Moment of Final Four Silence: Acknowledging Alums Who Went Before Them
"To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die." - Thomas Campbell's poem Hallowed Ground
Memo to Final Four players: It's not just about this year's team. Never forget those who supported your program along the way and never forget who helped program out while everyone else was making excuses about not doing what you achieved.
Feel proud to take them with you on trip to Phoenix area and make them part of your experience. They fully knew the sweat-and-tears sacrifice you expended. They had the same sense of pride when putting on uniform of your common alma mater. They are your extended teammates who would have donned old letterman jackets/sweaters/caps or newer school merchandise this weekend if they were still alive. They set the table for you and will be there in spirit. Take a second to acknowledge them with a silent thank you because they also left it all on the court trying to earn this moment. They didn't quite make the heart-pounding journey with you. But if you believe in the hereafter, they'll still be rooting for you.
In the aftermath of Purdue's Earl Brown and Jim Rowinski plus Connecticut's Seymour "Sy" Menchel passing away earlier this year, following is a RIP sampling of basketball brotherhood (deceased players and coaches) from F4 schools perishing in the previous 10 years (including Purdue All-Americans Terry Dischinger, Carl McNulty and Caleb Swanigan plus UConn A-A Tony Hanson):
ALABAMA
2023 - Tom Crosby (died at age 87/averaged 1.4 ppg and 1.9 rpg from 1954-55 through 1956-57), Harry Hammonds (81/10.8 ppg and 8.4 rpg from 1963-64 through 1965-66; led Crimson Tide in rebounding each of his last two seasons) and Eddie Lumpkin (73/played in 1968-69 and 1969-70 under coach C.M. Newton).
2022 - Melvin Bowling (88/member of roster in 1952-53), Kelly Shy (66/averaged 1.3 ppg from 1974-75 through 1977-78 under Newton) and Tommy Suitts (74/juco recruit averaged 8.3 ppg and 1.7 rpg in 1967-68 and 1968-69; compiled 89-157 coaching record with Rice and Chicago State in nine DI seasons from 1981-82 through 1989-90).
2021 - Jim Lewis (90/played in 1955-56 and 1956-57 after serving in U.S. Air Force) and Joe McDaniel (75/2 ppg and 1.8 rpg from 1965-66 through 1967-68).
2020 - O. "Reese" Carr (78/4 ppg and 2.8 rpg from 1961-62 through 1964-65; redshirt in 1963-64), Bill Currier (88/played in 1951-52), Doug Gamble (70/9 ppg and 5.6 rpg in 1969-70 under Newton), Paul Riddle (90/3.3 ppg from 1949-50 through 1951-52) and Ray "Buddy" Sink Jr. (83, averaged 5.9 ppg and 2.8 rpg for Alabama as a sophomore in 1958-59).
2019 - Carl Crumpler (92/forward scored 91 points in 1947-48; on his 45th combat mission in U.S. Air Force on July 5, 1968, he was forced to eject over North Vietnam and spent the next 1,714 days in captivity as POW in the Hanoi Hilton), Jim Fulmer Sr. (14.7 ppg and 9.4 rpg from 1955-56 through 1957-58; sophomore member of Crimson Tide squad going undefeated in SEC competition before becoming two-time all-league third-team selection when leading Bama in rebounding each of his last two seasons), Dick Gunder (84/7.2 ppg and 4.5 rpg from 1953-54 through 1955-56 under coach Johnny Dee), Ken "Silk" Johnson (60/12.2 ppg and 4.3 rpg from 1977-78 through 1980-81 under coaches Newton and Wimp Sanderson, finishing among Crimson Tide's top three scorers all four seasons), Bob Schneider (89/10.1 ppg from 1949-50 through 1951-52; All-SEC third-team selection as junior when finishing runner-up with Crimson Tide in scoring) and Nick Vrotsos (93/played in late 1940s and early 1950s, averaging 4.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg and 2.7 apg as senior in 1950-51).
2018 - George Linn (84/15.5 ppg and 9.8 rpg from 1952-53 through 1955-56; two-time All-SEC selection was runner-up to All-American teammate Jerry Harper in scoring and rebounding each of their last two seasons), Sammy Moore (87/6.6 ppg from 1949-50 through 1951-52; runner-up in rebounding for Crimson Tide as junior and senior) and C.M. Newton (88/compiled 340-238 record as SEC coach with Alabama in 12 seasons from 1968-69 through 1979-80) and Vanderbilt in eight seasons from 1981-82 through 1988-89).
2017 - Walt Evans Jr. (86/played in 1950-51), Greg McElveen (60/2.4 ppg from 1975-76 through 1978-79 under Newton) and Jerry Vogel (80/3.8 ppg from 1956-57 through 1958-59).
2016 - William Earl "Bill" Sexton (84/6.8 ppg and 5.2 rpg from 1951-52 through 1953-54).
2015 - Charles "Bambi" Howland (72/4.8 ppg and 5.2 rpg in 1963-64 and 1964-65).
2014 - Jack Brown (87/hooper in late 1940s was also QB on football squad), Charles "Billy" Crews (81/4.4 ppg from 1951-52 through 1954-55) and Rebel Roy Steiner Sr. (87/three-year letterman in late 1940s; two-year NFL defensive back with Green Bay Packers).
CONNECTICUT
2023 - Dan Heffernan (94/played in late 1940s under coach Hugh Greer), Richard Kiernan (88/averaged 1.8 ppg in 1954-55 and 1955-56 under Greer), Edward Martin III (84/7.4 ppg and 9.6 rpg for three NCAA tourney teams from 1957-58 through 1959-60 under Greer; led team in rebounding as junior), Jack Rose (85/14.5 ppg and 4.9 rpg for three NCAA tourney teams from 1957-58 through 1959-60 under Greer; led team in scoring as sophomore and junior) and Fred Shabel (90/compiled 72-29 coaching record in four seasons from 1963-64 through 1966-67, participating in three NCAA tourneys).
2022 - Hank Bartnicki (98/All-Yankee Conference first-team selection as sophomore in 1948-49 after serving in U.S. Army Air Corps during WWII; 6.9 ppg in 1948-49 and 1949-50 under Greer), Jack Beardsworth Sr. (95/2 ppg in 1948-49 under Greer after serving in U.S. Navy during WWII), Ron Bushwell (88/St. John's transfer averaged 10.8 ppg from 1953-54 through 1955-56 under Greer; All-Yankee Conference first-team selection as senior when finishing runner-up in team scoring appeared in two different NCAA playoffs), Jet Dargati (90/played in 1952-53 under Greer before serving in U.S. Army during Korean Conflict and subsequently becoming Hall of Famer at Willimantic State CT with career scoring average of 24.5 ppg), Ernest MacFadgen (95/5.8 ppg with school's first NCAA tourney team in 1950-51 under Greer), Worthy Patterson Jr. (91/11.5 ppg from 1951-52 through 1953-54 under Greer; two-time All-Yankee Conference first-team selection participated in NCAA playoffs as senior), John Risley III (84/2.2 ppg from 1957-58 through 1959-60 under Greer; pitcher for Huskies' 1959 CWS participant before compiling 9-6 record and 3.98 ERA with two shutouts in Cleveland Indians' farm system at Class C level in 1960) and George Wigton (93/coached UConn in 1963 NCAA playoffs after Greer died in mid-season from massive heart attack).
2021 - Bob Dube (87/1.8 ppg for three clubs competing in national postseason competition from 1953-54 through 1955-56 under Greer), Deke Garner (89/4.3 ppg and 2.2 rpg from 1950-51 through 1952-53 under Greer), Pete Lind (95/led team in scoring in 1948-49 before becoming All-Yankee Conference first-team selection the next season; averaged 9.1 ppg those two years under coach Greer) and Dee Rowe (91/compiled 120-88 coaching record in eight seasons from 1969-70 through 1976-77; Huskies appeared in 1976 NCAA playoffs and he was first New England major-college coach to field starting lineup comprised of five African-Americans - late in 1973-74 campaign at Rutgers).
2020 - Wayne Davis (81/7.4 ppg and 7.8 rpg for three NCAA tourney teams from 1956-57 through 1958-59 under Greer; went on to become one of FBI's earliest African-American executives), Art Galaise Jr. (93/played in late 1940s after serving in U.S. Navy during WWII), Joe Haberl (87/2 ppg and 3 rpg in 1952-53 under Greer; Haberl transferred to Central Connecticut State after serving in U.S. Army during Korean Conflict and was first baseman-pitcher in New York Giants' farm system in 1956 and 1957), Phil Jones (88/4.4 ppg from 1951-52 through 1953-54 under Greer), Dave King (80/All-Yankee Conference second-team selection in 1960-61 when finishing team runner-up in scoring with 13.1 ppg) and rebounding with 7.9 rpg under Greer), Lou Orlando Jr. (88/4.1 ppg and 2.4 rpg from 1950-51 through 1952-53 under Greer; All-Yankee Conference second-team selection as senior), Fran "Red" Quinn Jr. (85/7 ppg from 1954-55 through 1956-57 under Greer; All-Yankee Conference second-team selection as senior scored at least 14 points in single NCAA tourney outing each of his last two seasons), Clifford Robinson (53/15.3 ppg and 6.1 rpg from 1985-86 through 1988-89; two-time All-Big East Conference selection), Stanley Robinson (32/9.8 ppg and 6.2 rpg from 2006-07 through 2009-10 under coach Jim Calhoun; third-leading rebounder for 2009 Final Four team before pacing Huskies in caroms as senior), Howard Silverstein (91/3.3 ppg in 1949-50 and 1950-51 under Greer), Ed Slomcenski (77/10.5 ppg and 9.4 rpg from 1961-62 through 1963-64; led Huskies in rebounding as sophomore before becoming All-Yankee Conference first-team selection for NCAA playoff squad the next season), George Sotille (92/member of roster in 1949-50 under Greer after serving in U.S. Army), George Uhl (85/7.8 ppg and 3.7 rpg in 1959-60 and 1960-61 under Greer after serving in U.S. Air Force; scored seven points when UConn was eliminated by Final Four-bound NYU in 1960 NCAA playoffs), Ted Vartelas (89/3 ppg and 2.5 rpg in 1952-53 under Greer) and Alfred Wehrle (86/1.4 ppg with national postseason competition teams in 1954 and 1955 under Greer).
2019 - Jim "Hooker" McMahon (84/played in 1954-55 under Greer) and Alfonso "Al" Vaughn Jr. (69/10.7 ppg and 3.2 rpg from 1970-71 through 1972-73).
2018 - Dr. Lee Barbach (66/2.3 ppg and 1.1 rpg in 1970-71 and 1971-72), Jim Blozie (91/1.6 ppg in 1947-48 and 1948-49 under Greer after serving in U.S. Navy during WWII in Amphibious Corps in South Pacific), Burr Carlson (90/Central Connecticut State transfer averaged 12.6 ppg and Yankee Conference-leading 14.5 rpg as all-league first-team selection in 1951-52 under Greer; first UConn player selected in an NBA draft coached school to 16-32 record in two seasons in 1967-68 and 1968-69), Tony Hanson (63/17.9 ppg and 7.4 rpg from 1973-74 through 1976-77; two-time All-Yankee Conference selection before becoming All-American as senior when ranking 10th in nation in scoring with 26 ppg) and Eugene King (85/5.1 ppg and 3.5 rpg from 1951-52 through 1957-58 under Greer; missed three full seasons while serving in U.S. Force).
2017 - Thomas "Toby" Kimball (74/three-time All-Yankee Conference first-team selection averaged 18.4 ppg and 17.9 rpg from 1962-63 through 1964-65; led nation in rebounding as senior with 21 rpg including game against New Hampshire when he retrieved 34 missed shots), Mel Kleckner (85/4.8 ppg and 4.7 rpg from 1950-51 through 1952-53 under Greer; played for Huskies' first NCAA tourney team as sophomore) and Stan Sorota (95/8.1 ppg from 1946-47 through 1949-50 after serving in U.S. Army during WWII; senior captain was two-time All-Yankee Conference selection).
2016 - Aldrage "Al" Cooper Jr. (79/11.9 ppg and 10.6 rpg with three NCAA tourney teams from 1956-57 through 1958-59 under Greer; All-Yankee Conference first-team selection as sophomore and junior when leading Huskies in rebounding both seasons; also paced league in caroms as junior) and Chad Wise (32/Arkansas native averaged 1.1 ppg in 2001-02 and 2002-03 under Calhoun).
2015 - Dr. Pete Demir (84/1.4 ppg for 1950-51 NCAA playoff team under coach Greer before transferring to Penn, where Demir averaged 2.7 ppg in 1953-54 under coach Howie Dallmar), Ed Freedman (85/1.7 ppg in 1948-49 under coach Greer) and Ed Liptak (86/3.7 ppg in 1949-50 and 1950-51).
2014 - Nicholas Verbillo (94/played in early 1940s) and Vin Yokabaskas (84/three-time All-Yankee Conference first-team selection averaged 16.3 ppg from 1949-50 through 1951-52).
NORTH CAROLINA STATE
2023 - Paul Hudson (77/averaged 2.6 ppg and 2.6 rpg in 1965-66 and 1966-67 under coaches Press Maravich and Norm Sloan) and Moe Rivers (70/juco recruit averaged 12.5 ppg and 3 rpg in 1973-74 and 1974-75 under Sloan; fourth-leading scorer with 1974 NCAA Tournament champion).
2022 - Gary Hale (78/2.3 ppg from 1963-64 through 1965-66 under coaches Everett Case and Maravich; participated in NCAA playoffs as junior), John Key (82/10.6 ppg and 5.7 rpg as senior in 1962-63 under Case), Ken Montgomery (64/spent freshman season with NCSU in 1977-78 under Sloan before transferring to Texas, where he averaged 8.3 ppg and 2.1 rpg from 1979-80 through 1981-82 under coach Abe Lemons), Nick Trifunovich (76/7.3 ppg in 1966-67 and 1967-68 under Sloan) and Larry Worsley (79/8.4 ppg and 4.4 rpg from 1963-64 through 1965-66; named 1965 ACC Tournament MVP after scoring 30 points in championship contest).
2021 - Dick Braucher (74/10.1 ppg and 5 rpg from 1966-67 through 1968-69 in Sloan's first three seasons as Wolfpack coach).
2020 - Dwight Johnson (67/1.5 ppg with 1974 NCAA Tournament titlist coached by Sloan), Dan Knapp (86/5.3 ppg and 3.4 rpg in 1951-52 and 1952-53 under Case) and Craig Watts (61/4.7 ppg and 4.2 rpg from 1977-78 through 1980-81 under coaches Sloan and Jim Valvano; connected on all six of his field-goal attempts in 1980 NCAA playoff defeat against Iowa.
2019 - Anthony Grundy (40/13.6 ppg, 4.4 rpg and 2.9 apg from 1998-99 through 2001-02 under coach Herb Sendek; All-ACC first-team selection as senior was Wolfpack's leading scorer each of his last three seasons) and Kelsey Weems (51/4.1 ppg and 1.8 apg from 1985-86 through 1988-89 under Valvano).
2018 - Phil DiNardo (84/7.4 ppg and 8 rpg with school's first three ACC teams from 1953-54 through 1955-56 under Case; second-leading rebounder as senior for NCAA playoff participant with 11.2 rpg).
2017 - Bill Lake (62/freshman backup center for 1974 NCAA champion coached by Sloan before transferring to Miami (Ohio), where Lake averaged 3.5 ppg and 1.8 rpg in 1976-77 and 1977-78), Charles Shackleford (50/13.7 ppg and 7.8 rpg from 1985-86 through 1987-88 before leaving college early for NBA draft; All-ACC first-team selection as junior) and Jim Simbeck (78/3.1 ppg in 1959-60 under coach Case before transferring to Adams State CO).
2016 - Ken Clark (82/4.8 ppg and 4.9 rpg from 1956-57 through 1959-60 under Case; redshirt in 1958-59), Joe Harand (89/regular for school's first Final Four team in 1950 under Case; 4.9 ppg as senior for national third-place team after serving in U.S. Navy during WWII) and Richard Nickel (93/starter in 1941-42 before career was interrupted by serving in U.S. Army Air Corps during WWII).
2015 - Dan Englehardt (81/7 ppg and 2.1 rpg from 1957-58 through 1959-60 under Case), Edwin Morris (92/letterman in 1945-46 after serving in U.S. Army during WWII) and Ken Rohloff (76/12.4 ppg and 3 rpg from 1960-61 through 1962-63, finishing among Wolfpack's top three in scoring average each season under Case; two-time All-ACC second-team selection was co-captain as senior).
2014 - Billy "Butch" Moffitt (69/5.7 ppg and 2.4 rpg from 1963-64 through 1965-66 under coaches Case and Maravich; participated in NCAA tourney as junior).
PURDUE
2023 - Dr. Terry Dischinger (82/averaged 28.3 ppg and 13.7 rpg from 1959-60 through 1961-62 while pacing Boilermakers in scoring and rebounding all three years; three-time All-American and All-Big Ten Conference first-team selection ranked among nation's top seven scorers each season; only two-time NCAA consensus first-team A-A since WWII never to compete in NCAA playoffs or NIT), Calvin Grosscup Jr. (89/4.8 ppg and 2.6 rpg in 1953-54 before transferring to Tulane, where he averaged 19.2 ppg and 10.5 rpg in 1955-56 and 1956-57 under coach Clifford Wells; All-SEC second-team selection as senior when leading Green Wave in scoring and rebounding), Charlie Kehrt (85/4.5 ppg and 1.5 rpg from 1956-57 through 1958-59), James Rogers (72/2.8 ppg and 2.8 rpg from 1969-70 through 1971-72 under coach George King) and Randy Saal (78/played in 1966-67 under King).
2022 - Erich Barnes (86/played briefly in 1955-56; six-time Pro Bowl defensive back intercepted 45 passes with Chicago Bears, New York Giants and Cleveland Browns in 14 seasons from 1958 through 1971, appearing in six NFL championship games), Bill Butterfield (94/3.4 ppg from 1946-47 through 1949-50), Len Dawson (87/two basketball games in 1956-57; Pro Football Hall of Fame/seven-time All-Pro quarterback completed 2,136 passes for 28,731 yards and 239 touchdowns in 19 seasons from 1957 through 1975 with Cleveland Browns, Dallas Texans and Kansas City Chiefs), Norm McCool (94/3.9 ppg in 1945-46), Lee Rose (85/compiled 228-105 coaching record in 11 major-college seasons with UNC Charlotte, Purdue and South Florida; guided UNCC '77 and Purdue '80 to Final Four next season after directing respective schools to NIT final), Caleb Swanigan (25/14.4 ppg, 10.4 rpg and 2.4 apg in 2015-16 and 2016-17 under coach Matt Painter; NCAA consensus first-team All-American and Big Ten Conference Player of Year before becoming 26th pick overall in NBA draft as an undergraduate) and Jack Swantz (99/2.1 ppg in 1941-42 and 1942-43 under coach Piggy Lambert.
2021 - Larry Emrick (81/Purdue transfer played for Miami Ohio in 1962-63), Dr. Thomas Huber (85/played in mid-1950s) and Richard Mitchell (82/5.2 ppg and 2 rpg from 1958-59 through 1960-61).
2020 - Myrwin "Red" Anderson (98/8.7 ppg from 1942-43 through 1946-47; junior captain's career was interrupted by serving in U.S. Naval Aviator Corps during WWII), Bill Berberian (96/6.1 ppg from 1946-47 through 1948-49 after having career interrupted by serving in U.S. Army during WWII; team captain and MVP as junior), Darrel "Pete" Brewster (89/5.9 ppg from 1949-50 through 1951-52; two-time Pro Bowl receiver caught 210 passes for 3,758 yards and 21 touchdowns with Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers in nine seasons from 1952 through 1960, starting for the Browns in five NFL championship contests including back-to-back titlists), Paul Eubanks (88/played in 1950-51), Cornelius McNary (48/2.3 ppg and 1.7 rpg from 1990-91 through 1993-94 under coach Gene Keady; played for three NCAA Tournament teams), Carl McNulty (89/14.7 ppg from 1949-50 through 1951-52; two-time All-Big Ten Conference selection earned All-American acclaim as senior), Bob Motsinger (82/1.9 ppg from 1957-58 through 1959-60) and Jim Stone (89/1.5 ppg from 1950-51 through 1952-53).
2019 - Alex "Al" Bajusz (83/member of roster in 1956-57), Chuck Bavis (71/4.5 ppg and 3.7 rpg in 1967-68 and 1968-69 under coach King; seven-foot center's career with Boilermakers ended when losing part of his foot in automobile crash), Don Beck (86/10.9 ppg and 10.3 rpg from 1952-53 through 1954-55; team MVP as senior was captain each of his last two seasons when pacing Boilermakers in rebounding), Phil Dawkins Sr. (78/6.9 ppg and 2.3 rpg from 1961-62 through 1963-64) and Bob Kehrt (79/4.2 ppg in 1959-60).
2018 - Keith Berkey (72/6.8 ppg and 6.4 rpg as sophomore in 1965-66 under King before drafted into U.S. Army during Vietnam War), Don Bol (88/2.6 ppg in 1949-50 and 1950-51), Maurice Lorenz (84/5.9 ppg from 1953-54 through 1955-56) and Tom Pollom (87/played in 1950-51).
2017 - Theodore Dunn Sr. (84/8.5 ppg from 1952-53 through 1954-55), Jim Ertel (92/1.3 ppg in 1946-47 and 1947-48; college career interrupted by serving in U.S. Army Air Corps during WWII), Bob Fehrman (80/8.7 ppg and 6.8 rpg from 1956-57 through 1958-59; Boilermakers' runner-up in rebounding as senior captain), Marvin Rea (49/played in 1987-88 and 1988-89 under Keady) and Dave Rodenkirk (backup center in 1952-53 and 1953-54).
2016 - Charles "Steve" O'Neill (72/2.6 ppg and 3.1 rpg from 1963-64 through 1965-66), Eugene Parker (60/13 ppg, 2.8 rpg and 3.9 apg from 1974-75 through 1977-78 under coach Fred Schaus; All-Big Ten Conference second-team selection as sophomore), Fred "Ted" Server (83/4.2 ppg in 1951-52 and 1952-53) and Danny Thornburg (82/two-year starter averaged 9.3 ppg and 5.7 rpg from 1953-54 through 1955-56; team runner-up in scoring and rebounding as senior).
2015 - Wilson "Jake" Eison Jr. (78/14.7 ppg and 10.6 rpg from 1956-57 through 1958-59, leading Boilermakers in rebounding each of last two seasons; team MVP as junior before becoming All-Big Ten Conference second-team selection as senior was 28th pick overall in NBA draft), Leo Helmuth (79/walk-on in late 1950s), Dr. Robert "Joe" Jameson (72/2.2 ppg and 2.1 rpg from 1963-64 through 1965-66), Dwight "Bud" Marsee (86/played in 1947-48 before incurring spinal injury in automobile accident en route to NCAA golf championship at Stanford) and Ralph Weiger (90/played in 1945-46; football letterman as an end in 1946 went on to become Chairman/CEO/President of five different organizations including Midas International Corporation and Jiffy Lube).
2014 - Glenn Bahler (86/5.4 ppg from 1948-49 through 1950-51; senior captain) and John Dermody (7.3 ppg from 1950-51 through 1952-53).