Jan. 28, 2005
#59 (Friday, Jan. 28, 2005)
The Blizzard of `78
On the night of Jan. 25, 1978, Notre Dame defeated West Virginia and snow began to fall in South Bend. Three days later, 40 inches of snow blanketed the area, forcing much of the city to close down.
The Michiana Regional Airport opened only once – to let the plane carrying the University of Maryland basketball team land. The Irish were scheduled to face the Terrapins on Jan. 29 and, with South Bend still under a snow emergency, the Joyce Center became a general-admission ballpark. Anyone that could make it to the area was admitted.
A national television audience and capacity crowd saw Notre Dame defeat Maryland 69-54 behind NBC player-of-the-game Tracy Jackson, a native of Silver Spring, Md.
NEXT UPDATE:
#60 (Monday, Jan. 31, 2005)
Legend of the Hardwood – Troy Murphy
#58 (Thursday, Jan. 27, 2005)
Notre Dame Basketball Trivia
What walk-on player holds the school record for points in a single game?
A. Pete Miller
B. Joe Howard
C. Willie Townsend
D. Skylard Owens
The answer is C. Willie Townsend. Townsend poured in 21 points vs. Western Michigan and Duquesne during the 1971-72 season. He holds the walk on records for points in a season (242 in ’71-’72), and rebounds (177 in the same year).
Skylard Owens (1998-2000) holds the record for games played in a season with 30.
Joe Howard holds the walk-on record for assists in a single game, dishing out 12 against Pittsburgh in 1983-84.
#57 (Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2005)
Pipeline to the Pros – Part IV
Notre Dame has sent a vast number of players into the ABA, BAA, NBL and NBA over the years. Here is a look at some of the Irish players that have appeared for professional teams (alphabetical by last name, N- R).
John (Richie) Niemiera
Two NBL Seasons
Fort Wayne Zollners (1946-47, 1947-48)
Two NBA Seasons
Fort Wayne Pistons (1948-49, 1949-50), Anderson Packers (1949-50)
Paul Nowak
Two NBL Seasons
Akron Firestones (1938-39, 1941-42)
Thomas O’Keefe
One NBA Season
Baltimore Bullets/Washington Capitals (1950-51)
Kevin O’Shea
Three NBA Seasons
Minneapolis Lakers (1950-51), Milwaukee Hawks (1951-52), Baltimore Bullets (1951-52, 1952-53)
John Paxson
11 NBA Seasons
San Antonio Spurs (1983-84, 1984-85), Chicago Bulls (1985-86 through 1993-94)
Career averages: 7.2 ppg, 3.6 apg
Currently GM of the Chicago Bulls, where he won three NBA titles.
Ron Reed
Two NBA Seasons
Detroit Pistons (1965-66, 1966-67)
Bob Rensberger
One NBL Season
Chicago Stags (1945-46)
One NBA Season
Chicago Stags (1946-47)
Eddie Riska
Three NBL Seasons
Oshkosh All-Stars (1941-42, 1945-46, 1948-49)
David Rivers
Three NBA Seasons
Los Angeles Lakers (1988-89, 1989-90), Los Angeles Clippers (1991-92)
Dick Rosenthal
Two NBA Seasons
Fort Wayne Pistons (1954-55, 1955-56)
Donald Royal
Eight NBA Seasons
Minnesota Timberwolves (1989-90), San Antonio Spurs (1991-92), Orlando Magic (1992-93, 1993-94, 1994-95, 1997-98), Golden State Warriors (1996-97)
A member of the inaugural Minnesota Timberwolves … career averages of 6.3 ppg and 2.8 rpg.
Also – on this date in Notre Dame Basketball history –
Jan. 14-28, 1920 – With second-year head coach Charles “Gus” Dorais – Knute Rockne’s famous passing partner in 1913 – taken ill, Rockne takes over as acting coach for the basketball team. His squad defeats Kalamazoo (44-17) on Jan. 14 but loses the next four.
Rockne’s basketball coaching stint concludes with a career 1-5 record. It would take eight seasons before he lost five games in football.
#56 (Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2005)
Legend of the Hardwood – John Moir
During his three years on campus, John Moir helped Notre Dame to a 62-8-1 record and the 1936 Helms Foundation National Championship – and he had never picked up a basketball until he came to Notre Dame.
A tremendous athlete who could score from anywhere on the court, Moir played for the Irish from 1935-38. His team routinely scored 30-60 points a game and was dubbed the `point-a-minute’ team. This was the time when a center jump occurred after every made basket, so it is safe to say that the Irish were on the cutting edge of basketball at this time and Moir played a big part in the squad’s development.
Moir was a three-time All-American at Notre Dame, averaging 10.8 points per game (which might translate to at least 30 points a game in today’s game). There was no real professional basketball league in the late 1930s, so his prowess and ability was somewhat forgotten, except by those that saw him play for the Fighting Irish.
Also – on this date in Notre Dame Basketball history –
Jan. 25, 1975 – For the second straight year, Notre Dame upends UCLA in the ACC, 84-78, led by Adrian Dantley’s 32 points. Wooden’s final Bruin team captures its 10th national title two months later.
Jan. 25, 1982 – Reeling with a 4-10 record and trailing by 18 points, Notre Dame finds resolve to defeat the #8 Idaho Vandals 50-48. John Paxson’s 22 points headline the effort. It marks the 10th consecutive year the Irish defeat at least one Top 10 team – and a week later the Irish do it again with a 75-66 victory vs. #7 San Francisco en route to a 10-17 finish.
#55 (Monday, Jan. 24, 2005)
Guiding Lights
While Notre Dame’s players have always been the fuel of the program’s engine, it has been the coaches who have provided the guidance toward hardwood success.
Here is a quick look at some of the noteworthy coaches in Notre Dame basketball history:
George Keogan (1923-24 to 1942-43) –
327 wins, 97 losses (.771 winning percentage)
Keogan stabilized the program when he was brought aboard by athletic director Knute Rockne. Four seasons after his arrival, the 1926-27 team won the Helms Foundation national championship and lost only two games in two seasons.
Utilizing All-American big men such as John Nykios, Moose Krause and Paul Nowak, Keogan’s teams, at least in part, dictated several rule changes, including the three-second violation and the 10-second backcourt call.
John Jordan (1951-52 to 1963-64) –
199 wins, 131 losses (.603 winning percentage)
Jordan’s Chicago-area connections brought a number of talented players to the program (Jack Stephens, John McCarthy and Tommy Hawkins) and the program made its first NCAA tournament appearances under Jordan – including three trips to the Elite Eight.
As Jordan’s tenure progressed, the level of success dropped off and he resigned after the 1964 season.
Digger Phelps (1971-72 to 1990-91) –
393 wins, 197 losses (.666 winning percentage)
Phelps presided over the `Golden Age’ of Notre Dame basketball, failing to make it to the postseason just three times in 20 years (including 14 NCAA tournament berths) and a Final Four appearance in 1978. Phelps’ savvy and colorful style kept the Fighting Irish on television and in the headlines, while the ACC (now the Joyce Center) developed into a feared destination for opposing teams.
Mike Brey (2000-01 to present) –
85 wins, 44 losses (.659 winning percentage) entering the 2004-05 season
Brey took the Irish back to the NCAA Tournament in his first season, ending an 11-year absence by the program. His third Notre Dame team advanced to the Sweet 16 and Brey’s squads have developed into a consistent contender in a challenging BIG EAST Conference.
With a number of highly-recruited student-athletes in the program (Chris Thomas, Torin Francis) and even more on the way (a highly-touted recruiting class for the 2005-06 season), Brey has given the program momentum heading into the next 100 years of Irish basketball.
On this date in Notre Dame Basketball history –
Jan. 24, 1976 – #6 UCLA, under new coach Gene Bartow, succumbs for the third straight year in the ACC, 95-85, as Adrian Dantley finishes with 30 points and sophomore Don “Duck” Williams chips in 18.
Previous 100 Years in 100 Days updates:
Week Eight (#50-#54) ND – UCLA ’74