College Basketball
In your face this week are # 6 of your favorite early 90’s NCAA Basketball stars with Birthdays in February.
Shawn Respert - February 6th, 1972
Juwan Howard - February 7th, 1973
Steve Nash - February 7th, 1974
John Wallace - February 9th, 1974
Scot Pollard - February 12th, 1975
Tyus Edney - February 14th, 1975
Guard Billy Donovan led the 6th seeded Providence Friars unlikely Final Four run during the 1987 tournament earning the Southeast Regional MVP along the way. The senior guard known as ‘Billy The Kid’ averaged 20.6 points per game along with 7 assists for the season. He is one of four men to appear in a final four and then win a championship as a coach.
March 17,1988- The Loyola Marymount Lions led by the dynamic duo of Bo Kimble and Hank Gathers defeat the Wyoming Cowboys 119-115 in the 1st round of the NCAA Tournament. The 234 total points is the 2nd highest total for combined points in a tourney game. In fact the Lions under run & gun coach Paul Westhead are involved in All 5 of the top total point games. Winning two and losing three.
On This Day in 1993 Iowa Hawkeyes Star Forward Chris Street was tragically killed in an automobile accident. His # 40 was retired by the school the next month. No other Hawkeye Jersey # has been retired since. He was just 20 years old. R.I.P. Street
Happy Birthday Eric Montross!
All-American Danny Manning was a man amongst the boys during the Kansas Jayhawks 1988 NCAA Tournament Run. Danny saved his best for the Championship game against the Oklahoma Sooners tallying 31 points, 18 rebounds, & 5 steals in the Hawks 83-79 victory. Did you know the ‘87-’88 Kansas squad, a.k.a. ‘Danny & The Miracles’ own the worst record of any NCAA Champion? 27-11. Happy Birthday Danny!
UMass era Marcus Camby was the coolest!
Birthday shoutout to our dude Constantin Popa. The tallest player in University of Miami history. He is also the Canes leader in both Blocked Shots (263) & Personal Fouls (375). I wrote about him back in Blaze # 5. Be sure to get your copy!!
When Glenn ‘Big Dog’ Robinson was selected as College Basketball’s National Player of the Year (John Wooden Award) in 1994, he became the first Purdue Boilermaker to win the award since, none other than Mr. John Wooden who won in 1932. They also both wore jersey # 13.
Kerry Kittles is the Villanova Wildcats all time leader in both points and steals. He also amassed over 700 rebounds and 400 assists during his four year college career. Always one of the coolest Cats on the hardwood, # 30 was another one of my favorite high-sock wearing players during my Freshman year b-ball days of 1995-96 . I remember that we even had a set out of bounds play called ‘Nova.’ The Big East was the best in the mid 90’s. Happy Birthday Kerry.
While at the University of Oklahoma Wayman Tisdale became the first collegiate player to be voted as a consensus All-American his Freshman, Sophomore, & Junior Seasons. The ‘Southpaw Sooner’ was selected by the Indiana Pacers with the # 2 pick in the 1985 draft. Right behind Patrick Ewing. He had his best season in 1989-90 while with the Sacramento Kings where he averaged 22.3 points & 7.5 rebounds a game. RIP Wayman.
On This Day- March 30, 1991- Duke would end UNLV’s 34 game winning streak with a 79-77 victory in the semis-finals of the NCAA Tournament. It also happens to be the day I found out there was no Easter Bunny.
