
2004 Chris Thomas, G, Jr., Notre Dame 19.7 31 vs. Connecticut
2003 Chris Hill, G, Soph., Michigan State 13.7 34 vs. Syracuse
2002 Jason "Jay" Williams, G, Jr., Duke 21.3 34 vs. Maryland
2001 James "J.J." Miller, G, Sr., North Carolina A&T 16.0 34 at Duke
2000 A.J. Guyton, G, Sr., Indiana 19.7 34 vs. Michigan State
1999 Trajan Langdon, G, Sr., Duke 17.3 25 vs. Connecticut
1998 Brian Williams, G, Jr., Alabama 16.1 28 vs. Kentucky in SEC Tournament
1997 Isaac Fontaine, G, Sr., Washington State 21.9 32 vs. Arizona
1996 Marcus Camby, C, Jr., Massachusetts 20.5 32 vs. Kentucky at Great Eight
1995 Ray Allen, G, Soph., Connecticut 21.1 36 vs. UCLA in NCAA playoffs
1994 Gary Collier, F, Sr., Tulsa 22.9 35 vs. Arkansas in NCAA playoffs
1993 Chris Webber, F, Soph., Michigan 19.2 27 vs. North Carolina at Honolulu
1993 Randolph Childress, G, Soph., Wake Forest 19.7 27 vs. North Carolina
1993 James Forrest, F, Soph., Georgia Tech 19.5 27 vs. North Carolina in ACC Tournament
1993 Lester Lyons, G, Jr., East Carolina 15.4 27 vs. North Carolina in NCAA playoffs
1992 Malik Sealy, F, Sr., St. John's 22.6 37 vs. Duke at Greensboro
1991 Jeff Webster, F, Fr., Oklahoma 18.3 32 vs. Duke
1990 Greg "Bo" Kimble, F-G, Sr., Loyola Marymount 35.3 42 vs. UNLV in NCAA playoffs
1989 Roy Marble, F, Sr., Iowa 20.5 32 vs. Michigan
1988 Mitch Richmond, G-F, Sr., Kansas State 22.6 35 vs. Kansas
1987 Freddie Banks, G, Sr., UNLV 19.5 38 vs. Indiana in NCAA playoffs
1986 Ron Harper, F, Sr., Miami (oh) 24.4 36 vs. Louisville in Big Apple NIT at Cincinnati
1985 Len Bias, F, Jr., Maryland 18.9 30 vs. Villanova
1984 Chris Mullin, G-F, Jr., St. John's 22.9 29 vs. Georgetown in Big East Tournament
1983 Ralph Sampson, C, Sr., Virginia 19.1 33 vs. North Carolina State
1982 Ralph Sampson, C, Jr., Virginia 15.8 30 at North Carolina
1981 Mike McGee, F, Sr., Michigan 24.4 29 vs. Indiana
1980 Jeff Ruland, C, Jr., Iona 20.1 30 vs. Louisville
1979 Joe Barry Carroll, C, Jr., Purdue 22.8 27 vs. Michigan State
1979 Calvin Roberts, F-C, Jr., Cal State Fullerton 15.3 27 vs. Michigan State
1978 Freeman Williams, G, Sr., Portland State 35.9 39 at Kentucky
1977 Dave Corzine, C, Jr., DePaul 19.0 26 vs. Marquette
1976 Terry Furlow, F, Sr., Michigan State 29.4 40 vs. Indiana
1975 Kevin Grevey, F, Sr., Kentucky 23.5 34 vs. UCLA in NCAA final
1974 Billy Cook, G, Soph., Memphis State 16.2 33 vs. North Carolina State
1973 Billy Knight, F, Jr., Pittsburgh 23.7 37 vs. UCLA
1972 Fred Boyd, G, Sr., Oregon State 19.8 37 vs. UCLA
1971 Austin Carr, G, Sr., Notre Dame 38.0 46 vs. UCLA
1970 Pete Maravich, G, Sr., Louisiana State 44.5 38 vs. UCLA
1970 Rich Yunkus, C, Jr., Georgia Tech 30.1 38 vs. UCLA
1969 Vic Collucci, G, Soph., Providence 15.4 36 vs. UCLA
1968 Elvin Hayes, F-C, Sr., Houston 36.8 39 vs. UCLA
1967 Bill Hewitt, F, Jr., Southern California 19.5 39 vs. UCLA
1966 Jerry Chambers, F-C, Sr., Utah 28.8 38 vs. Texas Western in NCAA playoffs
1965 Ollie Johnson, C, Sr., San Francisco 21.6 37 vs. UCLA
1964 Tom Dose, C, Sr., Stanford 20.0 38 vs. UCLA

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Make News on April 10 MLB Games

April 10th, 2020 - 8:51

Extra! Extra! A new season still hasn't gained traction, but it gives you time to read news all about memorable major league baseball achievements, moments and transactions involving former college basketball players! Numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games and dates in MLB history.

Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Jerry Adair (Oklahoma State) and Sonny Siebert (Missouri) - former Big Seven Conference opponents as top three scorers for their respective teams in 1956-57 - supplied significant MLB performances on this date. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an April 10 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

APRIL 10

  • Baltimore Orioles 2B Jerry Adair (one of Oklahoma State's top three basketball scorers in 1956-57 and 1957-58) went 3-for-3 on Opening Day against the New York Yankees in 1962.

  • Cincinnati Reds LHP Amir Garrett (averaged 7.4 ppg and 4 rpg for St. John's under coach Steve Lavin in 2011-12 and 2012-13 before RS transfer year at Cal State Northridge) posted a victory against the Miami Marlins en route to holding opponents scoreless in his first seven relief appearances of the 2019 season while fanning 10 of 25 batters he faced over 6 2/3 innings.

  • Washington Senators 1B Frank Howard (two-time All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection in 1956-57 and 1957-58 when leading Ohio State in scoring and rebounding) hammered two homers against the New York Yankees in 1969.

  • Utilityman Bob Oliver (All-Valley Conference basketball choice for American River Community College CA in 1962) purchased from the Chicago White Sox by Philadelphia Phillies in 1976.

  • In 1947, 1B Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) became the first black player of the 20th Century to sign a MLB contract (with Brooklyn Dodgers).

  • OF Wally Roettger (Illinois hoops letterman in 1921-22 and 1922-23) traded by the St. Louis Cardinals to the New York Giants in 1930.

  • In 1968 season opener, Cleveland Indians RHP Sonny Siebert (team-high 16.7 ppg for Missouri in 1957-58 as All-Big Eight Conference second-team selection) tossed a two-hit shutout against the Chicago White Sox.

  • Atlanta Braves LHP George Stone (averaged 14.7 ppg and 6.5 rpg for Louisiana Tech in 1964-65 and 1965-66) tossed a six-hit shutout against the Houston Astros in his first start of the 1970 campaign.

  • A pinch-hit grand slam by OF-1B Champ Summers (led SIUE in scoring in 1969-70 after doing same with Nicholls State in 1964-65) propelled the San Diego Padres to a 7-3 win against the St. Louis Cardinals in 1984. It was Summers' final MLB homer.

  • Cleveland Indians 1B Jim Thome (played junior-college hoops for Illinois Central in 1988-89) hammered a grand slam in 2002 game against the Minnesota Twins. Circuit clout was the first of four consecutive contests where he hit a round-tripper.

  • RHP Billy Wynne (one of prime hoopers in mid-1960s for Pfeiffer NC) returned by the Cleveland Indians to the New York Mets in 1967 after he was selected during the winter in the Rule 5 draft.

Honors Drought: Rutgers' All-League Selection Famine Went Back to 2005-06

April 9th, 2020 - 11:20

Rutgers, loser in 32 consecutive contests against Big Ten Conference opponents in one dismal stretch, was on the precipice of needing to visit school archives and bring ulcer-causing Dick Vitale back as a recruiter. The Scarlet Knights, losing by a staggering 50 points at home several years ago against Purdue, couldn't do any worse upon falling on hard times as the nation's only NCAA Division I school failing to have an all-conference choice in the previous 13 seasons until Geo Baker became a third-team selection in 2019-20. Vitale helped lure previous coach Eddie Jordan to Piscataway before the Scarlet Knights reached the 1976 Final Four. Jordan was an All-Atlantic 10 Conference second-team choice as a senior in 1976-77 before leaving college without a diploma.

Prior to Baker, Rutgers had failed to secure an all-league choice since Quincy Douby in 2005-06. The Knights' arrival gave the Big Ten Conference additional Nebraska/Northwestern/Penn State mediocrity - a famine-relief trio combining for three NCAA playoff victories in the previous 64 years (all by Nittany Lions), making their hoop fans believe in the power of positive drinkin'. DePaul didn't have an all-league pick for 10 years in the Big East Conference until Max Strus earned second-team acclaim in 2018-19.

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