Prior to Paul Westhead's arrival at Loyola Marymount, the most interesting fact that could be said about the school was that during the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s Loyola University shared its mascot with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). The MGM Lion was brought to campus on the days of athletic events and university ceremonies to serve as the official school mascot (Leo the Lion was the first in the 1930s).
After Westhead's arrival the greatest college basketball story ever made was that of Loyola Marymount's dramatic run to the Elite 8 in 1990. It was not enough the the Lions were an 11 seed from a small conference, what made the run so dramatic was of course the death of one of their two star players the week before the tournament.
I was fortunate to have seen Loyola Marymount play in person on three ocassions. The first time was in 1988, when the Lions beat my home state team, and would be alma mater -- the Wyoming Cowboys - in the first round of the NCAA tournament in Salt Lake City, Utah. The crushing blow of seeing the bracket have Loyola Marymount play Wyoming was surreal, it was the last thing I wanted to see, in the game itself, Wyoming simply couldn't keep up and the Lions won 119-115. The game was an introduction to the rest of the country of what I'd spent several late nights watching -- the Loyola Marymount offense. Fennis Dembo simply got worked by Bo and Hank. That next year I lived in California and I saw Kimble and Gathers on two occasions once at Gersten Pavillion and another time at Firestone Fieldhouse, the home of the Pepperdine Waves.
At that time and for the most memorable basketball seasons LMU has ever had, the Lions were coached by Paul Westhead who had previously won an NBA Championship with the Los Angeles Lakers in 1980. After originally, attending USC for a year, Gathers and Kimble transferred when USC's coach Morrison was fired. A former LaSalle coach, Westhead brought the Philly duo aboard. Kimble and Gathers alternated leading the country in scoring under Westhead's offense. The offense was unlike anything anybody runs now or has ever run and was arguably the most entertaining basketball team ever. In 1989, Gathers became the first player to lead the nation in both scoring (32 ppg) and rebounding (13 rpg). LMU averaged an astonishing 122 points per game in 1990. In 1989 the Lions put up 112 points per game. These are the two highest scoring teams in the history of college basketball.
In December of 1989, Gathers first collapsed against UC Santa Barbara, he recoverd and returned to somewhat similar form. However, in 1990, in the West Coast Conference semifinals, against the University of Portland, Gathers collapsed on the court. This time there was no return. Gathers died on the court that night.
Afterward, the Lions had a service for Gathers. From that day forward Gersten has also been known as "Hank's House." The team decided to play in the NCAA tournament and Westhead warned that how they played in the tournament was not a reflection of how they felt about Hank. Hank's friend and long time teammate, Kimble marked his shoes with "44 Forever". Then in dramatic fashion, as tribute to Gathers who had struggled with foul shooting throughout his career, Kimble vowed to shoot his first free throw of each game in the tournament left handed.
His first attempt against New Mexico State in the opening round found nothing but the net. Then in the second round against the defending National Champion Michigan Wolverines, the Lions roared their loudest and it was as if the entire Nation were behind this school. They defined Cinderella. Jeff Fryer made a still standing tournament record 11 three point shots and the Lions scored 149 points en route to victory in one of the most memorable games in NCAA tournament history.
To a college basketball afficionado, the names of the players rings through -- Bo Kimble, Jeff Fryer, Terrell Lowery, Hank Gathers, Per Stumer, Corey Gaines, and Tom Peabody. LMU was a bizarre open gym like offensive show that never stopped. True college basketball fans stayed up until midnight for a chance to see this team from L.A. That team transformed college students across the nation and made life long college basketball fans of any college student at that time.
There’s a summer league now named in Hank's honor, the recreation center where he honed his skills now bears his name and there is a beautiful mural of Hank at 25th & Diamond Streets and as mentioned above Gersten Pavillion share its name as Hank's House.
This past week, Westhead was named the head coach of the Oregon women's squad. He is 70 years old. I have no idea what Westhead will do with this opportunity. My best guess is that he will buy a nice house along the Willamette River in Eugene, spend some time at Kentucky Falls, enjoy the microbreweries around Eugene, teach English Literature as he did at his previous college coaching stops, and hand most of the actual coaching over to a high paid assistant as he rides his final years out along the beautiful Oregon Coast.
No matter what Westhead does he can not equal the memories which were provided while he was at Loyola Marymount.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Division I Basketball back at Seattle U.
This year as every year, a number of teams will be attempting to make the jump up to Division I college basketball and chase the NCAA tournament dream that this blog has focused on. Former My Losing Season blog cinderella Portland State realized the dream for the first time a year ago.
This year, as I researched for the upcoming season, I noted the arrival of Seattle University back on Division I scene. Similar to the University of San Francisco which revitalized its program after a lengthy absence, Seattle University was once a power. In 1958, behind Elgin Baylor, Seattle University reached the NCAA championship game where they lost to Kentucky and Adolph Rupp's "Fiddlin Five" squad on a virtual homecourt for Kentucky in Louisville. During that season Baylor trailed only Oscar Robertson in the national scoring race, averaging 32.5 points per game, even beating Wilt Chamberlain.
Seattle U., a Jesuit school, reached the NCAA tournament in 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964 and 1967 doing so as Independent. Between 1953 and 1967 the Chieftains made the tournament 11 times. They did join the West Coast Conference from 1972 to 1980, but dwindling resources and a lack of success throughout the 70's ultimately caused the demise of the once storied program.
Although, the 1958 Championship game was likely Seattle University's most chronicled game and the one fans will recall as they see the name Seattle U. plastered on ESPN's scroll with the volumes of other late night scores it is not Seattle U.'s most legendary game. That came in 1952 when the then Chieftains took on the Harlem Globetrotters.
In 1952, the Globetrotters were the best basketball team in the world. The NBA was still in its formative stages and the Globetrotters paid their two star players "Goose" Tatum and Marques Hayes twenty five thousand dollars each. At the time, they were the highest paid players in the world. Entering the game with Seattle U., the Globetrotters had played 3571 games winning 93 percent of their contests and when they did lose it was more often than not because they suited up a second team or alternative team to meet their excessive scheduling demands. However, that was not the case on January 21, 1952. Tatum and Haynes played in a game designed to raise funds for the United States Olympic efforts.
Jazz great Louis Armstrong played at halftime and actress Joan Caulfield performed a ceremonial opening tip off at the University of Washington's Hec Edmondson Pavillion which was filled to the rafters. Seattle U's Johnny O'Brien was at the time the nation's leading scorer and against the much taller Tatum, O'Brien dominated. The 5'9" O'Brien, who that same season became the first player in the history of college basketball to score 1000 points in a single season, poured in 43 points while playing post against the Trotters. Johnny's brother Eddie played point guard for Chieftians and his half court shot lifted them to a 10 point lead.
Both O'Brien's went on to successful major league baseball careers
After Louis Armstrong's halftime performance, the Trotters got back in the game as Johnny O'Brien was forced to tend to a broken nose and sat out most of the third quarter. Ultimately, with only seconds left and Seattle U. clinging to a two point lead, the Globetrotters called a time out they didn't have resulting in a made free throw by Johnny O'Brien and a possession change - Seattle U. prevailed 84-81.
Globetrotter owner Abe Saperstein was so upset that he canceled the rest of the Trotters benefit schedule that year and over the next year, gradually, Saperstein began to ease his team away from competitive games choosing instead to play a staged opponent -- the Washington Generals.
This year Seattle University will not play as the Chieftain's - the school changed its name to Red Hawks in 2000. Once again they won't play in a conference, they will attempt their comeback as an Independent at the Division I level.
Last March, the West Coast Conference of which Seattle U. was once a member voted to not expand its membership and include Seattle U. Besides its past membership in the West Coast Conference, Seattle U. does have several connections to the WCC. Current Seattle U. athletic director Bill Hogan was formerly the Athletic Director at the University of San Francisco. Additionally, WCC Commissioner Mike Gilleran is a Seattle University graduate. Finally, WCC lynchpin Gonzaga is a sister Jesuit school and although Seattle University's admission as a WCC member might hurt recruiting in Seattle for the Zags as a Jesuit school in the same province Gonzaga's support is required by the church.
This year, Seattle University games will be played at the small on campus arena, the Connolly Center, which seats approximately 1600 for basketball, although talks have already begun with Key Arena regarding filling vacancies left by the Sonics abandonment. Ideally, Hogan would like to have a small on campus arena which seats around 4,000 similar to what the University of Portland has.
In 2008-2009, Seattle University will find itself playing against fellow Independent schools that this blog features which are also making the transition to Division I status as Independents -- Utah Valley, NJIT, Cal State Bakersfield, North and South Dakota -- it's unlikely the Globetrotters will come looking for a rematch.
This year, as I researched for the upcoming season, I noted the arrival of Seattle University back on Division I scene. Similar to the University of San Francisco which revitalized its program after a lengthy absence, Seattle University was once a power. In 1958, behind Elgin Baylor, Seattle University reached the NCAA championship game where they lost to Kentucky and Adolph Rupp's "Fiddlin Five" squad on a virtual homecourt for Kentucky in Louisville. During that season Baylor trailed only Oscar Robertson in the national scoring race, averaging 32.5 points per game, even beating Wilt Chamberlain.
Seattle U., a Jesuit school, reached the NCAA tournament in 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964 and 1967 doing so as Independent. Between 1953 and 1967 the Chieftains made the tournament 11 times. They did join the West Coast Conference from 1972 to 1980, but dwindling resources and a lack of success throughout the 70's ultimately caused the demise of the once storied program.
Although, the 1958 Championship game was likely Seattle University's most chronicled game and the one fans will recall as they see the name Seattle U. plastered on ESPN's scroll with the volumes of other late night scores it is not Seattle U.'s most legendary game. That came in 1952 when the then Chieftains took on the Harlem Globetrotters.
In 1952, the Globetrotters were the best basketball team in the world. The NBA was still in its formative stages and the Globetrotters paid their two star players "Goose" Tatum and Marques Hayes twenty five thousand dollars each. At the time, they were the highest paid players in the world. Entering the game with Seattle U., the Globetrotters had played 3571 games winning 93 percent of their contests and when they did lose it was more often than not because they suited up a second team or alternative team to meet their excessive scheduling demands. However, that was not the case on January 21, 1952. Tatum and Haynes played in a game designed to raise funds for the United States Olympic efforts.
Jazz great Louis Armstrong played at halftime and actress Joan Caulfield performed a ceremonial opening tip off at the University of Washington's Hec Edmondson Pavillion which was filled to the rafters. Seattle U's Johnny O'Brien was at the time the nation's leading scorer and against the much taller Tatum, O'Brien dominated. The 5'9" O'Brien, who that same season became the first player in the history of college basketball to score 1000 points in a single season, poured in 43 points while playing post against the Trotters. Johnny's brother Eddie played point guard for Chieftians and his half court shot lifted them to a 10 point lead.
Both O'Brien's went on to successful major league baseball careers
After Louis Armstrong's halftime performance, the Trotters got back in the game as Johnny O'Brien was forced to tend to a broken nose and sat out most of the third quarter. Ultimately, with only seconds left and Seattle U. clinging to a two point lead, the Globetrotters called a time out they didn't have resulting in a made free throw by Johnny O'Brien and a possession change - Seattle U. prevailed 84-81.
Globetrotter owner Abe Saperstein was so upset that he canceled the rest of the Trotters benefit schedule that year and over the next year, gradually, Saperstein began to ease his team away from competitive games choosing instead to play a staged opponent -- the Washington Generals.
This year Seattle University will not play as the Chieftain's - the school changed its name to Red Hawks in 2000. Once again they won't play in a conference, they will attempt their comeback as an Independent at the Division I level.
Last March, the West Coast Conference of which Seattle U. was once a member voted to not expand its membership and include Seattle U. Besides its past membership in the West Coast Conference, Seattle U. does have several connections to the WCC. Current Seattle U. athletic director Bill Hogan was formerly the Athletic Director at the University of San Francisco. Additionally, WCC Commissioner Mike Gilleran is a Seattle University graduate. Finally, WCC lynchpin Gonzaga is a sister Jesuit school and although Seattle University's admission as a WCC member might hurt recruiting in Seattle for the Zags as a Jesuit school in the same province Gonzaga's support is required by the church.
This year, Seattle University games will be played at the small on campus arena, the Connolly Center, which seats approximately 1600 for basketball, although talks have already begun with Key Arena regarding filling vacancies left by the Sonics abandonment. Ideally, Hogan would like to have a small on campus arena which seats around 4,000 similar to what the University of Portland has.
In 2008-2009, Seattle University will find itself playing against fellow Independent schools that this blog features which are also making the transition to Division I status as Independents -- Utah Valley, NJIT, Cal State Bakersfield, North and South Dakota -- it's unlikely the Globetrotters will come looking for a rematch.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Davidson
In the period of basketball history of which I write, Davidson represented the big time in the Southern Conference because the wily, fast talking Lefty Driesell had transformed the small Protestant college into a national power. I never took the court against them without thinking the the eye of sports loving America had turned its curious gaze on me. When Mel delivered his pregame speech as the crowd began to hum in the field house, he tried to instill fear in us, implying always that he doubted whether we possessed either the talent or the will to be on the same court with the Wildcats. He could give us a thousand reasons why we could not beat Davidson and never came up with a single one that suggested we could.
Pat Conroy on The Citadel's first matchup against Davidson during his senior year.
I wanted to beat Davidson so badly I could taste it, vinegary and sharp in the back of my throat. They had ruled the Southern Conference and been ranked in the top ten teams in the country since my freshman year.
I dribbled past Davidson caoch, Lefty Driesell, I hear him . . .
"Hey, Pat. Why did Mel bury you alive the last couple of years? Mel even told me you couldn't score for shit. I'd've played you up here, boy. Guarantee that.
I put the next layup in and as I rose to shoot that basketball off the board I rose up as the happiest boy in North Carolina because the great Lefty Driesell had proven to me that he actually knew my name. . . I basked in the glory of it.
Pat Conroy on his second matchup with the Wildcats.
Much will be written about Davidson this week. The fact that their enrollment is only 1678. The fact that out of the 339 schools that play division I basketball their enrollment places them 335th. The fact that they now own the nation's longest winning streak at 24 consecutive games. No one will probably note that during Conroy's senior season the Wildcats beat the Citadel both times, the second time by a final score of 97-85. Most articles will probably note that Lefty Driesell turned Davidson into a national power during the late 1960's. In 1968 and 1969, Davidson reached the regional final -- losing to North Carolina both times. In 1969 the Wildcats finished the season ranked #3 in the country according to the UPI their record during what would be Driesell's final season was 27-3
Driesell left the next season to take over Maryland's program in the ACC. Driesell was 176-65 as the coach at Davidson. The program has had solid season since Driesell left, but nothing compared to what has happened this year. They are this season's cinderella -- America's team.
Pat Conroy on The Citadel's first matchup against Davidson during his senior year.
I wanted to beat Davidson so badly I could taste it, vinegary and sharp in the back of my throat. They had ruled the Southern Conference and been ranked in the top ten teams in the country since my freshman year.
I dribbled past Davidson caoch, Lefty Driesell, I hear him . . .
"Hey, Pat. Why did Mel bury you alive the last couple of years? Mel even told me you couldn't score for shit. I'd've played you up here, boy. Guarantee that.
I put the next layup in and as I rose to shoot that basketball off the board I rose up as the happiest boy in North Carolina because the great Lefty Driesell had proven to me that he actually knew my name. . . I basked in the glory of it.
Pat Conroy on his second matchup with the Wildcats.
Much will be written about Davidson this week. The fact that their enrollment is only 1678. The fact that out of the 339 schools that play division I basketball their enrollment places them 335th. The fact that they now own the nation's longest winning streak at 24 consecutive games. No one will probably note that during Conroy's senior season the Wildcats beat the Citadel both times, the second time by a final score of 97-85. Most articles will probably note that Lefty Driesell turned Davidson into a national power during the late 1960's. In 1968 and 1969, Davidson reached the regional final -- losing to North Carolina both times. In 1969 the Wildcats finished the season ranked #3 in the country according to the UPI their record during what would be Driesell's final season was 27-3
Driesell left the next season to take over Maryland's program in the ACC. Driesell was 176-65 as the coach at Davidson. The program has had solid season since Driesell left, but nothing compared to what has happened this year. They are this season's cinderella -- America's team.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)