With the 2019 NCAA tourney tipping off next month, we will spend this month taking a walk down memory lane with a choice collection of players/coaches who are celebrating an awesome anniversary this year. From a comeback win to clinch the 1954 tourney title (65th anniversary) through a last-second loss in the 2014 Final 4 (5th anniversary), these legends have all carved out a little piece of history in past Marches. We continue our series with Ben Woodside, who joined a very exclusive club during his NCAA tourney career. Even casual college basketball fans know the importance of Kansas to the sport: 2nd-most victories in D-1 history, 1st coach was a guy named James Naismith, about to extend their own record by making their 30th straight NCAA tourney appearance in a few weeks, etc. What you might not know is that there are only 3 opponents who have ever scored 37+ PTS against the Jayhawks in an NCAA tourney game: Glenn Robinson (44 PTS for Purdue’s national POY in the 1994 Sweet 16), Oscar Robertson (43 PTS for Cincinnati’s 3-time national POY in the 1960 Elite 8), and Ben Woodside (37 PTS for North Dakota State’s Summit League POY in the 2009 1st round). Incredibly, that was not even Ben’s most impressive game of the season: in December of 2008 he scored a school record 60 PTS in a 1-PT 3-OT loss to Stephen F. Austin (to go along with 8 REB/8 AST and an NCAA record 30-35 FT!). HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Ben about the 10th anniversary of his 2009 NCAA tourney performance vs. Kansas as well as what it feels like to score 60 PTS in 1 game.
In addition to playing basketball you are a black belt in karate: how did you get into karate, and how have your karate skills helped you on the basketball court (if at all)? I got into karate a LONG time ago (as in 5th grade) so I really do not remember too much about karate. However, I do think that that it helped me mentally in terms of being focused and having goals.
You went to Albert Lea High School where you set school career records for PTS/AST/STL: how were you able to balance your scoring/passing/defense, and why did you decide to go to North Dakota State? In high school I was focused on scoring as well as getting my teammates involved. Basketball is a team game so as a PG you have to make the right plays for your teammates as well as for yourself. I would create a lot off of the dribble, which would make our opponents have to help, and then I would kick it out to my teammates for open shots. I decided to go to North Dakota State because I really enjoyed the coaching staff as well as the players. I knew some of the players that were being recruited by the Bison (Brett Winkelman, Tom Lunde, etc.), and once I found out that those guys were planning on going it made my decision even easier.
You and several of your teammates sat out the 2004–05 season as redshirts in order to be eligible for 1 shot at the NCAA tourney in 2009 after your school joined the Summit League: why did you decide to do that, and do you have any regrets? We decided to do that simply to have 1 shot at the NCAA tourney so I have no regrets at all!
In 2008 you scored a conference-record 60 PTS by making an NCAA-record tying 30 FT in a 1-PT 3-OT loss to Stephen F. Austin: was it just 1 of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were “in the zone”, and what was the feeling like in your locker room afterwards? I scored a lot of my points at the FT line so it was not like everything I was throwing up at the rim was going in. I was just attacking the basket all the time and kept getting to the FT line. Now, if you score 60 PTS in a game then the ball is definitely going in the hole, but I was relentless going to the basket and that is where I scored a lot of easy points. I had mixed emotions after the game because in the end I always want to WIN. We lost the game so I was pretty upset about that, but I do know that I accomplished something that not many other basketball players can say they did.
In 2009 you were named conference POY: what did it mean to you to win such an outstanding individual honor? To be completely honest I was happier for our team that year. We had a great year: regular season champs, conference tourney champs, and of course going to the NCAA tourney. Being named POY was special but it was sweeter to have a great season as a team and accomplish many of our goals.
What are your memories of the 2009 NCAA tourney (you scored 37 PTS in a 10-PT loss to #3-seed Kansas)? I will never forget running out onto the floor and hearing the roar of 15,000 Bison fans! I will also never forget walking off the court to a standing ovation knowing that it was my last college basketball game.
You graduated as the all-time leading scorer in school history: did you realize at the time how prolific a player you were, and do you think that anyone will ever break your record? I think that someone will definitely break my scoring record. I have always believed that records are meant to be broken so someday that record will be broken.
After graduation you ended up playing professionally in several countries and won multiple championships: what have you learned from this experience, and how does it compare to college basketball? I have learned that there are a lot of talented players everywhere in the world. It has been a great opportunity to play professional basketball and I thank God for allowing me to fulfill my dreams. Professional basketball does not compare to college ball as much as I thought it would. Over here it is a lot more physical and a lot faster style of game.
You also played in the NBA Summer League: how close did you come to making a team, and do you think that you will end up in the NBA someday? I am not sure what the future holds for me in terms of making the NBA. That is every basketball player’s dream so we will have to wait and see what happens in the future. Obviously it would be another dream come true…but we will just have to wait and see.
When people look back on your career, how do you want to be remembered the most? That I am the ultimate competitor who loves to win but also a good role model for young people.