College Hoopedia

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Tackling January 24 NFL Playoff Games

January 24th, 2026 - 9:35

Long before kneeling knuckleheads such as GQ cover boy #ColonKrapernick tried to pinpoint where Iran is on a map before spurring politicized multiple anthems and hug-a-thug NFL funding anti-cop activist groups, the NCAA Tournament commenced in 1939, which was one year after the NIT triggered national postseason competition. An overlooked "versatile athlete" feat occurring in 1938 likely never to be duplicated took place at Arkansas, where the quarterback for the football squad (Jack Robbins) repeated as an All-SWC first-team basketball selection, leading the Razorbacks (19-3) to the league title. After the season, Robbins became an NFL first-round draft choice by the Chicago Cardinals (5th pick overall) and senior football/basketball teammates Jim Benton (11th pick by Cleveland Rams) and Ray Hamilton (41st pick by Rams) went on to become wide receivers for at least six years in the NFL. Yes, they created a kneeling-in-admiration shatterproof achievement - three members of a league championship basketball squad who promptly were among the top 41 selections in the same NFL draft.

Two years later, All-SWC first-team hoop selection Howard "Red" Hickey was instrumental in Arkansas reaching the 1941 Final Four before becoming an end for the Cleveland Rams' 1945 NFL titlist. Two-sport college teammate and fellow end O'Neal Adams scored five touchdowns for the New York Giants the first half of the 1940s. Another two-sport Hog who played for the Giants in the mid-1940s was Harry Wynne. An earlier versatile Razorback was Jim Lee Howell, who was an All-SWC first five hoops selection in 1935-36 before becoming a starting end for the Giants' 1938 NFL titlist and Pro Bowl participant the next year. Adams, Benton, Hamilton, Hickey and Howell combined for 77 touchdowns in an 11-year span from 1938 through 1948 when at least one of the ex-Razorback hoopers scored a TD in each of those seasons.

Hickey and ex-Hog All-SWC second-team hooper in 1929-30/NFL end Milan Creighton each coached NFL franchises. Many other ex-college hoopers also displayed their wares on the gridiron. Following is exhaustive research you can tackle regarding former college basketball players who made a name for themselves on January 24 in NFL (especially receivers in both conference championship contests following 2015 season):

JANUARY 24

QB Ken Anderson (swingman finished Augustana IL career in early 1970s as fifth-leading scorer in school history with 1,044 points) accounted for all three of the Cincinnati Bengals' touchdowns (two passing/one rushing in second half) in a 26-21 setback against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XVI following 1981 season. Bengals WR David Verser (Kansas hooper in five games in 1977-78 under coach Ted Owens) returned five kickoffs for 52 yards. Niners LCB Ronnie Lott (Southern California hooper in 1979-80) contributed three solo tackles.
Green Bay Packers LB Fred Carr (played for defending NCAA champion Texas Western in 1967 playoffs under coach Don Haskins) shared the NFL Pro Bowl MVP award following 1970 season.
Arizona Cardinals TE Darren Fells (averaged 10.2 ppg and 6.3 rpg from 2004-05 through 2007-08, leading UC Irvine in rebounding each of last three seasons) caught a 21-yard touchdown pass from Carson Palmer in 49-15 setback against the Charlotte Panthers in NFC championship game following 2015 season.
Green Bay Packers TE Marcedes Lewis (collected nine points and four rebounds in seven UCLA basketball contests in 2002-03 under coach Steve Lavin) caught three passes for 28 yards from Aaron Rodgers in a 31-26 setback against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in NFC Championship following 2020 season.
Denver Broncos WR Jordan Norwood (Penn State hooper in four games in 2006-07) caught two passes from Peyton Manning and returned three punts for 21 yards in a 20-18 win against the New England Patriots in AFC Championship following 2015 season.

Home Sour Home: Prominent Programs Failing to Win 30 in a Row at Home

January 24th, 2026 - 9:33

Very few programs have assembled homecourt winning streaks of more than 20 straight games this season. Purdue's homecourt winning streak ended at 26 last season when the Boilermakers bowed against Ohio State four victories short of matching school record of 30. The following question lingers at a time when no power conference member boasts a homecourt winning streak close to 30 in a row: Which institutions are on dubious list of prominent programs - including six former NCAA titlists - never winning as many as 30 straight on their home floor? Did you know power-conference members Arizona State, Baylor, Butler, California, Clemson, Colorado, Creighton, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Iowa, Kansas State, Louisville, Maryland, Miami FL, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Carolina, Northwestern, Oregon State, Rutgers, Southern California, Stanford, Texas, Texas Christian, Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest and Washington State never have won as many as 30 consecutive home contests?

A year ago, Iowa State showed signs of challenging its all-time mark of 39 consecutive triumphs at home before the Cyclones' streak was eclipsed at 29 by bowing to Kansas State, 80-61, in early February when the Wildcats became the first sub-.500 team to defeat a top five foe on the road by more than 15 points in AP poll history. Which opponents broke school-record home-court winning streaks of at least 30 games? Oddly, more than half of the aforementioned power-league schools are in this category, including Texas on three occasions (ended school-record HC streaks for Arkansas, Kansas and Texas A&M). Following is an alphabetical list including schools crossing the 30-game homecourt winning streak threshold:

School	Record Streak	Date Started	Date Ended	Opponent Ending School-Record Streak	Score
Alabama	54	1929	1934	Vanderbilt	44-33
Arizona	81	12-14-45	12-8-51	Kansas State	76-57
Arkansas	32	1-17-76	1-12-79	Texas	66-63
Auburn	36	1-26-57	1-7-61	Mississippi State	56-48
Austin Peay	31	1-25-75	3-5-77	Middle Tennessee State	77-65 in OVC Tournament final
Bradley	46	1-23-58	2-6-61	Drake	86-76
Brigham Young	53	11-26-05	1-3-09	Wake Forest	94-87
Charlotte	60	2-28-74	12-5-77	Appalachian State	71-64
Cincinnati	86	12-6-57	12-7-63	Kansas	51-47
College of Charleston	38	1-9-95	12-28-97	Rider	65-58
Columbia	34	1949	1-16-52	Penn	66-64
Connecticut	31	2-21-05	1-10-07	Marquette	73-69
Coppin State	42	12-19-92	1-15-97	North Carolina A&T	76-70
Dartmouth	38	2-3-37	2-17-40	Army	44-36
Davidson	57	2-12-62	12-11-72	Furman	93-86
Dayton	30	3-8-08	1-26-10	Rhode Island	65-64
DePaul	36	1-21-83	1-21-85	Dayton	67-63
Detroit	39	1-28-99	2-10-02	Wisconsin-Green Bay	65-61
Duke	46	1-13-97	2-9-00	Maryland	98-87
Florida	33	11-11-12	11-17-14	Miami FL	69-67
Gonzaga	76	1-27-18	1-19-23	Loyola Marymount	68-67
Houston	59	1-13-64	12-21-68	Illinois	97-84
Idaho	43	1-17-80	2-12-83	Montana	80-61
Illinois	33	1-17-04	2-4-06	Penn State	66-65
Illinois State	31	1-25-77	1-27-79	DePaul	87-69
Indiana	35	11-23-73	12-6-76	Kentucky	66-51
Iowa State	39	2-16-99	1-12-02	Oklahoma State	69-66
Jacksonville	35	1-13-69	12-7-71	Florida State	90-83
Kansas	69	2-7-07	1-22-11	Texas	74-63
Kentucky	129	1-4-43	1-8-55	Georgia Tech	59-58
Lamar	80	2-18-78	3-10-84	Louisiana Tech	68-65 in SLC Tournament
Long Beach State	75	11-20-68	12-4-74	San Francisco	94-84 in OT
Louisiana State	42	2-??-16	2-18-21	Mississippi	23-22
Louisiana Tech	39	12-6-82	11-25-85	Stephen F. Austin	67-58
Louisiana Tech	39	12-7-13	1-7-16	Old Dominion	56-53
Loyola of Chicago	41	2-25-61	12-31-64	St. Louis	90-57
Marquette	81	12-17-66	1-13-73	Notre Dame	71-69
Massachusetts	33	1-16-93	2-14-95	George Washington	80-78
Memphis	47	1-4-06	2-22-08	Tennessee	66-62
Michigan State	53	11-13-98	1-12-02	Wisconsin	64-63
Middle Tennessee State	33	12-11-73	1-7-76	UT Chattanooga	83-72
Minnesota	40	2-9-01	1-20-05	Nebraska	22-21
Mississippi State	35	1-14-57	1-2-60	Auburn	64-48
Missouri	34	3-3-88	12-8-90	Arkansas	95-82
Murray State	47	11-23-96	1-15-00	Southeast Missouri State	84-78
New Mexico	41	2-10-96	2-26-98	Brigham Young	83-62
New Mexico State	34	12-16-68	12-1-71	Angelo State TX	77-71
New Orleans	38	12-12-69	2-28-72	Louisiana Tech	80-73
Niagara	51	1943	2-8-50	Syracuse	60-55
North Carolina A&T	37	1985-86	11-30-88	North Carolina Central	66-54
North Carolina Central	38	1-8-13	12-7-15	Howard University	71-69
North Carolina State	38	2-19-72	2-1-75	Maryland	98-97
North Dakota State	31	2-14-13	1-7-16	Omaha	91-82
Notre Dame	45	3-4-06	1-24-09	Connecticut	69-61
Ohio State	50	12-1-59	12-11-63	Davidson	95-73
Oklahoma	51	11-28-87	12-22-90	Duke	90-85
Oklahoma State	49	1-9-36	12-21-40	Southern California	28-25
Old Dominion	32	2-27-14	1-14-16	UAB	72-71 in OT
Oral Roberts	52	2-17-69	2-10-73	Marshall	106-103
Oregon	46	1-10-15	12-1-17	Boise State	73-70
Pacific	45	3-8-69	1-7-73	Long Beach State	91-85
Penn	34	2-7-69	12-18-71	Temple	57-52
Penn State	45	1-20-51	3-2-55	Penn	85-79
Pepperdine	30	11-27-84	12-11-86	Long Beach State	86-77
Pittsburgh	40	1-19-02	2-29-04	Syracuse	49-46 in OT
Providence	55	2-13-71	12-28-74	St. John's	91-79
Purdue	30	12-22-67	2-28-70	Iowa	108-107
St. Bonaventure	99	1948	2-25-61	Niagara	87-77
St. John's	30	11-30-84	2-14-87	Providence	79-78
Saint Joseph's	34	1956-57	12-16-66	Fairfield	82-68
Seton Hall	46	1-10-51	1-1-54	William & Mary	57-55
Siena	38	2-29-08	11-13-10	Vermont	80-76
South Carolina	34	1-12-72	2-16-74	Notre Dame	72-68
Southern Illinois	33	1-11-04	2-1-06	Indiana State	63-54
Southern Methodist	44	2-??-54	3-1-58	Texas A&M	43-42
Stephen F. Austin	34	2-18-12	11-18-14	Northern Iowa	79-77 in OT
Syracuse	57	3-5-76	2-13-80	Georgetown	52-50
Temple	33	1-21-84	2-24-87	West Virginia	64-61
Tennessee	37	11-10-06	1-7-09	Gonzaga	89-79 in OT
Tennessee Tech	33	12-2-00	1-4-03	Morehead State	72-70
Texas A&M	30	1959	2-5-63	Texas	70-59
Texas-El Paso	31	1-23-88	12-16-89	Indiana	69-66
Texas Tech	35	2-9-94	1-11-97	Colorado	80-78
Tulane	42	2-20-46	12-10-49	Arkansas	42-41
Tulsa	36	2-23-80	12-7-82	Oklahoma State	93-75
UCLA	98	12-4-70	2-21-76	Oregon	65-45
UNLV	72	2-8-74	1-7-78	New Mexico	102-98
Utah	54	1-4-97	12-9-00	Weber State	79-77
Utah State	37	11-9-07	12-5-09	Saint Mary's	68-63
Villanova	72	12-6-47	3-4-58	Saint Francis PA	70-64
Virginia	34	2-6-80	1-15-83	North Carolina	101-95
Virginia Commonwealth	33	12-18-76	2-10-78	Virginia Tech	71-63
Virginia Military	35	2-5-76	1-17-79	Appalachian State	73-58
Washington	32	1-29-04	12-31-05	Arizona	96-95 in 2OT
Weber State	44	2-8-63	2-11-67	Idaho	68-67
Western Kentucky	67	2-5-49	1-10-55	Xavier	82-80 in OT
West Virginia	39	12-10-80	1-20-83	St. Bonaventure	64-63
Wichita State	43	11-9-13	2-13-16	Northern Iowa	53-50
Wisconsin	38	12-7-02	1-25-05	Illinois	75-65
Xavier	30	12-31-08	12-31-10	Florida	71-67

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Tackling January 23 NFL Playoff Games

January 23rd, 2026 - 10:53

Hickey and ex-Hog All-SWC second-team hooper in 1929-30/NFL end Milan Creighton each coached NFL franchises. Many other ex-college hoopers also displayed their wares on the gridiron. Following is exhaustive research you can tackle regarding former NCAA DI basketball players Rodney Harrison (Western Illinois), Donovan McNabb (Syracuse) and Antwaan Randle El (Indiana) making a name for themselves on January 23 in conference championship games following 2004 season:

JANUARY 23

New England Patriots SS Rodney Harrison (averaged 7.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 3 apg and 1.6 spg for Western Illinois in 1992-93) returned an interception 87 yards for touchdown in 41-27 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in AFC Championship following 2004 campaign. Steelers WR Antwaan Randle El (member of Indiana's 1999 NCAA Tournament team coached by Bob Knight) caught three passes for 52 yards, returned four kickoffs for 75 yards and returned three punts for 40 yards.
Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb (averaged 2.3 points in 18 games for Syracuse in 1995-96 and 1996-97) threw two touchdown passes in a 27-10 NFC Championship win against the Atlanta Falcons following 2004 season.
New York Jets DL Jason Taylor (averaged 8 ppg and 5.4 rpg for Akron in 1994-95) contributed two solo tackles in a 24-19 setback against the Pittsburgh Steelers in AFC Championship following 2010 season.

Juco Jewels: Impact of JC Recruits Continues to Diminish as Years Go By

January 23rd, 2026 - 10:45

Isaac Garrett (Snow UT) is averaging more than 15 ppg and team-high 7 rpg for Oakland but there has been little impact from junior college recruits this season renewing juco influence on Division I basketball. It wasn't long ago when only a splinter group of maverick coaches were sufficiently bold to liberally dot their rosters with junior-college recruits stereotyped as discipline problems, academic risks or simply unsuitable to go directly from high school to major-college programs. "Jucoland" was labeled by misguided observers as little more than basketball rehabilitation where free-lance players enjoyed free rein to make Great Plains arenas their own personal H-O-R-S-E stables.

However, major colleges aren't nearly so reluctant any longer to bring "quick-fix" junior college players aboard. But due to an almost complete absence of academic standards, the recruits don't attend jucos to prove themselves these days and simply go straight to a four-year institution.

Back in the "dinosaur age" prior to academic exemptions, the talent pool in the NJCAA Tournament might have never been greater than in 1968, when eight of the 10 members of the All-Tournament Team either eventually played or were at least drafted by the NBA and/or ABA, and a ninth All-Tournament Team member played several years with the Harlem Globetrotters. In 1982, an all-time high of five ex-jucos were named NCAA All-Americans - Oregon State guard Lester Conner (Los Medanos CA & Chabot CA), UC Irvine forward Kevin Magee (Saddleback CA), Idaho guard Ken Owens (Treasure Valley CA), Rice forward Ricky Pierce (Walla Walla WA) and Tulsa swingman Paul Pressey (Western Texas).

The misconceptions regarding junior college basketball aren't helped when network TV pulls a snafu such as in the early 1990s when it was mistakenly inferred that Kentucky guard Dale Brown was the first instance of the Wildcats recruiting a junior college player. Actually, legendary coach Adolph Rupp, a Kansas native, regularly attended the NJCAA Tournament at Hutchinson, Kan., in the 1950s and recruited four tournament MVPs or leading scorers. Two of the four didn't play much for Kentucky or transferred, but the other two - Bob Burrow (Lon Morris TX) and Sid Cohen (Kilgore TX) - proved to be pivotal players for the Wildcats and were selected in the NBA draft. Burrow, an NCAA consensus second-team All-American in 1956, still holds the school record for rebound average in a career (16.1 rpg). Guard Adrian "Odie" Smith, a key member of Kentucky's 1958 NCAA champion, was also a junior college recruit (Northeast Mississippi). Ditto Doug Pendygraft, who joined UK after setting an NJCAA record with 63 points in a national tournament game for Lindsey Wilson KY.

Two decades earlier, Alabama, after finishing 12th in the 13-team SEC in 1937-38 with a 4-12 record, topped the league's regular-season standings the next year with a 13-4 mark. Bama's squad included three junior college graduates, led by center George Prather, who was named to the SEC All-Tournament first five.

In the early to mid-1930s, John Tarleton Agricultural College (Tex.) reeled off 86 consecutive victories and won 112 of 113 contests over a six-year span. Tarleton coach W.J. Wisdom attended a Texas A&M/Texas game and five of the starters were JTAC grads he previously coached.

Coach John Wooden's first center with UCLA was Carl Kraushaar, a transfer from Compton (Calif.) Community College who led the Bruins in scoring in 1948-49 and was an All-PCC selection the next season. Often overlooked amid UCLA's amazing run of nine NCAA Tournament titles in a 10-year span from 1964 through 1973 was the impact of junior college products. The Bruins had six J.C. recruits, including 1970 Final Four Most Outstanding Player Sidney Wicks, who were part of multiple NCAA championships.

The Big Ten Conference never has had an abundance of junior college players, but J.C. transfer Dick Garmaker (Hibbing) scored 37 points for Minnesota in his first league game in 1954 before becoming an NCAA consensus All-American the next year.

Burrow (1954) and Garmaker (1952) are two of five players - including Furman's Darrell Floyd (1951), Tulsa's Pressey (1980) and St. John's Walter Berry (1984) - who were named NJCAA Tournament MVP before becoming NCAA All-Americans.

Five of the top six scorers for Oklahoma's 2002 Final Four team were former junior college players. Former Sooners coach Kelvin Sampson (now at Houston) is fond of the realistic view junior college recruits offer a roster.

"A lot of their egos are broken down already," Sampson said. "They've been through a lot on and off the court. High school kids sometimes have egos that you have to work through. Their bubble hasn't burst yet. A high school kid sometimes gets faced with, `I thought I was better than this.' Also, juco kids only have two years left. They're hungry."

There are usually about 40 to 45 active Division I head coaches who previously served in a similar capacity at a junior college. Among the major-college mentors who guided teams to the NCAA Tournament after coaching at the J.C. level are Denny Crum (Pierce CA), Mike Deane (Delhi NY), Benny Dees (Abraham Baldwin GA), Bobby Dye (Santa Monica CA), Cliff Ellis (Cumberland TN), Jack Hartman (Coffeyville KS), Maury John (Moberly MO), Gene Keady (Hutchinson KS), Jim Killingsworth (Cerritos CA), Dick Motta (Weber UT), Lute Olson (Long Beach City CA), Ted Owens (Cameron OK), Nolan Richardson Jr. (Western Texas), Roy Skinner (Paducah KY), Charlie Spoonhour (Moberly MO and Southeastern IA), Eddie Sutton (Southern Idaho), Jerry Tarkanian (Riverside CA and Pasadena CA), Stan Watts (Dixie UT) and Jim Williams (Snow UT).

Hartman took two of his J.C. stars (Paul Henry and Lou Williams) with him to Southern Illinois, where he toiled eight years before becoming Kansas State's all-time winningest coach. Keady signed three J.C. recruits, a high number by a Big Ten institution, for his final season (2004-05) with Purdue.

Southern Idaho has produced more NCAA Division I head coaches than any other junior college. Joining recently-deceased Sutton at that level were Boyd Grant (Fresno State and Colorado State), Jerry Hale (Oral Roberts) and Fred Trenkle (San Diego State). Hale brought point guard Arnold Dugger with him and Dugger became ORU's all-time assists leader. Trenkle won a national-record 137 consecutive home games during his J.C. tenure.

At least one junior college product was among the top seven NBA draft choices six straight years from 1970 through 1975. Following is an All-Time Juco Team emphasizing two-time major-college All-Americans, top seven NBA draft choices, leading scorer for an Olympic team, more than 2,000 points at major-college level or MVP of a power conference:

FIRST TEAM

Player	Pos.	Junior College	Four-Year University	Summary of NCAA DI Career
Artis Gilmore	C	Gardner-Webb (N.C.)	Jacksonville	Led NCAA in rebounding in 1969-70 and 1970-71 with JU. Only player in NCAA history to average more than 22 ppg and 22 rpg in his career.
Spencer Haywood	F-C	Trinidad State (Colo.)	Detroit	Leading scorer for 1968 U.S. Olympic team. Paced nation in rebounding (22.1 rpg) and finished fourth in scoring (32.1 ppg) with Titans in 1968-69.
Bob McAdoo	F-C	Vincennes (Ind.)	North Carolina	Leading scorer and rebounder for third-place team in 1972 NCAA playoffs before NCAA consensus first-team All-American became second pick overall in NBA draft.
Mitch Richmond	F-G	Moberly (Mo.)	Kansas State	Averaged 23.3 ppg and 9.2 rpg in six NCAA playoff games in 1987 and 1988. NCAA consensus second-team All-American was fifth pick overall in 1988 NBA draft.
Sidney Wicks	F-C	Santa Monica (Calif.)	UCLA	Final Four Most Outstanding Player in 1970 and NCAA player of year in 1971. Leading scorer and rebounder for NCAA champions in 1970 (28-2 record) and 1971 (29-1) before becoming second pick overall in NBA draft.

SECOND TEAM

Player	Pos.	Junior College(s)	Four-Year University	Summary of NCAA DI Career
Fred Brown	G	Southeastern (Iowa)	Iowa	Two-time All-Big Ten Conference selection was sixth pick overall in 1971 NBA draft. Ranked 10th in nation in scoring in 1971 with 27.6 ppg.
Steve Francis	G	San Jacinto (Tex.) & Allegany (Md.)	Maryland	Second pick overall in 1999 NBA draft after All-ACC first-team selection averaged 17 ppg, 4.5 rpg and 4.5 apg in his lone season with Terrapins.
Armon Gilliam	F-C	Independence (Kan.)	UNLV	Leading scorer and rebounder for 1987 Final Four team (37-2 record) before Big West Conference MVP became second pick overall in NBA draft.
Larry Johnson	F	Odessa (Tex.)	UNLV	Top pick in 1991 NBA draft after leading Rebels to two Final Fours. Two-time Big West Conference MVP ranked among nation's top 11 in field-goal percentage both seasons.
Alvin Robertson	G	Crowder (Mo.)	Arkansas	Seventh pick overall in 1984 NBA draft. Two-time All-SWC selection averaged six steals in four NCAA Tournament games.

THIRD TEAM

Player	Pos.	Junior College(s)	Four-Year University	Summary of NCAA DI Career
Lionel Hollins	G	Dixie (Utah)	Arizona State	Sixth pick overall in 1975 NBA draft. Two-time All-WAC first-team selection averaged 17 ppg in two seasons with Sun Devils.
John Johnson	F	Northwest (Wyo.)	Iowa	All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection ranked 14th in nation in scoring with 28 ppg in 1969-70 before becoming seventh pick overall in NBA draft.
Vinnie Johnson	G	McLennan (Tex.)	Baylor	Ranked among NCAA's top 25 scorers in 1977-78 and 1978-79 before becoming seventh pick overall in NBA draft. Two-time SWC Player of the Year averaged 24.1 ppg with Bears.
Isaiah "J.R." Rider	F	Allen County (Kan.) & Antelope Valley (Calif.)	UNLV	NCAA runner-up in scoring in 1992-93 with 29.1 ppg for the Rebels before Big West Conference MVP became fifth pick overall in NBA draft.
Flynn Robinson	G	Casper (Wyo.)	Wyoming	Averaged more than 25 ppg each of three seasons from 1962-63 through 1964-65 with Cowboys. Three-time All-WAC first-team selection twice finished among nation's top six scorers.

FOURTH TEAM

Player	Pos.	Junior College	Four-Year University	Summary of NCAA DI Career
Jim "Bad News" Barnes	C	Cameron (Okla.)	Texas Western	First pick overall in 1964 NBA draft. Averaged 17.8 rpg, ranking among nation's top seven rebounders both of his seasons with Miners.
Ron Behagen	F	Southern Idaho	Minnesota	All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection was seventh pick overall in 1973 NBA draft after averaging 17.4 ppg and 10 rpg in two seasons with Gophers.
Dick Garmaker	F	Hibbing (Minn.)	Minnesota	NCAA consensus first-team All-American in 1954-55. Averaged 22.9 ppg and 7.7 rpg in two season with Gophers.
Rickey Green	G	Vincennes (Ind.)	Michigan	Leader in scoring and assists for 1976 NCAA playoff runner-up. Averaged 18.6 points, 4.5 rebounds and 5 assists in eight NCAA Tournament games.
Jamaal Tinsley	G	Mount San Jacinto (Calif.)	Iowa State	Big 12 Conference MVP in 2000-01. Averaged 12.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 6.3 apg and 2.6 spg in two seasons with Cyclones.

FIFTH TEAM

Player	Pos.	Junior College	Four-Year University	Summary of NCAA DI Career
Walter Berry	F-C	San Jacinto (Tex.)	St. John's	Big East Conference MVP in 1985-86 after appearing in 1985 Final Four. Leading rebounder and second-leading scorer for Final Four team (31-4 record).
Ron Brewer	G	Westark (Ark.)	Arkansas	Southwest Conference MVP was leading scorer for the Razorbacks' 1978 Final Four team. Averaged 19.2 points and 4 rebounds in six NCAA Tournament games.
Tom Henderson	G	San Jacinto (Tex.)	Hawaii	Seventh pick overall in 1974 NBA draft. Averaged 20 ppg and 6.4 apg in two seasons with Rainbows.
Bobby Jackson	G	Western Nebraska	Minnesota	Big Ten Conference MVP when leading 1997 Final Four team in scoring and assists. Averaged 20.4 points and 6.6 rebounds in five NCAA Tournament games.
Lewis Lloyd	F	New Mexico Military Institute	Drake	NCAA runner-up in scoring and rebounding in 1979-80. Two-time Missouri Valley Conference MVP averaged 28.2 ppg and 12.4 rpg in two seasons with Bulldogs.

SIXTH TEAM

Player	Pos.	Junior College(s)	Four-Year University	Summary of NCAA DI Career
Jerry Chambers	F-C	Trinidad State (Colo.)	Utah	Final Four Most Outstanding Player for Utes in 1966 when he ranked fourth in nation in scoring with 28.8 ppg.
Lester Conner	G	Los Medanos (Calif.) & Chabot (Calif.)	Oregon State	Pacific-10 Conference MVP in 1981-82 for Beavers. Averaged 14.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.3 steals in four NCAA Tournament games.
Darrell Floyd	G-F	Wingate (N.C.)	Furman	Two-time Southern Conference MVP led NCAA in scoring in 1954-55 (35.9 ppg) and 1955-56 (33.8) for Paladins.
Cliff Meely	C-F	Northeastern (Colo.)	Colorado	Led Buffaloes in scoring and rebounding three seasons before Big Eight Conference MVP became seventh pick overall in 1971 NBA draft. Ranked among nation's top 18 scorers as a sophomore and senior.
George Trapp	F-C	Pasadena City (Calif.)	Long Beach State	Two-time MVP in PCAA was fifth pick overall in 1971 NBA draft after averaging 17.7 ppg and 9 rpg.

SEVENTH TEAM

Player	Pos.	Junior College	Four-Year University	Summary of NCAA DI Career
Bob Burrow	C	Lon Morris (Tex.)	Kentucky	Two-time All-American averaged 26.3 ppg in four NCAA playoff games in 1955 and 1956.
Ed Gray	G	Southern Idaho	California	Pacific-10 Conference MVP for Cal in 1996-97 when ranking second in nation in scoring with 24.8 ppg. Tennessee transfer scored school-record 48 points at Washington State before suffering season-ending broken foot on dunk attempt.
John Rudometkin	C-F	Allan Hancock (Calif.)	Southern California	Two-time All-American ranked 15th in nation in scoring as junior with 23.9 ppg. Averaged 25 ppg and 12.8 rpg in four NCAA playoff games in 1960 and 1961.
Willie Smith	G	Seminole (Okla.)	Missouri	Big Eight Conference MVP for the Tigers in 1975-76 when he set school single-season scoring record with 25.3 ppg. Averaged 31.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.7 assists in three NCAA Tournament games.
Sam Williams	F	Burlington (Iowa)	Iowa	Big Ten Conference MVP in 1967-68 for Hawkeyes. Ranked among nation's top 24 scorers in both of his seasons with Hawkeyes.

EIGHTH TEAM

Player	Pos.	Junior College	Four-Year University	Summary of NCAA DI Career
Nate "Tiny" Archibald	G	Arizona Western	Texas-El Paso	Averaged 20 ppg for Miners from 1967-68 through 1969-70. Scored 36 points in his only NCAA Tournament game as senior.
Daron "Mookie" Blaylock	G	Midland (Tex.)	Oklahoma	Leader in assists and steals and third-leading scorer for 1988 NCAA Tournament runner-up (35-4 record). Two-time All-Big Eight Conference selection ranked among nation's top three in steals both of his seasons.
Mel Daniels	C	Burlington (Iowa)	New Mexico	Three-time All-WAC selection led Lobos in scoring and rebounding all three seasons from 1964-65 through 1966-67.
Orlando Lightfoot	F	Hiwassee (Tenn.)	Idaho	Two-time Big Sky Conference MVP is second-leading all-time J.C. scorer at DI level (2,102 points from 1991-92 through 1993-94).
Kevin Magee	F	Saddleback (Calif.)	UC Irvine	Ranked among NCAA's top seven in points, rebounds and FG% in 1980-81 and 1981-82. Two-time Big West Conference MVP averaged 26.3 ppg and 12.3 rpg for UCI.

NINTH TEAM

Player	Pos.	Junior College(s)	Four-Year University	Summary of NCAA DI Career
Tony Allen	G	Butler County (Kan.) & Wabash Valley (Ill.)	Oklahoma State	Big 12 Conference MVP was leading scorer for 2004 Final Four team.
Lee Nailon	F	Southeastern (Iowa) & Butler County (Kan.)	Texas Christian	All-American and WAC Player of the Year as junior ranked among the NCAA's top eight scorers in 1997-98 (24.9 ppg) and 1998-99 (22.8 ppg).
Ken Norman	F	Wabash Valley (Ill.)	Illinois	All-American as senior in 1986-87 after two-time All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection finished runner-up in nation in field-goal shooting the previous season (64.1%).
Ricky Pierce	F-G	Walla Walla (Wash.)	Rice	All-American as senior in 1981-82 when finishing NCAA runner-up in scoring (26.8 ppg). Three-time All-SWC first-team selection led the Owls in scoring and rebounding all three seasons.
Grady Wallace	F	Pikeville (Ky.)	South Carolina	NCAA consensus second-team All-American as senior in 1956-57 when leading nation in scoring with 31.2 ppg after finishing 17th the previous season.

TENTH TEAM

Player	Pos.	Junior College(s)	Four-Year University	Summary of NCAA DI Career
Cornell Green	F	Contra Costa (Calif.)	Utah State	All-American as senior averaged 22.5 ppg and 12.7 rpg from 1959-60 through 1961-62. He was a three-time All-Mountain States Conference first-team selection.
Gus "Honeycomb" Johnson	F	Boise (Idaho)	Idaho	Ranked second in NCAA in rebounding with 20.3 rpg in 1962-63.
Larry Kenon	F	Amarillo (Tex.)	Memphis State	All-American and Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year in 1972-73 was leading rebounder and second-leading scorer for NCAA Tournament runner-up.
Dalton Knecht	F	Northeastern Colorado	Northern Colorado/Tennessee	All-American as a senior with the Volunteers averaged 16.9 ppg and 5.2 rpg from 2021-22 through 2023-24.
Phillip "Red" Murrell	F	Chillicothe (Mo.) & Moberly Area (Mo.)	Drake	All-American as senior ranked among nation's top 13 scorers in 1956-57 and 1957-58.

ELEVENTH TEAM

Player	Pos.	Junior College	Four-Year University	Summary of NCAA DI Career
Howie Dallmar	G	Menlo (Calif.)	Stanford & Penn	NCAA consensus first-team All-American as senior with Penn in 1944-45. Final Four MOP for Stanford's 1942 NCAA titlist.
Don Lofgran	F-C	Grant Tech (Calif.)	San Francisco	NIT MVP for 1949 champion. Averaged 18 ppg in five NIT contests in 1949 (champion) and 1950 (eliminated in first round by eventual champion CCNY).
Willie Murrell	F	Eastern Oklahoma A&M	Kansas State	All-American as senior when he was leading scorer (22.3 ppg) for fourth-place team in 1964 NCAA Tournament.
Nick Van Exel	G	Trinity Valley (Tex.)	Cincinnati	All-American as senior (18.3 ppg and 4.5 apg) after being leader in assists and third-leading scorer for 1992 Final Four team.
Lloyd Walton	G	Moberly Area (Mo.)	Marquette	All-American as senior in 1975-76 after leading Marquette's 1974 NCAA Tournament runner-up in assists.

TWELFTH TEAM

Player	Pos.	Junior College	Four-Year University	Summary of NCAA DI Career
Aron Stewart	G-F	Essex County (Md.)	Richmond	Two-time All-Southern Conference first-team selection averaged 28.1 ppg in 1972-73 (league MVP) and 1973-74, ranking fourth in NCAA in scoring each season.
Ollie Taylor	F	San Jacinto (Tex.)	Houston	Averaged 22 ppg, 10.3 rpg and 3.3 apg for the Cougars in 1968-69 and 1969-70.
Martin Terry	G	Hutchinson (Kan.)	Arkansas	Ranked among NCAA's top 22 scorers in 1971-72 and 1972-73 while averaging 26.3 ppg. SWC Player of the Year as senior scored 46 points in a game against Texas A&M.
John "Cat" Thompson	F	Dixie (Utah)	Montana State	NCAA consensus first-team All-American in 1929 and 1930.
John Vallely	G	Orange Coast (Calif.)	UCLA	All-American as senior (16.3 ppg) was named to All-NCAA Tournament team as third-leading scorer for 1969 titlist and second-leading scorer for 1970 champion.

THIRTEENTH TEAM

Player	Pos.	Junior College	Four-Year University	Summary of NCAA DI Career
Lawrence Butler	G	Western Texas	Idaho State	Averaged 27 ppg, 3.6 rpg and 2.9 apg with ISU in 1977-78 and 1978-79. As a senior All-American, Big Sky Conference MVP led the nation with 30.1 ppg.
Harvey Grant	F	Independence (Kan.)	Oklahoma	All-American as senior in 1987-88 when he was leading rebounder for NCAA Tournament runner-up.
Shaler Halimon	F	Imperial Valley (Calif.)	Utah State	Averaged 25.2 ppg in 1966-67 and 1967-68, ranking among nation's top 18 scorers both seasons before becoming 14th pick overall in NBA draft.
Simmie Hill	F	Cameron (Okla.)	West Texas State	Ranked seventh in nation in scoring with 27.3 ppg in 1967-68 before becoming an All-American the next season.
Willie Humes	F	Vincennes (Ind.)	Idaho State	Ranked among nation's top five scorers in 1969-70 and 1970-71 while averaging 31.5 ppg. He set ISU's single-game scoring record with 53 points against Montana State.

FOURTEENTH TEAM

Player	Pos.	Junior College(s)	Four-Year University	Summary of NCAA DI Career
Raymond "Sonny" Downs Jr.	F-C	Del Mar (Tex.)	Texas	Two-time All-SWC first-team selection led the Longhorns in scoring three straight seasons from 1954-55 through 1956-57. Tied school single-game scoring mark with 49 points against Baylor.
Jack Gray	F	North Texas Agricultural	Texas	NCAA consensus All-American in 1935 for Longhorns.
Bobby Joe Hill	G	Burlington (Iowa) & Hutchinson (Kan.)	Texas Western	All-American in 1965-66 when he was leading scorer for NCAA Tournament champion.
Paul Pressey	G-F	Western Texas	Tulsa	NCAA consensus second-team All-American as a senior in 1981-82 when averaging 13.2 ppg and 6.4 rpg. He was a two-time All-Missouri Valley Conference first-team selection.
Darrell Walker	G	Westark (Ark.)	Arkansas	All-American and SWC Player of the Year as senior averaged 17.5 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.5 steals in six NCAA Tournament games from 1981 through 1983.

FIFTEENTH TEAM

Player	Pos.	Junior College	Four-Year University	Summary of NCAA DI Career
Sam Cassell	G	San Jacinto (Tex.)	Florida State	Two-time All-ACC second-team selection averaged 19.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.7 assists in seven NCAA Tournament games in 1992 and 1993.
Cleanthony Early	F	Sullivan County (N.Y.)	Wichita State	All-American in 2013-14 for Shockers' team that was unbeaten entering the NCAA playoffs after reaching Final Four the previous season.
Chris Porter	F	Chipola (Fla.)	Auburn	All-American and SEC Player of the Year as junior in 1998-99 when two-time all-conference selection averaged 16 ppg and 8.6 rpg.
Ray Williams	G-F	San Jacinto (Tex.)	Minnesota	Two-time All-Big Ten Conference second-team selection averaged 18.9 ppg, 6.6 rpg and 5.7 apg in 1975-76 and 1976-77. He was the 10th pick overall in 1977 NBA draft.
Sam Worthen	G	McLennan (Tex.)	Marquette	All-American as senior in 1979-80 when averaging 16.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 6.5 apg and 1.4 spg.

SIXTEENTH TEAM

Player	Pos.	Junior College	Four-Year University	Summary of NCAA DI Career
Jon Barry	G	Paris (Tex.)	Georgia Tech	Pacific transfer averaged 16.6 ppg, 4 rpg, 4.9 apg and 1.9 spg with Yellow Jackets in 1990-91 and 1991-92 (All-ACC third-team selection).
Walter "Corky" Devlin	F	Potomac State (W. Va.)	George Washington	Two-time All-Southern Conference first-team selection ranked among nation's top 14 in FG% and FT% in 1953-54 and 1954-55 en route to averaging 20.1 ppg and 6.9 rpg in three-year career.
Ledell Eackles	G-F	San Jacinto (Tex.)	New Orleans	Averaged 23 ppg and 4.5 rpg for UNO in 1986-87 and 1987-88. American South Conference MVP as a senior set school DI single-game scoring record with 45 points against Florida International.
Eugene "Goo" Kennedy	F-C	Fort Worth (Tex.)	Texas Christian	Averaged 20.4 ppg and 16.6 rpg in 1970-71 as SWC Player of the Year.
Jerome Whitehead	C	Riverside City (Calif.)	Marquette	All-American as senior after becoming second-leading rebounder and third-leading scorer for 1977 NCAA Tournament champion.

SEVENTEENTH TEAM

Player	Pos.	Junior College	Four-Year University	Summary of NCAA DI Career
Terry Catledge	F	Itawamba (Miss.)	South Alabama	USA's career average leader in scoring (21.7 ppg) and rebounding (10.8 rpg) as three-time All-Sun Belt Conference first-team selection from 1982-83 through 1984-85.
John Fairchild	C-F	Palomar (Calif.)	Brigham Young	Two-time All-WAC first-team selection was an All-American in 1964-65 when averaging 21.5 ppg and 12.4 rpg.
Larry Friend	G-F	Los Angeles CC	California	All-American in 1956-57 when averaging 18.9 ppg and 6 rpg before becoming 13th pick overall in NBA draft.
Dennis "Mo" Layton	G	Phoenix (Ariz.)	Southern California	All-American as senior averaged 17.1 ppg with USC in 1969-70 and 1970-71.
Elnardo Webster	F	Wharton (Tex.)	St. Peter's	The Peacocks' career average leader in scoring (24.5 ppg) and rebounding (14.1 rpg) played for them in 1967-68 and 1968-69.

EIGHTEENTH TEAM

Player	Pos.	Junior College	Four-Year University	Summary of NCAA DI Career
Theodore "Blue" Edwards	G	Louisburg (N.C.)	East Carolina	Averaged 20.6 ppg and 6.3 rpg with ECU in 1986-87 and 1988-89. Colonial Athletic Association MVP as a senior when he ranked fifth in nation in scoring with 26.7 ppg.
Robert Elmore	C	Wharton County (Tex.)	Wichita State	Three-time All-Missouri Valley Conference first-team selection ranked third in nation in rebounding with 15.8 rpg as senior in 1976-77. He was a younger brother of Maryland All-American Len Elmore.
Danny Schultz	G	Hiwassee (Tenn.)	Tennessee	All-American as senior in 1963-64 when averaging 18.3 ppg. Two-time All-SEC selection ranked among NCAA's top five in FT% both seasons.
Marcus Thornton	G	Kilgore (Tex.)	Louisiana State	SEC Most Valuable Player as senior in 2008-09. Averaged 20.4 ppg and 5.5 rpg in his two seasons with LSU.
Delon Wright	G	CC of San Francisco	Utah	All-American as senior averaged 15 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 5.2 apg and 2.3 spg for the Utes in 2013-14 and 2014-15.

NINETEENTH TEAM

Player	Pos.	Junior College	Four-Year University	Summary of NCAA DI Career
Don Barksdale	C	Marin (Calif.)	UCLA	All-American in 1946-47 when averaging 14.7 ppg with the Bruins.
Al Green	G	Arizona Western	Louisiana State	All-American as LSU senior in 1978-79 (averaging 17.7 ppg) after transferring from North Carolina State.
Bob Harris	C	Murray State (Okla.)	Oklahoma A&M	All-American in 1948-49 when he was leading scorer for NCAA Tournament runner-up.
Darington Hobson	F	Eastern Utah	New Mexico	All-American and Mountain West Conference MVP in 2009-10 when averaging 15.9 ppg and 9.3 rpg.
Ken Owens	G	Treasure Valley (Calif.)	Idaho	All-American and Big Sky Conference MVP in 1981-82 when averaging 15.6 ppg and 4.2 apg.

TWENTIETH TEAM

Player	Pos.	Junior College	Four-Year University	Summary of NCAA DI Career
Ken Flower	G	Menlo Park (Calif.)	Southern California	All-American in 1952-53 when two-time All-PCC selection averaged 13.8 ppg and 6.7 rpg.
Jesse "Cab" Renick	G	Murray State (Okla.)	Oklahoma A&M	NCAA consensus second-team All-American in 1939-40 when he was a member of U.S. Olympic team.
George Stanich	C	Sacramento (Calif.)	UCLA	All-American in 1949-50 for coach John Wooden's first NCAA tourney team.
Ray Steiner	G	Moberly (Mo.)	St. Louis	All-American in 1951-52 when averaging 12.2 ppg for the Billikens' first NCAA playoff team.
Vic "Slick" Townsend	G-F	Compton (Calif.)	Oregon	All-American in 1940-41 when averaging 10.1 ppg.

TOP 60 HONORABLE MENTION

Player	Pos.	Junior College	Four-Year University	Summary of NCAA DI Career
Richie Adams	C-F	Massachusetts Bay	UNLV	Two-time MVP in Pacific Coast Athletic Association (1983-84 and 1984-85) averaged 12.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 1.4 spg and 1.4 bpg in three seasons..
Rafer Alston	G	Ventura (Calif.) & Fresno CC	Fresno State	Averaged 11 ppg, 2.2 rpg and 7.3 apg for the Bulldogs in 1997-98.
Harold Arcenceaux	F	Eastern Utah	Weber State	Two-time Big Sky Conference MVP, ranking among nation's top 10 scorers in 1998-99 (22.3 ppg) and 1999-00 (23 ppg).
Tim Bassett	C	Southern Idaho	Georgia	Averaged 14.4 ppg, 13.6 rpg and 2.5 apg with the Bulldogs in 1971-72 and 1972-73.
John Baum	F	Pierce (Pa.)	Temple	Averaged 17.9 ppg and 12 rpg for the Owls from 1966-67 through 1968-69.
Ralph "Stork" Bishop	C-F	Yakima Valley (Wash.)	Washington	All-American in 1936 when he was member of U.S. Olympic team.
Terry Boyd	G	Southern Union State (Ala.)	Western Carolina	Averaged 23.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 3.2 apg and 1.7 spg in 1990-91 and 1991-92. As a senior, he was Southern Conference MVP.
Steve Bracey	G	Kilgore (Tex.)	Tulsa	All-Missouri Valley Conference first-team selection as senior averaged 21.3 ppg and 4.9 rpg for the Golden Hurricanes in 1970-71 and 1971-72.
Denver Brackeen	F	East Central (Miss.)	Mississippi	Two-time All-SEC selection averaged 24.8 ppg and 12.1 rpg for the Rebels in 1953-54 and 1954-55.
Alonzo Bradley	F	Utica (Miss.)	Texas Southern	Two-time All-SWAC second-team selection averaged 25 ppg and 8.1 rpg for TSU in 1975-76 and 1976-77.
Don Burness	F	Menlo Park (Calif.)	Stanford	All-American when he was third-leading scorer for 1942 NCAA Tournament titlist.
David Burns	G	Navarro (Tex.)	St. Louis	Averaged 19.4 ppg and 4.2 apg with the Billikens in 1979-80 and 1980-81. He was Metro Conference MVP as a senior.
Mack Calvin	G	Long Beach City College	Southern California	Averaged 12.3 ppg and 2.4 rpg for USC in 1967-68 and 1968-69 (All-Pac-8 Conference first-team selection).
Harvey Catchings	C	Weatherford (Tex.)	Hardin-Simmons	Averaged 16.7 ppg and 11.1 rpg for the Cowboys from 1971-72 through 1973-74.
Jae Crowder	F	South Georgia Tech & Howard (Tex.)	Marquette	Averaged 14.6 ppg, 7.6 rpg and 1.9 spg in 2010-11 and 2011-12. Big East Conference MVP as a senior.
Mel Daniels	F	Brevard (Fla.)	Stetson	Averaged 19.3 ppg and 9.8 rpg for the Hatters in 1976-77 and 1977-78.
Sammy Drummer	F	DeKalb South (Ga.)	Georgia Tech	Averaged 22.3 ppg and 6.5 rpg with the Yellow Jackets in 1977-78 (All-Metro Conference first-team selection) and 1978-79.
Michael Edwards	F	Weatherford (Tex.)	Pan American	Averaged 22.3 ppg and 4.5 rpg for PAU in 1976-77 and 1977-78.
Ozie Edwards	G	Eastern Oklahoma A&M	Oklahoma City	Ranked among nation's top 33 scorers in 1971-72 (22.9 ppg) and 1972-73 (28.4 ppg).
Denny Fitzpatrick	G	Orange Coast (Calif.)	California	Leading scorer for 1959 NCAA champion when All-PCC first-team selection ranked second in nation in free-throw accuracy (85.4%).
Ernie Fleming	F	Gardner-Webb (N.C.)	Jacksonville	Averaged 20.6 ppg and 7.5 rpg with JU in 1970-71 and 1971-72. Set school single-game scoring record with 59 points against St. Peter's.
Winston Garland	G	Southeastern (Iowa)	Missouri State	Averaged 18.9 ppg, 3 rpg, 4.4 apg and 2.1 spg in 1985-86 and 1986-87. As a senior, he was Mid-Continent Conference MVP.
Alton Lee Gipson	C	Utica (Miss.)	Florida State	Two-time All-Metro Conference selection averaged 19.6 ppg, 7.2 rpg and 1.7 bpg for the Seminoles in 1983-84 and 1984-85.
Neil Gordon	F	Wingate (N.C.)	Furman	Two-time All-Southern Conference selection averaged 22.4 ppg for the Paladins in 1951-52 and 1952-53.
Kenneth Green	F	Ranger (Tex.)	Pan American	Averaged 20.3 ppg and 11.5 rpg for PAU in 1979-80 and 1980-81.
Sydney Grider	G	Aquinas (Tenn.)	Southwestern Louisiana	Two-time All-American South Conference first-team selection averaged 24.5 ppg with USL in 1988-89 (16th in nation with 25.5 ppg) and 1989-90, leading the league in scoring both seasons.
Jeff Halliburton	G	San Jacinto (Tex.)	Drake	Two-time All-Missouri Valley Conference first-team selection averaged 17.1 ppg and 7.5 rpg for the Bulldogs in 1969-70 and 1970-71.
Carl Herrera	F	Jacksonville (Tex.)	Houston	Venezuelan native averaged 16.7 ppg and 9.2 rpg for the Cougars in 1989-90 before declaring early for the NBA draft (30th pick overall in second round).
Bill Hewitt	F	Mt. San Antonio (Calif.)	Southern California	Two-time All-AAWU first-team selection averaged 19.1 ppg and 11.3 rpg for the Trojans in 1966-67 and 1967-68.
Greg "Stretch" Howard	F	Hartnell (Calif.)	New Mexico	Two-time All-WAC selection averaged 16.6 ppg and 10.1 rpg for the Lobos in 1967-68 and 1968-69. He led them in rebounding average both seasons and in scoring average as a senior.
Lester Hudson	G	Southwest Tennessee	Tennessee-Martin	Two-time Ohio Valley Conference MVP ranked among nation's top five scorers in 2007-08 and 2008-09 while averaging 26.6 ppg. He also contributed 7.8 rpg and 4.4 apg.
Avery Johnson	G	New Mexico JC	Southern (La.)	Led NCAA in assists in 1986-87 (10.7 apg) and 1987-88 (13.3 apg). SWAC Player of the Year as senior dished out at least 20 scoring feeds in four league games.
Marvin Johnson	F	Howard (Tex.)	New Mexico	Two-time All-WAC selection averaged 21.9 ppg and 6 rpg with the Lobos in 1976-77 and 1977-78. Set school single-game scoring record with 50 points against Colorado State.
Frankie King	G	Brunswick (Ga.)	Western Carolina	Two-time All-Southern Conference first-team selection averaged 26.7 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 2.7 apg and 1.8 spg in 1993-94 and 1994-95. As a senior, he was league MVP.
Tom King	F	Cameron (Okla.)	New Mexico	Ranked among NCAA's top 32 in rebound percentage in 1959-60 (15 rpg) and 1960-61 (16.3 rpg).
Jim Loscutoff	F	Grant Tech (Calif.)	Oregon	Ranked 19th in NCAA in rebounding with 17.2 per game in 1954-55 after missing two seasons while serving in U.S. Army.
Ollie Mack	G	San Jacinto (Tex.)	East Carolina	Averaged 23 ppg and 4.3 rpg for the Pirates in 1977-78 and 1978-79. Ranked fourth in NCAA in scoring as junior with 28 ppg.
Shawn Marion	F	Vincennes (Ind.)	UNLV	All-WAC first-team selection averaged team highs of 18.7 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 2.5 spg and 1.9 bpg for the Rebels in 1998-99 before declaring early for NBA draft (ninth pick overall).
De'Teri Mayes	G	Wallace-Hanceville (Ala.)	Murray State	Two-time All-Ohio Valley Conference first-team selection averaged 21.3 ppg and 5.4 rpg for the Racers in 1996-97 and 1997-98. As a senior, he was OVC MVP when leading league in scoring.
Stan Mayhew	F	Trinidad (Colo.)	Weber State	Big Sky Conference's top scorer in 1976-77 when averaging 22 ppg and 10.2 rpg. Scored 45 points in a single game against Utah State (school record for more than 41 years).
Von McDade	G	Iowa Lakes	Milwaukee	Oklahoma State transfer averaged 29.6 ppg (third in nation), 5.4 rpg, 3.7 apg and 3.5 spg with Milwaukee in 1990-91. He set school single-game record with 50 points at Illinois.
McCoy McLemore	F	Moberly Area (Mo.)	Drake	Averaged 14.2 ppg and 11.2 rpg for the Bulldogs in 1962-63 and 1963-64 (All-Missouri Valley Conference first-team selection).
Tim Moore	F	Lee (Tex.)	Houston	Two-time All-SWC selection led the Cougars in scoring and rebounding all three seasons from 1993-94 through 1995-96, ranking among NCAA's top 20 in rebounding as junior and senior.
Rex Morgan	G	Lake Land (Ill.)	Jacksonville	Averaged 22 ppg and 6.8 rpg for the Dolphins in 1968-69 and 1969-70. As a senior, he was runner-up to All-American Artis Gilmore in scoring for JU's NCAA playoff runner-up. Ranked 10th in nation in scoring with 26.7 ppg as a junior.
Charles "Bo" Outlaw	F-C	South Plains (Tex.)	Houston	Two-time all-league selection led NCAA in field-goal shooting in 1991-92 (68.4%) and 1992-93 (65.8%) while ranking among nation's top 10 in blocked shots both seasons. SWC Player of the Year as a senior.
Robert "Sonny" Parker	F	Mineral Area (Mo.)	Texas A&M	Two-time SWC Player of the Year averaged 17.7 ppg and 7.1 rpg for the Aggies in 1974-75 and 1975-76.
Timothy Pollard	G	Coahoma (Miss.)	Mississippi Valley State	Two-time All-SWAC third-team selection led NCAA in three-point field goals made per game in 1987-88 (4.7) and 1988-89 (4.4).
Hector Romero	F	Independence (Kan.)	New Orleans	Venezuelan native averaged 19.3 ppg and 10 rpg in 2001-02 and 2002-03. He was Sun Belt Conference MVP as a junior.
Ollie Shannon	G	Minneapolis CC	Minnesota	Averaged 19.7 ppg in 1969-70 and 1970-71, leading the Gophers in scoring average both seasons. Tied school single-game scoring record with 42 points against Wisconsin.
Curt Smith	G	Compton (Calif.)	Drake	Averaged 21.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 4.6 apg and 2.7 spg as Missouri Valley Conference MVP in 1992-93.
Mike Smith	G-F	Bossier Parish (La.)	Louisiana-Monroe	Two-time All-Southland Conference first-team selection averaged 19.3 ppg, 8.2 rpg and 2.7 apg for ULM in 1998-99 and 1999-00. As a senior, he was league MVP before becoming an NBA draft selection.
Riley Smith	C-F	Odessa (Tex.)	Idaho	Averaged 19.3 ppg, 7.7 rpg and 1.4 spg in 1988-89 and 1989-90. As a senior, he was Big Sky Conference MVP.
Ryan Stuart	F	Lon Morris (Tex.)	Northeast Louisiana	Two-time Southland Conference MVP averaged 21.3 ppg and 9.2 rpg in 1991-92 and 1992-93.
Henry Taylor	F	South Plains (Tex.)	Pan American	Averaged 20 ppg and 12.8 rpg for the Broncs in 1976-77 and 1977-78.
Gary Turner	F-C	Paris (Tex.)	Texas Christian	Three-time All-SWC selection led the Horned Frogs in scoring and rebounding each season from 1963-64 through 1965-66.
Shaun Vandiver	F	Hutchinson (Kan.)	Colorado	Three-time All-Big Eight Conference selection averaged 20.6 ppg and 10.6 rpg for the Buffs from 1988-89 through 1990-91.
Obet Vazquez	F	Trinidad State (Colo.)	Central Connecticut State	Averaged 22 ppg and 7.6 rpg for CCSU in 1990-91.
Dave Wagnon	G	Boise (Idaho)	Idaho State	Averaged 25.5 ppg and 4.9 rpg for the Bengals in 1964-65 and 1965-66. As a senior, he narrowly finished national runner-up to Purdue All-American Dave Schellhase in scoring with 32.5 ppg.
"Jo Jo" Walters	G	Essex County (Md.)	Manhattan	Averaged 20.1 ppg and 5.3 rpg for the Jaspers in 1977-78 and 1978-79.
Mitchell Wiggins	F	Truett-McConnell (Ga.)	Florida State	Clemson transfer ranked among NCAA's top 23 scorers with the Seminoles in 1981-82 (23.8 ppg) and 1982-83 (22.7 ppg).

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Tackling January 22 NFL Playoff Games

January 22nd, 2026 - 9:53

Long before kneeling knuckleheads such as GQ cover boy #ColonKrapernick tried to pinpoint where Iran is on a map before politicized multiple anthems and hug-a-thug NFL funding anti-cop activist groups, the NCAA Tournament commenced in 1939, which was one year after the NIT triggered national postseason competition. An overlooked "versatile athlete" feat occurring in 1938 likely never to be duplicated took place at Arkansas, where the quarterback for the football squad (Jack Robbins) repeated as an All-SWC first-team basketball selection, leading the Razorbacks (19-3) to the league title. After the season, Robbins became an NFL first-round draft choice by the Chicago Cardinals (5th pick overall) and senior football/basketball teammates Jim Benton (11th pick by Cleveland Rams) and Ray Hamilton (41st pick by Rams) went on to become wide receivers for at least six years in the NFL. Yes, they created a kneeling-in-admiration shatterproof achievement - three members of a league championship basketball squad who promptly were among the top 41 selections in the same NFL draft.

Hickey and ex-Hog All-SWC second-team hooper in 1929-30/NFL end Milan Creighton each coached NFL franchises. Many other ex-college hoopers also displayed their wares on the gridiron. Following is exhaustive research you can tackle regarding former college basketball players who made a name for themselves on January 22 in football at the professional level (especially Green Bay Packers defense in NFC championship contest following 2016 season):

JANUARY 22

Baltimore Ravens PK Billy Cundiff (played in nine basketball contests with Drake in 1999-00 and 2000-01) converted two field goals but missed a 32-yard attempt with 15 seconds remaining that could have knotted the score in 23-20 setback against the New England Patriots in AFC championship game following 2011 season.
San Francisco 49ers FS Ronnie Lott (Southern California hooper in 1979-80) contributed four solo tackles in a 20-16 victory against the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl XXIII following 1988 season.
Oakland Raiders RB Greg Pruitt (freshman squad hooper for Oklahoma in 1969-70) rushed five times for 17 yards, returned one kickoff for 17 yards and returned one punt return for eight yards in a 38-9 victory against the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl XVIII following the 1983 season. George Starke (averaged 2.9 ppg and 3.7 rpg for Columbia in 1968-69 and 1969-70) was starting RT for the Redskins.
Pittsburgh Steelers WR Antwaan Randle El (member of Indiana's 1999 NCAA Tournament team coached by Bob Knight) caught four passes for 52 yards in a 34-17 win against the Denver Broncos in AFC Championship following 2005 season.
Green Bay Packers CB Quinten Rollins (led Miami OH in steals all four seasons from 2010-11 through 2013-14 including Mid-American Conference as senior) had four tackles in a 44-21 setback against the Atlanta Falcons in NFC championship game following 2016 season. Packers LB Julius Peppers (averaged 5.7 ppg and 3.7 rpg while shooting 60.7% from floor for North Carolina in 1999-00 and 2000-01) chipped in with two tackles.
Denver Broncos WR Rod Smith (swingman was Missouri Southern State hoops letterman as sophomore in 1990-91) caught four passes for 61 yards in a 34-17 setback against the Pittsburgh Steelers in AFC Championship following 2005 season.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Tackling January 21 NFL Playoff Games

January 21st, 2026 - 9:47

Hickey and ex-Hog All-SWC second-team hooper in 1929-30/NFL end Milan Creighton each coached NFL franchises. Many other ex-college hoopers also displayed their wares on the gridiron. Following is exhaustive research you can tackle regarding former college basketball players who made a name for themselves on January 21 in football at the professional level (including touchdown catches by tight ends Billy Joe Dupree and Marcedes Lewis from power-conference members):

JANUARY 21

TE Marcedes Lewis (collected nine points and four rebounds in seven UCLA basketball contests in 2002-03 under coach Steve Lavin) opened the Jacksonville Jaguars' scoring with a touchdown reception in 24-20 setback against the New England Patriots in AFC Championship following 2017 season.
Dallas Cowboys QB Roger Staubach (Navy varsity hooper in 1962-63) threw three touchdown passes in a 35-31 setback against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XIII following 1978 season. One of the TD passes was in fourth quarter to TE Billy Joe Dupree (scored four points in total of four basketball games for Michigan State in 1971-72). Cowboys RB Preston Pearson (averaged 5.2 ppg and 3.6 rpg for Illinois from 1964-65 through 1966-67) rushed once for six years and caught two of Staubach's passes for 15 yards, LDE Ed "Too Tall" Jones (averaged 1.7 ppg and 2.6 rpg for Tennessee State in 1969-70 and 1970-71) registered five solo tackles plus recovering a fumble and Rayfield Wright (All-SIAC hooper with Fort Valley State GA) started at RT for them. Steelers DB Tony Dungy (averaged 2.6 ppg with Minnesota in 1973-74) recorded a solo tackle.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Tackling January 20 NFL Playoff Games

January 20th, 2026 - 9:20

Hickey and ex-Hog All-SWC second-team hooper in 1929-30/NFL end Milan Creighton each coached NFL franchises. Many other ex-college hoopers also displayed their wares on the gridiron. Following is exhaustive research you can tackle regarding former college basketball players who made a name for themselves on January 20 in playoff football at the professional level (especially San Diego Charger wide receivers in AFC Championship following 2007 season):

JANUARY 20

San Diego Chargers WR Chris Chambers (played hoops briefly for Wisconsin under coach Dick Bennett in 1997-98) had a playoff career-high seven pass receptions in 21-12 AFC Championship setback against the New England Patriots following 2007 season. Chargers WR Vincent Jackson (Northern Colorado's scoring leader with 13.6 ppg in 2003-04 while also contributing 5.6 rpg and 3.1 apg) had six receptions for game-high 93 receiving yards.
Atlanta Falcons TE Tony Gonzalez (averaged 6.4 ppg and 4.3 rpg for California from 1994-95 through 1996-97) had eight pass receptions - including touchdown - in a 28-24 NFC championship game setback against the San Francisco 49ers following 2012 season.
Green Bay Packers RB Aaron Jones (collected six points and six assists in eight basketball games for Texas-El Paso in 2013-14 under coach Tim Floyd) rushed for 108 yards, including a 53-yarder, in 24-21 setback against the San Francisco 49ers in NFC Divisional Round playoff game following 2023 season.
San Francisco 49ers LCB Ronnie Lott (Southern California hooper in 1979-80) contributed a solo tackle in 38-16 victory against the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl XIX following 1984 season.
DB R.W. McQuarters (Oklahoma State hooper in 1995-96 and 1996-97 started two games) had an interception in his third consecutive playoff game to help the New York Giants reach Super Bowl XLII following 2007 season.
St. Louis Rams rookie LB Tommy Polley (played in one basketball game for Florida State in 1996-97 under coach Pat Kennedy) had two interceptions, returning one 34 yards for a touchdown, in 45-17 NFC divisional-round win against the Green Bay Packers following 2001 campaign.

Former College Hoopers For NCAA Football Playoff Champion IU Hoosiers

January 20th, 2026 - 9:16

In an era of specialization, two-way athletes are becoming a dying breed. In the "good old days," a striking number of versatile athletes participated in both college basketball and football. Amid this multi-sport mosaic, sports history buffs might want to know former Indiana football players who also played hoops for the Hoosiers prior to capturing this year's College Football Playoff National Championship since the early 1930s:

FB-BKB Player	Summary of Football Career	Summary of IU Basketball Career
Quinn Buckner	Selected by the Washington Redskins in 14th round of 1976 NFL draft. He was a starting safety as a freshman for the Hoosiers' football squad, leading it in interceptions and fumble recoveries.	Three-time All-American averaged 10 ppg and 4.8 apg from 1972-73 through 1975-76. Member of 1976 U.S. Olympic team led IU in steals and was fourth-leading scorer and rebounder with undefeated 1976 champion.
Cam Cameron	Assistant coach of the NFL's San Diego Chargers for five years before he was named head coach of the Miami Dolphins in 2007 (1-15 mark was the worst in team history). Offensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens from 2008 to mid-December 2012 when he was replaced by former Indianapolis Colts coach Jim Caldwell. Head coach at his alma mater for five years from 1997 through 2001 (18-37 record). Class of '83 member played quarterback for the Hoosiers' football squad. Assistant coach at Michigan under Bo Schembechler before becoming an assistant for three years with the Washington Redskins. Stepfather Tom Harp was Indiana State's head football coach in the mid-1970s.	Collected 33 points and 12 rebounds in 30 games for the Hoosiers' basketball squad in 1981-82 and 1982-83. Teammate of All-Americans Ted Kitchel and Randy Wittman scored two points in 1982 NCAA Tournament Mideast Regional first-round 94-62 win over Robert Morris. Played briefly vs. Oklahoma team featuring Wayman Tisdale in 1983 playoffs. Said coach Bob Knight: "He was a kid who really understood his role on the team. He did everything he possibly could to help the team become better, in practice, the times that he played, and the way he handled himself in the locker room. Has a real understanding of what it takes, from a variety of directions, to be good."
Bob Cowan	Back caught 21 passes for five touchdowns and made three interceptions with two AAFC franchises (Cleveland and Baltimore) in three years from 1947 through 1949.	Averaged 1.7 ppg in 19 basketball contests for IU in 1942-43.
Jordan Fuchs	Tight end caught seven passes for 69 yards and three touchdowns in 2014 and 2015 before suffering a season-ending dislocated ankle in 2016 opener against Florida International.	The 6-6 Fuchs grabbed five rebounds in three basketball games in 2014-15 under coach Tom Crean.
Ross Hales	Tight end had 51 receptions for 580 yards and two touchdowns in 1992 and 1993, catching a 34-yard pass in the second quarter of a 45-20 loss against Virginia Tech in the 1993 Independence Bowl.	The 6-7 Hales collected 3 points and 4 rebounds in 13 basketball games under coach Bob Knight in 1993-94, making a token appearance in the Hoosiers' 67-58 second-round victory over Temple in the NCAA playoffs.
James Hardy III	Second-round pick of the Buffalo Bills in 2008 NFL draft (41st pick overall) had two touchdown receptions among his nine catches in five games as a rookie. The only wide receiver in IU history to surpass 2,500 yards, 175 receptions and 35 touchdowns. Second-team All-Big Ten Conference selection as a freshman in 2005 when he caught 61 passes for 893 yards and 10 touchdowns, including a career-high 12 receptions for 203 yards at Iowa. First player in school history to catch at least one TD pass in six straight games. As a sophomore in 2006, he led IU with 51 catches for 722 yards and 10 TDs, including a school-record four TDs against Michigan State. In 2007, he set school season-records with 79 receptions for 1,125 yards and 16 receiving TDs (2nd in nation).	The 6-6 Hardy started three basketball games under coach Mike Davis for the Hoosiers in 2004-05 when averaging 1.7 ppg and 1.8 rpg.
Vern Huffman	Quarterback-defensive back passed for 484 yards and rushed for 368 yards with the Detroit Lions in 1937 and 1938. Third-round draft choice (27th pick overall) scored one touchdown and passed for two touchdowns each season.	The 6-2, 215-pound guard was a two-time All-Big Ten Conference basketball selection (first-team pick in 1935-36 as an All-American and second-team choice in 1936-37).
John Isenbarger	Triple threat standout was the Hoosiers' leading rusher each of his three varsity seasons, including 1,217 yards as an All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection senior. He was the starting tailback as a sophomore IU's only Rose Bowl team (lost to top-ranked USC following 1967 campaign). RB-WR played four years with the San Francisco 49ers (rushing 27 times for 80 yards and catching 21 passes for 291 yards and two touchdowns from John Brodie and Steve Spurrier) after being their second-round pick in 1970 NFL draft.	Made 1-of-6 field-goal attempts in three basketball games in 1967-68. Brother of Phil Isenbarger, a backup senior forward for the Hoosiers' 1981 NCAA title team under coach Knight.
Ralph "Ken" Johnson	Defensive lineman with the Cincinnati Bengals for seven years from 1971 through 1977.	The 6-6 Johnson averaged 13.1 ppg and 9.8 rpg for the Hoosiers from 1967-68 through 1969-70. All-Big Ten Conference second-team selection as a junior led them in rebounding his last two seasons and grabbed a career-high 21 boards in a game at Minnesota.
Don Luft	The 6-5, 225-pounder played one season (1954) as an end with the Philadelphia Eagles, catching three passes for 59 yards. Defensive end in the CFL in 1955 and 1956.	Backup center to All-American Bill Garrett for the Hoosiers' basketball team as a junior in 1950-51, scoring 15 points in 17 games. In the final contest of Garrett's career with the Hoosiers, Luft replaced IU's first African-American player.
Antwaan Randle El	Big Ten Conference freshman of the year in 1998 became the first conference player to accumulate 5,000 total yards as a sophomore. The 5-11 quarterback compiled 3,000 passing yards and 1,500 yards rushing through his 19th game, faster than anyone in NCAA Division I-A history. His brother, defensive back Curtis, played with him his first two seasons with the Hoosiers. Finished sixth in 2001 Heisman Trophy voting. Second-round draft choice by the Pittsburgh Steelers as a wide receiver. Key kick returner caught more than 30 passes each of his first four years in the NFL, including a career-high 47 as a rookie in 2002. Signed seven-year, $31 million contract with the Washington Redskins as an unrestricted free agent after throwing a flea flicker touchdown pass in Super Bowl XX. Returned to the Steelers and played in Super Bowl XXV in Dallas.	Collected 16 points and 11 assists in 11 games for IU's 1999 NCAA Tournament team, including two points in each of the Hoosiers' playoff contests (against George Washington and St. John's). He scored 69 points in a single basketball game for Thornton High School in Harvey, Ill.
Trent Smock	Caught 36 passes for five touchdowns as a sophomore when he was an AP All-Big Ten Conference second-team selection. Split end was a 15th-round draft choice by the Detroit Lions in 1976 after leading IU in pass receptions three straight years.	Collected 51 points and 49 rebounds in 34 games in coach Knight's first two 20-win seasons with the Hoosiers. Played briefly as a freshman forward at the 1973 Final Four. His teammates included All-Americans Quinn Buckner, Steve Downing and Steve Green.
Joe Zeller	End scored two touchdowns for the Chicago Bears during his six years with them from 1933 through 1938 after playing one season with the Green Bay Packers.	The 6-1, 200-pounder averaged 4.1 ppg as a three-year basketball letterman from 1929-30 through 1931-32.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Tackling January 19 NFL Playoff Games

January 19th, 2026 - 7:59

JANUARY 19

Green Bay Packers RB Aaron Jones (collected six points and six assists in eight basketball games for Texas-El Paso in 2013-14 under coach Tim Floyd) scored two second-half touchdowns in a 37-20 setback against the San Francisco 49ers in NFC Championship contest following 2019 season. Packers TEs Jimmy Graham (part-time starter for Miami FL averaged 4.2 ppg and 4.2 rpg from 2005-06 through 2008-09 under coach Frank Haith) and Marcedes Lewis (collected nine points and four rebounds in seven UCLA basketball contests in 2002-03 under coach Steve Lavin) combined to catch six passes for 73 yards from Aaron Rodgers.
Oakland Raiders RB Terry Kirby (averaged 2.8 ppg for Virginia's NCAA tourney teams in 1989-90 and 1990-91 under coaches Terry Holland and Jeff Jones) returned four kickoffs for 91 yards in a 16-13 setback against the New England Patriots in AFC divisional-round playoff game following 2001 season.
Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb (averaged 2.3 points in 18 games for Syracuse in 1995-96 and 1996-97) threw two touchdown passes in a 33-19 NFC divisional-round playoff win against the Chicago Bears following 2001 season.
Denver Broncos TE Julius Thomas (averaged 6.8 ppg and 4.3 rpg while shooting 66.3% from floor with Portland State from 2006-07 through 2009-10) had team-high eight pass receptions in a 26-16 AFC Championship game win against the New England Patriots following 2013 season.

MLK's Birthday & Black History Month Trigger Memories of Historic Hoopers

January 19th, 2026 - 7:55

"Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery, I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally." - Abraham Lincoln

Unless you're a devotee of Congressional Odd Squad, philandering Big Fani Willis in GA, NY's dancing AG Large Letitia James, Philly Mayor trying to spell "Eagles", ex-#MSLSD host Joy-less "Hacking Claimer" Reid or ex-#Dimorat presidential candidate Mr. Groper (a/k/a T-Bone's friend Spartacus), certainly it's not a Jussie Smollett hate-crime to also claim "White Players Matter." But when Martin Luther King's birthday is celebrated and Black History Month is around the corner, accompanying these benchmarks are an assortment of facts and opinions acknowledging positive contributions African-Americans have made to the American landscape. Granted, Robin Roberts' lame circling-the-drain ABC interview of Smollett, Michael Vick's fondness for dogs plus traction-less presidential campaigns of Cory "Spartacus" Booker and Cacklin' Commie-la Harris aren't among them. Still, taking more than 100 years after emancipator Abraham Lincoln to make a nationwide transition, nowhere is that emphasis more evident than in an athletic world bereft of quotas and unconnected to alleged Oscar-snubbing. Rest assured civil rights stories such as high school coach Ken Zacher are plentiful. There clearly are more self-evident truths of joyful honor in basketball arenas than in the Smollett-hoax political arena, where a tax cheat such as Al "Not So" Sharpton has been given a freeloader forum by Mess-LSD and brotherly backdoor free-pass entrance to previous POTUS' Oval Office (perhaps skinny-jeans version of H&R Block seminar from #AudacityofHype to set him lien free at last).

Letting authentic freedom ring a mite more than "The View" host-ettes and #Dimorat Divas' Odd Squad America Last policy, frisky billionaire Michael "Throw Them Up Against the Wall" Bloomberg and CNN's identity politics, every sports fan acknowledges the cultural significance of Jackie Robinson (180 degrees removed from smug Smollett's nutrition plan). A movie (42) debuted several springs ago regarding Robinson beginning his major league baseball career, but it is easy to forget there was a time when the now 75% black National Basketball Association was 100% white. Similar to remembering Dems largely opposed the 13th Amendment and Plagiarist Bile-dumb claiming he "got started" at Delaware State, it's also easy to forget how Robinson was instrumental in college basketball's "civil rights" movement.

Before Robinson arrived on the scene in the National League, however, there was Columbia's George Gregory, who became the first African-American to gain college All-American honors in 1930-31. In an era of low scoring, he was the team's second-leading scorer with a 9.2-point average. But he was proudest of his defense, and a statistic that is no longer kept: "goals against." In 10 games, Gregory held rival centers to only eight baskets. "That's less than one goal a game," he told the New York Times. "I think they should have kept that statistical category. Nowadays, one guy scores 40 points but his man scores 45. So what good is it?

"It's funny, but even though I was the only black playing for Columbia, and there was only one other black playing in the Ivy League - Baskerville of Harvard - I really didn't encounter too much trouble from opponents. Oh, I got into a couple of fights. And one time a guy called me 'Nigger,' and a white teammate said, 'Next time, you hit him high and I'll hit him low.' And we did, and my teammate, a Polish guy named Remy Tys, said to that other player, 'That's how we take care of nigger callers.'"

As pitiful as a New York Slimes dual endorsement and "courteous" #NannyPathetic's prayerful paper shredding, Gregory said the worst racial incident he encountered was at his own school. "After our last game in my junior year, the team voted me captain for the next season. Well, there was a hell of a battle when this came out. Columbia didn't want a black captain, or a Jewish captain, either, I learned. The dean was against it, and the athletic director was against it, and even the coach was against it.

"The coach told me, 'Get yourself together, Gregory, or I'll take your scholarship away.' They were worried that if we played a school in the South and met the other captain before the game, the guy would refuse to come out and it would embarrass the school. But the campus was split 50-50 on whether to have a black captain for its basketball team.

"The fight went on for three or four weeks. The school insisted that the team vote again. We did, and I won again. One of my teammates said, 'You forced the school to enter the 20th Century.'"

Harrison "Honey" Fitch, Connecticut's first black player, was center stage during a racial incident delaying a game at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy for several hours in late January 1934. Coast Guard officials entered a protest against Fitch, arguing that because half of the Academy's student body was from southern states, they had a tradition "that no Negro players be permitted to engage in contests at the Academy." Eventually, UConn's coach kept Fitch on the bench the entire contest and never explained why.

The first black to appear in the NBA didn't occur until a couple of decades after Gregory graduated and Fitch transferred to American International. UCLA's first basketball All-American Don Barksdale, one of the first seven African-Americans to play in the NBA, was the first black U.S. Olympic basketball player (1948) as well as the first black to play in an NBA All-Star Game (as a rookie in 1952).

Inspired by the black labor movement in the 1930s, Barksdale said, "I made up my mind that if I wanted to do something, I was going to try to do it all the way, no matter the obstacles."

As a 28-year-old rookie with the Baltimore Bullets, he was paid $20,850 (one of the NBA's top salaries) to play and host a postgame radio show, but that notoriety also put extra pressure on him. Forced to play excessive minutes during the preseason, he sustained ankle injuries that plagued him the remainder of his four-year NBA career (11 ppg and 8 rpg).

Why play so many minutes? "It's Baltimore, which is considered the South," said Barksdale, who wound up back in the Bay Area as a well-known jazz disc jockey. "So the South finally signed a black man, and he's going to play whether he could walk or crawl." Barksdale boasted a decidedly different perspective than Kentucky freshman playmaker Ashton "Out For Personal Reasons" Hagans with his wad-of-cash video. What's the over/under as to whether Hagans' hubris was flashing $20,850?

Chuck Cooper, who attended Duquesne on the GI Bill, was the first black player drafted by an NBA franchise. "I don't give a damn if he's striped or plaid or polka-dot," were the history-making words of Boston Celtics Owner Walter Brown when he selected Cooper, who averaged 6.7 points and 5.9 rebounds per game in six pro seasons. In Cooper's freshman campaign, Duquesne was awarded a forfeit after refusing to yield to Tennessee's refusal to compete against the Dukes if Cooper participated in a game just before Christmas.

In the 1955-56 season, the Hazleton (Pa.) Hawks of the Eastern League became the first professional league franchise to boast an all-black starting lineup - Jesse Arnelle, Tom Hemans, Fletcher Johnson, Floyd Lane and Sherman White. Arnelle (Penn State) and White (Long Island) were former major-college All-Americans.

As for the multi-talented Robinson, UCLA's initial all-conference basketball player 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 who spurred #42 uniforms throughout MLB was the leading scorer for the Los Angeles Red Devils' barnstorming team in 1946-47.

Seven-time All-Star outfielder Larry Doby, the first black in the American League, was also a college basketball player who helped pave the way for minorities. He competed on the hardwood for Virginia Union during World War II after originally committing to LIU. The four-month lead Robinson had in integrating the majors casts a huge shadow over Doby, who was the first black to lead his league in homers (32 in 1952), first to hit a World Series homer and first to win a World Series title.

With less than 10% of current MLB rosters comprised of African-Americans, Robinson clearly had much more of a longstanding impact on basketball than baseball. All of the trailblazers didn't capitalize on a Methodist faith like Robinson, but they did boast temperaments unlike "fohty-five" Congressional Black Caucus members or so such as #MadMaxine sitting on their hands or boycotting SOTU speech by Donald Trump. In deference to "firsts" and the number 42, following is a ranking of the 42 best players (including Ball) deserving applause for breaking the color barrier at the varsity level of a major university (*indicates junior college recruit):

Rank	First Black Player	School	First Varsity Season	Summary of College Career
1.	Elvin Hayes	Houston	1965-66	Three-time All-American averaged 31 ppg and 17.2 rpg in three seasons. The Hall of Famer led the Cougars in scoring and rebounding each year before becoming first pick overall in 1968 NBA draft.
2.	Hal Greer	Marshall	1955-56	The first African-American to play intercollegiate athletics in the state of West Virginia averaged 19.4 ppg and 10.8 rpg in three seasons. Naismith Memorial Hall of Famer led the Thundering Herd in rebounding as a junior (13.8 rpg) and senior (11.7 rpg) before becoming a 10-time NBA All-Star.
3.	Charlie Scott	North Carolina	1967-68	Averaged 22.1 ppg and 7.1 rpg in three seasons. He was a consensus second-team All-American choice his last two years.
4.	Clem Haskins	Western Kentucky	1964-65	Three-time OVC Player of the Year was a consensus first-team All-American as a senior. Averaged 22.1 ppg and 10.6 rpg in three varsity seasons. First-round NBA draft pick (3rd overall) in 1967.
5.	K.C. Jones	San Francisco	1951-52	Shut-down defender Jones, a member of the 1955 NCAA champion featuring Bill Russell and 1956 Olympic champion, averaged 8.8 ppg in five seasons (played only one game in 1953-54 before undergoing an appendectomy).
6.	Walter Dukes	Seton Hall	1950-51	Averaged 19.9 ppg and 18.9 rpg in three seasons. Consensus first-team All-American as a senior when he averaged 26.1 ppg and 22.2 rpg to lead the Dukes to a 31-2 record and NIT title. Played two full seasons with the Harlem Globetrotters before signing with the New York Knicks, who picked him in 1953 NBA draft.
7.	Don Chaney	Houston	1965-66	Defensive whiz Chaney, an All-American as a senior, averaged 12.6 ppg in three seasons and was a member of Final Four teams in 1967 and 1968.
8.	John Austin	Boston College	1963-64	Two-time All-American averaged 27 ppg in his Eagles' career. Ranked among the nation's leading scorers in 1964 (8th), 1965 (7th) and 1966 (22nd). Scored 40 points in a 1965 NIT contest. He was a fourth-round choice by the Boston Celtics in 1966 NBA draft.
9.	Mike Maloy	Davidson	1967-68	Three-time All-American averaged 19.3 ppg and 12.4 rpg in his career. Southern Conference Player of the Year as a junior and senior. He was the leading scorer (24.6 ppg) and rebounder (14.3 rpg) for the winningest team in school history (27-3 in 1968-69). Selected by the Pittsburgh Condors in the first five rounds of 1970 ABA draft.
10.	Cleo Littleton	Wichita	1951-52	Averaged 19 ppg and 7.7 rpg in four seasons, leading the Shockers in scoring each year. School's career scoring leader (2,164 points) is the only four-time first-team All-Missouri Valley Conference choice. He was selected by the Fort Wayne Pistons in 1955 NBA draft.
11.	Wendell Hudson	Alabama	1970-71	Averaged 19.2 ppg and 12 rpg in his career, finishing as Bama's fourth-leading scorer and second-leading rebounder. The two-time All-SEC first-team selection was a Helms All-American choice as a senior in 1972-73 before being selected in the second round of NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls.
12.	Bob Gibson	Creighton	1954-55	Future Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher was the school's first player to average at least 20 ppg in his career (20.2). Led the Bluejays in scoring (22 ppg) and rebounding (7.6 rpg) as a junior. Gibson, who said he couldn't eat or stay with the rest of the Bluejays' team on his first trip to Tulsa, went on to play with the Harlem Globetrotters.
13.	Bill Garrett	Indiana	1948-49	First impact African-American player in Big Ten Conference averaged 12 ppg while leading the Hoosiers in scoring each of his three varsity seasons. Paced them in rebounding as a senior (8.5 rpg) when he was an all-league first-team selection. Selected by the Boston Celtics in second round of 1951 NBA draft. Grandson Billy Garrett Jr. became Big East Conference Rookie of the Year with DePaul in 2013-14.
14.	Earl Robinson	California	1955-56	Three-time All-PCC second-team selection averaged at least 10 ppg each of three varsity seasons as 6-1 guard under HOF coach Pete Newell. Robinson averaged 15.5 points in four NCAA Tournament games his last two years, leading the Bears in scoring in two of the playoff contests.
15.	Tom Payne	Kentucky	1970-71	Led the Wildcats in rebounding (10.1 rpg) and was their second-leading scorer (16.9 ppg) in his only varsity season before turning pro. The All-SEC first-team selection had a 39-point, 19-rebound performance against Louisiana State before leaving school early and becoming an NBA first-round draft choice by the Atlanta Hawks.
16.	Ron "Fritz" Williams	West Virginia	1965-66	Southern Conference player of the year as a senior led Mountaineers in scoring and assists all three varsity seasons on his way to finishing with averages of 20.1 ppg and 6 apg. Williams, a two-time all-league first-team selection, was a first-round pick in 1968 NBA draft (9th overall).
17.	James Cash	Texas Christian	1966-67	SWC's initial African-American player averaged 13.9 ppg and 11.6 rpg in three seasons. Two-time all-league second-team selection led the Horned Frogs in scoring (16.3 ppg) and rebounding (11.6 rpg) as a senior. Cash had six games with at least 20 rebounds.
18.	John Savage	North Texas	1961-62	Detroit product averaged 19.2 ppg in leading the Eagles in scoring all three of his varsity seasons with them. Three-time All-MVC selection was fifth-round choice by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1964 NBA draft.
19.	Willie Allen	Miami (Fla.)	1968-69	Averaged 17.2 ppg and 12.2 rpg in three seasons. Led Hurricanes in scoring (19.9 ppg) and rebounding (17.2 rpg) as senior. Fourth-round choice of the Baltimore Bullets in 1971 NBA draft played briefly for ABA's The Floridans during 1971-72 season.
20.	Jerry Jenkins	Mississippi State	1972-73	All-SEC selection as a junior and senior when he was the Bulldogs' leading scorer each year, averaging 19.3 ppg and 7 rpg in three seasons.
21.	Stew Johnson	Murray State	1963-64	Averaged 16.8 ppg and 12.9 rpg in three seasons en route to finishing his career as the school's all-time fourth-leading scorer (1,275 points) and second-leading rebounder (981). He was a third-round choice of New York Knicks in 1966 NBA draft before becoming a three-time ABA All-Star.
22.	Gene Knolle*	Texas Tech	1969-70	Two-time All-SWC first-team selection averaged 21.5 ppg and 8.4 rpg in two seasons before becoming a seventh-round choice by the Portland Trail Blazers in 1971 NBA draft.
23.	Joe Bertrand	Notre Dame	1951-52	Averaged 14.6 ppg in three seasons, including 16.5 as senior when Irish finished year ranked sixth in final AP poll. He was 10th-round choice in 1954 NBA draft by Milwaukee Hawks. Served as Chicago's city treasurer as first black elected to citywide office. His grandson with same name played hoops for Illinois.
24.	Hadie Redd	Arizona	1953-54	Led the Wildcats in scoring (13.2 ppg and 13.6) and rebounding (7 rpg and 9.4) in both of his varsity seasons.
25.	Almer Lee*	Arkansas	1969-70	He was the Hogs' leading scorer in 1969-70 (17 ppg) and 1970-71 (19.2 ppg as All-SWC second-team selection).
26.	John "Jackie" Moore	La Salle	1951-52	Averaged 10.3 ppg and 12.1 rpg in two seasons. Second-leading rebounder both years for the Explorers behind All-American Tom Gola. Played three seasons in the NBA as first black player for Philadelphia Warriors.
27.	Greg Lowery*	Texas Tech	1969-70	Averaged 19.7 ppg in his three-year career. First-team All-SWC as a sophomore and senior and second-team choice as junior en route to finishing as school's career scoring leader (1,476 points).
28.	Henry Harris	Auburn	1969-70	Averaged 11.8 ppg, 6.7 rpg and 2.5 apg in three-year varsity career. Standout defensive player was captain as a senior. He was an eighth-round choice by the Houston Rockets in 1972 NBA draft.
29.	Tommy Bowman	Baylor	1967-68	Two-time All-SWC first-team selection led the Bears in scoring (13.5 ppg) and rebounding (9.4 rpg) in his first varsity season.
30.	Ronnie Hogue	Georgia	1970-71	Finished three-year varsity career as the second-leading scorer in school history (17.8 ppg). Hogue was an All-SEC second-team choice with 20.5 ppg as a junior, when he set the school single-game scoring record with 46 points against LSU. He was a seventh-round choice of the Capital Bullets in 1973 NBA draft.
31.	Coolidge Ball	Mississippi	1971-72	Two-time All-SEC second-team selection (sophomore and junior years) averaged 14.1 ppg and 9.9 rpg in three seasons. He led the Rebels in scoring (16.8 ppg) and was second in rebounding (10.3 rpg) as a sophomore.
32.	Carl Head*	West Virginia	1965-66	Averaged 17.1 ppg and 7.9 rpg in two seasons. Paced the team in field-goal shooting as a junior (53.5%) and in scoring as a senior (20.5 ppg).
33.	Perry Wallace	Vanderbilt	1967-68	Averaged 12.9 ppg and 11.5 rpg in three varsity seasons. He was the Commodores' leading rebounder as a junior (10.2 rpg) and leading scorer as a senior (13.4 ppg). Fifth-round choice by the Philadelphia 76ers in 1970 NBA draft.
34.	Don Eaddy	Michigan	1951-52	The Wolverines' top scorer in Big Ten Conference competition as a sophomore (13.8 ppg) averaged 11.4 ppg in four seasons. Eaddy was an infielder who played briefly with the Chicago Cubs in 1959.
35.	Garfield Smith	Eastern Kentucky	1965-66	Averaged 14.5 ppg and 13.2 rpg in three seasons. He was an All-Ohio Valley Conference choice as a senior when he finished second in the nation in rebounding (19.7 rpg). Third-round choice by the Boston Celtics in 1968 NBA draft.
36.	Tommy Woods	East Tennessee State	1964-65	Two-time All-Ohio Valley Conference choice averaged 15.3 ppg and 16.2 rpg in three seasons. He grabbed 38 rebounds in a game against Middle Tennessee en route to finishing third in the nation in rebounding as a sophomore (19.6 rpg).
37.	Willie Brown	Middle Tennessee State	1966-67	All-Ohio Valley Conference choice as junior and senior averaged 20.3 ppg and 7.4 rpg in three seasons en route to finishing his career as the school's all-time scoring leader (1,524 points). He was a 10th-round choice by the Milwaukee Bucks in 1969 NBA draft.
38.	Julius Pegues	Pittsburgh	1955-56	Spent one year at a Detroit technical school before enrolling at Pitt. Averaged 13.6 ppg in three seasons, finishing as the school's second-leading scorer (17.6 ppg) as a senior behind All-American Don Hennon. Pegues, who scored a game-high 31 points in an 82-77 loss to Miami of Ohio as a senior in 1958 NCAA Tournament, was a fifth-round choice by the St. Louis Hawks in NBA draft.
39.	Sebron "Ed" Tucker*	Stanford	1950-51	Averaged 15.8 ppg in two seasons, leading the team in scoring both years. Paced the PCC in scoring as a junior (16.5 ppg) before becoming an all-league South Division first-team pick as a senior.
40.	Collis Temple Jr.	Louisiana State	1971-72	Averaged 10.1 ppg and 8.1 rpg in three seasons. Ranked second in the SEC in rebounding (11.1 rpg) and seventh in field-goal shooting (54.9%) as a senior. Sixth-round choice by the Phoenix Suns in 1974 NBA draft had two sons play for his alma mater (Collis III and Garrett).
41.	Charlie White*	Oregon State	1964-65	Led the Beavers in rebounding (7 rpg) and was their second-leading scorer (9.6 ppg) as a junior. The next year as a first five pick on the All-Pacific-8 team, he was OSU's captain and second-leading scorer (11.7 ppg) and rebounder (6.6 rpg), pacing the team in field-goal shooting (49.4%) and free-throw shooting (81.4%).
42.	Ruben Triplett*	Southern Methodist	1971-72	Averaged 14.9 ppg and 9 rpg in two seasons. Named All-SWC as a junior when he led the Mustangs in scoring (18.2 ppg) and rebounding (10.8 rpg). Scored a career-high 33 points at Oklahoma City.

MOST OVERLOOKED PIONEERS FOR MAJOR UNIVERSITIES

First Black Player	DI School	First Varsity Season	Summary of College Career
Al Abram	Missouri	1956-57	Averaged 11 ppg over four seasons. He led the Tigers in scoring (16.1 ppg), rebounding (8.9 rpg) and field-goal shooting (45%) in 1958-59.
Don Barnette	Miami (Ohio)	1953-54	All-MAC first-team selection as a senior averaged 11.6 ppg and 5.2 rpg during three-year career. Played for the Harlem Globetrotters in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
Charlie Brown*	Texas-El Paso	1956-57	Air Force veteran, a three-time All-Border Conference choice, led the league in scoring as a sophomore (23.4 ppg). He averaged 17.5 ppg in three varsity seasons, leading the Miners in scoring each year.
Earl Brown	Lafayette	1971-72	Grabbed 21 rebounds in a game against Lehigh as a sophomore before averaging 11 ppg and 10.6 rpg as a junior and 13.7 ppg and 12.1 rpg as a senior. Ninth-round NBA draft choice by the New York Knicks in 1974.
Mario Brown*	Texas A&M	1971-72	Averaged 13 ppg and 4.3 apg in two seasons, leading the team in assists both years.
Harvey Carter	Bucknell	1970-71	Led the Bison in scoring and rebounding all three varsity seasons (14.1 ppg and 11.5 rpg as a sophomore, 14.8 ppg and 12.4 rpg as a junior and 14.2 ppg and 9.8 rpg as a senior).
Larry Chanay	Montana State	1956-57	Four-year Air Force veteran finished his four-year college career as the school's all-time leading scorer (2,034 points). He led the Bobcats in scoring all four seasons. Chanay was a 14th-round choice by the Cincinnati Royals in 1960 NBA draft.
John Codwell	Michigan	1951-52	The Wolverines' second-leading scorer as a junior (10.5 ppg) averaged 6.4 ppg in three seasons.
Vince Colbert*	East Carolina	1966-67	Averaged 14.3 ppg and 7.3 rpg in two seasons. He led ECU in rebounding as a junior (7.1 rpg).
Robert Cox	Loyola Marymount	1953-54	Averaged 16.9 ppg and 11.1 rpg in two seasons while leading the Lions in both categories each year.
John Crawford	Iowa State	1955-56	Averaged 13.4 ppg and 9.7 rpg in three seasons. He led the Cyclones in rebounding all three years and paced them in scoring as a senior (14.1 ppg).
L.M. Ellis	Austin Peay State	1963-64	The first OVC black player averaged 9.3 ppg and 10.5 rpg as a junior and 6.7 ppg and 6.1 rpg as a senior after transferring from Drake to his hometown school.
Ed Fleming	Niagara	1951-52	Averaged 15 ppg and 8.7 rpg in four seasons to finish No. 1 on the school's all-time scoring list (1,682). All-time top rebounder (975) was selected by the Rochester Royals in 1955 NBA draft.
Larry Fry	Mississippi State	1972-73	Averaged 13.8 ppg and 8.1 rpg in three seasons.
Julian Hammond Sr.*	Tulsa	1964-65	Averaged 12.2 ppg and 7.6 rpg in two seasons. Led the Golden Hurricane in scoring (16.4 ppg) and rebounding (7.6 rpg) as a senior when he was an All-MVC first-team selection and paced the nation in field-goal shooting (65.9%). Ninth-round choice by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1966 NBA draft played with the ABA's Denver Rockets for five seasons from 1967-68 to 1971-72.
Charlie Hoxie	Niagara	1951-52	Averaged 11.7 ppg and 8.4 rpg in four seasons to finish his career as the school's third-leading scorer (1,274). Second-leading rebounder (916) was selected by the Milwaukee Hawks in 1955 NBA draft before playing with the Harlem Globetrotters.
Eddie Jackson	Oklahoma City	1962-63	Center averaged 12.3 ppg and 10 rpg in three-year OCU career after transferring from Oklahoma. He led the Chiefs in rebounding as a sophomore and junior. Selected in the sixth round by the San Francisco Warriors in 1965 NBA draft.
Leroy Jackson	Santa Clara	1960-61	Averaged 10.1 ppg and 8.3 rpg in three seasons, leading the team in rebounding all three years. Named to second five on All-WCAC team as a senior when he averaged 11.9 ppg and 10.9 rpg.
Curt Jimerson*	Wyoming	1960-61	Forward averaged 14.6 ppg in two seasons, including a team-high 17.5 ppg as a senior when he was an All-Mountain States Conference first-team selection.
Junius Kellogg	Manhattan	1950-51	Averaged 12.1 ppg in three-year career, leading the Jaspers in scoring as a sophomore and junior. Former Army sergeant refused bribe and exposed a major point-shaving scandal.
Charlie Lipscomb	Virginia Tech	1969-70	Averaged 11.4 ppg and 9.4 rpg in three varsity seasons. He led the team in rebounding (10.4 rpg) and was its second-leading scorer (12.1 ppg) as a sophomore.
Jesse Marshall*	Centenary	1968-69	Led the Gents in scoring (16 ppg) and rebounding (9.6 rpg) as a senior after being their second-leading scorer (15.9 ppg) and leading rebounder (10.2 rpg) as a junior.
Shellie McMillon	Bradley	1955-56	Member of 1957 NIT champion averaged 14.1 ppg and 9.3 rpg in three varsity seasons, including a team-high 16.4 ppg in 1957-58. McMillon, who scored 42 points against Detroit, was an All-Missouri Valley Conference second-team choice as a senior before becoming a sixth-round NBA draft choice by the Detroit Pistons.
Eugene Oliver*	South Alabama	1972-73	Averaged 17.9 ppg and 5.1 rpg in two seasons, leading the team in scoring both years and setting a school single-game record with 46 points against Southern Mississippi.
Charley Parnell	Delaware	1966-67	First-team All-East Coast Conference choice led the Blue Hens in scoring with 18.5 ppg.
Garland Pinkston	George Washington	1967-68	Second-leading scorer (12.5 ppg) and rebounder (7.3 rpg) in his only varsity season for GWU.
Art Polk	Middle Tennessee State	1966-67	MTSU's second-leading rebounder as a junior and senior averaged 12.3 ppg and 9.2 rpg in three seasons.
Charley Powell	Loyola (New Orleans)	1966-67	First African-American to play for a predominantly white college in Louisiana averaged 21.5 ppg in three-year career, finishing 13th in the nation with 26 ppg as a junior.
Larry Robinson*	Tennessee	1971-72	Averaged 10.9 ppg and 8.8 rpg in two seasons. Led the Volunteers in rebounding and field-goal shooting both years. He was a 16th-round choice by the Philadelphia 76ers in 1973 NBA draft.
Ron Satterthwaite	William & Mary	1973-74	Averaged 13.2 ppg in four seasons. He led the Tribe in scoring as a sophomore and junior, averaging 17 ppg during that span. Guard was an All-Southern Conference first-team selection as a sophomore and second-team choice as a junior.
Oscar Scott*	The Citadel	1971-72	Three-year Army veteran averaged 11.8 ppg and 7 rpg in two seasons. He led the Bulldogs in rebounding as a senior.
Dwight Smith	Western Kentucky	1964-65	Three-time All-OVC guard averaged 14.6 ppg and 10.9 rpg in his college career. Led the Hilltoppers in rebounding as a sophomore (11.3 rpg) and as a senior (11.9 rpg). Smith was a third-round choice of the Los Angeles Lakers (23rd overall).
Sam Smith	Louisville	1963-64	Third-round choice of the Cincinnati Royals in 1967 NBA draft averaged 9.2 ppg and team-high 11 rpg in his only varsity season with the Cardinals before transferring to Kentucky Wesleyan.
Sam Stith	St. Bonaventure	1957-58	Averaged 14.8 ppg and 4.1 rpg in three-year career. After All-American brother Tom Stith arrived the next season, they combined to average 52 ppg in 1959-60, an NCAA single-season record for brothers on the same team.
Harold Sylvester	Tulane	1968-69	Averaged 12.5 ppg and 9.1 rpg in three varsity seasons. He led the Green Wave in rebounding as a sophomore and was its second-leading rebounder and scorer as a junior and senior.
John Thomas	Pacific	1954-55	Averaged 15.1 ppg and 11.3 rpg in three years while leading the team in scoring and rebounding each campaign. Finished his career as the school's all-time scoring leader (1,178 points). He set UOP single-season records for points (480) and rebounds (326) in 1955-56.
Liscio Thomas*	Furman	1969-70	Averaged 17 ppg and 9.9 rpg in two seasons. He led the Paladins in scoring as a junior (17.7 ppg) and was the second-leading scorer and rebounder for 1971 Southern Conference champion.
Solly Walker	St. John's	1951-52	First African-American ever to play in game at Kentucky averaged 7.8 ppg and 6.8 rpg in three seasons. Member of 1952 NCAA runner-up and 1953 NIT runner-up. Led the team in scoring (14 ppg) and rebounding (12.2 rpg) as a senior. Selected by the New York Knicks in 1954 NBA draft.
John Edgar Wideman	Penn	1960-61	Two-time All-Ivy League second-team swingman led the Quakers in scoring as a junior (13.2 ppg in 1961-62) and a senior (13.8 ppg in 1962-63). The Pittsburgh native also paced them in rebounding as a junior (7.6 rpg).

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Tackling January 18 NFL Playoff Games

January 18th, 2026 - 8:54

Hickey and ex-Hog All-SWC second-team hooper in 1929-30/NFL end Milan Creighton each coached NFL franchises. Many other ex-college hoopers also displayed their wares on the gridiron. Following is exhaustive research you can tackle regarding former college basketball players who made a name for themselves on January 18 in football at the professional level (especially for Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl X and both conference championship contests following 2008 season):

JANUARY 18

Dallas Cowboys TE Jean Fugett (leading scorer and rebounder for Amherst MA as junior in 1970-71) had a pass reception in 21-17 setback against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl X following 1975 season. Cowboys WR Percy Howard (All-OVC selection as senior averaged 12.4 ppg and 7.3 rpg for Austin Peay from 1972-73 through 1974-75) caught a 34-yard touchdown pass from Roger Staubach (Navy varsity hooper in 1962-63) in the fourth quarter and RB Preston Pearson (averaged 5.2 ppg and 3.6 rpg for Illinois from 1964-65 through 1966-67) had five catches for 53 yards. Pokes LDE Ed "Too Tall" Jones (averaged 1.7 ppg and 2.6 rpg for Tennessee State in 1969-70 and 1970-71) recorded five solo tackles and Rayfield Wright (All-SIAC hooper with Fort Valley State GA) started at RT for them.
Baltimore Ravens TE Todd Heap (grabbed 14 rebounds in 11 games for Arizona State in 1999-00) caught three passes for 26 yards in a 23-14 setback against the Pittsburgh Steelers in AFC Championship following 2008 season.
Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb (averaged 2.3 points in 18 games for Syracuse in 1995-96 and 1996-97) threw three second-half touchdown passes in a 32-25 NFC championship game setback against the Arizona Cardinals following 2008 season.
Indianapolis Colts TE Marcus Pollard (JC transfer averaged 7.3 ppg and 5 rpg for Bradley in 1992-93 and 1993-94) had a game-high 90 receiving yards in 24-14 AFC Championship setback against the New England Patriots following 2003 season.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Tackling January 17 NFL Playoff Games

January 17th, 2026 - 10:41

Hickey and ex-Hog All-SWC second-team hooper in 1929-30/NFL end Milan Creighton each coached NFL franchises. Many other ex-college hoopers also displayed their wares on the gridiron. Following is exhaustive research you can tackle regarding former college basketball players who made a name for themselves on January 17 in football at the professional level (especially San Diego Charger receivers Antonio Gates and Vincent Jackson in playoffs following 2009 season and multiple individuals in Super Bowl V):

JANUARY 17

San Diego Chargers TE Antonio Gates (second-team All-MAC selection in 2002 when Kent State finished runner-up in South Regional) had eight pass receptions in a 17-14 AFC divisional-round playoff setback against the New York Jets following 2009 season. Chargers WR Vincent Jackson (Northern Colorado's scoring leader with 13.6 ppg in 2003-04 while also contributing 5.6 rpg and 3.1 apg) had seven receptions for 111 receiving yards.
Minnesota Vikings TE Andrew Glover (All-SWAC second-team selection as senior in 1990-91 when leading Grambling with 16.2 ppg and 8.6 rpg while pacing league in field-goal shooting) caught four passes for 34 yards in a 30-27 setback against the Atlanta Falcons in NFC championship game following 1998 season.
Baltimore Colts TE John Mackey (Syracuse hooper in 1960-61) caught a 75-yard touchdown pass from Johnny Unitas in 16-13 win against the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl V following 1970 season. Colts RCB Jim Duncan (Maryland-Eastern Shore hooper) chipped in with one solo tackle, one fumble recovery and four kickoff returns for 90 yards. Cowboys P Ron Widby (three-time All-SEC selection averaged 18.1 ppg and 8.4 rpg for Tennessee from 1964-65 through 1966-67) punted nine times for a 41.9-yard average and SS Cornell Green (senior All-American when finishing career in 1961-62 as Utah State's all-time leading scorer and rebounder) contributed a solo tackle.
Denver Broncos WR Rod Smith (swingman was Missouri Southern State hoops letterman as sophomore in 1990-91) caught three passes for 37 yards from John Elway in a 23-10 win against the New York Jets in AFC Championship following 1998 season.

Southern Discomfort: Reviewing Records If Blacks Deemed 1st-Class Citizens

January 17th, 2026 - 10:35

"An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity." - Martin Luther King Jr.

Cancel-culture considerations resulted in condemning an estimated 100 statues and monuments to white-guilt reparations rubble. Facing reality, such arcane activist analysis could be the only way for self-absorbed progressive outposts to stop superior Southern universities from dominating college football after former Confederacy institutions captured 16 of the last 20 gridiron national crowns (primarily with in-state recruits). After all, shouldn't the SEC and ACC be sanction shamed by self-loathing social scholars, if not disbandment purge, insofar as the first season Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Kentucky and South Carolina featured an African-American on their varsity basketball rosters wasn't until 1970-71 (two years after MLK was assassinated in Memphis)?

Could Auburn, ranked #1 nationally twice in the last four seasons, been atop poll a whopping half century beforehand? Truth be told while entering weekend before MLK Day, racially hung-up SEC and ACC incurred self-imposed performance penalties by failing to recruit regal in-state black prospects until Dixie denizens were finally tired of monumental hardwood horror. Pearl-of-wisdom memo to Auburn: The following droughts describe authentic self-regulation. It seems inconceivable but segregation-shackled Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech (posted win in 1960), LSU, Ole Miss, Mississippi State (W in 1963), Tennessee, Texas A&M (W in 1969) and Virginia combined for a paltry three NCAA playoff victories during 22-year tourney famine from 1954 through 1975. Moreover, Arkansas, Clemson, Florida (1967), Georgia, Georgia Tech (1960), LSU, Ole Miss, Texas Tech (1961) and Virginia Tech collaborated for an anemic total of three final AP Top 20 finishes in 20-season span from 1954-55 through 1973-74. Even colossus UK didn't win an NCAA Tournament title in 19-year span from 1959 through 1977.

For the record, ACC members in North Carolina all included black players on their varsity teams by end of the 1960s. There is a relatively simple explanation for why Auburn, Clemson, Florida and Georgia failed to participate in the NCAA playoffs until the 1980s. Despite excluding much of the ACC, a trip into the what-if world of hoopdom can be fascinating. What might have been for principally football-dominated Southern schools if they weren't so narrow-minded waiting until the early 1970s to treat in-state African-American hoopers as equals?

The biggest culprit was LSU, which wouldn't have been behind the eight ball with eight losing records in 13-year span from 1963-64 through 1975-76 if not missing out on eight in-state recruits who wound up competing at least eight seasons in the NBA and ABA (Don Chaney, Elvin Hayes, Luke Jackson, Bob Love, Robert Parish, Cincy Powell, Willis Reed and James Silas). As a means of comparison, UCLA's dynasty included 13 such long-term NBA players while winning 10 NCAA championships in same 13-year span. HBCU Grambling College LA supplied one of the top 21 NBA draft choices four consecutive years from 1962 through 1965 while LSU provided one top 30 pick (North Carolina product Pete Maravich/3rd overall in 1970) in a 28-year stretch from 1955 through 1982. Grambling accounted for nine NBA and ABA players in the 1960s while LSU's lone representative that decade was Bob Pettit, who retired following 1964-65 campaign. If not judged by color of skin, consider the following possible "started living (in basketball)" promised-land scenarios (Artis Gilmore attended high school in two Southern states):

Power-Conference Schools	Consequences for Shunning African-American Players	What Might Have Been for Southern Schools?
Alabama (1970-71 was first season for black on varsity roster) and Auburn (1969-70)	Alabama (no appearances from inception of NCAA tourney in 1939 until 1975) and Auburn (no appearances until 1984) were outsiders in regard to the NCAA playoffs. Each school managed only one AP Top 20 finish until the mid-1970s.	Alabama and Auburn probably would have been much more than mediocre in 1956-57 if top 15 NBA draft choices Cal Ramsey (NYU) and Bennie Swain (Texas Southern) stayed in-state. Both programs bypassed brothers Nathaniel "Sonny" Bustion and Dave "Stretch" Bustion, who headed West to Colorado State (30 points and 20 rebounds in NCAA playoff game against OCU in 1965) and Denver (20 ppg and 12.5 rpg in 1970-71 and 1971-72), respectively. Bama, after losing final 15 games in 1968-69, and Auburn wouldn't have combined for losing records in 1969-70 and 1970-71 if in-state All-American products Artis Gilmore (Jacksonville FL), Travis Grant (Kentucky State) and Bud Stallworth (Kansas) were on their rosters. Would eventual NBA first-round pick Joe C. Meriweather have matriculated to Southern Illinois shortly thereafter? What about juco recruit Larry Kenon?
Arkansas (1969-70)	No NCAA playoff victory in 28-year span from 1950 through 1977. No AP Top 20 finish until 1977.	Hogs would have been much better than posting mediocre 13-11 record in 1962-63 if they boasted inside-outside combination of All-Americans Jim Barnes (Texas Western) and Eddie Miles (Seattle).
Florida (1971-72)	The Gators had no NCAA tourney appearances until 1987. Only one AP Top 20 finish until 1994.	UF would have far exceeded an 11-15 record in 1970-71 if Howard Porter (Villanova) and Truck Robinson (Tennessee State) manned forward positions with Artis Gilmore (Jacksonville) patrolling the middle.
Georgia (1970-71) and Georgia Tech (1971-72)	Georgia (no appearances until 1983) and Georgia Tech (only one NCAA playoff appearance and victory until 1985) were non-factors in national postseason play. Only one AP Top 20 finish for either school until mid-1980s.	Georgia and Georgia Tech wouldn't have incurred double digits in defeats in 1969-70 if they fortified frontline with Gar Heard (Oklahoma), Elmore Smith (Kentucky State) and Joby Wright (Indiana). Southern Illinois' backcourt benefitted from GA products Walt "Clyde" Frazier, Mike Glenn plus brothers Corky and Wayne Abrams from the mid-1960s to mid-1970s.
Kentucky (1970-71)	Missed NCAA playoffs half the time in eight-year span from 1959-60 through 1966-67 with four seasons incurring at least nine defeats.	UK could have thrived with All-Americans Butch Beard (Louisville), Ralph Davis (Cincinnati), Clem Haskins (Western Kentucky), Tom Thacker (Cincinnati) and Wes Unseld (Louisville) plus high-scoring Rich Travis (Oklahoma City).
Louisiana State (1971-72)	No NCAA playoff appearance or AP Top 20 finish in 24-year span from 1955 through 1978.	Bayou Bengals wouldn't have compiled non-winning records in 1962-63 and 1963-64 if their frontcourt included Luke Jackson (Pan American), Bob Love (Southern LA), Cincy Powell (Portland) and/or Willis Reed (Grambling). The Tigers might have been ranked #1 in 1967-68 if Elvin Hayes, Don Chaney and Theodis Lee hadn't crossed Western state lines to attend Houston. LSU's initial campaign post-Pistol Pete Maravich in 1970-71 would have been much better than 14-12 if backcourt featuring sophomore successor Gary Simpson from Southern Illlinois (34.6 ppg on freshman squad) was buttressed by Fred Hilton (Grambling), Melvin Russell (Centenary) and/or James Silas (Stephen F. Austin State), setting the stage for possible additions in 1972-73 of Louisiana prep luminaries Robert Parish (Centenary), Bruce Seals (Xavier LA) and Louis Dunbar (Houston). Prior to playing more than a quarter century with the Harlem Globetrotters, "Sweet Lou" Dunbar Sr. was a tall playmaker who flashed ballhandling wizardry traits of Earvin Johnson before Magic arrived at Michigan State later in the decade.
Mississippi (1971-72) and Mississippi State (1972-73)	Ole Miss (no appearances until 1981) and MSU (only two NCAA playoff appearances and one victory until 1995). Ole Miss didn't have an AP Top 20 finish until 1998.	Doubtful both schools would have compiled losing records each season from 1967-68 through 1969-70 if frontcourters E.C. Coleman (Houston Baptist), Mike Green (Louisiana Tech), Spencer Haywood (Detroit), George T. Johnson (Dillard LA), Earnest Killum (Stetson FL) and Sam Lacey (New Mexico State) competed for them at some point during that subterranean span.
North Carolina (1967-68), North Carolina State (1968-69) and Wake Forest (1967-68)	Carolina averaged more than nine defeats annually from 1961-62 through 1965-66, North Carolina State finished six games below .500 in ACC competition from 1959-60 through 1966-67) and Wake Forest suffered four consecutive losing records from 1964-65 through 1967-68.	NCSU wouldn't have gone 11-15 in 1959-60 with Walt Bellamy (Indiana) on roster. Carolina (12-12) and NCSU (8-11) would have fared better in 1963-64 if Happy Hairston (NYU) and Lou Hudson (Minnesota) stayed home. NCSU (7-19) and Wake Forest (9-18) wouldn't have posted anemic records in 1966-67 if they had Herm Gilliam (Purdue), Henry Logan (Western Carolina) and Jimmy Walker (Providence) around.
Clemson (1970-71) and South Carolina (1970-71)	Clemson (no NCAA playoff appearances until 1980) and USC (no NCAA playoff appearances until 1971). Clemson had only one AP Top 20 finish through 1986.	Teams could have thrived with inside-outside combination of Art Shell (Maryland-Eastern Shore) and Kenny Washington (UCLA) in mid-1960s and frontcourt featuring Gene Gathers (Bradley) and Clifford Ray (Oklahoma) in 1969-70 and 1970-71.
Tennessee (1971-72)	Winless in NCAA playoff competition until 1979. Only one AP Top 10 finish in 20th Century.	Nashville products Paul Hogue (Cincinnati), Les Hunter (Loyola of Chicago) and Vic Rouse (Loyola of Chicago) were standouts for back-to-back NCAA titlists in 1962 and 1963 while UT went 13 games below .500 in those two seasons. The Volunteers also could have featured one of the finest frontcourts in NCAA history with James Johnson (Wisconsin), Charlie Paulk (Tulsa/Northeastern Oklahoma State), Rick Roberson (Cincinnati) and Bingo Smith (Tulsa) in 1966-67 and 1967-68. Another Memphis product David Vaughn Jr. reneged on an oral commitment to the Tigers in the early 1970s and became a standout with Oral Roberts. Rocky Top could have boasted one of the top backcourts in NCAA history in 1970-71 with Richie Fuqua (Oral Roberts) and Ted McClain (Tennessee A&I).
Texas (1969-70), Texas A&M (1971-72) and Texas Tech (1969-70)	UT (only two NCAA Tournament appearances in 24-year span from 1948 through 1971), A&M (only one NCAA playoff victory until 1980) and TT (only two NCAA playoff victories until 1976) were inconsequential in postseason play for extended period. No AP Top 10 finish among trio until 1996.	How potent of frontlines could SWC members have had from 1961-62 through 1964-65 choosing among Zelmo Beaty (Prairie View A&M), Nate Bowman (Wichita), Mitchell Edwards (Pan American), Eddie Jackson (Oklahoma/OCU), McCoy McLemore (Drake), John Savage (North Texas State), Dave Stallworth (Wichita), Gene Wiley (Wichita) and John Henry Young (Midwestern State)?
Virginia (1971-72) and Virginia Tech (1969-70)	UVA (no NCAA playoff appearances until 1976) and VT (only one NCAA playoff appearance until 1976) had little impact on postseason play until mid-1970s. No AP Top 20 finish for VT until 1996.	College class of '69 could have been one of premier in-state recruiting groups of all-time with Charles Bonaparte (Norfolk State), Bob Dandridge (Norfolk State), Bill English (Winston-Salem State NC) and Skeeter Swift (East Tennessee State).

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Tackling January 16 NFL Playoff Games

January 16th, 2026 - 8:25

Hickey and ex-Hog All-SWC second-team hooper in 1929-30/NFL end Milan Creighton each coached NFL franchises. Many other ex-college hoopers also displayed their wares on the gridiron. Following is exhaustive research you can tackle regarding former college basketball players who made a name for themselves on January 16 in football at the professional level (especially the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl VI):

JANUARY 16

Seattle Seahawks TE John Carlson (played in three Notre Dame basketball games in 2003-04 under coach Mike Brey) caught one pass for 14 yards in a 35-24 setback against the Chicago Bears in NFC divisional-round game following 2010 season.
PK Billy Cundiff (played in nine basketball contests with Drake in 1999-00 and 2000-01) accounted for the Baltimore Ravens' only points with a first-quarter field goal in 20-3 setback against the Indianapolis Colts in AFC divisional-round game following 2009 season. Ravens TE Todd Heap (grabbed 14 rebounds in 11 games for Arizona State in 1999-00) caught four passes for 35 yards.
Dallas Cowboys TE Mike Ditka (averaged 2.8 ppg and 2.6 rpg for Pittsburgh in 1958-59 and 1959-60) rushed once for 17 yards and caught a seven-yard touchdown pass from Roger Staubach (Navy varsity hooper in 1962-63) to cap off their scoring in 24-3 win against the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl VI following 1971 season. Staubach threw two TD passes in duel against Bob Griese (hooper with Purdue in 1964-65). Cowboys P Ron Widby (three-time All-SEC selection averaged 18.1 ppg and 8.4 rpg for Tennessee from 1964-65 through 1966-67) punted five times for a 37.2-yard average and SS Cornell Green (senior All-American in 1961-62 when finishing career as Utah State's all-time leading scorer and rebounder) contributed three solo tackles. Helping protect Staubach were starting tackles Tony Liscio (hooper with Tulsa in 1959-60 and 1961-62) and Rayfield Wright (All-SIAC hooper for Fort Valley State GA in mid-1960s).
Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb (averaged 2.3 points in 18 games for Syracuse in 1995-96 and 1996-97) threw two first-half touchdown passes in a 27-14 NFC divisional-round playoff win against the Minnesota Vikings following 2004 season.
New York Jets DL Jason Taylor (averaged 8 ppg and 5.4 rpg for Akron in 1994-95) contributed three solo tackles in a 28-21 win against the New England Patriots in AFC divisional-round game following 2010 season.
San Francisco 49ers E Billy Wilson (averaged 3.3 ppg as senior letterman for San Jose State in 1950-51) named NFL Pro Bowl MVP following the 1954 season.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Tackling January 15 NFL Playoff Games

January 15th, 2026 - 8:00

Hickey and ex-Hog All-SWC second-team hooper in 1929-30/NFL end Milan Creighton each coached NFL franchises. Many other ex-college hoopers also displayed their wares on the gridiron. Following is exhaustive research you can tackle regarding former college basketball players who made a name for themselves on January 15 in football at the professional level (especially six Kansas City Chiefs players in inaugural Super Bowl):

JANUARY 15

Kansas City Chiefs TE Reg Carolan (Idaho three-year hoops letterman in early 1960s averaged 4 ppg and 4.7 rpg) had a seven-yard pass reception from Len Dawson (played in two basketball games for Purdue in 1956-57) in first quarter of 35-10 setback against the Green Bay Packers in inaugural Super Bowl following 1966 campaign. Dawson completed 16-of-27 passes for 211 yards. In second quarter, he had a team-long 31-yarder to Otis Taylor (backup forward with Prairie View A&M) to help set up KC's lone touchdown. Chiefs WR Chris Burford (averaged 2.9 ppg and 2.3 rpg for Stanford in 1958-59 under coach Howie Dallmar) supplied four pass receptions for 67 yards. Chiefs RDT Buck Buchanan (earned hoops letter as Grambling freshman in 1958-59) recorded five solo tackles including a sack and teammate LLB Bobby Bell (first African-American hooper for Minnesota in 1960-61) contributed three solo tackles. Starting LG for the Packers was Fred "Fuzzy" Thurston (averaged 1.5 ppg for Valparaiso in 1951-52).
Chicago Bears WR Justin Gage (averaged 2.1 ppg and 2.9 rpg for Missouri from 1999-00 through 2001-02) had a 24-yard pass reception in 29-21 setback against the Carolina Panthers in NFC divisional-round playoff game following 2005 season.
Baltimore Ravens TE Todd Heap (grabbed 14 rebounds in 11 games for Arizona State in 1999-00) caught a four-yard touchdown pass from Joe Flacco in 31-24 AFC divisional-round playoff setback against the Pittsburgh Steelers following 2010 season. Ravens PK Billy Cundiff (played in nine basketball contests with Drake in 1999-00 and 2000-01) knotted the score at 24-24 with a field goal with 3:54 remaining. The next year, Cundiff kicked two field goals (44 and 48 yards) in a 20-13 win against the Houston Texans in another divisional-round contest.
St. Louis Rams WR Dane Looker (averaged 4.8 ppg as Western Washington freshman in 1995-96 and 10.2 ppg as sophomore in 1996-97 before transferring to Washington and concentrating on football) caught three passes for 38 yards and rushed once for 11 yards in a 47-17 NFC divisional-round setback against the Atlanta Falcons following 2004 season. Rams LB Tommy Polley (played in one basketball game for Florida State in 1996-97 under coach Pat Kennedy) had nine solo tackles.
Pittsburgh Steelers WR Antwaan Randle El (member of Indiana's 1999 NCAA Tournament team) opened game's scoring with a six-yard touchdown pass from Ben Roethlisberger and returned five punts for 50 yards in 21-18 AFC divisional-round playoff win against the Indianapolis Colts following 2005 season.
Minnesota Vikings TE Joe Senser (two-time NCAA Division I leader in FG% averaged 11.4 ppg and 7.4 rpg while shooting 66.2% from floor in four-year career for West Chester State PA in late 1970s) caught a 32-yard pass from Tommy Kramer in 21-7 NFC divisional-round playoff setback against the Washington Redskins following 1982 campaign.
Dallas Cowboys QB Roger Staubach (Navy varsity hooper in 1962-63) completed 17-of-25 passes in a 27-10 victory against the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XII following 1977 season. Combining for nine of the receptions were TE Billy Joe Dupree (scored four points in total of four basketball games for Michigan State in 1971-72) and RB Preston Pearson (averaged 5.2 ppg and 3.6 rpg for Illinois from 1964-65 through 1966-67). Cowboys LDE Ed "Too Tall" Jones (averaged 1.7 ppg and 2.6 rpg for Tennessee State in 1969-70 and 1970-71) registered three solo tackles.
Miami Dolphins RDE Jason Taylor (averaged 8 ppg and 5.4 rpg for Akron in 1994-95) contributed three solo tackles in a 62-7 setback against the Jacksonville Jaguars in AFC divisional-round playoff game following 1999 season.

Fierce Rivalries: Very Few Items Compare to Intra-State League Competition

January 15th, 2026 - 7:53

Was it worth the outlandish outrage? Perhaps Kansas' sanctimonious athletic department shouldn't have been quite so "incensed" by the NCAA's original decision amid corruption probe to suspend scholarly center Silvio De Sousa for two full seasons several years ago. Jayhawks coach Bill "Just Got to Get a Couple of Real Guys" Self's previous bluster he would "fight for Silvio" and "Silvio is the type of student-athlete college athletics needs" rang a mite hollow after stool-wielding De Sousa's thuggish raising of a potential weapon significantly higher than taunting major's anemic scoring average (2.6 ppg) during brawl in disability-seating section at end of game against arch-rival Kansas State. Let's hope dearly-departed De Sousa elevated or fought to keep gpa above 2.6 after moving on following sickening showmanship.

Media personalities failing to comprehend the gravity of De Sousa's actions should be confined to a mentally-challenged section of press area where they blow ability of King James' son (Bronny) way out of proportion. What's new? It takes a long time to read about Self-less' prominent players who've run afoul of the law since KU captured 2008 NCAA title in midst of an off-the-books sale of nearly $900,000 worth of basketball tickets to brokers over five-year span.

Well, the faces change on rosters and the Pac-12 Conference disbanded, but the intensity of power league intra-state match-ups and zeal for tickets remains when they come to blows in conference play. If in doubt about raw emotions, see video of conclusion of K-State's confrontation at KU. What was KU all worked up about since it has won a staggering 109 more games in their intra-state conference series, outdueling Duke (101 more than Wake Forest), Illinois (100 more than Northwestern) and North Carolina (96 more than than Wake Forest). Sans prayerful #NannyPathetic's juvenile pen collection and #Demonrat ceremonial impeachment parade testing jolly Jerry "The White Urkel" Nadler's athletic prowess, regional hoop fans other than probably Wake Forest eagerly anticipate the following intra-conference "bragging rights" games (series records are through 2024-25):

Leader/Opponent	Series Record	Season Started	Series Highlights
Alabama/Auburn	102-70	1924	Auburn, which defeated Alabama three times in 1998-99 by an average of 29.3 points, won 26 of 30 assignments from 1958 through 1971 before the Crimson Tide won 18 of the next 19.
Arizona/Arizona State	163-86	1914	Arizona won 46 of first 55 meetings to 1937, 17 in a row from 1945 to 1952 and 24 of 25 from 1996 through 2007.
Baylor/Texas Christian	106-88	1909	TCU lost first seven meetings before winning nine in a row. Baylor won 14 straight from 1935 to 1942 and 11 consecutive contests from 2013 through 2017. TCU won 12 successive games from 1981 to 1987.
Bradley/Illinois State	74-66	1905	Ten consecutive contests were decided by fewer than seven points from 1996 through 2000. ISU won 16 of 18 games from 2009 to 2018.
California/Stanford	156-135	1912	Cal won 14 in a row from 1924-25 through 1929-30 and 24 of 25 to 1933-34. Stanford won 10 straight at the turn of the century, including a 51-point triumph in 2000, and all three outings in inaugural ACC campaign in 2024-25.
Duke/North Carolina State	153-104	1912	Duke won 15 straight from 1941 to 1947 before losing 12 of 13 from 1947 to 1952. N.C. State also won nine consecutive confrontations in the mid-1970s. The Blue Devils won 13 in a row from 1998 through 2002.
Duke/Wake Forest	182-81	1906	Duke won 40 of 42 meetings from 1928 through 1948 with the two setbacks in that span coming by a total of seven points. Wake won eight straight from 1981 to 1984 and nine in a row from 1993 to 1997. The Blue Devils won 18 of 19 tilts between them prior to splitting games in 2019-20.
Florida State/Miami (Fla.)	58-37	1951	FSU won 11 of 12 games from 2006 to 2012.
Idaho/Idaho State	62-58	1933	Idaho won 14 games in a row from 1987-88 to 1993-94. Idaho State won 13 of 15 contests from 1971-72 to 1978-79.
Illinois/Northwestern	145-45	1908	Illini twice won 16 in a row (from 1946-47 through 1954-55 and 1983-84 through 1990-91). Northwestern's best extended stretch was winning eight of 14 contests from 1928 to 1939.
Kansas/Kansas State	206-97	1907	Kansas won 31 games in a row from 1993-94 through 2004-05 in fourth-most frequently played series in Division I. The Wildcats won 25 of 36 contests from 1967-68 through 1982-83.
Michigan/Michigan State	104-91	1909	Michigan won 12 straight from 1921 through 1927, 10 of 11 from 1935 through 1940 and 13 of 15 from 1970 to 1978. MSU defeated the Wolverines three times in 2019 and has won 36 of last 52 outings overall (16 of last 23).
Mississippi State/Mississippi	152-120	1914	Both schools have won more than 65% of their home assignments. MSU won the first nine games in the "Egg Bowl" series, 16 of the first 18 and 15 of 18 from 1955 through 1963. Ole Miss won eight straight in the early 1980s and eight of nine from 2013-14 to 2017-18.
Montana/Montana State	158-152	1903	Second-most frequently played series in Division I. Montana State, which prevailed in 19 of first 21 contests to 1917-18, had winning record in series until dropping 19 of 20 outings through period when both games were cancelled during COVID pandemic. UM also won 11 in a row from 1938-39 to 1941-42.
North Carolina/Duke	144-120	1920	UNC won 16 straight from 1921 through 1928 and 16 of 17 in the mid-1970s (three-point overtime loss in 1975). The Blue Devils won all three assignments in 1998-99 by an average margin of 18.3 points. The two teams would have split a stretch of 102 match-ups if Heels didn't lose at home in OT six seasons ago. When they met in 2020, it was first time in 60 years that neither school was nationally ranked.
North Carolina/North Carolina State	168-81	1913	Carolina won 16 of 17 contests from 1922 to 1930, 17 of 18 from 1934 to 1942 and 14 of 15 from 1967 to 1972. Roy Williams won 33 of his first 37 assignments against NCSU as coach of the Tar Heels.
North Carolina/Wake Forest	166-70	1911	UNC won 29 of 31 games from 1919 through 1936, 23 of 27 from 1966 through 1975, 23 of 24 from 1982 through 1992, and 14 of last 18 outings.
North Carolina State/Wake Forest	152-110	1911	The Wolfpack won 16 of 19 games from 1928 to 1937, 19 of 22 from 1942 through 1952, 16 of 18 from 1954 through 1959 and 10 of 11 from 1985 to 1990. Wake won nine of first 11 meetings, including a 41-point victory in 1912.
Purdue/Indiana	128-93	1901	Purdue won 50 of first 60 meetings with archrival. IU won 13 in a row from 1949 to 1955 and 25 of 42 from 1973 through 1993. The Boilermakers prevailed in 13 of 15 outings until dropping both assignments several years ago.
Tennessee/Vanderbilt	132-77	1922	The Volunteers, who are 72-20 at Knoxville, won 25 of 26 games overall from 1937 to 1950 and 25 of 30 from 1968 through 1982. Vandy's longest winning streak was six in the mid-1950s. The Vols have won 15 of last 17 outings.
Texas Tech/Baylor	85-63	1937	Tech won 10 straight from 1976 to 1980 and 1983 to 1987.
Texas Tech/Texas Christian	88-57	1932	Texas Tech won 12 of 13 from 1960 to 1966 and 19 straight from 1973 through 1981.
UCLA/Southern California	149-118	1928	UCLA's only two defeats in a 38-game stretch from 1964 through 1979 were back-to-back setbacks by a total of three points. USC won 42 in a row from 1932 to 1943, including nine consecutive seasons when the Trojans pulled off 4-0 sweeps.
Virginia/Virginia Tech	99-61	1915	Virginia won 10 of first 11, 15 of 17 from 1931 through 1941 and nine straight from 1978 to 1984. The Hokies twice won nine straight (from 1948 to 1952 and 1959 through 1965). UVA is 42-14 in Charlottesville.

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN FOLLOWING CONFERENCE RESHUFFLING

Leader/Opponent	Series Record	Season Started	Series Highlights
Oklahoma/Oklahoma State	144-106	1908	Oklahoma was victorious in first 11 meetings, 26 of first 28 and 44 of first 53. The Aggies/Cowboys prevailed in 14 of 16 outings from 1940 to 1947 and won all five outings the previous couple of years ago before joining SEC.
Oregon State/Oregon	192-173	1903	Most frequently played series in Division I by more than 50 games. The Beavers won 14 of 16 contests from 1954 to 1959, 16 of 17 from 1962 to 1966 and 15 straight from 1980 to 1986. The Ducks won 19 of 20 outings from 1994-95 through 2002-03.
Texas/Baylor	165-98	1906	UT won 16 of 17 games from 1914 to 1921, 14 of 15 from 1924 through 1930 and 24 in a row from 1999 to 2009.
Texas/Texas Christian	118-70	1915	Texas won the first 13 meetings, 10 straight from 1945 to 1950, eight in succession from 1977 through 1980, eight in a row from 1988 to 1991 before the SWC disbanded in 1996 and 11 consecutive from 1995 through 2015. TCU's longest winning streak was seven from 1982 through 1985.
Texas/Texas Tech	90-67	1940	Texas posted only one triumph over Texas Tech (75-74) in a 15-game stretch of their series from 1970 through 1976. The Longhorns won 11 straight from 1988 to 1993 and 13 in a row from 1998 to 2003.
Washington/Washington State	189-111	1910	UW won first seven meetings in the third-most frequently played series in Division I, all-time high 17 straight from 1923 to 1930, 14 of 16 from 1932 to 1936, 28 of 32 from 1952 through 1963, eight straight from 1971 to 1975 and eight straight from 1983 to 1987. WSU won 17 of 26 from 1945 to 1951 and seven in a row from 2006 through 2008.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Tackling January 14 NFL Playoff Games

January 14th, 2026 - 9:21

Hickey and ex-Hog All-SWC second-team hooper in 1929-30/NFL end Milan Creighton each coached NFL franchises. Many other ex-college hoopers also displayed their wares on the gridiron. Following is exhaustive research you can tackle regarding former college basketball players who made a name for themselves on January 14 in football at the professional level (especially Pro Bowl MVPs Otto Graham and Jim Brown from the Cleveland Browns):

JANUARY 14

Following the 1961 season, Cleveland Browns FB Jim Brown (#2-scorer with 14 ppg for Syracuse as sophomore in 1954-55 before averaging 11.3 as junior) earned his first of three NFL Pro Bowl MVP awards in a five-year span.
San Diego Chargers TE Antonio Gates (second-team All-MAC selection in 2002 when Kent State finished runner-up in South Regional) caught six passes for 61 yards in 24-21 setback against the New England Patriots in AFC divisional-round playoff game following 2006 season. Chargers WR Vincent Jackson (Northern Colorado's scoring leader with 13.6 ppg in 2003-04 while also contributing 5.6 rpg and 3.1 apg) chipped in with two receptions for 43 yards.
New Orleans Saints TE Jimmy Graham (part-time starter for Miami FL averaged 4.2 ppg and 4.2 rpg from 2005-06 through 2008-09 under coach Frank Haith) caught two touchdown passes from Drew Brees - including 66-yarder - in a 36-32 NFC divisional-round playoff setback against the San Francisco 49ers following 2011 season. Five years later with the Seattle Seahawks, Graham opened game's scoring with TD reception in a 36-20 setback against the Atlanta Falcons in NFC divisional-round contest following 2016 campaign.
Cleveland Browns QB Otto Graham (Big Ten Conference runner-up in scoring as Northwestern sophomore in 1941-42 and junior in 1942-43) named NFL Pro Bowl MVP following 1950 season.
Quarterbacks Bob Griese (Purdue hooper in 1964-65) of the Miami Dolphins and Billy Kilmer (UCLA hooper in 1959-60 under coach John Wooden) of the Washington Redskins squared off against each other in Super Bowl VII following the 1972 season. A 28-yard touchdown pass by Griese in the opening quarter proved to the margin of victory in a 14-7 verdict. Dolphins starters included LT Wayne Moore (averaged 5.7 ppg and 10.3 rpg for Lamar in four seasons in late 1960s) and LDE Vern Den Herder (all-time leading scorer and rebounder for Central College IA when career concluded in 1970-71).
Houston Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins (Clemson hooper for seven games in 2010-11 under coach Brad Brownell) caught six passes for 65 yards in a 34-16 setback against the New England Patriots in AFC divisional-round game following 2016 season.
Green Bay Packers RB Aaron Jones (collected six points and six assists in eight basketball games for Texas-El Paso in 2013-14 under coach Tim Floyd) rushed for 118 yards and three touchdowns in 48-32 playoff victory against the Dallas Cowboys following 2023 season.
Oakland Raiders RB Terry Kirby (averaged 2.8 ppg for Virginia's NCAA tourney teams in 1989-90 and 1990-91 under coaches Terry Holland and Jeff Jones) had team-long 31-yard pass reception in a 16-3 setback against the Baltimore Ravens in AFC Championship following 2000 season.
Green Bay Packers LB Dave Robinson (made two free throws and grabbed five rebounds in two basketball games for Penn State in 1960-61) returned a fumble 16 yards in 33-14 win against the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl II following 1967 season. Teammate Dick Capp (averaged 5.8 ppg and 2.8 rpg with Boston College in 1963-64 under coach Bob Cousy), a tight end activated for this game, recovered punt return fumble leading to field goal just before time expired in first half.
Washington Redskins TE Robert Royal (Louisiana State hooper in 2000-01) caught three passes from Mark Brunell in 20-10 setback against the Seattle Seahawks in NFC divisional-round game following 2005 season.
New York Giants RCB Jason Sehorn (averaged 12.5 ppg and 6 rpg for Shasta Community College CA in 1990-91) contributed two solo tackles and one interception in 41-0 win against the Minnesota Vikings in NFC Championship following 2000 season.
Denver Broncos WR Rod Smith (swingman was Missouri Southern State hoops letterman as sophomore in 1990-91) had team highs of six pass receptions and 96 receiving yards in a 27-13 win against the New England Patriots in AFC divisional-round playoff game following 2005 season.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Tackling January 13 NFL Playoff Games

January 13th, 2026 - 8:26

Hickey and ex-Hog All-SWC second-team hooper in 1929-30/NFL end Milan Creighton each coached NFL franchises. Many other ex-college hoopers also displayed their wares on the gridiron. Following is exhaustive research you can tackle regarding former college basketball players who made a name for themselves on January 13 in football at the professional level (especially wide receivers for San Diego Chargers in playoff victory following 2007 campaign plus Hall of Fame tight ends Antonio Gates and Tony Gonzalez who previously participated in NCAA Tournament basketball tourney):

JANUARY 13

Houston Texans LOLB Connor Barwin (Cincinnati hooper in 2006 NCAA Tournament) collected three solo tackles and two quarterback hits in a 41-28 setback against the New England Patriots in AFC divisional-round game following 2012 season.
San Diego Chargers WR Chris Chambers (played hoops briefly for Wisconsin under coach Dick Bennett in 1997-98) caught a 30-yard touchdown pass from Philip Rivers in 28-24 AFC divisional-round playoff win against the Indianapolis Colts following 2007 season. Chargers WR Vincent Jackson (Northern Colorado's scoring leader with 13.6 ppg in 2003-04 while also contributing 5.6 rpg and 3.1 apg) had team highs of seven pass receptions and 93 receiving yards (including 14-yard TD).
Miami Dolphins DE Vern Den Herder (finished Central College IA career in 1970-71 as school's all-time leading scorer and rebounder) delivered a sack in 24-7 win against the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl VIII following 1973 season. Dolphins QB Bob Griese (Purdue hooper in 1964-65) completed six-of-seven passes with two of the receptions by WR Marlin Briscoe (averaged 9.5 ppg and 3.6 rpg for Nebraska-Omaha in 1964-65). Starting LT protecting Griese was Wayne Moore (averaged 5.7 ppg and 10.3 rpg in four seasons for Lamar in late 1960s). Bud Grant (third-leading scorer for Minnesota in 1948-49 after named team MVP previous season over first-team All-American Jim McIntyre) coached the Vikings. Grant's roster included LDT Gary Larsen (Concordia MN hooper in early 1960s), who had four solo tackles, and DB Charlie West (Texas-El Paso hooper in 1967-68 under coach Don Haskins), who returned two kickoffs for 28 yards.
Los Angeles Chargers TE Antonio Gates (second-team All-MAC selection in 2002 when Kent State finished runner-up in South Regional) caught five passes including one for a touchdown in 41-28 setback against the New England Patriots in AFC divisional-round game following 2018 season.
Atlanta Falcons TE Tony Gonzalez (averaged 6.4 ppg and 4.3 rpg for California from 1994-95 through 1996-97) had six pass receptions - including game's first touchdown - in a 30-28 win against the Seattle Seahawks in NFC divisional-round playoff outing following 2012 season.
WR Terrell Owens (UT Chattanooga hooper from 1993-94 through 1995-96 started five games) opened the Dallas Cowboys' scoring with a five-yard touchdown pass from Tony Romo in 21-17 NFC divisional-round playoff setback against the New York Giants following 2007 season.
San Francisco 49ers WR Tai Streets (collected four points and seven rebounds in 13 games for Michigan's NIT titlist in 1997 under coach Steve Fisher) caught a game-tying touchdown pass from Jeff Garcia in fourth quarter of 25-15 NFC wild-card playoff game setback against the Green Bay Packers following 2001 season.
Miami Dolphins RDE Jason Taylor (averaged 8 ppg and 5.4 rpg for Akron in 1994-95) contributed six solo tackles in a 20-3 setback against the Baltimore Ravens in AFC wild-card playoff game following 2001 season.
Baltimore Ravens ROLB Adalius Thomas (averaged 2.9 ppg and 1.9 rpg for Southern Mississippi in 1996-97 and 1997-98) accumulated seven solo tackles in 15-6 setback against the Indianapolis Colts in divisional-round game following 2006 season. Ravens TE Todd Heap (grabbed 14 rebounds in 11 games for Arizona State in 1999-00) caught three passes for 28 yards.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Tackling January 12 NFL Playoff Games

January 12th, 2026 - 6:32

Hickey and ex-Hog All-SWC second-team hooper in 1929-30/NFL end Milan Creighton each coached NFL franchises. Many other ex-college hoopers also displayed their wares on the gridiron. Following is exhaustive research you can tackle regarding former college basketball players who made a name for themselves on January 12 in football at the professional level (especially Weeb Ewbank and Bud Grant coaching Super Bowl teams and Preston Pearson playing for two separate teams in SB six years apart):

JANUARY 12

Tampa Bay Buccaneers TE Rickey Dudley (averaged 13.3 ppg and 7.5 rpg as senior in 1994-95 when leading Ohio State in rebounding and finishing third in scoring) caught a 12-yard touchdown pass from Brad Johnson (part-time starting forward for Florida State as freshman in 1987-88 when averaging 5.9 ppg and shooting 89.1% from free-throw line) in 31-6 NFC divisional-round playoff win against the San Francisco 49ers following 2002 season. Johnson threw two second-quarter TD passes. Niners WR Tai Streets (collected four points and seven rebounds in 13 games for Michigan's NIT titlist in 1997 under coach Steve Fisher) caught five passes for 62 yards.
Weeb Ewbank (hoops letterman for Miami OH in 1926-27 and 1927-28) coached the New York Jets to a 16-7 victory against the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III following 1968 season. Jets LCB Johnny Sample (freshman hooper for Maryland-Eastern Shore) had an interception plus five solo tackles, Colts RDE Ordell Braase (All-North Central Conference first-team selection for South Dakota in 1952-53 and 1953-54) registered a solo tackle and Colts TEs Tom Mitchell (averaged 6.1 ppg and 9.4 rpg in 10 basketball games for Bucknell in 1963-64) and John Mackey (collected 28 points and 28 rebounds for Syracuse in six basketball contests in 1960-61) combined for four pass receptions for 50 yards. Colts RB Preston Pearson (averaged 5.2 ppg and 3.6 rpg for Illinois from 1964-65 through 1966-67) returned two kickoffs for 59 yards.
TE Darren Fells (averaged 10.2 ppg and 6.3 rpg from 2004-05 through 2007-08, leading UCI in rebounding each of last three seasons) gave the Houston Texans a 20-0 lead with first-quarter touchdown reception but they lost 51-31 against the Kansas City Chiefs in AFC divisional-round playoff game following 2019 season.
Green Bay Packers TE Jimmy Graham (part-time starter for Miami FL averaged 4.2 ppg and 4.2 rpg from 2005-06 through 2008-09 under coach Frank Haith) caught three passes for 49 yards in 28-23 win against the Seattle Seahawks in NFC divisional-round game following 2019 season.
Bud Grant (third-leading scorer for Minnesota in 1948-49 after named team MVP previous season over first-team All-American Jim McIntyre) coached the Minnesota Vikings when they suffered a 16-6 setback against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl IX following 1974 season. LB Matt Blair (member of Northeastern Oklahoma A&M's seventh-place hoops team in 1970 NJCAA Tournament) accounted for the Vikes' lone score with a fourth-quarter blocked punt. DL teammates Gary Larsen (Concordia MN hooper in early 1960s) and Bob Lurtesma (averaged 12.5 ppg for Michigan Tech in 1962-63) provided one solo tackle and one sack, respectively. Steelers RB Preston Pearson (averaged 5.2 ppg and 3.6 rpg for Illinois from 1964-65 through 1966-67) returned one kickoff for 15 yards and Steelers LB Marv Kellum (member of Wichita State's hoops squad in 1970-71) recovered a fumble on second-half kickoff (leading to game's first touchdown).
Carolina Panthers WLB Greg Hardy (Mississippi hooper in 2006-07 under coach Andy Kennedy) had one solo tackle and two quarterback hits in 23-10 setback against the San Francisco 49ers in NFC divisional-round playoff game following 2013 season.
Houston Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins (Clemson hooper for seven games in 2010-11 under coach Brad Brownell) caught nine passes for 118 yards in a 51-31 setback against the Kansas City Chiefs in AFC divisional-round game following 2019 season.
Green Bay Packers RB Aaron Jones (collected six points and six assists in eight basketball games for Texas-El Paso in 2013-14 under coach Tim Floyd) rushed for two second-quarter touchdowns in 28-23 win against the Seattle Seahawks in NFC divisional-round playoff game following 2019 season.
Baltimore Ravens WR Jacoby Jones (part-time starter averaged 3.4 ppg and 3.7 rpg for Lane TN in 2004-05 and 2005-06) caught a 70-yard touchdown pass from Joe Flacco with 31 seconds remaining in regulation to tie the score before they won against the Denver Broncos, 38-35, in double overtime in AFC divisional-round playoff game following 2012 season.
Jacksonville Jaguars WR Matt Jones (started two of his 11 Arkansas games in 2001-02 when averaging 4.2 ppg and 2.3 rpg and 10 of 17 in 2003-04 when averaging 5 ppg and 4.5 rpg) opened game's scoring with an eight-yard touchdown catch in a 31-20 AFC divisional-round playoff setback against the New England Patriots following 2007 season. Jaguars TE Marcedes Lewis (collected nine points and four rebounds in seven UCLA basketball contests in 2002-03 under coach Steve Lavin) caught four passes for a game-high 74 receiving yards.
Oakland Raiders RB Terry Kirby (averaged 2.8 ppg for Virginia's NCAA tourney teams in 1989-90 and 1990-91 under coaches Terry Holland and Jeff Jones) returned three kickoffs for 66 yards in a 38-24 win against the New York Jets in AFC wild-card game following 2001 season.
Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb (averaged 2.3 points in 18 games for Syracuse in 1995-96 and 1996-97) threw two second-quarter touchdown passes in a 31-9 NFC wild-card playoff win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers following 2001 season.
New England Patriots TE Derrick Ramsey (grabbed three rebounds in two Kentucky games in 1975-76) caught a touchdown pass in 31-14 AFC championship game win against the Miami Dolphins following 1985 season.
Green Bay Packers WR Andre Rison (backup hoops guard for Michigan State in 1987-88) caught three passes for 53 yards in a 30-13 win against the Carolina Panthers in NFC Championship following 1996 season.
Denver Broncos TE Julius Thomas (averaged 6.8 ppg and 4.3 rpg while shooting 66.3% from floor with Portland State from 2006-07 through 2009-10) caught six passes for 76 yards - including team-long 21-yarder from Peyton Manning - in a 24-17 win against the San Diego Chargers in AFC divisional-round playoff contest following 2013 season.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Tackling January 11 NFL Playoff Games

January 11th, 2026 - 7:48

Long before kneeling knuckleheads such as GQ cover boy #ColonKrapernick tried to pinpoint where Iran is on a map prior to politicized multiple anthems and hug-a-thug NFL funding anti-cop activist groups, the NCAA Tournament commenced in 1939, which was one year after the NIT triggered national postseason competition. An overlooked "versatile athlete" feat occurring in 1938 likely never to be duplicated took place at Arkansas, where the quarterback for the football squad (Jack Robbins) repeated as an All-SWC first-team basketball selection, leading the Razorbacks (19-3) to the league title. After the season, Robbins became an NFL first-round draft choice by the Chicago Cardinals (5th pick overall) and senior football/basketball teammates Jim Benton (11th pick by Cleveland Rams) and Ray Hamilton (41st pick by Rams) went on to become wide receivers for at least six years in the NFL. Yes, they created a kneeling-in-admiration shatterproof achievement - three members of a league championship basketball squad who promptly were among the top 41 selections in the same NFL draft.

Hickey and ex-Hog All-SWC second-team hooper in 1929-30/NFL end Milan Creighton each coached NFL franchises. Many other ex-college hoopers also displayed their wares on the gridiron. Following is exhaustive research you can tackle regarding former college basketball players who made a name for themselves on January 11 in football at the professional level (especially in Super Bowl IV following 1969 season, both conference championship contests following 1997 campaign plus Hall of Fame tight ends Antonio Gates and Tony Gonzalez who were key hoopers in NCAA Tournament):

JANUARY 11

Chicago Bears DE Doug Atkins (third-leading scorer as Tennessee center with 9.9 ppg in 1950-51) named co-NFL Pro Bowl MVP following the 1958 season.
Cleveland Browns DE Sam Clancy (two-time Eastern 8 first-team selection ended career in 1981 as Pittsburgh's all-time leading rebounder) had a sack in his second straight playoff game following 1986 campaign.
San Diego Chargers TE Antonio Gates (second-team All-MAC selection in 2002 when Kent State finished runner-up in South Regional) caught five passes for 59 yards in a 35-24 setback against the Pittsburgh Steelers in divisional-round game following 2008 season. Chargers WR Vincent Jackson (Northern Colorado's scoring leader with 13.6 ppg in 2003-04 while also contributing 5.6 rpg and 3.1 apg) opened contest's scoring with a 41-yard touchdown reception from Philip Rivers.
Kansas City Chiefs TE Tony Gonzalez (averaged 6.4 ppg and 4.3 rpg for California from 1994-95 through 1996-97) caught four passes for team-high 55 receiving yards in a 38-31 setback against the Indianapolis Colts in AFC divisional-round playoff contest following 2003 season. Colts TEs Marcus Pollard (juco transfer averaged 7.3 ppg and 5 rpg for Bradley in 1992-93 and 1993-94) and Joe Dean Davenport (Arkansas hooper in 1998-99 under coach Nolan Richardson Jr.) combined for four pass receptions from Peyton Manning.
Bud Grant (third-leading scorer for Minnesota in 1948-49 after named team MVP previous season over first-team All-American Jim McIntyre) coached the Minnesota Vikings when they suffered a 23-7 setback against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl IV following 1969 season. Vikings QB Joe Kapp (backup forward averaged 1.8 ppg and 1.2 rpg for California's PCC champions in 1957 and 1958) completed 16-of-25 passes for 183 yards. Vikings DB Charlie West (collected two points and one rebound in two UTEP basketball games in 1967-68 under coach Don Haskins) returned three kickoffs and two punts, LDT Gary Larsen (played hoops for Concordia MN in early 1960s) registered three solo tackles and LCB Earsell Mackbee (teammate of Utah State All-American Wayne Estes averaged 3.4 ppg and 1.4 rpg in 1964-65) collected six solo tackles. Chiefs FL Otis Taylor (backup small forward for Prairie View A&M) caught a 46-yard touchdown pass from Len Dawson (Purdue hooper in 1956-57). Chiefs RDT Buck Buchanan (earned hoops letter as Grambling freshman in 1958-59) recorded a sack among his five solo tackles and LLB Bobby Bell (first African-American hooper for Minnesota in 1960-61) contributed two solo tackles.
Tennessee Titans TE Erron Kinney (averaged 2.5 ppg and 1.3 rpg in six basketball games for Florida in 1996-97 under coach Billy Donovan) caught a touchdown pass from Steve McNair in 34-31 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Divisional Playoff Round following 2002 season. Steelers rookie WR Antwaan Randle El (member of Indiana's 1999 NCAA Tournament team coached by Bob Knight) caught four passes for 53 yards, rushed once for 11 yards, returned three kickoffs for 57 yards and returned two punts for 14 yards.
Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb (averaged 2.3 points in 18 games for Syracuse in 1995-96 and 1996-97) threw two touchdown passes in a 20-17 Divisional Playoff Round win against the Green Bay Packers in overtime following 2003 season.
San Francisco 49ers WR Terrell Owens (UT Chattanooga hooper from 1993-94 through 1995-96 started five games) caught six passes for team-high 100 receiving yards - including game-long 48-yarder - in a 23-10 setback against the Green Bay Packers in NFC Championship following 1997 season. Niners RB Terry Kirby (hooper for Virginia's NCAA tourney teams in 1989-90 and 1990-91) chipped in with four pass receptions from Steve Young.
Denver Broncos WR Rod Smith (swingman was Missouri Southern State hoops letterman as sophomore in 1990-91) recorded team highs of six pass receptions and 87 receiving yards from John Elway in a 24-21 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers in AFC Championship following 1997 season.
Denver Broncos TE Julius Thomas (averaged 6.8 ppg and 4.3 rpg while shooting 66.3% from floor with Portland State from 2006-07 through 2009-10) caught six passes for 53 yards - including game-long 32-yarder from Peyton Manning - in a 24-13 setback against the Indianapolis Colts in AFC divisional-round playoff contest following 2014 season.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Tackling January 10 NFL Playoff Games

January 10th, 2026 - 8:24

Hickey and ex-Hog All-SWC second-team hooper in 1929-30/NFL end Milan Creighton each coached NFL franchises. Many other ex-college hoopers also displayed their wares on the gridiron. Following is exhaustive research you can tackle regarding former college basketball players who made a name for themselves on January 10 in football at the professional level (especially St. Louis Rams in NFC divisional-round playoff game following 2003 season and pair of Tennessee Titan wide receivers in six-year span):

JANUARY 10

Cincinnati Bengals QB Ken Anderson (swingman finished Augustana IL career in early 1970s as fifth-leading scorer in school history with 1,044 points) threw two touchdown passes in 27-7 AFC championship playoff win against the San Diego Chargers following 1981 season. Bengals WR David Verser (Kansas hooper in five games in 1977-78 under coach Ted Owens) returned a kickoff for 40 yards in his second straight playoff game.
Tennessee Titans rookie WR Tyrone Calico (played one basketball game for Middle Tennessee State in 1998-99) had a 30-yard pass reception from QB Steve McNair in 17-14 AFC divisional-round playoff reversal against the New England Patriots following 2003 campaign.
Baltimore Ravens PK Billy Cundiff (played in nine basketball contests with Drake in 1999-00 and 2000-01) converted two field goals in a 33-14 win against the New England Patriots in AFC wild-card game following 2009 season. Patriots OLB Adalius Thomas (averaged 2.9 ppg and 1.9 rpg for Southern Mississippi in 1996-97 and 1997-98) amassed five solo tackles.
Tennessee Titans WR Justin Gage (averaged 2.1 ppg and 2.9 rpg for Missouri from 1999-00 through 2001-02) had 10 pass receptions for 135 yards in a 13-10 AFC divisional-round playoff setback against the Baltimore Ravens following 2008 season.
Minnesota Vikings TE Andrew Glover (All-SWAC second-team selection as senior in 1990-91 when leading Grambling with 16.2 ppg and 8.6 rpg while pacing league in field-goal shooting) caught a touchdown pass from Randall Cunningham in 41-21 NFC divisional-round playoff win against the Arizona Cardinals following 1998 season.
TE Jimmy Graham (part-time starter for Miami FL averaged 4.2 ppg and 4.2 rpg from 2005-06 through 2008-09 under coach Frank Haith) accounted for the Chicago Bears' lone touchdown with a fourth-quarter pass reception in 21-9 setback against the New Orleans Saints in NFC wild-card game following 2020 season.
Baltimore Ravens TE Todd Heap (grabbed 14 rebounds in 11 games for Arizona State in 1999-00) had a 23-yard pass reception in 13-10 win against the Tennessee Titans in AFC divisional-round game following 2008 season.
St. Louis Rams WR Dane Looker (averaged 4.8 ppg as Western Washington freshman in 1995-96 and 10.2 ppg as sophomore in 1996-97 before transferring to Washington and concentrating on football) caught two passes for 31 yards and a two-point conversion late in fourth quarter of 29-23 NFC divisional-round setback in double overtime against the Carolina Panthers following 2003 season. Rams LB Tommy Polley (played in one basketball game for Florida State in 1996-97 under coach Pat Kennedy) provided seven solo tackles and returned an interception 37 yards while S Jason Sehorn (averaged 12.5 ppg and 6 rpg for Shasta Community College CA in 1990-91) chipped in with four solo tackles.
Green Bay Packers rookie CB Quinten Rollins (led Miami OH in steals all four seasons from 2010-11 through 2013-14 including Mid-American Conference as senior) recorded a solo tackle in 35-18 win against the Washington Redskins in NFC wild-card game following 2015 season.
Arizona Cardinals RLB Patrick Sapp (Clemson hooper in 1994-95) provided five solo tackles in 41-21 setback against the Minnesota Vikings in divisional-round game following 1998 season.

Generous Dose of Humility: Most Lopsided Setbacks For #1-Ranked Teams

January 10th, 2026 - 8:21

T.J. Otzelberger-coached Iowa State has knocked off a #1-ranked team by at least 23 points away from home twice in the last three seasons. The last three campaigns provided three of the nine most lopsided losses by a top-ranked club in NCAA history since the late 1940s. Following are the widest margins of defeat for an AP top-ranked team (11 times by more than 20 points with no margin this high in a 21-season span from 1968-69 through 1988-89):

Margin	Losing #1 Team	Winning Opponent (Coach)	Result/Season
41	St. John's	at Kentucky (Adolph Rupp)	81-40/1951-52
32	Houston	at UCLA (John Wooden) in NCAA Tournament semifinals	101-69/1967-68
30	Tennessee	at Florida (Todd Golden)	73-43/2024-25
28	Houston	vs. Iowa State (T.J. Otzelberger) at Kansas City in Big 12 Conference Tournament final	69-41/2023-24
27	Duke	at Miami FL (Jim Larranaga)	90-63/2012-13
24	Arkansas	at Massachusetts (John Calipari)	104-80/1994-95
24	Duke	at North Carolina (Bill Guthridge)	97-73/1997-98
23	Connecticut	vs. Villanova (Steve Lappas)	96-73/1994-95
23	Purdue	vs. Iowa State (T.J. Otzelberger)	81-58/2025-26
22	Kansas	at Oklahoma (Billy Tubbs)	100-78/1989-90
21	Baylor	at West Virginia (Bob Huggins)	89-68/2016-17

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Tackling January 9 NFL Playoff Games

January 9th, 2026 - 7:22

Hickey and ex-Hog All-SWC second-team hooper in 1929-30/NFL end Milan Creighton each coached NFL franchises. Many other ex-college hoopers also displayed their wares on the gridiron. Following is exhaustive research you can tackle regarding former college basketball players who made a name for themselves on January 9 in football at the professional level (especially in 1982 playoff games before ex-hoopers with the Denver Broncos in postseason contests during the 1990s):

JANUARY 9

Cincinnati Bengals QB Ken Anderson (swingman finished Augustana IL career in early 1970s as fifth-leading scorer in school history with 1,044 points) threw two first-quarter touchdown passes in a 44-17 AFC wild-card playoff setback against the New York Jets following the 1982 season. Bengals WR David Verser (Kansas hooper in five games in 1977-78 under coach Ted Owens) returned seven kickoffs for 116 yards.
Baltimore Ravens PK Billy Cundiff (played in nine basketball contests with Drake in 1999-00 and 2000-01) converted all three of his field-goal attempts in a 30-7 win against the Kansas City Chiefs in AFC wild-card game following 2010 season. Ravens TE Todd Heap (grabbed 14 rebounds in 11 games for Arizona State in 1999-00) had game highs of 10 pass receptions and 108 receiving yards.
Bud Grant (third-leading scorer for Minnesota in 1948-49 after named team MVP previous season over first-team All-American Jim McIntyre) coached the Minnesota Vikings when they suffered a 32-14 setback against the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XI following 1976 season. Vikings LLB Matt Blair (member of Northeastern Oklahoma A&M's 1970 NJCAA Tournament seventh-place hoops team) contributed three solo tackles and Raiders DE Charles Philyaw (averaged 5.2 ppg and 5.2 rpg for Texas Southern in 1973-74 and 1974-75) recorded one solo tackle.
Houston Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins (Clemson hooper for seven games in 2010-11 under coach Brad Brownell) caught six passes for 69 yards in 30-0 setback against the Kansas City Chiefs in AFC wild-card game following 2015 season.
San Francisco 49ers WR Terrell Owens (UT Chattanooga hooper from 1993-94 through 1995-96 started five games) supplied game highs of eight pass receptions and 73 receiving yards in a 20-18 setback in NFC divisional-round playoff contest following 1998 season. Niners RB Terry Kirby (hooper for Virginia's NCAA tourney teams in 1989-90 and 1990-91) chipped in with two catches from Steve Young.
Minnesota Vikings TE Joe Senser (two-time NCAA Division I leader in FG% averaged 11.4 ppg and 7.4 rpg while shooting 66.2% from floor in four-year career for West Chester State PA in late 1970s) caught six passes for 81 yards in a 30-24 NFC first-round playoff win against the Atlanta Falcons following 1982 campaign.
Denver Broncos WR Rod Smith (swingman was Missouri Southern State hoops letterman as sophomore in 1990-91) caught four passes for 71 yards - including 28-yarder for touchdown from John Elway - in a 38-3 win against the Miami Dolphins in AFC divisional-round playoff following 1998 season. Broncos DE Marvin Washington (played in 1985 NCAA Tournament with UTEP under coach Don Haskins before averaging 2.9 ppg and 5.7 rpg for Idaho under Tim Floyd in 1987-88) manufactured a sack. Dolphins WR Lamar Thomas (collected 16 points and 4 rebounds in four games for Miami FL in 1990-91 under coach Leonard Hamilton) caught three passes from Hall of Famer Dan Marino. Six years later, Smith recorded team highs of seven catches and 99 receiving yards - including TD from Jake Plummer - in a 49-24 setback against the Indianapolis Colts following 2004 campaign. Colts TE Marcus Pollard (juco transfer averaged 7.3 ppg and 5 rpg for Bradley in 1992-93 and 1993-94) provided a 25-yard pass reception from Peyton Manning.
Denver Broncos WR Kitrick Taylor (Washington State hooper in 1984-85 and 1986-87) had a 13-yard pass reception in 42-24 AFC wild-card playoff game setback against the Oakland Raiders following 1993 season.
Dallas Cowboys rookie DE Peppi Zellner (averaged 10.3 ppg and team-high 9.1 rpg for Fort Valley State GA in 1997-98) had four tackles in a 27-10 NFC wild-card playoff game setback against the Minnesota Vikings following 1999 campaign.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Tackling January 8 NFL Playoffs

January 8th, 2026 - 6:28

Long before kneeling knuckleheads such as GQ cover boy #ColonKrapernick tried to pinpoint where Iran is on a map before politicized multiple anthems and NFL funding anti-cop activist groups, the NCAA Tournament commenced in 1939, which was one year after the NIT triggered national postseason competition. An overlooked "versatile athlete" feat occurring in 1938 likely never to be duplicated took place at Arkansas, where the quarterback for the football squad (Jack Robbins) repeated as an All-SWC first-team basketball selection, leading the Razorbacks (19-3) to the league title. After the season, Robbins became an NFL first-round draft choice by the Chicago Cardinals (5th pick overall) and senior football/basketball teammates Jim Benton (11th pick by Cleveland Rams) and Ray Hamilton (41st pick by Rams) went on to become wide receivers for at least six years in the NFL. Yes, they created a kneeling-in-admiration shatterproof achievement - three members of a league championship basketball squad who promptly were among the top 41 selections in the same NFL draft.

Hickey and ex-Hog All-SWC second-team hooper in 1929-30/NFL end Milan Creighton each coached NFL franchises. Many other ex-college hoopers also displayed their wares on the gridiron. Following is exhaustive research you can tackle regarding former college basketball players making a name for themselves - including Hall of Fame tight ends Antonio Gates and Tony Gonzalez after participating in NCAA Tournament - on January 8 in NFL postseason competition:

JANUARY 8

Seattle Seahawks TE John Carlson (played in three Notre Dame basketball games in 2003-04 under coach Mike Brey) caught two first-half touchdown passes from Matt Hasselbeck in a 41-36 win against the New Orleans Saints in NFC wild-card game following 2010 season.
San Diego Chargers TE Antonio Gates (second-team All-MAC selection in 2002 when Kent State finished runner-up in South Regional) caught six passes for 89 yards including a touchdown reception from Drew Brees to send game into overtime in a 20-17 setback against the New York Jets in AFC wild-card contest following 2004 season.
Atlanta Falcons TE Tony Gonzalez (averaged 6.4 ppg and 4.3 rpg for California from 1994-95 through 1996-97) caught four passes for 44 yards in a 24-2 setback against the New York Giants in NFC wild-card game following 2011 season.
St. Louis Rams LB Tommy Polley (played in one basketball game for Florida State in 1996-97 under coach Pat Kennedy) provided five solo tackles in 27-20 NFC wild-card win against the Seattle Seahawks following 2004 campaign.
Oakland Raiders RB Greg Pruitt (Oklahoma frosh hooper in 1969-70) rushed three times for 15 yards, caught two passes for 14 yards, returned two kickoffs for 57 yards and returned five punts for 45 yards in a 27-10 AFC first-round playoff win against the Cleveland Browns following 1982 season.
Detroit Lions WR Freddie Scott (averaged 5.3 ppg for Amherst MA as sophomore in 1971-72) caught one pass for 14 yards in a 31-7 setback against the Washington Redskins in AFC wild-card game following 1982 season.

On This Date: Former College Hoopers Tackling January 7 NFL Gridiron

January 7th, 2026 - 9:59

Long before kneeling knuckleheads such as GQ cover boy #ColonKrapernick tried to pinpoint where Iran is on a map before spurring politicized multiple anthems and NFL funding anti-cop activist groups, the NCAA Tournament commenced in 1939, which was one year after the NIT triggered national postseason competition. An overlooked "versatile athlete" feat occurring in 1938 likely never to be duplicated took place at Arkansas, where the quarterback for the football squad (Jack Robbins) repeated as an All-SWC first-team basketball selection, leading the Razorbacks (19-3) to the league title. After the season, Robbins became an NFL first-round draft choice by the Chicago Cardinals (5th pick overall) and senior football/basketball teammates Jim Benton (11th pick by Cleveland Rams) and Ray Hamilton (41st pick by Rams) went on to become wide receivers for at least six years in the NFL. Yes, they created a kneeling-in-admiration shatterproof achievement - three members of a league championship basketball squad who promptly were among the top 41 selections in the same NFL draft.

Hickey and ex-Hog All-SWC second-team hooper in 1929-30/NFL end Milan Creighton each coached NFL franchises. Many other ex-college hoopers also displayed their wares on the gridiron. Following is exhaustive research you can tackle regarding former college basketball players who made a name for themselves on January 7 in football at the professional level (especially in AFC and NFC championship contests following 1978 campaign):

JANUARY 7

New Orleans Saints TE Jimmy Graham (part-time starter for Miami FL averaged 4.2 ppg and 4.2 rpg from 2005-06 through 2008-09 under coach Frank Haith) caught a third-quarter touchdown pass from Drew Brees in 45-28 win against the Detroit Lions in wild-card game following 2011 season.
Green Bay Packers RB Aaron Jones (collected six points and six assists in eight basketball games as Texas-El Paso freshman in 2013-14 under coach Tim Floyd) rushed for more than 100 yards in each of their last three games of 2023 regular season.
Jacksonville Jaguars TE Marcedes Lewis (collected nine points and four rebounds in seven UCLA basketball contests in 2002-03 under coach Steve Lavin) caught three passes in a 10-3 win against the Buffalo Bills in AFC wild-card game following 2017 season.
New York Giants CB Jason Sehorn (averaged 12.5 ppg and 6 rpg for Shasta Community College CA in 1990-91) intercepted a pass from Donovan McNabb (averaged 2.3 ppg for Syracuse in 1995-96 and 1996-97) and returned it 32 yards for touchdown in 20-10 win against the Philadelphia Eagles in NFC divisional-round playoff game following 2000 season. Sehorn also chipped in with four solo tackles.
Dallas Cowboys QB Roger Staubach (Navy varsity hooper in 1962-63) threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes in a 28-0 win against the Los Angeles Rams in NFC Championship contest following 1978 season.
Houston Oilers RCB Greg Stemrick (played in two basketball games for Colorado State in 1973-74) intercepted a pass by QB Terry Bradshaw in their 34-5 setback against the Pittsburgh Steelers in AFC Championship game following 1978 season.
New York Jets DB Rashad Washington (Kansas State hooper in eight games in 2000-01) recorded two solo tackles in a 37-16 setback against the New England Patriots in AFC wild-card game following 2006 season.
Melenik Watson (averaged 4.7 ppg and 3.3 rpg while shooting team-high 47.6% from floor for Marist in 2010-11) was starting LT for the Oakland Raiders in a 27-14 setback against the Houston Texans in wild-card game following 2016 season. Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins (Clemson hooper for seven games in 2010-11 under coach Brad Brownell) caught five passes for 67 yards and one touchdown.