Jan. 3, 2005
The University of Notre Dame official athletics site, www.und.com , continues its tribute today to the school’s celebration of 100 Seasons of Basketball. Spanning the entirety of the college basketball season, www.und.com, will update this section of the site every weekday 100 times in an effort to highlight Notre Dame’s 100th Basketball Season in 2004-05.
The updates will change between trivia questions, quick bios from Notre Dame’s all-century team, various “On this date in Notre Dame Basketball” elements and more.
Also available this season is the book 100 Seasons of Basketball, produced by the University of Notre Dame Sports Information Office and Notre Dame Sports Properties. The book is available exclusively through the Notre Dame Bookstore (call 800-647-4641 or to go www.ndcatalog.com).
12 Days of a Notre Dame Basketball Christmas (#27-#39)
#44 (Friday, Jan. 7, 2005)
Notre Dame Basketball Trivia Returns
After a few weeks off of the traditional Friday trivia questions on our 100 days feature, www.und.com challenges the Notre Dame Basketball fans with a tough one today.
Who was Notre Dame’s opponent in the team’s largest-ever winning margin (53 points) in the Joyce Center?
A. Manhattan
B. Valparaiso
C. Davidson
D. St. Francis (Pa.)
The answer is D, St. Francis (Pa.). The Irish won the game 96-43 on Dec. 27, 1978.
Also – on this date in Notre Dame Basketball history (which includes dates that fall over the upcoming weekend):
Jan. 7, 1928 – Notre Dame makes its first visit to a major city in the East (Philadelphia) and defeats Pennsylvania in overtime, 30-28. The game is played at the brand new Palestra, which seats 9,000-plus.
Jan. 7, 1973 – In maybe the most underrated game in Notre Dame history, the 1-6 Irish defeat Kansas in overtime in a nationally-televised Sunday game at the ACC. Four of the six losses in December were in overtime or by two points, but this win finally gets Digger Phelps’ program over the hump.
Jan. 9, 1965 – Notre Dame’s 110-80 victory at Houston raises the Irish scoring average after 11 games to 98.4, the best in the nation. Two months later, Johnny Dee’s first team loses in overtime to the Cougars in the first round of the NCAA tournament, 99-98.
NEXT UPDATE:
#45 (Monday, Jan. 10, 2005)
Big Monday returns to the Joyce Center when Notre Dame faces Syracuse
Legend of the Hardwood – Moose Krause
#43 (Thursday, Jan. 6, 2005)
John Shillington
You won’t find his name listed in any basketball records, since he played before the University’s basketball program officially achieved varsity status and awarded monograms to its athletes. Nonetheless, John Shillington remains an early standout in basketball at Notre Dame.
He served as captain of the 1897 club team that featured the best players from Notre Dame’s interhall league. He led the team in scoring against several YMCA teams, earned a monogram in baseball – then left campus in the midde of the 1897 baseball season to join the Navy.
On Feb. 15, 1898, he went down with the battleship Maine at the start of the Spanish-American War. The remains a monument to him – a mounted shell taken from the sunken ship – formerly erected in front of Brownson Hall and now located at the southeast corner of the Joyce Center.
Also – on this date in Notre Dame Basketball history –
Jan. 6, 1984 – Due to transfers and academic ineligibilities at guard, football wide receiver Joe “Small Wonder” Howard joins Digger Phelps’ team and debuts with 14 points and seven assists in the Irish 73-61 win at Holy Cross. Howard is the first football regular on the basketball team since brothers Willie and Mike Townsend in 1973 (of note, TE John Carlson played for the Irish during the 2003-04 season, but will not rejoin the team in 2004-05 to concentrate on off-season football conditioning).
#42 (Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2005)
Hassett Buzzer Beater
On Jan. 5, 1946, unbeaten Notre Dame defeats the George Mikan-led DePaul Blue Demons, 43-42, when Billy Hassett converts a shot as the buzzer sounds. Hassett had missed his first 11 shots before drilling the game-winner. With the victory, the Irish will move on to hold the #1 spot in an informal AP poll for six weeks.
Also in January of 1964 Notre Dame began the “Challenge II” fundraising drive which included plans for the construction of a new athletic facility to be named The Athletic and Convocation Center (ACC). It would take four years before the building is completed.
#41 (Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2005)
Pipeline to the Pros – Part II
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, E – H).
LaPhonso Ellis
11 NBA Seasons
Denver Nuggets (1992-93 through 1997-98), Atlanta Hawks (1998-99, 1999-2000), Minnesota Timberwolves (2000-01), Miami Heat (2001-02, 2002-03)
Career Averages: 11.9 ppg, 6.5 rpg
Mark Ertel
1 NBL Season
Indianapolis Kautskys (1940-41)
Bob Faught
1 NBA Season
Cleveland Rebels (1946-47)
Bruce Flowers
1 NBA Season
Clevland Cavaliers (1982-83)
Pat Garrity
6 NBA Seasons
Phoenix Suns (1998-99), Orlando Magic (1999-2000 to present)
Career Averages: 9.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg, .413 3 pt. FG %
Paul Gordon
1 NBA Season
Baltimore Bullets (1949-50)
Bill Hanzlik
10 NBA Seasons
Seattle Supersonics (1980-81, 1981-82), Denver Nuggets (1982-83 through 1990-91)
Career Averages: 7.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg
Bill Hassett
3 NBL Seasons
Buffalo Bisons (1946-47), Tri-Cities Blackhawks (1946-47, 1949-50)
2 NBA Seasons
Minneapolis Lakers (1949-50), Baltimore Bullets (1950-51)
Tom Hawkins
10 NBA Seasons
Minneapolis Lakers (1959-60), Los Angeles Lakers (1960-61, 1961-62, 1966-67, 1968-69), Cincinnati Royals (1962-63, 1965-66)
Career Averages: 8.7 ppg, 6.0 rpg
Ryan Humphrey
2 NBA Seasons
Orlando Magic (2002-03), Memphis Grizzlies (2003-present)
The 19th overall pick in the 2002 draft.
Also – on this date in Notre Dame Basketball history –
Jan. 4, 1956 –Lloyd Aubrey becomes the first Irish player to reach the 40-point total with a 43-point effort in Notre Dame’s 83-69 victory versus Butler in the ND Fieldhouse.
#40 (Monday, Jan. 3, 2005)
Legend of the Hardwood – Leo Klier
Leo Klier was named one of the 25 greatest player to ever don a Notre Dame basketball uniform for Notre Dame’s 100 Years of Basketball celebration and boasts one of the most unique career for any of the 25 honorees.
Klier’s Notre Dame career was interrupted in 1944-45 for World War II, just a year after setting the Notre Dame single-season scoring record with 293 points (while also earning consensus All-America honors). During the 1943-44 season, Klier helped the Irish knock off Iowa and Great Lake Naval (loaded with talent during the war years).
Klier eventually entered the Navy and, while gone from campus for a year, freshman center Vince Boryla bested his single-season scoring record by 13 points. Klier was able to return to campus for the 1945-46 season. Combined with Boryla, Klier led the Irish to a 17-4 record, 13 consecutive wins to begin the season and a number one ranking (in an informal poll).
Klier eventually scored 355 points during the 1945-46 season to reclaim his single-season scoring title, while also earning consensus All-America honors again.