College Basketball Forum

Jon Teitel's "Forgotten Legends": Lafayette's Tracy Tripucka

CHN Content — Tue, 22 May 2012 08:38:25 GMT

Recently CHN writer Jon Teitel spent some time with Lafayette great Tracy Tripucka, who is still the school's all-time leading scorer. Most basketball fans should be familiar with his younger brother Kelly, but Tracy was a three-time All-American who finished his collegiate career with 1,973 points. Jon Teitel: Your dad Frank was an All-American QB at Notre Dame and later threw the first TD pass in the history of the AFL. What was it like to grow up as the son of a pro athlete, and did you ever consider going into football?

Tracy Tripucka: It was fun. The AFL had just been founded and my brother Mark and I were old enough to be ballboys and stand on the sideline for the games. I remember that DT Ernie Ladd from San Diego made a tackle near us one time. I had never seen such a large human being in my life. He was scary, especially to a skinny 11-year old! I was a little too thin to play football and really disliked like the monotony of the practices. Basketball practices (probably more than most sports) resemble actual games, and that was more fun.

JT: In 1969 you scored 37 points (16-22 FG) in your varsity debut in a win at Moravian. How were you able to come in and contribute from the start?

TT: Lafayette had been sort of on cruise control for several years before I got there. There was no real recruiting program and the talent level was below that of the other schools in our league. Coach Hal Wissel got the job in 1967 and began to recruit in earnest. My class had at least seven players who were better than the players that were already in the program, even the seniors. After we played together in freshman ball we were ready as a unit to play as sophomores and started to turn around the program.

JT: In 1969 you scored a career-high 41 points vs. Syracuse, and in 1975 your brother Todd scored a career-high 42 points vs. St. Joseph's. Was it just one of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were "in the zone", and what was it like to see your brother beat you out by a single point?

TT: I do not know if shooters get in a "zone" as much as the opponent gives you openings and your teammates find you in the right spot and are willing to share the ball. My brother Todd and I competed not as much on total points but more on my team against his team. I am convinced to this day that we had a better team, even though the teams that he was on played very well.

JT: What are your memories of the 1972 NIT (you scored a game-high 25 points and Jay Mottola made a free throw with three seconds left in a one-point upset win over nationally-ranked Virginia)?

TT: It was really "David vs. Goliath" when we played Virginia in the NIT. They had won the ACC regular season title but lost in the ACC tournament so they ended up in the NIT. As I remember we were not intimidated by them, although we probably should have been because they had some great players! The real story of the game was Mottola, who outplayed All-ACC guard Barry Parkhill and hit the winning free throw. In the next round we gave Jacksonville a little bit of a run, but they were just too big for us.

JT: You are still the all-time leading scorer in school history despite playing only three years on the varsity and playing before the three-point line was instituted. Did you realize at the time how prolific a player you were, and how untouchable do you think your scoring record would be if you had another year and to play and an arc to shoot behind?

TT: As I said before great shooters/scorers need to have teammates who are willing to find them, and I had that. Another year would have been nice but I would not have been a very good three-point shooter because I did not have the range for that. I shot mostly short jumpers inside the top of the circle. You do not see this "middle" game that much anymore in basketball. Everything is either a drive to the hoop or a kick-out for a three.

JT: In the summer of 1972 you were drafted in the seventh round by the Knicks, but after not making the team you went to play in Switzerland. Were you thrilled to realize your dream of getting drafted or disappointed that you got cut, and what did you learn from your time overseas?

TT: I knew with my size and position that I would not be drafted high but it was nice to at least be drafted. I spent two summers trying out and got to meet and play with guys like Willis Reed, Walt Frazier, Bill Bradley, and all the other greats from the 1970 and 1973 championship teams. That is an experience that I will never forget. Switzerland was great but I only stayed for one year. Looking back on it I should have stayed longer.

JT: In 1978 you got to coach your brother TK for Fordham in a loss to your brother Kelly's Notre Dame team at MSG. What was it like to have such a family reunion, and what are your memories of that night?

TT: That night was great. A coach and two brothers on opposite teams: it was fun. We actually had them nervous (especially in the first half), but their size and talent took over in the second half. We still talk about that game within the family. There was a great shot on the back cover of the NY Post with all three of us on the court and my parents watching. A friend gave me the photo, and I still have it.

JT: Kelly led Notre Dame in scoring during each of his four years there, was a two-time NBA All-Star, and was later named New Jersey Boy's Basketball Player of the Century. When could you 1st tell that he was going to be the best player in the family, and how proud are you of all his success?

TT: Kelly was bigger and stronger and a better athlete than any of us at comparable ages. When I was in college he was still in grade school but he used to play with us all the time, usually when we need another guy to fill in. He got a heck of a basketball education beginning at a very young age. As he grew bigger and stronger his fundamentals and game experience that began in grade school helped him immensely in developing as a player. He did very well and our whole family was very proud of him. We had an enormous amount of fun watching him play at Notre Dame and in the pros.

JT: After retiring you worked as an assistant coach at several schools (including Navy, Fordham, and Utah). Which school did you like the most, and how what effect did being a great player have on your ability to be a great coach?

TT: I think I enjoyed my time at Navy the most. The head coach there was a man named Dave Smalley. He was wonderful to work with and we became great friends even after our coaching days. He passed away in 2007 and they named the court at Navy after him. I was never a great coach because I did not have the necessary passion. I had the passion to become as good a player as I possibly could, but somehow I could never summon up the same passion for the game as a coach. When I realized this I knew it was time to try something else, so I did.

JT: You currently work as a VP at Kearny Federal Savings Bank. How do you like the job, and what do you hope to do in the future?

TT: I enjoy commercial lending very much. We lend money to small businesses, but as you know it has become a very difficult and challenging business in this environment. In terms of the future, retirement is gaining ground very rapidly. I would someday like to have grandkids who are interested in all sports (and basketball in particular) so that I can watch them develop and enjoy the game as much as I do.

Tracy is also on Jon's list of best players in Patriot League history.

American: Russell Bowers (1981) 2056 PTS (#1), 54.5 FG% (#4)
Army: Kevin Houston (1987) 2325 PTS (#1), 379 AST (#3), 126 STL (#2), 86.9 FT% (#2), 47.7 3P% (#1), 2-time All-American, conference POY
Bucknell: Mike Bright (1993) 1670 PTS (#3), 206 3PM (#3), 120 BLK (#3), 286 STL (#1), conference POY
Colgate: Adonal Foyle (1997) 1776 PTS (#2), 1103 REB (#1), 492 BLK (#1), 54.7 FG% (#2), 2-time All-American, 2-time conference POY
Holy Cross: Ron K. Perry (1980) 2524 PTS (#1), 88.5 FT% (#2), 4-time All-American, conference POY
Lafayette: Tracy Tripucka (1972) 1973 PTS (#1), 83.4 FT% (#5), 3-time All-American
Lehigh: Daren Queenan (1988) 2703 PTS (#1), 1013 REB (#1), All-American, conference POY
Navy: David Robinson (1987) 2669 PTS (#1), 1314 REB (#1), 516 BLK (#1), 160 STL (#3), 61.2 FG% (#1), 2-time All-American, 3-time conference POY, national POY

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Jon Teitel's "Coaching Greats": Bucknell's Charlie Woollum

CHN Content — Tue, 22 May 2012 08:38:25 GMT

In the latest installment in his "Coaching Greats" series CHN writer Jon Teitel spent some time with former Bucknell and William & Mary head coach Charlie Woollum. Woollum won 318 games at Bucknell and led the Bison to two NCAA tournament appearances, winning seven regular season conference titles. Woollum is now a color commentator for both William & Mary (his alma mater) and CN8. Jon Teitel: In 1960 as a player at William & Mary you split the regular season series with West Virginia before losing to them in the Southern Conference tournament. What was it like to play against Jerry West, and could you tell at the time that he was going to become a Hall-of-Famer?

Charlie Woollum: I was a sophomore when West was a senior so I did not play a lot, but West had a special aura about him when he was on the floor. Before I knew him I asked someone which player was West, and the person said, "Just watch, you will find out pretty quick!" He was an unbelievable competitor.

JT: The following year your teammate Jeff Cohen had 31 rebounds and a school-record 49 points in a game vs. Richmond. Where does that rank among the best single-game performance you have ever seen?

CW: Jeff could make hook shots on the court from places where other people had to shoot jump shots. Our offense was designed to get him the ball: he is one of the best to ever play here.

JT: One of your players at Bucknell in the early 1980s was Jay Wright, who is now head coach at Villanova. How good a player was Jay back in the day, and what makes him such a great coach?

CW: Jay was a very good player who just knew the game. He was a crucial member of our team who played behind NBA draftee Jay Andrews. He averaged double digits off the bench for us as a senior. I did not know that he was going to become a coach but he gets along with people. Communication is important in the business.

JT: What are your memories of the 1987 NCAA tournament (Reggie Williams had 21 points and ten rebounds in the Georgetown victory)?

CW: The Hoyas were pretty good. We were not a big team at all (our power forward was only about 6-4) so they wore us down at the end. We had a pretty good run in the 1980s but kept falling short in the conference tournament. The town got behind us and the kids will always remember it.

JT: What are your memories of the 1989 NCAA tournament (Billy Owens had 27 points and 13 rebounds in the Syracuse victory)?

CW: They had a couple of first round picks on that team (Owens and Sherman Douglas) so they were pretty good. Our center Mike Butts had 22 points (10-14 FG), but they were just a better basketball team.

JT: You won six regular-season titles in a ten-year span from 1984-1993. How were you able to remain so consistent over such a long time period?

CW: Back then we only had need-based scholarships but were still able to average about 20 wins a year for over a decade. I was always fortunate to have good people playing for me. We had several kids who got drafted by the NBA. We always had good point guardss, which was a big factor because they were an extension of our coaching staff. We were also a good free throw shooting team.

JT: In 1994 you became coach at William & Mary. Why did you make the switch, and what did it mean to you to become coach at your alma mater?

CW: It was a good experience. I signed a five-year deal and stayed an extra year until I turned 60. Coaching is a tough racket but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I took over a team that had won only four games...and four years later we won 20 games. The CAA is a very competitive basketball league and is better than the credit it gets.

JT: In 1998 you won the only CAA regular season title in school history and earned CAA Coach of the Year honors. How big a deal was it to win the title, and what did it mean to you to win such an outstanding individual honor?

CW: I was hired by AD John Randolph (one of my former classmates). It was sad that he passed away before he had a chance to see us win the title. Our freshmen fit in very well with our upperclassmen. We were 13-3 in the league and people were very excited about it.

JT: You are the all-time winningest coach in Bucknell history. What made you such a great coach, and do you think that anyone will ever break your record?

CW: If you stay at a place long enough you will always have a chance to get a lot of wins. Good coaches have good players, but they also have to like each other and have the same purpose in mind. It means a lot to me because they were some of the greatest years of my life. I am still happy whenever Bucknell does well.

JT: You currently work as a radio analyst for the Tribe basketball team. How do you like the job?

CW: I also do some work for CN8 covering CAA games. I have enjoyed it because it allowed me to stay around the game that I love. I coached for 38 years and this is a nice way to step it down. I have gained a great deal of respect for all the play-by-play guys I have worked with. My wife and I have traveled a bit and I enjoy retirement very much.

Woollum is also on Jon's list of best coaches in Patriot League history.

American: Jeff Jones (2000-present) 201-163, 2 NCAA tourneys, 4 conference titles, 1-time conference COY
Army: Bobby Knight (1965-1971) 102-50
Bucknell: Charlie Woollum (1975-1994) 318-221, 2 NCAA tourneys, 7 conference titles, 1-time conference COY
Colgate: Bill Reid (1919-1928) 133-55
Holy Cross: George Blaney (1972-1994) 357-276, 3 NCAA tourneys, 2 conference titles, 1-time conference COY
Lafayette: Tom Davis (1971-1977) 116-44, 4 conference titles
Lehigh: Billy Taylor (2002-2007) 81-69, 1 NCAA tourney, 1 conference title, 2-time conference COY
Navy: Ben Carnevale (1946-1966) 257-160, 5 NCAA tourneys

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Jon Teitel's Forgotten Legends: Fairleigh Dickinson's Desi Wilson

CHN Content — Mon, 14 May 2012 18:40:27 GMT

Recently CHN writer Jon Teitel caught up with former Fairleigh Dickinson great Desi Wilson as part of his "Forgotten Legends" interview series. Wilson scored 1,902 points during his time at FDU and remains the school's all-time leading scorer. Wilson went on to play pro baseball in both the MLB and Japan before becoming a minor league hitting instructor.*

Jon Teitel: In 1990 you led the conference with 22.3 points and 9.1 rebounds per game and was named conference POY. What did it mean to you to win such an outstanding individual honor?

Desi Wilson: It was hard work. I did not get a scholarship until the summer of 1987 because I was not highly recruited out of high school. I told them that I would be the hardest-working player they had ever seen, so I tried to prove myself to them every year.

JT: You remain the all-time leading scorer in school history. Did you realize at the time how prolific a player you were, and do you think that anyone will ever break your record?

DW: At the time I did not even think about that. I was just focused on trying to get to the NCAA tourney. I think someone will eventually come along and break my record; they are meant to be broken.

JT: You were drafted by the Red Sox in 1987, the Astros in 1989 (the final player selected that year), and the Rangers in the 1991 amateur baseball draft. Why did teams keep drafting you after seeing that you refused to sign, and why did you eventually decide to join Texas?

DW: I was drafted by the Red Sox out of high school but was not yet ready mentally. I wanted to be the first person in my family to go to college. It was kind of tough to play both sports together so I did not sign with the Astros because I wanted to keep playing basketball. I have no regrets about signing with Texas.

JT: You are 6'7". What effect did your size have on your success both on the field and on the court?

DW: The key was my athletic ability. I was blessed to have the talent to play both sports. Baseball was my first love and I took less of a pounding on the field than I did in the paint! In college we had to work out several times a week, so as basketball players we were in the best shape. In basketball there is contact for four quarters so you take a beating.

JT: Danny Ainge is one of the few people to play both pro baseball and basketball. Do you think we will ever see someone excel in both sports on the pro level?

DW: Bo Jackson succeeded at both football and baseball. It is not easy but I think that someone will eventually be able to do both. Baseball is a year-round sport. You always have to get stronger and learn how to play your position. It takes a special person to play at the pro level so it might not happen in the near future.

JT: In 1996 you played 41 games with the San Francisco Giants. What is your favorite memory from your time in the majors, and what was it like to have Barry Bonds as a teammate?

DW: To see my family, friends and coaches at Shea Stadium when we played against the Mets and realize that I finally made it to the big leagues was fantastic. If you persevere then good things will happen to you. Barry was one of the premier players in the game but just made it look so easy. His numbers are what they are because he was a very intelligent player who studied the pitchers, and he was also an excellent base runner.

JT: In 1998 you played in Japan for the Hanshin Tigers. What is the biggest difference between American baseball and Japanese baseball?

DW: It is the same game but the offseason is very different. Over here you just work on getting stronger, while in Japan they practice after every game and have two full months of spring training. Japanese players tend to break down more because of the larger workload they go through. In the US we keep our pitchers on pitch counts, but that is not so in Japan.

JT: In 2005 you had a 30-game hitting streak, batted .411 to set a Golden Baseball League record, and earned league MVP honors. What is your secret to being a great hitter?

DW: Just believing in myself and being a student of the game. You have to be mentally tough no matter what league you are playing in. I was in good shape and was focused with a good approach, so the game slowed down for me and I knew how the pitchers were trying to pitch to me. My many years of work gave me confidence.

JT: After retiring as a player you became a minor league hitting coach. How do you like the job, and what do you hope to do in the future?

DW: I love my job. I get to help young players try to succeed and prepare them for playing the game. There are no shortcuts. You have to follow a routine even if you do not get a hit every day.

JT: When people look back on your career, how do you want to be remembered the most?

DW: I want to be remembered as a hard-working guy who made himself into the person I still am today. I want to get to the big leagues as a hitting coach but it will take hard work. I am currently helping out the Korean baseball team in Florida. There is no off-season for me yet!

Wilson is also on Jon's list of best fantasy players in NEC history.

Bryant: John Williams (2006) 1754 PTS (#4), 323 3PM (#1), conference POY
Central Connecticut State: Rich Leonard (1984) 1697 PTS (#4), 1001 REB (#5), 329 AST (#5), 256 STL (#2)
Fairleigh Dickinson: Desi Wilson (1991) 1902 PTS (#1), 780 REB (#5), 176 STL (#2), conference POY
Long Island: Robert Cole (1983) 1800 PTS (#2), 610 AST (#1), 274 STL (#1)
Monmouth: Ron Kornegay (1969) 2526 PTS (#1), 2-time All-American
Mount St. Mary's: Jack Sullivan (1957) 2672 PTS (#1), 1216 REB (#3)
Quinnipiac: Frank Vieira (1957) 2649 PTS (#1)
Robert Morris: Jeremy Chappell (2009) 1875 PTS (#3), 681 REB (#4), 266 STL (#4), 243 3PM (#1), conference POY
Sacred Heart: Darrin Robinson (1993) 2402 PTS (#2), 219 3PM (#2), 43.4 3P% (#2), 2-time All-American, conference POY
St. Francis (NY): Darrwin Purdie (1989) 1613 PTS (#1), 748 REB (#2)
Saint Francis (PA): Maurice Stokes (1955) 2282 PTS (#2), 1819 REB (#1), All-American, NIT MVP
Wagner: Terrance Bailey (1987) 2591 PTS (#1), All-American, conference POY

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Jon Teitel's Coaching Greats: Jacksonville State's Bill Jones

CHN Content — Mon, 14 May 2012 18:40:27 GMT

In the most recent installment in his "Coaching Greats" interview series CHN writer Jon Teitel spoke with former Jacksonville State head coach Bill Jones. In 24 seasons at the school Jones won 449 games and a Division II national title, and was good enough in slow-pitch softball as a pitcher to become a Hall of Famer in that sport as well. *

Jon Teitel: You played basketball at Marshall County High School for legendary coach Tom Richey. What made Richey such a great coach, and what was the most important thing you ever learned from him?

Bill Jones: His lessons lasted my entire career and continue today. He was a disciplinarian but taught us how important every single player on the team was (even the last guy on the bench). He showed us that you have to work hard to get what you want.

JT: You were an All-Conference basketball player at Jacksonville State, averaging around 18 points per game while helping to lead your school to two straight conference titles. How good a player were you back then, and what is the secret to being a good scorer?

BJ: I reflect back to the people who would ask Pete Maravich about his fancy moves on the court. Pete said that he threw 3,000 behind-the-back passes each day before trying one out in a game. I was the stereotypical gym rat who would shoot baskets outside until my parents made me come inside. Coach Richey also helped me with my shooting form. My parents' encouragement and my own aggressiveness also helped a lot.

JT: You set a school record by making 31 straight free throws. What is the secret to being a great free throw shooter?

BJ: It should not be that hard. It is the only time during the game when someone does not have a hand in your face. The key is to relax and have a system in place to block out everything around you (be it three dribbles, a deep breath, etc.). I have a multi-step system: toe placement, ball elevation, etc. Positive reinforcement also helps. Success is built around repetition.

JT: After college you signed a contract to play baseball for the Pirates but only spent one year with the organization before retiring. Which sport did you enjoy more, and which sport were you better at?

BJ: Growing up I enjoyed baseball more due to the weather, the nuances of coaching signals, positioning myself on the mound, etc. I had several games where I played a different position in every inning, which taught me about everyone's different roles on the field. I still love baseball today, and follow the Braves and Cubs religiously. I fell into the basketball coaching ranks by accident but I love it as well.

JT: You had a 28-17 record in two years as head coach at North Alabama before being replaced by Bill L. Jones in 1974. Why did you take the job at Jacksonville State, and was it weird to be replaced by a guy who was also named Bill Jones?!

BJ: I accused the president of replacing me with Coach Jones solely in order to keep the stationery the same! It was hard to leave but I left the new coach with a pretty good team. Since I had played at Jacksonville State it was an easy decision to make, and the school president was very inspiring.

JT: You overcame a five-point deficit with two minutes left to get a one-point win over South Dakota State to win the Division II national title in 1985. How were you able to come from behind, and what did it mean to you to win the title?

BJ: It was an enjoyable, productive season. We had to come from behind several times that year because our league featured a lot of good teams. Our players just believed that we could come back. We were playing a triangle-and-2 defense, and Pat Williams came off the bench to play some great defense.

JT: After losing your season opener to Belmont Abbey by one that year you proceeded to win 31 straight games en route to being named national Coach of the Year. What did you tell your team after the loss, and what did it mean to you to win such an outstanding individual honor?

BJ: I was in the pits after the loss but we had good chemistry. I was not an easy guy to play for. I made about five of our cheerleaders cry just for making noise during one of our practices! I was talking to another coach after the loss who helped teach me about playing a delay-type of game, and he told me that he thought we were going to win the title.

I learned early on not to take anything for granted so I worked my fanny off to make sure we were prepared for every game. I had several rules (be on time, curfew, study hall for some players, etc.), but we went that entire year without having any distractions. It was a combination of athletic players who threw themselves into the fire.

JT: In 1993 you were inducted into the American Softball Association Hall of Fame. How did you get into softball, and where does that rank among your career highlights?

BJ: I love softball but it was strange how I got into it. My friend Vandy Cobb invited me several times to play on his slow-pitch team and I finally relented because he was going to forfeit a tourney game without me. The first pitch I saw looked like a watermelon...and I popped it straight up into the air! I continued to play for the next 25 years and made five times more friends than I did in basketball.

I was inducted as a pitcher because I could put a lot of arc on the ball. In 1977 we finished third in the world. We played one game that lasted over three hours, but the people in charge wanted us to finish our games in 55 minutes.

JT: In 1998 you retired as the all-time winningest coach in school history. What made you such a great coach, and do you think anyone will ever break your record?

BJ: I am sure that someone will break my record. I broke the record that was set by my own coach, who was great himself. We obviously had some really good players so recruiting was a big element, but nobody outworked us. I would talk to the bus drivers and janitors; they were the people who knew everything and give me an honest answer. I tried to recruit hungry players who would listen to me and fit into our system. If I had anything, it was the ability to lead people and get a feel for how they would fit in with my philosophy and spirit of competition.

JT: When people look back on your career, how do you want to be remembered the most?

BJ: I would love for people to appreciate our fast-paced game. We were tenacious on defense even when we were scoring 100+ PPG. I hope people remember the excitement of a slam-packed gym with hundreds of people standing outside who could not get inside. We had great fans, ball girls, and a totally exhilarating experience: we played hard and wanted to win.

Jones is also on Jon's list of best coaches in OVC history.

Austin Peay: Dave Loos (1990-present) 363-310, 3 NCAA tourneys, 5 conference titles, 5-time conference COY
Eastern Illinois: Rick Samuels (1981-2005) 344-349, 2 NCAA tourneys
Eastern Kentucky: Paul McBrayer (1946-1962) 219-144, 2 NCAA tourneys, 3 conference titles
Jacksonville State: Bill Jones (1974-1998) 449-210, 1 D-2 national title, 3-time conference COY, 1-time national COY
Morehead State: Bobby Laughlin (1953-1965) 166-119, 3 NCAA tourneys, 4 conference titles
Murray State: Steve Newton (1985-1991) 116-65, 3 NCAA tourneys, 4 conference titles, 2-time conference COY
SIU-Edwardsville: Larry Graham (1984-1992) 147-84
SE Missouri State: Ron Shumate (1981-1997) 306-171, 7 conference titles, 2-time national COY
Tennessee State: John McLendon (1954-1959) 149-20, 5 conference titles, 3 NAIA titles
Tennessee Tech: John Oldham (1955-1964) 118-83, 2 NCAA tourneys, 3 conference titles, 1-time conference COY
Tennessee-Martin: Bret Campbell (1999-2009) 125-168, 1 conference title, 1-time conference COY

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Jon Teitel's Forgotten Legends: Colorado State's Pat Durham

CHN Content — Sat, 05 May 2012 04:23:24 GMT

In the latest installment in his "Forgotten Legends" interview series, CHN writer Jon Teitel spent some time with Colorado State great Pat Durham. By the time Durham left Fort Collins he was the program's all-time leader in both points and rebounds, marks he still holds to this day.*

Jon Teitel: Colorado State head coach Boyd Grant liked to wear a fedora. What was he like to play for, and how did you like his ensemble?

Pat Durham: He usually wore slacks with the fedora but he was a very Bear Bryant-looking character, so it was both intimidating and funny at times.

JT: What are your memories of the 1988 NIT (CSU reached the semifinals before a two-point loss to Ohio State, then had a one win over Boston College in the third place game)?

PD: It was an incredible time for me and the university. The school had been absent from any postseason tournament for 20 years, so the excitement around the campus was just crazy. To this day I am still a little disappointed about the final results because we lost to Ohio State on a bad call in the final moments.

I felt that we should have won it all and I really wanted a piece of Connecticut and Cliff Robinson. As a competitor, you want to go head-to-head with other guys that are supposed to be better (according to the media or whatever). It is how you prove your talents.

JT: As a senior you served as national spokesman for the NCAA. How did you enjoy the gig?

PD: It was a great honor and great to have that kind of exposure on a national level, both for me and the university.

1989 NCAA tournament

JT: You scored 16 points in a win over Florida. What was the reaction like back on campus, and how far did you think your team could go?

PD: We felt as a team that we were robbed of an opportunity the year before because of Eric Leckner (who made a 19-foot fadeaway jumper at the buzzer to give Wyoming a two-point win in the WAC tournament semifinals). As a unit we felt that the NCAA tournament was the place where we belonged, and after being chosen for the tournament we also felt that we were one of the most underrated teams in the tournament so we definitely had a chip on our shoulders. We had a group of guys that just had no fear of any team. We were good defensively and believed that gave us an opportunity whenever we took the floor.

Getting SEC champion Florida was just what we needed to prove to the country that CSU was a legitimate team that could play and beat anyone, and we went about proving that in the first round. We had great fans that traveled to Dallas to watch us. Their support was just amazing.

It was also pretty cool for me to be back home playing in the tournament because my family and friends had a chance to watch the skinny kid they had seen before who some would say could not walk and chew bubble gum at the same time! When it came to basketball and leading a major university to the tournament with a national ranking, it was just awesome. The experience of playing on that level definitely fueled my confidence.

JT: In the second round you lost to Syracuse after Derrick Coleman returned from a back injury to score 12 points. Could you tell at the time that Coleman was going to become a star, and what was the feeling like in your locker room afterwards?

PD: Syracuse was a different story because at the end of the day they just had overwhelming talent. We really believed as a team that we could go as far as the Final Four, and I still feel that if we would not have gotten a team as loaded with talent as Syracuse that we would have stood a better chance of advancing.

DC was an incredible player. It did not take a rocket scientist to figure out that he would be great! That entire team was immensely talented but you could tell that DC was cut from different stock. You are ALWAYS disappointed when you lose, but I think that every one of our players could look each other in the eye and know that we had given our best and that our best was just not as good as theirs.

We understood that we had just gone to battle with a superior team. My dad once told me, "Son, it is okay to be proud, but in your pride do not be stupid!" You always want to think of you and your teammates as being the best, but I do not think you can at times ignore reality.

As far as the feeling in the locker room, there was still a feeling of great accomplishment for that team. On a fishing trip with Boyd a few summers ago in Utah, he brought to my attention that our 1988 team won more games than any other team in school history. Boyd does not forget anything, but when you reflect on those things you realize that you accomplished some good things.

JT: You were a three-time first team All-WAC performer (Colorado State was a member of the WAC at the time). How were you able to dominate throughout your college career?

PD: I have no idea. You look at the WAC and it is fair to say that the conference produced some great talent at that time. For me to compete in that era was great because it brought out the best in me. I believe that the traits I had as a player in terms of my work ethic and competitive drive definitely helped my cause. I was a guy that always wanted to win. It did not matter whether it was basketball or checkers: I just loved to compete and win.

A secret about me that not many people know or understand is that I never loved basketball. I am not a fan and did not even start playing basketball until I was about 15 years old, so I was a very late bloomer (so to speak). It was never the love of my life, but I found out that I could be good at it and what I loved more than anything was competition. Basketball gave me the chance to compete day in and day out.

I wish I had loved the game more but in some ways it gave me the ability to look at the game more objectively. I think because of that I never cared about statistics, and I think most guys who played with me would tell you that I played the game the right way.

JT: You are still the all-time leading scorer and rebounder in school history. Did you realize at the time how prolific a player you were?

PD: The great thing about that is that at the time I really did not understand what it all meant. It is only now that I begin to realize that leaving that kind of legacy is something I can be proud of; it is a great accomplishment. My kids are getting to the age where they are interested in basketball, and to be able to look in the books and have your name mentioned with some of the greats in school history is very humbling.

JT: In the summer of 1989 you were drafted in the second round by Dallas (one spot ahead of Cliff Robinson). Were you thrilled to realize your dream of making it to the NBA or disappointed that you did not get selected earlier?

PD: Both I guess. I felt like I could have gone higher in the draft, but just to be selected given my pedigree at that time was special. Neither CSU nor the WAC were a hotbed for NBA talent, so in some respects I felt like I had to be a little better than guys who were at more high-profile schools.

JT: You averaged five points per game during your two-year NBA career. How satisfied are you with your career, and how do you want people to remember you the most?

PD: I am not satisfied because I felt that if I could have had more time then my talent would have been able to shine through a little more. However, I had some wonderful opportunities in the NBA and it was a great experience. My career was definitely hampered by the lockout. I chose to go back to Europe instead of waiting around for the lockout to end, and I think it definitely hurt the amount of time that I probably could have played.

JT: You played professionally in Europe from 1996-2007. What did you learn from this experience, and how did it compare to the NBA?

PD: It was a wonderful experience because it allowed me to open my mind. I think that I became more of a well-adjusted person for that experience, and I also met my wife in France! Today we have four boys together who I hope will have the desire to become players one day. Playing in Europe made me well-rounded because much more is asked of you and the teams put a lot of pressure on the foreign players; plus it is much more of a team game.

Now you see European players coming here and the NBA having a better appreciation for the skill set of the Euro players, so you are kind of seeing the evolution of the game in terms of that style of play becoming more accepted by the NBA. In Europe we went into games knowing that getting a win did not require a 100% effort each and every night. In the NBA the talent level is there night in and night out, so you have a different mental preparation.

JT: You are co-founder of Archiva Sports. What kind of work does the company do, and what has your company accomplished so far?

PD: Archiva is a unique company in that we were the first company to work with professional agents and move their video to what is now known as "the cloud", and from there give them the ability to move content anywhere in the world within minutes. When we started this was all a very new concept and we had to twist some arms just to get them to try it. Now it is much more prevalent but at the time we were the trendsetters in the industry.

We have extended our market into high schools and are currently working on making Archiva the largest database of HS video available. We allow schools, agents, and players, to put their video into a cloud environment and give third-party users access to that content via email.

Durham is also on Jon's list of best players in Mountain West history:

Air Force: Raymond Dudley (1990) 2178 PTS (#1), 148 STL (#3), 285 3PM (#1), 39.6 3PM (#5), 2-time All-American
Boise State: Chris Childs (1989) 1602 PTS (#5), 392 AST (#3), 215 STL (#1), 42.2 3P% (#4), 81.8 FT% (#1), conference POY
Colorado State: Pat Durham (1989) 1980 PTS (#1), 851 REB (#1), 109 STL (#5), 171 BLK (#3)
New Mexico: Kenny Thomas (1999) 1931 PTS (#2), 1032 REB (#1), 239 BLK (#2), All-American
San Diego State: Michael Cage (1984) 1846 PTS (#2), 1317 REB (#1), 54.8 FG% (#5), 118 BLK (#2), 2-time All-American, 2-time conference POY
TCU: Corey Santee (2005) 1832 PTS (#2), 575 AST (#1), 155 STL (#2), 243 3PM (#1)
UNLV: Stacey Augmon (1991) 2011 PTS (#3), 1005 REB (#3), 275 STL (#1), 41.9 3P% (#3), All-American, conference POY, 3-time defensive POY
Wyoming: Fennis Dembo (1988) 2311 PTS (#1), 954 REB (#3), 410 AST (#4), 176 STL (#2), 143 3PM (#5), All-American, conference POY

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Jon Teitel's Coaching Greats: CCSU's Bill Detrick

CHN Content — Sat, 05 May 2012 04:23:24 GMT

In the most recent installment in his "Coaching Greats" series, CHN writer Jon Teitel caught up with former Central Connecticut State head coach Bill Detrick. During his time in New Britain Detrick, whose name now adorns the Blue Devils' home arena, won 468 games and helped the program transition to Division I.

Jon Teitel: You went to college at Central Connecticut State, where you played football, basketball and baseball. Which sport were you best at, and which one did you enjoy the most?

Bill Detrick: I was definitely best at football, but I loved baseball and played in the minors after graduation for about $95/month. I was captain of the basketball team but it was not my best sport.

JT: After your playing career you became a coach at CCSU. What made you get into coaching?

BD: Basketball was the best sport to coach because you were really able to teach the game and it is where the action is. You have to use every skill you can think of, whereas some football players can just be stronger than anyone else. I wanted to coach since third grade because if you wanted to play on the playground it was better to be the guy picking the teams!

My PE teachers and coaches were kind of my idols, as I was not a good student. John Chaney at Cheyney State was the best guy I ever coached against. He forced me to change some of the things I did.

JT: What are your memories of the 1966 Division II tournament (CCSU won three games before losing to eventual champ Kentucky Wesleyan)?

BD: We were just a state teachers college in NAIA so a lot of the Division II schools shunned us. It was a big deal for us. The governor even showed up to watch us play. I always wanted us to go to Division I but I was not in any position of power to do so, whereas Kentucky Wesleyan was the opposite and just continued to dominate at the Division II level. When I was coaching my guys were as good as those at Connecticut because we took a lot of guys who were not able to get in there.

JT: One of your former players was Howie Dickenman (the first player in school history with 1000 career points and rebounds), who later became the only coach to lead the Blue Devils to the Division I tournament. What made Dickenman such a great player, and did you ever think he would become such a good coach?

BD: Howie was a man's man. His father was also a great coach so I assume he just followed in his footsteps. He was a great leader and could jump very high. Howie and I are still close and we talk a lot. I always ask him how he could play for me and turn out to be such a defensive genius! I just marveled at how Howie beat up UMass a couple of seasons ago. He learned a lot from Coach Jim Calhoun.

JT: After stepping down in 1988 you took one year off before spending a year as coach at the Coast Guard Academy. How did you enjoy the year off, and why did you decide to get back on the sideline?

BD: I did not get the AD job so my choice was to go back to coaching or retire, and I decided to retire with most of my pension. I decided to go back because I had some new ideas that I wanted to try out. We were 11-11 going into our last game and we lost by one point to finish with a losing record, which was very disappointing. I had a player make 59 straight free throws, which set a national record.

I called a timeout after he made the record-setting free throw so that the crowd would give him a big ovation, and he came over to the sideline and said, "Who the hell called that timeout!?" I realized that I had a lot of perks at Central Connecticut State because the players at the Coast Guard were treated just like all the other students!

JT: You spent the past two decades as golf coach at Trinity (CT) College. How did you switch from coaching basketball to coaching golf, and which sport do you enjoy coaching more?

BD: I have such a dilemma coaching golf, as the players all have their own swing coaches. I just help them to grow up and improve their academics. If I had known 20 years ago that I was going to still be doing this, I would have spent a lot more time being a coach rather than being a teacher. The academic culture at Trinity left me shell-shocked. Some of the players will get a 3% deduction in their grade if they skip a class to play in a golf match!

JT: Your wife Barbara was a teacher, and each of your three kids ended up going into public education. How important is education to you, and how do you get your players to balance academics with athletics?

BD: When I went to Trinity I thought that we could not win...and I was right. However, we have been able to get a lot of Academic All-Americans who have gone on to get great jobs after graduation. Athletics came first for me, but if my players tell me that they need to study then I let them study. A good teacher is hard to find. I taught at Central for 35 years and only had a few students who failed to graduate.

JT: You are the winningest coach in school history. What made you such a great coach?

BD: You have to have great players: that is the main thing. I am coaching in my sixth straight decade and it has changed a lot. My golfers asked me how they would do if they played basketball for me, and I told them that they would sit on the bench! When I tell them to change their grip and they tell me their grip is just fine...oh no. I have two rules: you have to be able to relate to people and then you have to know what you are talking about. You have to continually readjust things to make sure it still works.

JT: The gym at Central Connecticut State now bears your name. What did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor?

BD: Some people give a school $1,000,000 to get their name on a building. I gave them a $1,000,000 in sweat and hard work. I never missed a game or practice. I saw a lot of coaches holding onto their job too long and I did not want to get into that situation. When my grandkids go to a game and see the family name up there they really get a kick out of it. It means more and more every year.

JT: When people look back on your career, how do you want to be remembered the most?

BD: I wish I knew the answer to that. A lot of people have called me a fierce competitor, so I like to think that I competed pretty well. I tried to provide an environment for my players to do well and use some psychological techniques to get them prepared. If a kid had the drive and desire then he could play for me.

Detrick is also on Jon's list of best coaches in NEC history:

Bryant: Max Good (2001-2008) 132-86
Central Connecticut State Bill Detrick (1959-1988) 468-266
Fairleigh Dickinson Tom Green (1983-2009) 407-351, 4 NCAA tourneys, 4 conference titles, 2-time conference COY
LIU Brooklyn: Clair Bee (1931-1943, 1945-1951) 360-80-2, 2 NIT titles, 1 Helms title
Monmouth: Bill Boylan (1956-1977) 367-157
Mount St. Mary's: Jim Phelan (1954-2003) 830-524, 2 NCAA tourneys, 1 conference title, 16 D-2 tourneys, 1 D-2 title, 2-time national COY, 2-time conference COY
Quinnipiac: Burt Kahn (1960-1991) 459-358
Robert Morris: Jarrett Durham (1984-1996) 157-183, 3 NCAA tourneys, 3 conference titles, 2-time conference COY
Sacred Heart: Dave Bike (1978-present) 519-480, 1 D-2 title, 1-time D-2 national COY
St. Francis (NY): Daniel Lynch (1948-1969) 283-237, 2 conference titles
Saint Francis (PA): Skip Hughes (1945-1966) 293-206-1
Wagner: Tim Capstraw (1989-1999) 117-164, 1-time conference COY

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College Basketball Coaching Changes: 2012

CHN Content — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 17:59:23 GMT

As usual, the 2012 college basketball off-season features a never-ending parade of coaching changes. Some moves make sense, others are questionable, while others are simply head-scratchers. Thanks tocollegesportsinfo.com, where a lot of this info was gleaned from. Also, apologies if all the colors give you a headache!

College Basketball Coaching Changes 2012: Power Conferences

Illinois

In - Jim Groce (ohio hc)

Out - Bruce Weber (fired >> kansas st))

Kansas St

In - Bruce Weber (illinois hc)

Out - Frank Martin (resigned >> so carolina)

LSU

In - Johnny Jones (north texas hc)

Out - Trent Johnson (resigned)

Mississippi St

In - Rick Ray (clemson asst)

Out - Rick Stansbury (retired)

Nebraska

In - Tim Miles (colorado st hc)

Out - Doc Sadler (fired)

South Carolina

In - Frank Martin (kansas st hc)

Out - Darrin Horn (fired)

Virginia Teach

In

Out - Seth Greenberg (fired)

College Basketball Coaching Changes 2012: High-Majors

Air Force

In - Dave Philopovich (asst)

Out - Jeff Reynolds (fired)

Colorado St

In - Larry Eustachy (so miss hc)

Out - Tim Miles (resigned >> nebraska)

Duquesne

In - Jim Ferry (liu hc)

Out - Ron Everhart (fired)

Rhode Island

In - Danny Hurley (wagner hc)

Out - Jim Baron (fired >> canisius)

Southern Illinois

In - Barry Hinson (kansas asst)

Out - Chris Lowery (fired)

SMU

In - Larry Brown

Out - Matt Doherty (fired)

Southern Miss

In

Out - Larry Eustachy (resigned)

TCU

In - Trent Johnson (lsu hc)

Out - Jim Christian (resigned)

Tulsa

In - Danny Manning (kansas asst)

Out - Doug Wojcik (fired >> charleston)

UAB

In - Jerrod Hasse (unc asst)

Out - Mike Davis (fired)

College Basketball Coaching Changes 2012: Mid-Majors

Central Michigan

In - Keno Davis

Out - Ernie Ziegler (fired)

Charleston

In - Doug Wojcik (tulsa hc)

Out - Bobby Cremins (retired)

FIU

In - Richard Pitino (louisville asst)

Out - Isiah Thomas (fired)

Miami (OH)

In - John Cooper (tennessee st hc)

Out - Charlie Coles (retired)

North Texas

In - Tony Benford (marquette asst)

Out - Johnny Jones (resigned >> lsu)

Ohio

In - Jim Christian (tcu hc)

Out - John Groce (resigned >> illinois)

Western Kentucky

In - Ray Harper (asst)

Out - Ken McDonald (fired)

College Basketball Coaching Changes 2012: Low-Majors

Brown

In

Out - Jessie Angel (fired)

Canisius

In - Jim Baron (rhode island hc)

Out - Tom Parrotta (fired)

Eastern Illinois

In - Jay Spoonhour

Out - Mike Miller (fired)

Grambling

In

Out - Bobby Washington (fired)

Idaho St

In - Bill Evans (montana asst)

Out - Joe O'Brien (resigned)

LIU

In - Jack Perri (asst)

Out - Jim Perry (reisgned)

Mt St. Mary's

In - Jamion Christian (vcu asst)

Out - Robert Burke (reisgned)

NC A&T

In - Cy Alexander

Out - Jerry Evans (fired(

Northern Arizona

In - Jack Murphy (memphis asst)

Out - Mike Adras (resigned)

Samford

In - Bennie Seltzer

Out - Jimmy Tillette (fired)

Southern Utah

In - Nick Robinson (lsu asst)

Out - Roger Reid (retired)

SFPA

In - Rob Krimmel

Out - Don Friday (fired)

Tennessee St

In - Travis Williams (asst)

Out - John Cooper (resigned >> Miami OH)

UNCG

In - Wes Miller (asst)

Out - Mike Dement (fired)

Wagner

In - Bashir Mason (asst)

Out - Danny Hurley (resigned >> rhode island)

Winthrop

In - Pat Kelsey

Out - Randy Peele (fired)

Please emailshawn@collegehoops.net if we're missing any transactions

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Jon Teitel's Forgotten Legends: Evansville's Larry Humes

CHN Content — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 01:40:56 GMT

In the latest installment in his "Forgotten Legends" interview series CHN writer Jon Teitel caught up with Larry Humes, the all-time leading scorer in Evansville history. Playing alongside Jerry Sloan, Humes was also a two-time All-America selection.*

Jon Teitel: You only lost one regular season game during your four years at Madison HS under Coach Bud Ritter (who called you "the best all-around player I ever coached"), where the team had only recently become fully integrated. Do you remember the one loss, and did you feel like you were a racial pioneer?*

Larry Humes: The one loss was during my freshman year. We lost by five points.* At the time I did not see myself as a "racial pioneer", but looking back on it now I guess I was.* I was just fortunate to have Bud as a coach because he treated everyone the same.*

JT: In 1962 you were named Indiana's Mr. Basketball and MVP of the Indiana-Kentucky All-Star game. How big a deal was the All-Star game back in the day, and why did you decide to go to Evansville?*

LH: The all-star game was big back then, and being named Mr. Basketball was a dream come true.* We played one game in Indiana and one in Kentucky, and I was named MVP of one of the games.* I had several offers from schools like UCLA and Purdue, but Coach Ritter (who was from Evansville) told me that Evansville was the best place for me due to several factors: a good brand of basketball, a new stadium, etc.* We had a very hard non-conference Division I schedule (LSU, Notre Dame, etc.), so once we got to our conference schedule it was easy.* I have no regrets about my college choice.

JT: At Evansville you played for legendary coach Arad McCutchan, who still holds the Division II record for most national titles with five. What made him such a great coach, and what was the most important thing he ever taught you?*

LH: Coach McCutchan was way ahead of his time. He was fundamentally sound and a great teacher.* We were like one big happy family.* He was a fanatic when it came to conditioning and we felt like we could play two games a night if we had to.* I learned a whole lot from him both on and off the court, just as I did with Coach Ritter.*

JT: One of your teammates was future Hall of Famer Jerry Sloan, who was a two-time Division I tournament MOP. What made Sloan such a great player, and did you get the sense back then that he wanted to go into coaching?*

LH: Jerry is just a country boy from Illinois who was a hard worker and a good defender.* He deserves everything that he received and has turned out to be a great coach.* Even though he is a millionaire he never forgot where he came from.* We became good friends and have remained in contact.* I saw him speak at a banquet a couple of years ago.* Someone asked him who was the best player he ever played against and he pointed at me and said, "Well that is easy. He is sitting right here in the audience."

JT: In 1965 your team went 29-0, capped off by a three-point overtime win over Walt Frazier's SIU team en route to your second straight national championship. How was your team able to stay focused every night throughout the season, and did you think that Frazier was going to ruin your perfect season?*

LH: Walt was only the third-best player on his own team, which most people do not realize.* We played them three times that year and won all three by a total of only five points.* We knew them and they knew us and we both respected each other.*

JT: You were a two-time All-American. What did it mean to you to win such outstanding individual honors?*

LH: You cherish every honor you get, but you cannot do it without good teammates and a good coach.* When you are young you do not cherish the awards as much as when you get older.*

JT: You remain the all-time leading scorer in school history. Did you realize at the time how prolific a player you were, and do you think anyone will ever break your record?*

LH: At the time I did not. I just tried to play to the best of my ability and played hard in every game.* It is a great honor, especially because it was before the three-point line.* Someone will probably break it someday (I own a couple of other records as well), but records are made to be broken.*

JT: In the summer of 1968 you were drafted by Cincinnati but did not make the team. Were you thrilled to have been drafted or disappointed to not make the roster?*

LH: I actually got drafted by Chicago in 1966.* They only had about 10 teams in the league at the time but if there were more teams then I think I would have made it.* I was an offensive forward/defensive guard, while Jerry was an offensive guard/defensive forward.* I had a chance to go to Europe but turned it down because I did not know what country I would end up in.* I also turned down an offer from the Harlem Globetrotters because I always took basketball seriously.* I guess I was a bit disappointed, but I can live with it.*

JT: Five of your brothers followed in your footsteps by playing basketball at Madison High, and some of them went on to play in college. Was it a coincidence that you had such an athletic family, or do you credit at least some of your success to genetics?*

LH: I think it is a little of both.* I was the first Black player to play on a regular basis at Madison and I kind of opened up the door for my other brothers to play.* Howard ended up playing at Indiana State, Willie went to Idaho State, and another brother went to IUPUI.* In a small town back then there was not much else to do besides sports: we saw it as a way out of our situation.*

JT: You were an assistant at your alma mater until 1977, but shortly after you accepted another job the Evansville team and coaching staff was killed in a plane crash. What was your reaction when you heard about the crash, and how did it feel to know that you would have been on that flight had you stayed at your old job?*

LH: I knew most of the boys on the team because I was there for the summer and I knew all the coaches as well.* I got a call at 3AM the night it happened and I was just in shock. Even today I still cannot believe it.* I very possibly could have been on that plane, but I left Evansville because I had an offer to become a high school head coach.* There were so many great people on that plane who were killed.* I heard from someone that it was supposed to be Notre Dame's plane but that Evansville took it because they had to play sooner than Notre Dame had to.*
*
Humes is also on Jon's list of best fantasy players in MVC history.

Bradley: Hersey Hawkins (1988) 3008 PTS (#1), 259 STL (#1), 53.9 FG% (#5), 80.6 FT% (#5), 2-time All-American, 2-time conference POY, national POY
Creighton: Kyle Korver (2003) 1801 PTS (#5), 172 STL (#4), 371 3PM (#1), 89.1 FT% (#1), 45.3 3P% (#1), 2-time All-American, 2-time conference POY
Drake: Josh Young (2010) 1789 PTS (#1), 248 3PM (#1)
Evansville: Larry Humes (1966) 2236 PTS (#1), 2-time All-American, conference POY
Illinois State: Doug Collins (1973) 2240 PTS (#1), 3-time All-American
Indiana State: Larry Bird (1979) 2850 PTS (#1), 1247 REB (#1), 240 STL (#1), 53.3 FG%, 82.2 FT%, 3-time All-American, 2-time conference POY, national POY
Missouri State: Curtis Perry (1970) 1835 PTS (#2), 1424 REB (#1), 2-time All-American, conference POY
Northern Iowa: Ben Jacobson (2006) 1787 PTS (#3), 154 STL (#4), 203 3PM (#1)
Southern Illinois: Darren Brooks (2005) 1761 PTS (#5), 410 AST (#3), 258 STL (#1), 2-time All-American, 2-time conference POY
Wichita State: Xavier McDaniel (1985) 2152 PTS (#2), 1359 REB (#1), 103 BLK, 114 STL, 56.4 FG%, All-American, 2-time conference POY

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Jon Teitel's Coaching Greats: Lamar, Oklahoma and TCU's Billy Tubbs

CHN Content — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 01:40:56 GMT

In the most recent installment in his "Coaching Greats" interview series CHN's Jon Teitel caught up with Billy Tubbs, who led three different schools to the NCAA tournament during his career. At TCU Tubbs won 156 games, leading the Horned Frogs to their last NCAA appearance (1998) during his time in Fort Worth. Also to his credit are multiple tournament appearances at both Lamar and Oklahoma, losing to Kansas in the 1988 national title game when at OU.*

Jon Teitel: You were an All-American guard at Lon Morris JC, where you helped the Bearcats to the NJCAA semifinals. How good a player were you back then?*

Billy Tubbs: I was an okay player who played on some good teams. I also played at Lamar where I was an average player at best.*

1979 NCAA tournament (head coach at Lamar)

JT: Clarence Kea had 33 points and a tournament school-record 19 rebounds in 33 minutes in an eight-point upset of Detroit. What made Kea so unstoppable?*

BT: He was a real tough kid who played hard.* He was an undersized post man but was physically and mentally strong.*

JT: Magic Johnson had a triple-double (13 points, 17 rebounds and ten assists) in a win by eventual champion Michigan State. Could you tell at the time that Magic was going to become a star?*

BT: Magic was an All-American that year and it was quite obvious that he was a special player.*

1980 NCAA tournament

JT: Mike Olliver had a tournament school-record 37 points in a one-point win over Weber State on its home court. How much of a home-court advantage did the Wildcats have, and how were you able to hang on for the win?*

BT: Anytime you are playing a ranked team on their home floor it is a big advantage for them, but our guys accepted the challenge.* We had a big lead and barely hung on to win the game, which helped us in the next game.*

JT: Cestrakiah Lewis had 11 points and 11 rebounds in a four-point win over Oregon State, which is still the highest-ranked Division I team ever beaten by Lamar. Where does that win rank among the best in your career?*

BT: That has to be one of the highlights, without question.*

JT: In 1983 after becoming coach at Oklahoma you spent two weeks in intensive care after being hit by a car. How close did you come to dying, and what impact did that incident have on your life (if any)?*

BT: I had a severe concussion and some pelvic injuries so I missed the last several games of the season.* Many people thought that I would never coach again, but I was able to prove that I could make it back to the sideline.*

JT: What are your memories of the 1984 NCAA tournament (Roosevelt Chapman scored 41 points in 40 minutes in a four-point Dayton upset victory)?*

BT: We played pretty well but just could not stop Chapman.* We had a first-round bye which is something I never wanted because they often led to upsets.*

1985 NCAA tournament (at Oklahoma)

JT: Karl Malone had 20 points and 16 rebounds, but Wayman Tisdale made a turn-around eight-foot shot that bounced several times on the rim before going in with three seconds left in a two-point win over Louisiana Tech. Did you think that Tisdale's shot was going in, and was it extra-special to beat Coach Andy Russo after he said you reneged on a contract to play the first-ever game in Louisiana Tech's new arena three years before?*

BT: Russo and I had played against each other back in college but the special thing was just to win the game.* The fact that the shot rolled around the rim for a couple of seconds really helped us because Louisiana Tech did not have a chance to come down the court and respond.*

JT: Keith Lee had 23 points and 11 rebounds in a two-point Memphis victory. How close did you come to winning that game?*

BT: It could have gone either way at the end but Memphis made plays and we did not.*

1987 NCAA tournament

JT: Tim McCalister had 28 points in a three-point win over Pittsburgh after Demetreus Gore and Jerome Lane each missed three-point shots in the final seconds. Did you think that you were headed to overtime?*

BT: I just remember beating them. It was kind of an upset.*

JT: Kevin Gamble had a career-high 26 points (11-13 FG) and made a 21-foot shot with two seconds left in a two-point overtime win by Iowa. Where does Gamble's shot rank among the most clutch you have ever seen?*

BT: The thing I remember is that we ran a good out-of-bounds play that was set up to take a charge, but the ref made a no-call even after our guy got ran over.*

JT: What are your memories of the 1988 NCAA title game (tournament MOP Danny Manning had 31 points and 18 rebounds in a four-point Kansas victory)?*

BT: It was a hard-fought game.* The whole Final Four process was very exhausting, especially talking to the media.* We played the late game on Saturday and I think we were tired by Monday night.*

JT: During a 1989 Oklahoma/Missouri game you picked up the microphone and told your fans to stop throwing things on the floor no matter how bad the referees were. Why did you do that, and would you do the same thing if you had it to do all over again?*

BT: Probably. The refs were the ones who told me to tell the fans to stop throwing stuff.*

JT: What are your memories of the 1989 NCAA tournament (Stacey King had 28 points and ten rebounds in a one-point win over #16-seed ETSU)?*

BT: We were very lucky to win. The only time we had the lead was at the end of the game.*

JT: What are your memories of the 1990 NCAA tournament (Rick Fox scored 23 points and made a leaner off the glass at the buzzer for a two-point North Carolina victory)?*

BT: It was very unusual because even though we were the #1-seed we had to play a great team like North Carolina in the second round (they were the #8-seed).* There were a couple of bad calls late. I could not say it back then, but I can say it now!* *

JT: What are your memories of the 1998 NCAA tournament as coach at TCU (Lee Nailon scored 32 points before fouling out in a nine-point loss to Florida State)?*

BT: Florida State played exceptionally well.* We had a good inside game but we were below-average from the perimeter.* We had a really good year but could not get the win.*

JT: You were known for having a high-scoring offense and full-court-pressing defense. How did you decide to use those styles, and why were they so effective?*

BT: I liked to coach that way because that is how I had success as a player (in terms of offense).* I think our defense was always underrated. It was a very hard defense to play against because we tried to cover 100% of the floor.* It was a simple case of risk/reward and was great when it worked for us.* That was how I believe the game should be played, and it attracted attention. *Our fans liked it because it was fun to watch and it helped our recruiting because guys wanted to play for us. We recruited players who could run, jump and shoot.* The main reason I played that style is because we could win that way!*

JT: You are one of a handful of coaches in NCAA history to record 100 wins at three different schools. How were you able to have so much success at so many different programs?*

BT: I considered myself a program-builder: I never inherited a lot of great teams.* I liked to take programs that people said would not succeed and then show them that they could.* When I left Lamar coach Pat Foster inherited a great team and took them to the NCAA tournament.*

JT: Your son Tommy played point guard for you at Oklahoma and was an assistant coach for you at Lamar. What was it like to coach your own son, and how proud are you of all his success?*

BT: It was great to coach Tommy.* However, he is the only player who I ever thought I was unfair to: he probably deserved more playing time.* The 1 thing that hurt Tommy is that I did not want to be like the little league baseball dad who let his son play the entire game...or at least that is what his mother always tells me!
*
Tubbs is also on Jon's list of best coaches in Mountain West history.

Air Force: Bob Spear (1957-1971) 165-166, 2 NCAA tourneys
Boise State: Bobby Dye (1983-1995) 213-133, 3 NCAA tourneys, 2 conference titles, 3-time conference COY
Colorado State: Jim Williams (1954-1980) 352-293, 4 NCAA tourneys, 1 conference title
New Mexico: Dave Bliss (1988-1999) 246-108, 7 NCAA tourneys, 1 conference title, 2-time conference COY
San Diego State: Steve Fisher (1999-present) 258-160, 5 NCAA tourneys, 3 conference titles, 1-time national COY, 1-time conference COY
TCU: Billy Tubbs (1994-2002) 156-95, 1 NCAA tourney, 1 conference title, 1-time conference COY
UNLV: Jerry Tarkanian (1973-1992) 509-105, 12 NCAA tourneys, 12 conference titles, 1 NCAA title, 1-time national COY, 8-time conference COY
Wyoming: Everett Shelton (1939-1959) 328-201, 8 NCAA tourneys, 8 conference titles, 1 NCAA title

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