2014 NCAA Tournament

[John Gleich]

Not sure they actually saw that play coming... that's a page out of UWW's former head coach and maybe even Phil Jackson/Michael Jordan!

It was a tremendous play... that was almost identical to how UWW beat UWSP. Going into halftime, after an Alex Richard layup with 6 seconds left cut UWW's lead to 10, Young took the ball the entire length of the court and scored to beat the buzzer.

Then, at the end of regulation, Point hit 1/2 FT's with :18 left and WW inbounded the ball to Young, who took the ball the length of the court and scored with the foul with :15. Nearly identical play to how the Williams game ended, except Young missed the FT this time when it would have given WW a 1 point lead. SP didn't get a good shot attempt at the buzzer and WW won in OT.


Whitewater did that to Point one other time... the last time (prior to this year) that WW beat SP was in 09-10, SP's last championship season. After a Point bucket put the Pointers up 1, Fletcher Dupree took the inbound play and pushed the ball and used a Dustin Mitchell rub-off screen to get to the basket. That wasn't at the buzzer either... but it put WW up 1. Point turned it over and Mitchell hit 2 FT's... and Matt Moses' 3 pt heave didn't fall.  That season ended well though... 

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

The Kalsow play may have been a "set" play, but it happened in the course of action. They didn't call timeout after the Williams basket and I think had about 10 seconds to work with to get that shot off. Certainly "set" in the sense they had a chance to run their offense or at least a play, but not set in that it didn't come out of a timeout.

[John Gleich]

The Kalsow play may have been a "set" play, but it happened in the course of action. They didn't call timeout after the Williams basket and I think had about 10 seconds to work with to get that shot off. Certainly "set" in the sense they had a chance to run their offense or at least a play, but not set in that it didn't come out of a timeout.

Sorry, I meant compare the bench celebrations... 

That play served us very well. Helped us beat Gustavus Adolphus and then again against Williams. Williams defended it the best... and Kalsow just hit a big shot.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Best centers of the last 20 years:

1. Ben Strong
2. Mike Mayer
3. Tyler Sanborn
4. ??

Have I omitted anyone obvious?  Discuss.

(2,3 is very close, but if not for injury then a gradual comeback to full strength, Mayer would have been the likely national POY.  By the end of the year, I think he was clearly the top player in the country.)

[Gregory Sager]

Best centers of the last 20 years:

1. Ben Strong
2. Mike Mayer
3. Tyler Sanborn
4. ??

Have I omitted anyone obvious?  Discuss.

Two very obvious omissions leap to mind: Derek Reich of Chicago and Jeff Gibbs of Otterbein.

(Gibbs, incidentally, is still playing pro ball at age 33 for Toyota Alvark of the National Basketball League of Japan. Just looked up his current stats tonight; he's averaging 17.2 ppg and 10.6 rpg.)

[Mr. Ypsi]

Best centers of the last 20 years:

1. Ben Strong
2. Mike Mayer
3. Tyler Sanborn
4. ??

Have I omitted anyone obvious?  Discuss.

Two very obvious omissions leap to mind: Derek Reich of Chicago and Jeff Gibbs of Otterbein.

(Gibbs, incidentally, is still playing pro ball at age 33 for Toyota Alvark of the National Basketball League of Japan. Just looked up his current stats tonight; he's averaging 17.2 ppg and 10.6 rpg.)

Somehow I thought Gibbs was farther back than that - he might crack the top three (maybe even #two); Reich I think would only make it to 5th.  Gibbs was my blind period - post-graduation; not yet D3.hoops (for me).


Ain't nobody beating out Ben Strong for first - you have to go back to Harper or Sikma to find his superior.  (I think it was Harper who was your center in the glory days - I can't find history beyond the last ten years on the NPU website.)

[sac]

Troy Ruths of WashU has to be a part of that discussion in some way.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Troy Ruths of WashU has to be a part of that discussion in some way.

I thought of both Reich and Ruths, but don't think they crack the top three (now four, with Gibbs); very close, but not quite there.

[Gregory Sager]

Your historical amnesia regarding Reich (2000-03 was not that long ago) is remarkable, Chuck. I mean, c'mon -- he was the four-time MVP of one of the top leagues in D3. (One of these days the UAA braintrust will wise up and rename their MVP award the Derek Reich Trophy.) He was a three-time d3hoops.com first-team All-American (Pat will correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't remember there being any other three-time first-teamers). And when he was named to the d3hoops.com All-Decade first team, I recall nary a peep in protest from anyone about it.

Gibbs? All that guy did was put his team on his back and carried them to a national championship as a senior in 2002. (Don't know why you'd think he played more than 20 years ago; it's barely been a dozen years since he cut down the net in Salem.) He had 25 points and 25 rebounds in the championship game that year. He scored over 1,900 points and pulled down nearly 1,500 rebounds in four seasons at Otterbein. And he shot nearly 64% from the field over the course of his career, which is an insane number even for a guy who spent all of his time around the basket. And he was named as the All-Decade team's second-team center. All in all, not bad for a center who probably doesn't stand any taller than 6'1 (depends upon whom you ask).

[Gregory Sager]

Ain't nobody beating out Ben Strong for first - you have to go back to Harper or Sikma to find his superior.  (I think it was Harper who was your center in the glory days - I can't find history beyond the last ten years on the NPU website.)

http://www.d3hoops.com/archives/greatest-dynasty-1978

Just updated to a current URL/pc.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

He was a three-time d3hoops.com first-team All-American (Pat will correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't remember there being any other three-time first-teamers).

One young Mr. Duncan Robinson might have a chance at that.

[ronk]

Your historical amnesia regarding Reich (2000-03 was not that long ago) is remarkable, Chuck. I mean, c'mon -- he was the four-time MVP of one of the top leagues in D3. (One of these days the UAA braintrust will wise up and rename their MVP award the Derek Reich Trophy.) He was a three-time d3hoops.com first-team All-American (Pat will correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't remember there being any other three-time first-teamers). And when he was named to the d3hoops.com All-Decade first team, I recall nary a peep in protest from anyone about it.

Gibbs? All that guy did was put his team on his back and carried them to a national championship as a senior in 2002. (Don't know why you'd think he played more than 20 years ago; it's barely been a dozen years since he cut down the net in Salem.) He had 25 points and 25 rebounds in the championship game that year. He scored over 1,900 points and pulled down nearly 1,500 rebounds in four seasons at Otterbein. And he shot nearly 64% from the field over the course of his career, which is an insane number even for a guy who spent all of his time around the basket. And he was named as the All-Decade team's second-team center. All in all, not bad for a center who probably doesn't stand any taller than 6'1 (depends upon whom you ask).

So how was he able to do that at only 6-1, from one who didn't see him play?

[sac]

He was built like a tank

Some decent footage in this very dramatic montage of their 2002 run to Salem by a local tv station.  Some good views of Gibbs around the 2 minute mark.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZIlWuNAcuo


A more recent pick of him in the Japanese pro league I think.

[ronk]

 Not only built like a tank, but athletic enough to dunk in traffic in addition to a good off-hand - thanks for the footage.

[Pat Coleman]

Incredible leaping ability plus really good at being in position to rebound.