MMMBob: HoopsHD interviews former Omaha coach Bob Hanson

Posted on May 30, 2022 by Jon Teitel

Bob Hanson was the face of Omaha basketball during his quarter-century of service as head coach, and remains the winningest coach in program history despite retiring almost 3 decades ago. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Bob about playing basketball at Wyoming and going to the Final 4 as a fan. Today marks the deadline for the Bob Hanson Family Maverick Basketball Scholarship (which supports student-athletes who have shown good academic success and demonstrated on/off-floor leadership during the previous academic year) so we take this time to remember Bob’s life/legacy.

You played basketball at Wyoming: how good a player were you back in the day, and how did you get into coaching? My wife and I went to a small school in Wyoming called LaGrange. It was a big day when Coach Bill Strannigan came to my hometown to sign me. I played well on the freshman team and toward the end of my sophomore year I scored 18 PTS in a game for the varsity, then became a 2-year captain. I was thinking of becoming an accountant but Bill suggested I try coaching instead. I coached the freshman team after I graduated, then coached a high school team for 1 year, and then came back to coach college kids. I later worked for Forddy Anderson, who became the only coach to lead his team to the NIT and NCAA in the same year. It was a start-up college but we had some great teams with several players who ended up playing pro basketball.

You made the NCAA D-2 tourney as coach at Omaha 7 times in a 10-year stretch from 1975-1984: how were you able to be so successful over such a long period of time? I had some good training and knew that I needed to get good players so I recruited well. It was a battle because we did not have dorms as a commuter school so it was hard to compete with other teams, but we tried to make it a strength (“you can live off campus!”). We got a lot of players from all over the Midwest but mostly Illinois/Nebraska.

In 1990 you got into a scuffle with North Dakota State coach Erv Inniger: how big a deal was it at the time, and are you surprised we do not see more disagreements these days? It was just a case where I congratulated him on the win in a derogatory way and he gave me a push and I took the charge! I looked over and all of my players were in a dogpile on the floor so I just walked off.

You spent 25 years with the Mavericks and remain the winningest coach in school history: do you think that anyone will ever break your record? I do not know, but what makes it easier now is that sometimes they play 38 or 39 games/year due to the existence of so many different tournaments. I worked for the NABC in New York City, which was a great experience. Some of the Summit League teams used to get 9000 fans/game, but now their numbers are down because the rivalries are not the same and you can watch so many great games on your TV from around the country.

What are your memories of the 1996 NCAA tourney as an assistant to Tom Asbury at Kansas State (Clayton Shields had 25 PTS/10 REB in a win by New Mexico)? 1 of our best players did not get to play in that game (Shawn Rhodes, who I had to take to the hospital before the game with a stomach ailment that might have required surgery), and I think his absence affected us greatly. We had a nice team that year and thought that we would go pretty far. We played Marshall 1 year when Billy Donovan was their coach: we pressed them and ended up winning.

You have attended almost every single Final 4 over the past half-century: what is your favorite Final 4 memory? I keep going and try to stay in touch with all my coaching friends and watch games every night. The 1st game my family went to was in Albuquerque and I thought that New Mexico State did not have a chance of winning…but they did. Villanova’s upset of Georgetown in the 1985 title game at Rupp Arena was pretty remarkable as well.

You worked for the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission as president/CEO before retiring in 2020: how did you like the job, and what do you hope to do in the future? People told me that I should probably retire, as many of my former players have. I recently found out that 1 of my players had passed away but I tried to keep doing it as long as I can. It is hard to raise $1 million/year, but when we were able to build a new arena in Wichita it was a great accomplishment and I learned a lot. The question I got at every meeting was, “Can it be nice enough to host an NCAA tourney game”, and we have now done so a couple of times! The California Attorney General said their schools cannot travel here due to some religious laws, but we do not think it will end up affecting us.

When people look back on your career, how do you want to be remembered the most? I want them to feel that we had successful teams who played hard and had great character. I was fortunate to have players/coaches who went on to have further success and make more money than I did: it made me very proud. I have developed friendships all over the country which have been great for me and my family. We became friends with the Krzyzewski family: my wife wrote him a letter to congratulate him on winning the Olympics…and 3 days later she got a thank-you note in return, which was pretty impressive to us. My whole family joins me for trips to the Big 12 and NCAA tourneys so basketball will always be a part of our life. I go to a lot of college games during the year and enjoy seeing all of the nearby teams.

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In Memoriam: HoopsHD interviews Ted Green about Roger Brown

Posted on May 25, 2022 by Jon Teitel

Roger Brown remains 1 of the best basketball players to never play a single game in the NBA. During his 8-year career in the ABA he appeared in 4 All-Star games, set a Pacers franchise record with 46 points in a single game in 1969, and was named 1970 ABA Playoffs MVP after averaging 28.5 PPG while leading his team to a win over the Los Angeles Stars in the Finals. He later won 2 more titles with the Pacers, was unanimously selected to the ABA All-Time Team in 1997, and was posthumously inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2013. Roger passed away in 1997 but HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with producer Ted Green about the subject of his documentary film “Undefeated: The Roger Brown Story”. Today marks the 52nd anniversary of Roger winning his 1st ABA title on May 25, 1970, so we take this time to honor his life/legacy.

In 1960 Brown signed to play at Dayton but was banned from both the NCAA/NBA after it was revealed that he previously met with a gambler who was involved in illegal point-shaving (Jack Molinas): why was he banned even though he was never actually accused of shaving points himself? He was accused of serving as an intermediary between gamblers and college players. Under immense pressure and with no lawyer, Roger admitted that he facilitated introductions. Later on (under oath) he admitted making it all up because he was just trying to get out of the interrogation. No game was ever affected by anything he did, but everyone was so freaked out by the earlier CCNY scandal that even the hint of gambling was enough to result in a ban.

After playing in some semi-pro leagues for a few years he signed with the Indiana Pacers: do you think that he would have ever played pro basketball if the ABA had not been formed in 1967? No: I do not know what avenue he could have possibly had so I suspect that he would never have a chance if not for the ABA.

Take me through the magical 1970 ABA Finals:
In Game 4 he scored an ABA-playoff-record 53 PTS (including 7 3-PT shots) in a road win over the LA Stars: what was his secret for being a great scorer? He was an unbelievable 1-on-1 player, which is what guys like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar/Oscar Robertson said. He had a great hesitation fake and could shift his weight in the opposite direction of where his defender was going. He was not a selfish player by any means but had unbelievable range if you sagged off him on defense. That year he was at the peak of his powers and just put on a clinic. Stars coach/Hall of Famer Bill Sharman said that he never saw anyone so unstoppable.

In Game 6 he scored 45 PTS on the road to clinch the series: what did it mean to him to win a title and be named playoff MVP? From everything I have heard, I do not think being MVP meant that much to him but winning a title meant everything. He was a high school star a decade earlier before his world was shattered, and he went through a lot of hard times both on and off the court before shining against the best in the ABA.

In November of 1971 he was elected to the Indianapolis City Council and ended up serving the local citizens for 4 years: why did he run for office, and how on earth did he balance being a councilman with his day job?! He was approached by an assistant to then-Mayor Richard Lugar, as they were looking for diversity on the Republican ticket. Roger was 1 of the most popular guys in town and he saw it as a neat opportunity to have an impact on things. He made it to most of the council meetings and was very involved in inner-city safety issues.

In Game 6 of the 1972 Finals he scored a game-high 32 PTS in a 3-PT road win over the New York Nets to clinch yet another title: how was he able to play his best away from home when it mattered the most? I do not know if that was just Roger or if it was a reflection of an amazing Pacers team. He always liked a challenge such as playing in front of a hostile road crowd. Bill Bradley once talked some smack about Indianapolis…and Roger went out and took it right at Bradley!

In the 1973 Finals the Pacers had a 7-PT road win over Kentucky to secure their 3rd title in a 4-year span: how big a deal was the “I-65 Series”, and were the Pacers considered to be a dynasty at that point? I do not think the word “dynasty” was thrown around a lot back then…but they were clearly the team to beat in the early-1970s. It was a big deal to play Kentucky: they were 1 of the most stable franchises in the league. They have a high school all-star series each year and the Hoosiers-Wildcats series remains fierce. If you ask the Pacers who they enjoyed beating the most it would be Kentucky or the Stars.

He still holds the ABA shooting record by making 21 consecutive FG over a 3-game stretch: was it just 1 of those scenarios where every shot he put up that week seemed to go in because he was “in the zone”? I do not know how else to put it: that streak includes 1 game of 14-14 FG! His teammates talk about how he amazed them in ways that no other player had. Before Dr. J came around a lot of people felt that Roger was the best player in the league.

His 312 career 3-PT shots remains #7 in ABA history: what was his secret for making shots from behind the arc? It dated from his playground days in New York. Guys like Donnie Walsh/Larry Brown talk about him having unreal range. He was a big-time dunker in high school, but by the time he got to the pros he had developed some incredible 1-on-1 moves and was still able to make shots from the 3-PT line.

In 1997 he was 1 of 7 players unanimously selected to the All-Time ABA team (along with Louie Dampier/Mel Daniels/Julius Erving/George Gervin/Artis Gilmore/Dan Issel): where do you think he ranks among the best ABA players ever? It is tough to compare guys who played different positions, but I would put Roger and Julius side-by-side just a shade above Mel Daniels. Not a lot of people remember George McGinnis’ brief career but he was also unstoppable.

In 2013 he was inducted into the Hall of Fame a half-century after being banned by the NBA: when people look back on his career, how do you think that he should be remembered the most? He is a guy who got a raw deal, fought for a chance to play, and then shined against the best players in the world. It is nothing short of a triumph, but the real shame is that he did not live to experience that great honor. Now everyone finally knows that he was 1 of the best.

*To learn more about Ted’s documentary on Roger please go to: http://tedgreenfilms.com/Film4.html

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The Hoops HD Report: May Session

Posted on May 24, 2022 by David Griggs

Chad and the panel are back and are joined by Galen Clavio as they discuss the impact the NIL is having on college basketball.  We discuss what we’ve seen so far from the NIL and how we may continue to see changes in the future.  We also talk about the transfer portal, the high transfer rate in college basketball, and the impact NIL is having on that.

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…

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In Memoriam: HoopsHD interviews former Middle Tennessee coach Bruce Stewart

Posted on May 23, 2022 by Jon Teitel

Bruce Stewart only spent 7 years as head coach at Middle Tennessee but he certainly made the most of it. In addition to winning almost 2/3 of his games (141-75 record), he won 3 OVC regular season titles, 2 conference tourney titles, made 3 NCAA tourneys, and even pulled off an upset of Florida State in the 1989 NCAA tourney before losing to Virginia. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Bruce a long time ago and is proud to present this never-before-published interview. Today marks the 11th anniversary of Bruce’s passing on May 23, 2011, so we take this time to honor his life/legacy.

 (photo credit: mlive.com)

There were no recreation centers/playgrounds where you grew up in Roswell, GA, so your dad Richard built you a court in the backyard with his bare hands: what impact did that court have on the rest of your life, and how popular did you become in the neighborhood after the court? I spent every day after school shooting baskets out on that court and we later put up lights so we could play at night as well. I kept shooting even after the court iced over in the winter. It was the center of the neighborhood and we had a lot of knockdown, drag-out battles.

In 1971 you were named Georgia high school tourney MVP after leading Roswell High School to the Class AA state title: what did it mean to you to win the title, and how far did you think you could go as a player? It meant a lot to win the title: that was what we had worked for all year. I just wanted to move on and play college basketball no matter where I went to school.

In the 1985 OVC tourney as coach at Middle Tennessee you had a 3-PT win over Murray State, 2-PT win over Tennessee Tech, and then a 3-PT win over Youngstown State: how was your blood pressure doing by the end of that week?! That was special: it was my very 1st year as coach at Middle Tennessee. We had great chemistry by the end of the year as everyone bought into our system. It was rewarding to see the kids work hard.

In the 1985 NCAA tourney Brad Daugherty had 25 PTS/11 REB in a win by UNC: what was it like to face Dean Smith in March? It was scary: I did not sleep much the night before! They were a really good team…but we were only down 2 PTS with 10 minutes left.

What are your memories of the 1987 NCAA tourney (David Rivers scored 27 PTS in a win by Notre Dame)? Rivers, Rivers, Rivers!!! His penetration really killed us that night: he even ended up haunting me later on in the CBA!

Take me through the 1988 NIT:
Chris Rainey scored 20 PTS in a 5-PT win over Tennessee despite injuring his knee: how big a deal was it to beat your in-state rival? The biggest thing to our fans was beating Tennessee: they were the in-state big-boy with some great players. We had a sellout crowd and people hanging from the rafters.

Ty Baynham scored 24 PTS in a 10-PT win over Georgia: was it extra-special to beat the big school from your home state? It was. Georgia coach Hugh Durham was a really good friend of mine and he had some future NBA players.

Randy Henry had 34 PTS/12 REB in a 9-PT loss to BC: were you disappointed that you were running out of SEC teams to beat up on?! The most physical teams back then were actually Big East teams. Dana Barros was good enough to help them win despite Randy’s spectacular game.

In 1989 you were named OVC COY: what did it mean to you to win such an outstanding honor? It is always rewarding to win awards…but it just means that my assistant coaches recruited well and our players worked hard.

Take me through the 1989 NCAA tourney:
Freshman Mike Buck scored a career-high 26 PTS in 22 minutes while have a perfect shooting night (6-6 from 1-PT land, 1-1 from 2-PT land, and 6-6 from 3-PT land) in a win over Florida State: how was Buck able to play so well as a freshman, and was that the best shooting performance you have ever seen? Randy had a big game as well (26 PTS/10 REB). I think that we were more physical than them inside with our post men. Mike had 1 of the best shooting performances I have ever witnessed.

Richard Morgan scored 33 PTS in a win by Virginia: did the Cavaliers just have a more talented team, and what was the feeling like in your locker room afterwards? We were disappointed. We did not get back to the hotel after the Florida State game until about 4AM so we tried but were a step slow.

You later won 3 state titles as coach at Northwest Florida State: how have you been able to be so successful as a coach? The key is recruiting: you cannot do it without thoroughbreds. We have had great players come to Florida from several nearby states.

In 2010 you had to step aside after being diagnosed with a brain tumor: how are you coping with the tumor? I just came out of the doctor’s office: it is an adjustment for me because he is the coach and I have to do what he says! I finished radiation/chemotherapy so we are just praying, praying, praying. It is hard to predict if I will ever coach again. I would like to say yes…but my priorities have changed so I would like to live 1st.

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Happy Anniversary!: HoopsHD interviews former North Dakota star Dave Vonesh

Posted on May 20, 2022 by Jon Teitel

The Dakotas have featured some quality basketball talent over the past several decades. We have seen North Dakota State upset Oklahoma in the 2014 NCAA tourney and Mike Daum graduate from South Dakota State in 2019 as the 7th leading scorer in D-1 history. Another name that belongs on that list is North Dakota’s Dave Vonesh, who graduated more than 30 years ago yet remains 1 of the best scorers/rebounders in school history. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Dave about making the Elite 8 and being a great scorer. This year marks the 20th anniversary of Dave being inducted into the UND Athletics Hall of Fame in 2002 so we take this time to honor his life/legacy.

What made you choose North Dakota? I was born/raised there. I grew up in East Grand Forks, Minnesota, right on the North Dakota border, and attended Fighting Sioux games when I was younger. I thought that it would be a great fit for me. I was actually committed to go to South Dakota State after being recruited by assistant coach Brian Dutcher, who planned to drive in to meet with me. I called my high school coach the next day and said that I wanted to change my mind. Brian showed up, I told him that I wanted to go to UND instead, and he was okay with it.

You played for Coach Rich Glas: what made him such a good coach, and what was the most important thing that you ever learned from him? Rich is the all-time wins leader at the school and was always big on character. We are not perfect people and I have my flaws but I appreciated that he always held us accountable. He still emails all of us every 2-3 weeks even though he has been away from the school for 20 years: that does not happen with many coaches. He made me the man I am today and he still wishes me a happy birthday every year.

As a sophomore you broke your foot and your team went 8-20 without you: where does that rank among the worst years of your life? I tell my own kids that you need to know how to deal with adversity. I really struggled that year and had to find that drive again after getting on the “pity potty”. I think it made me a better person/player: being humbled is always good and it stokes the fire back in you. Life is not easy: looking back on it now it made me better.

In 1991 as a senior you went 29-4 and advanced to the D-2 Elite 8: how were you and the team able to turn things around after that bad season just 2 years earlier? During my junior year we went 28-7 and returned almost everybody. We had some good players who were recruited by assistant coach Greg McDermott and had plenty of scoring options/depth. There was nothing magical: even from that 20-loss team we had 6 guys who stuck around for that 29-win team. We had a lot of great pieces that just melded together. We had a tenacious PG in Rico Burkett and the school’s all-time leading scorer in Scott Guldseth. We had 4 of the best scorers in school history who all grew up within 80 miles of the school!

That year you were named 1st-team All-America/conference POY: what did it mean to you to receive such outstanding honors? I never cared about setting records or getting stats: I am proudest of our team’s success. I can still go out with any of those guys and have a beer and we do not miss a beat. We created great friendships and were part of a great team: I would not have gotten anywhere without my teammates because they made me better, and Rich always kept it in perspective for us.

You graduated as the all-time leading scorer in school history with 2053 PTS: what is the secret to being a great scorer, and how did it feel to have your former teammate Guldseth break your record 2 years later? You need to decide whether you want to be good or great. My dad had to install a chain-link net on our basketball hoop while I was growing up because I shot 6 hours/day and wanted to be great. Even in 7th grade I was a B-team player and then I had a growth spurt and eventually made it onto the A-team. I was never the most talented player but I knew that I could out-work you. I was not a great practice player but I could turn it on for a game.

In 2002 you were inducted into the UND Athletics Hall of Fame: where does that rank among the highlights of your career? It goes back to having great teammates and it was a great honor. I had them over to my house so I could share it with them. I love the university and it was really fun to be inducted.

You currently teach science/coach basketball at Valley Middle School in North Dakota: how do you like the job, and what do you hope to do in the future? I taught for 25 years and have 5 years left until I retire. I initially struggled while trying to figure out what to do after retiring as a player but I love teaching/coaching kids. It has been a very rewarding career to be in education and I am very fortunate. It has been a great ride and we will see what happens in 5 years. I want to retire down to Florida and swim with my 4 kids.

Your sister Dianne played basketball/volleyball and your nephew Matt plays baseball: who is the best athlete in the family? My sister was a phenomenal athlete and won state championships while in junior college. My parents did not know they were having twins so we were actually born 8 hours apart on different days! She would say that I was the best but there is no doubt in my mind that it was her.

When people look back on your career, how do you want to be remembered the most? If you asked my teammates they would say that I was a fierce competitor. When it was game time I was a different guy who wanted to win.

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Happy Anniversary!: HoopsHD interviews 2-time ABA champion Darnell Hillman

Posted on May 20, 2022 by Jon Teitel

You do not get the nickname “Dr. Dunk” without having some serious hops. Darnell Hillman played basketball at San Jose State, which you would expect from a guy who stood 6’9″, but he was so athletic that he also cleared 6’11 1/2″ in the high jump. He began his pro basketball career in the ABA with Indiana, where he won back-to-back titles in 1972/1973. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Darnell about winning a pair of ABA titles as well as the 1st-ever NBA Slam Dunk contest in 1977. Today is the 50th anniversary of Darnell winning his 1st ABA title on May 20, 1972, so we take this time to honor his life/legacy.

You set a school record at San Jose State with a 6’11 1/2” high jump as a freshman on the track team in 1968, where 2 of your teammates were Juan Carlos/Tommie Smith: who was the best sprinter, and what did you think about their “Black Power” salute at the Olympics? The “fastest sprinter” title varied from week to week. I knew they wanted to express some type of message and I did not think it was that harmful, but it certainly ended their potential careers.

In your only year on the varsity you had 15.3 PPG/14.2 RPG and were named 1st-team All-WCAC: why did you spend the next 2 years in the Army instead of returning to the court? I did not decide to join the Army: I was drafted out of school because my deferment did not protect me.

You played for team USA at the 1970 FIBA World Championship in Yugoslavia: how on earth did you not win the gold medal with teammates like UCLA back-to-back NCAA champion Kenny Washington and a 17-year old kid named Bill Walton? We did not win because Americans were not viewed in a high state internationally so there were some questionable calls.

You won a pair of AAU titles with the Armed Forces All-Stars where 1 of your teammates was future Penn coach Fran Dunphy and 1 of your assistant coaches was a guy named Mike Krzyzewski: did you realize even back then that Krzyzewski would become the winningest coach in NCAA history? I do not think that anyone realized it. He originally came in as a player but told us some great stories about his coach at Army (Bobby Knight).

In the summer of 1971 you were picked 8th overall (3 spots ahead of Curtis Rowe) in the NBA draft by Golden State, but you opted to go to the ABA and play for Indiana: how did you feel when your hometown Warriors refused to even return your calls about a contract offer? The ABA had their draft 1st and I met with the Pacers. After coming back to California I heard that the NBA was having their own draft so the Pacers agreed to let me wait and see how that went. The Warriors told me they would contact me but they never did: case closed. It was the best decision that I ever made!

Take me through the magical 1972 playoffs as a rookie:
You had a 2-PT win over Denver in Game 7 of the Western Division Semifinals: and a 4-PT win on the road over Utah in Game 7 of the Western Division Finals: what is the key to winning a Game 7? You just have to execute and be prepared. 1 of our rules was that the team comes 1st, the teammates come 2nd, and you are last. We all had to be willing to make sacrifices when necessary and we cared about 1 another.

In the Finals you had a 3-PT win on the road over New York in the decisive Game 6: what did it mean to you to win the title, and what was the reaction like when you got back home? It was a big celebration: it was phenomenal to come out of the service and then win a title. After landing at the airport there were 5000+ people there to greet us on the runway and another 5000+ people back at the arena.

In the 1973 Finals (the “I-65 Series”) you had an 88-81 win on the road over Kentucky in Game 7 (setting an ABA record for fewest combined PTS in a playoff game): was it just a cold shooting night for both teams or were both defenses just playing at the top of their game? I think it was both teams playing great defense. After you play a team enough times you know exactly what to expect. We just turned it up a bit and had some great players, including our secret weapon (future Hall of Famer Gus Johnson).

Take me through the 1975 playoffs:
In Game 7 of the Western Division Finals you scored 7 PTS in an 8-PT win on the road over Denver (who went 65-19 in the regular season): how were you able to pull off what is considered 1 of the most memorable upsets in ABA playoff history? You would have to watch the film to fully understand just how strong/deep we were as a unit. We were hard to match up with: physical players, finesse players, guys who could shoot the lights out, etc. When you incorporate that and care for each other it makes you tough to stop.

In Game 2 of the Finals Billy Keller’s 3-PT shot went in but the refs said it came after the buzzer and waved it off to seal a 2-PT win for Kentucky: did you think the shot beat the buzzer? I could not tell you: it was a judgment call. You just try to avoid getting in those situations because it can go either way.

In Game 5 of the Finals playoff MVP Artis Gilmore had 28 PTS/31 REB in a 5-PT win by Kentucky to win the title: where does Gilmore rank among the best players that you have ever seen? I would put him in the top-10. When he 1st came into the league he was tall but did not become strong until later in his career. By the end of his career he was tough to compete against. Our league was full of flair and exciting play. Now they talk about a guy who gets dunked on being “posterized”: it happened to everyone back then due to big men like Darrell Dawkins/Zelmo Beaty.

Following the 1976 ABA-NBA merger you won the 1st-ever NBA Slam Dunk contest in 1977: what is the best dunk you ever performed, and is it true that you could touch the top of the backboard? I had an array of dunks but my most popular 1 was the “Rock the Cradle”. I worked at dunking and took a great deal of pride in it: not to show off, just to bring my high-jumping skills to the basketball court. Warm-up dunks would show me how much lift I had and it helped me block shots on defense.

You later became Associate Director of Camps, Clinics & Alumni Relations for the Pacers: how do you like the job, and what do you hope to do in the future? I am enjoying the job. In the future I just want to be a part of this franchise when we win our 3rd title and give back to this community.

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