1944-45 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
The south continued it's rise in college basketball. A year ago the SEC and Southern Conferences held 5 of the top ten spots in the AP Poll entering the tournament. This time around the number was again half including 3 of the top 4 teams in the nation. Before we touch on those three schools it would be remiss not to mention Kentucky as the Wildcats led the polls for much of the season and were undefeated until a late hiccup one weekend in conference play when they fell in back to back games to Georgia Tech and Alabama Poly. After very few tournament appearances in their first 35 seasons, Kentucky has been a team on the rise the past decade and should be a force next year as well with their three leading scoers in Harry Boykoff, Bones McKinney and John Logan all returning next season.
Alabama Poly and Georgia Tech have been dominate teams for several years now and the Tigers followed up an NCAA Tournament title a year ago with the best regular season campaign in school history. They were undefeated in conference play and the only loss all season for the top ranked team in the nation came in an early season game at Boston College. Senior Alabama Poly forward Chet Strumillo was among the leading scorers in the nation and with Bob Doll and Hank Biasatti they have an outstanding supporting cast. Georgia Tech rounds out the SEC powerhouses as the Yellow Jackets finished second in the SEC with their only loss coming to Alabama Poly.
The Southern Conference has the two Carolina's leading the way with 3rd ranked North Carolina looking to return to the Final Four for the second straight season after a school record 28-1 campaign. South Carolina made the National Title game for the first time in school history a year ago and the Gamecocks followed it up with a 21-8 season that saw them place 10th in the Final AP poll.
Most of the other schools in the top ten are ones that have a habit of finishing very highly ranked led by New York University (28-1), winners of 3 National Titles in the previous 5 seasons. The Western Conference is not as dominant as it was half a decade ago but Wisconsin, Indiana and Michigan all cracked the top ten as did Big Six power Iowa State, which has won that's conference's title 11 out of the 18 seasons it has existed.
Here are the rankings as of the final AP Poll of the regular season.
Code:
COLLEGE BASKETBALL TOP TWENTY-FIVE
# Team FPV Record Points Prv Conference
1. Alabama Polytechnic Insti (71) 28-1 1799 1 Southeastern Conference
2. New York University (1) 28-1 1729 2 Metro New York Conference
3. North Carolina 28-1 1656 3 Southern Conference
4. Georgia Tech 25-4 1499 5 Southeastern Conference
5. Wisconsin 26-3 1488 7 Western
6. Iowa State 25-4 1473 4 Big Six
7. Kentucky 27-2 1444 6 Southeastern Conference
8. Indiana 22-7 1259 9 Western
9. Michigan 23-6 1177 12 Western
10. South Carolina 21-8 1120 11 Southern Conference
11. Washington 19-10 1038 16 Pacific Coast Conference
12. Baylor 21-8 1016 17 Southwest Conference
13. Texas 21-8 905 8 Southwest Conference
14. Richmond 22-7 886 10 Southern Conference
15. Maryland 22-7 834 13 Southern Conference
16. UCLA 21-8 788 15 Pacific Coast Conference
17. Yale 21-8 676 19 Ivy Group
18. Oregon 19-10 522 14 Pacific Coast Conference
19. Saint Mary's 21-8 450 21 Independent
20. Southern California 18-11 445 20 Pacific Coast Conference
21. Ohio State 19-10 320 NR Western
22. Pittsburgh 21-8 312 22 Eastern Intercollegiate
23. Georgetown 19-10 226 25 Eastern Intercollegiate
24. Maine 21-9 114 18 Yankee League
25. California 18-11 99 23 Pacific Coast Conference
Others Receiving Votes:
North Carolina State 20-9 93 Southern Conference
DePaul 19-10 31 Independent
Texas Christian 17-12 1 Southwest Conference
Code:
1944-45 CONFERENCE STANDINGS
WESTERN PACIFIC COAST
CONF OVER CONF OVER
Wisconsin 12-2 26-3 Washington 11-5 19-10
Indiana 12-2 22-7 Oregon 11-5 19-10
Michigan 11-3 23-6 UCLA 10-6 21-8
Ohio State 8-6 19-10 Southern Cal 9-7 18-11
Illinois 6-8 14-15 California 7-9 18-11
Chicago 5-9 10-19 Oregon State 7-9 16-13
Northwestern 5-9 13-16 Stanford 6-10 13-16
Purdue 5-9 11-18 Idaho 6-10 14-15
Minnesota 4-10 10-19 Washington State 5-11 12-17
Iowa 2-12 6-23
SOUTHERN SOUTHEASTERN
CONF OVER CONF OVER
North Carolina 13-0 28-1 Alabama Poly 11-0 28-1
N Carolina St 10-3 20-9 Georgia Tech 10-1 25-4
Maryland 8-5 22-7 Kentucky 9-2 27-2
Richmond 8-5 22-7 Mississippi 5-6 16-13
South Carolina 7-6 21-8 LSU 5-6 9-20
Davidson 7-6 19-10 Vanderbilt 5-6 12-17
Virginia Tech 7-6 15-14 Tulane 5-6 17-12
Duke 7-6 14-15 Mississippi St 4-7 17-12
Clemson 7-6 13-16 Alabama 4-7 9-20
Wake Forest 6-7 14-15 Florida 3-8 10-19
Furman 5-8 8-21 Tennessee 3-8 10-19
Citadel 3-10 7-22 Georgia 2-9 11-18
William & Mary 2-11 6-23
VMI 1-12 6-23
METRO NY SOUTHWEST
CONF OVER CONF OVER
New York Univ 13-1 28-1 Baylor 10-2 21-8
Manhattan 8-6 17-12 Texas 8-4 21-8
Fordham 7-7 12-17 Rice 6-6 16-13
St John's 7-7 14-15 Texas Christian 6-6 17-12
CCNY 6-8 13-16 SMU 6-6 16-13
St Francis(NY) 5-9 17-12 Arkansas 3-9 12-17
Brooklyn 5-9 11-18 Texas A&M 3-9 6-23
Long Island 5-9 17-12
BIG SIX BORDER
CONF OVER CONF OVER
Iowa State 9-1 25-4 Texas Tech 10-4 19-10
Missouri 6-4 17-12 New Mexico A&M 8-6 11-18
Nebraska 4-6 12-17 Arizona 7-7 14-15
Oklahoma 4-6 18-11 Northern Ariz. 7-7 13-16
Kansas State 4-6 17-12 New Mexico 6-8 11-18
Kansas 3-7 15-14 Texas Western 6-8 8-21
Arizona State 6-8 13-16
Hardin-Simmons 6-8 14-16
IVY GROUP EASTERN INTERCOLLEGIATE
CONF OVER CONF OVER
Yale 10-2 21-8 Georgetown 10-2 19-10
Columbia 7-5 17-12 Penn State 7-5 17-12
Cornell 7-5 13-16 Pitt 7-5 21-8
Harvard 6-6 10-19 Temple 4-8 8-21
Penn 5-7 15-14 West Virginia 2-10 5-24
Princeton 5-7 12-17
Dartmouth 2-10 11-18
MISSOURI VALLEY MOUNTAIN STATES
CONF OVER CONF OVER
Saint Louis 9-3 16-13 Utah 9-3 18-11
Drake 8-4 14-15 BYU 7-5 14-15
Creighton 6-6 13-16 Colorado 7-5 14-15
Oklahoma A&M 5-7 9-20 Colorado A&M 7-5 12-17
Tulsa 2-10 9-20 Denver 6-6 10-19
Utah State 3-9 10-19
Wyoming 3-9 10-19
INDEPENDANTS YANKEE LEAGUE
OVER CONF OVER
Saint Mary's 21-8 Connecticut 5-1 17-12
DePaul 19-10 Maine 4-2 21-9
Loyola (La) 19-10 New Hampshire 3-3 9-20
San Francisco 19-10 Rhode Island 0-6 5-24
Bradley 18-11
Cansius 18-11 INDY (CONT) OVER
Duquesne 18-11 Brown 12-17
Layfayette 18-11 Butler 12-17
Wichita State 18-11 Montana State 12-17
West Texas St 18-11 G. Washington 12-17
Xavier 18-11 Notre Dame 12-17
Virginia 17-12 Ohio 12-17
Sienna 17-13 St Bonaventure 12-17
Colgate 16-13 Providence 12-17
Kent State 16-13 Syracuse 12-17
Rutgers 16-13 Western Kentkyy 11-18
Michigan State 16-13 Villanova 11-18
LaSalle 15-14 Boston College 11-18
Louisville 15-14 Army 11-18
Holy Cross 15-14 Cincinnati 11-18
Marquette 14-15 Bucknell 10-19
Santa Clara 14-15 Detroit Mercy 10-19
Westrn Michigan 14-15 Lehigh 10-19
Seton Hall 13-16 Northern Col. 10-19
Toledo 13-16 Dayton 9-20
Navy 13-16 Montana 9-20
Saint Joseph's 13-16 Bowling GreenSt 8-21
Niagara 13-16 Miami(Oh) 8-21
Loyala (Ill) 13-16 Muhlenburg 7-22
Marshall 13-16
NCAA TOURNAMENT
The 1945 NCAA Tournament was another season that went fairly close to script, at least as far as the Final Four was concerned. There were a pair of 6 seeds that made it to the Regional Finals, but no team seeded lower than a 3 reached the Final Four.
EAST REGION
The East Region was the George Mikan show as the two-time National Player of the Year had a dominant opening three games to his tournament. Mikan began the tournament with a 17 point effort in a 62-40 thumping of Yankee League winner Connecticut. Mikan's point total was only second best for the Violets as senior guard Howie Rader scored twenty in the game. Next up for NYU was Ivy League winner Yale, who downed Maryland 48-39 in their opener. The top seeded Violets got 12 points each from Rader and Mikan in 42-34 over the Bulldogs, who were the fifth seed in the East.
The other side of the bracket began with Joe Patanelli scoring 18 points to lead 6th seeded Pittsburgh to a 50-48 upset of #3 UCLA while even more surprising was #7 Maine won in the tournament for the first time in school history, shocking Kentucky 65-55. Bob Curran, who would play at Holy Cross in real life but be better known as a long-time college coach at Holy Cross and Massachusetts, led the way for the Black Bears, scoring 17 points as a team in just it's 8th season of division 1 basketball shocked the Wildcats, handing them just their third loss of the season.
Patanelli would score 25 in the next round as Pitt easily downed Maine 58-41 but the Panthers were no match for New York University and fell 58-35 in the regional final. Mikan had 16 points, 11 boards and 5 blocked shots in the contest.
SOUTH REGION
Defending national champ and top seed in the South Alabama Poly had no troubles with it's opening round opponent as the Tigers beat Saint Louis 44-23. Jerry Rizzo had a game high 14 points for South Carolina as the fifth seeded Gamecocks beat Indiana 49-40 to set up a rematch of last year's National Title contest. Once again the Tigers came out on top as Alabama Poly won 48-31 behind Chet Strumillo's 16 point effort.
On the other side of the bracket #2 Texas was given some trouble by Georgetown but the Longhorns eventually pulled out a 63-58 victory while third seeded USC had 4 players score in double figures in a 51-32 win over Oklahoma. USC would take care of Texas in the second round as sophomore Ralph Kaplowitz scored 14 points in a 49-40 Trojans victory.
In the regional final Strumillo and Hank Biasatti each scored 12 points for Alabama Poly but the USC scoring depth proved too much for the Tigers as the Trojans sent the defending National Champions home with a 57-48 defeat.
MIDWEST REGION
Long time powers Washington and Wisconsin squared off in the Midwest Regional Final. The top seeded Badgers got there with an easy 46-33 win over Utah followed by a narrow 40-38 victory over Baylor after the Bears had disposed of Richmond 59-44 in their opening round tussle.
Washington had an even tougher time than the Wisconsin as the third seeded Huskies won both of their opening two games by just 1 point each. First it was a Chuck Shanklin buzzer beater to allow Washington to nip DePaul 47-46 and then they survived Iowa State 45-44 as Cyclones sophomore Joe Fulks saw his late attempt fail to drop. Fulks, a sophomore who was National Freshman of the Year last season, led all scorers with 14 points in the game. In their opening round game the #2 seeded Cyclones beat Texas Tech 44-35.
The regional final was tied at 23 at the break but the Huskies pulled away in the second half to upset Wisconsin 53-45 and return to the Final Four for the sixth time in the last twelve years.
WEST REGION
North Carolina breezed through the West as the #1 seed. The Southern Conference champs, who were 28-1 entering the tournament, earned their second straight trip to the Final Four. Fictional player Earl DeMaria was the star of the Tar Heels opener, scoring 21 points in a 56-47 win over Ohio State. That was followed by a 46-35 win over Oregon and then an Elite Eight 77-50 victory over Cal as DeMaria scored 23 points to nullify Cal star Gene Rock's 22 for the Bears.
Other results in the region saw Oregon, the fifth seed, beat #4 Saint Mary's 64-58 in their opener. Meanwhile 6th seed Cal began with a 50-49 win in overtime over Michigan and then 60-51 over a surprising Loyola (La) team. The Wolfpack, playing as an independent, were making their fist tournament appearance since 1927 and just their 3rd tournament since 1901. Loyola did get their first ever tourney win with a 48-40 upset of second seed Georgia Tech in the opener.
FINAL FOUR
The final four would feature a pair of schools from the Pacific Coast Conference as well as a long-time power and a rising team in the East. The PCC schools were Washington and USC. The Huskies had only missed the tournament once since 1920 and owned a pair of National Titles as well as 6 previous trips to the Final Four. USC also has a pair of National Titles to it's credit and, like Washington, was making it's 7th appearance in the Final Four, but for the Trojans it was their first appearance since winning the National Title in 1934-35.
New York University entered the weekend looking for their 4th National Titles in the past six years and had won 6 championships in all entering this season. It would be the 11th trip in school history to the Final Four. The odd team in this mix was North Carolina. The Tar Heels had never won a National Title but did make the Final Four last season for just the second time in school history. A year ago they fell to eventual champion Alabama Poly in the semifinals.
It would be more of the same for North Carolina as they were beaten soundly by USC, falling 57-42 despite 14 point nights from juniors Roy Pugh and Bob Kitterman. The Trojans were led by a pair of high scoring sophomores in Ralph Kaplowitz, who had 18 points, and Chick Halbert, who added 12.
In the other semi-final NYU jumped out to a 28-14 half time lead and coasted home with a 57-50 victory over a Washington team that was badly beaten on the boards. George Mikan had just 9 points but he controlled the game with 15 rebounds while Bob Synnott, a senior who was installed at center shifting Mikan to power forward this season, added 9 boards and 8 points in the win. Senior forward Howie Rader, who was looking for his third National Title, continued his strong tournament play with a 17 point effort.
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
New York University was on a mission in their quest to win an unprecedented 4th National Title in a 6 year span. The Violets stormed out to an 15-2 lead over USC and the game was pretty much over at the half as NYU led 35-16. The Trojans would have a little more success in the second half but still suffered a twenty point loss as NYU cemented it's standing as one of the most dominant teams in college basketball history.
Were it not for an upset 50-44 loss to North Carolina in the 1944 Elite Eight we could be looking at an NYU team that had won 4 straight National Titles. The Violets went 33-1 this season, a mark only accomplished once before by a National Champion. The team will lose it's two leading scorers in the title game to graduation as both Howie Rader and Bob Synnott end their college careers with a record 3 National Titles, as does fictional guard Cozy Niles, who also graduates. However, with the best player in the college game in George Mikan returning for his senior season and promising recruit Red Holzman likely ready to step in, we may see another NYU appearance in next year's Final Four as well.
Here is a list of NCAA champions by year
Code:
NATIONAL CHAMPIONS BY YEAR
Season Team Record Opponent Score
1944 New York University Violets 33-1 Southern California Trojans 61-41
1943 Alabama Polytechnical Tigers 28-6 South Carolina 46-38
1942 New York University Violets 30-4 Louisiana State Tigers 49-41
1941 New York University Violets 28-6 Iowa State Cylcones 39-25
1940 Wisconsin Badgers 28-6 Dartmouth Indians 40-27
1939 New York University Violets 26-8 Drake Bulldogs 48-30
1938 Columbia Lions 33-1 Illinois Fighting Illini 56-43
1937 Washington Huskies 30-4 Illinois Fighting Illini 60-52
1936 Ohio State Buckeyes 27-7 California Golden Bears 76-47
1935 Indiana Hoosiers 31-3 Columbia Lions 55-45
1934 Southern California Trojans 29-5 Ohio State Buckeyes 57-34
1933 California Golden Bears 26-8 Washington Huskies 54-40
1932 Washington Huskies 31-3 Southern California Trojans 48-41
1931 Wisconsin Badgers 28-6 Yale Bulldogs 46-39
1930 Illinois Fighting Illini 24-10 California Golden Bears 49-45
1929 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 25-9 Columbia Lions 52-45
1928 Southern California Trojans 25-9 Columbia Lions 34-26
1927 Purdue Boilermakers 30-4 Columbia Lions 25-16
1926 Dartmouth Indians 28-6 Indiana Hoosiers 28-18
1925 Wisconsin Badgers 29-6 California Golden Bears 30-23
1924 Mississippi State Maroons 30-4 California Golden Bears 28-20
1923 Wisconsin Badgers 29-5 Dartmouth Indians 27-26
1922 Columbia Lions 26-8 Illinois Fighting Illini 29-22
1921 Illinois Fighting Illini 27-7 Indiana Hoosiers 32-25
1920 Illinois Fighting Illini 27-7 Northwestern Wildcats 29-24
1919 Alabama Polytechnical Tigers 25-9 Dartmouth Indians 45-34
1918 Florida Gators 29-5 Dartmouth Indians 29-23
1917 Indiana Hoosiers 29-5 Columbia Lions 44-35
1916 Wake Forest Demon Deacons 30-4 Dayton Flyers 45-37
1915 Indiana Hoosiers 30-4 Syracuse Orangemen 34-26
1914 Dartmouth Indians 31-3 New York University Violets 33-31
1913 St. John's Redmen 29-5 New York University Violets 36-25
1912 Indiana Hoosiers 32-2 Northwestern Wildcats 40-32
1911 Dartmouth Indians 25-9 Wake Forest Demon Deacons 24-23
1910 Wisconsin Badgers 23-12 Florida Gators 42-30
1909 New York University Violets 32-2 Wake Forest Demon Deacons 27-24
1908 Wisconsin Badgers 28-7 Indiana Hoosiers 20-19
1907 Northwestern Wildcats 25-9 Indiana Hoosiers 34-32
1906 Ohio State Buckeyes 23-11 Georgia Bulldogs 38-30
1905 New York University Violets 26-8 Yale Bulldogs 22-18
1904 New York University Violets 24-10 Georgia Bulldogs 37-26
1903 Kentucky Wildcats 28-6 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 48-29
1902 Dartmouth Indians 19-15 Mississippi State Maroons 41-34
1901 Florida Gators 30-4 Georgetown Hoyas 41-29
STATS LEADERS AND AWARDS
MIKAN WINS PLAYER OF THE YEAR FOR SECOND STRAIGHT SEASON
Being moved from his natural center position to power forward for his junior season had no ill effect on New York University's George Mikan as the 7'1" behemoth was named National Player of the Year for the second straight season. Mikan, who finished 16th in the nation with 13.4 ppg and fifth in rebounds with 8.1, was named a First Team All-American for the second year in a row after being named to the second team and winning National Freshman of the Year honours two seasons ago. He also helped lead New York University to it's 4th National Title in the past six years, with Mikan playing a key role on each of the last two title winning clubs. In Mikan's three seasons with the NYU the
Violets record is 87-13. He will look to win an unprecedented 3rd player of the year award as a senior next season.
Code:
NCAA NATIONAL PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
YEAR NAME SCHOOL
44-45 George *Mikan New York University
43-44 George *Mikan New York University
42-43 Johnny Wilkerson Richmond
41-42 Abe *Yourist Columbia
40-41 Abe *Yourist Columbia
39-40 Howard *Vocke Columbia
38-39 Jack *Thornton California
37-38 Bart *Quinn Michigan
36-37 Paul *Tobin Washington
35-36 Tiny Richmond USC
34-35 Joe Horsnby USC
33-34 Charles *Murphy Mississippi State
32-33 Homer Hale Dartmouth
31-32 Jim Gillman Purdue
30-31 J.C. Kaiser Yale
29-30 Willy Nordin Illinois
28-29 Willy Nordin Illinois
27-28 Reb Harbison Purdue
26-27 Willie Kirkland Washington
25-26 Smead Mosier California
24-25 Smead Mosier California
23-24 Jim Welch Indiana
22-23 Joe Osborn Alabama Poly
21-22 Ken Holdren Wisconsin
20-21 Joe Williams Florida
19-20 Turk Kiley New York University
18-19 Ed Fryer Northwestern
17-18 Austin St. Pierre Syracuse
16-17 Jigger Johnson Iowa State
15-16 Ed Harville Indiana
14-15 Ed Harville Indiana
13-14 Clise Rainey Indiana
12-13 Wilbur Fancher Syracuse
11-12 Wilbur Fancher Syracuse
10-11 Bob Crampton Texas
09-10 Shanty Ambler Indiana
08-09 Gilly Barwick Alabama Poly
07-08 Pat Sain New York University
06-07 Jimmy Barner New York University
05-06 John Chandler New Mexico
04-05 Steve Porter Virginia Tech
03-04 Rags Kirchner Kentucky
02-03 Bob Howley Georgia
01-02 Sylvester Cravens Michigan
Code:
1944-45 ALL-AMERICANS
1st Team:
C JR Roy *Pugh North Carolina 11.6 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 1.2 APG, 0.4 SPG, 2.2 BPG
PF JR George *Mikan New York University 13.4 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 2.8 APG, 0.9 SPG, 1.8 BPG
SF SR Chet *Strumillo Alabama Polytechnic Insti 15.6 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.4 BPG
SG JR Earl DeMaria North Carolina 12.5 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.4 BPG
PG SR Chuck *Shanklin Washington 8.2 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 5.5 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.3 BPG
2nd Team:
C SR Howard Johnson Xavier 11.3 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 1.5 APG, 0.1 SPG, 2.5 BPG
PF JR Bob *Kurland Iowa State 7.3 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 2.0 APG, 0.3 SPG, 2.4 BPG
SF SR Dale *Morey Oregon 19.2 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 1.5 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.4 BPG
SG JR Guinn *Phillips St. John's 12.6 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 2.9 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.2 BPG
PG JR Bernie *Voorheis Alabama Polytechnic Insti 7.9 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 4.8 APG, 1.8 SPG, 0.1 BPG
3rd Team:
C SR Tony Chase Santa Clara 12.8 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 1.0 APG, 0.2 SPG, 1.5 BPG
PF SO Bob *Brannum Ohio State 12.5 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 1.3 APG, 0.5 SPG, 1.1 BPG
SF SR Manuel Aguilar UCLA 10.8 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 3.0 APG, 0.5 SPG, 1.0 BPG
SG JR Gene *Rock California 15.3 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 1.5 APG, 1.0 SPG, 0.3 BPG
PG SR Fred *Campbell Saint Mary's 9.2 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 5.6 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.2 BPG
Code:
1944-45 NCAA SCORING LEADERS
# PLAYER POS MIN PTS REB AST STL BLK TO TEAM
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1 Dale *Morey SF 33.5 19.2 5.9 1.5 0.9 0.4 2.3 Oregon
2 Butch England SF 31.3 16.0 2.7 1.1 0.7 0.0 2.0 Mississippi
3 Chet *Strumillo SF 31.3 15.6 3.7 2.2 1.5 0.4 1.3 Alabama Polytechnic Insti
4 Gene *Rock SG 31.7 15.3 2.4 1.5 1.0 0.3 2.1 California
5 Tim Cary SG 32.5 14.9 2.9 1.3 1.1 0.2 2.5 William & Mary
6 Travis Payton SG 33.2 14.7 1.8 1.4 1.1 0.4 1.7 LaSalle
7 Joe *Patanelli SF 30.6 14.3 4.1 1.6 0.7 0.1 2.1 Pittsburgh
8 Joe Beeson SG 31.7 14.2 5.5 1.3 0.6 0.1 2.5 Ohio
9 Johnny Hagar SF 31.1 14.1 4.1 1.6 1.2 0.2 1.8 Southern Methodist
10 Milt Steward SF 29.9 14.1 3.9 1.6 0.4 0.3 1.5 Oklahoma
11 Howie Weis SF 33.6 14.1 4.6 1.2 0.8 0.3 2.1 St. Francis-NY
12 Steamboat Starling SG 32.3 14.0 3.7 1.4 0.6 0.1 2.7 Idaho
13 Del *Loranger SG 33.5 13.9 6.0 2.3 0.3 0.3 2.7 Vanderbilt
14 Cecil Johnson SG 31.0 13.8 2.9 1.1 0.7 0.0 2.3 Butler
15 Frank *Shannon SG 33.3 13.6 3.2 1.7 0.9 0.2 2.6 Arizona
16 George *Mikan PF 32.9 13.4 8.1 2.8 0.9 1.8 1.5 New York University
17 Zeke Gust SG 30.2 13.4 3.2 1.4 0.6 0.2 2.7 San Francisco
18 Stover Hildebrand SG 33.8 13.3 1.9 1.9 0.9 0.0 2.2 Northwestern
19 Chuck *Hanger SF 33.7 13.3 2.4 1.1 0.6 0.3 2.6 Illinois
20 Salty Painter PF 33.3 13.1 4.8 0.8 0.3 0.8 1.8 Providence
21 Jud Toner SF 30.0 13.1 2.3 1.2 0.9 0.1 2.6 VMI
22 Carroll Whitworth PF 33.6 13.0 5.7 0.8 0.2 0.4 1.4 Arizona State
23 Joel Stancil C 32.6 12.9 6.3 1.4 0.7 0.3 1.1 Missouri
24 Simon Miller SF 35.3 12.8 3.8 1.2 0.2 0.1 1.9 Pennsylvania
25 Carson Albright PG 32.2 12.8 2.1 1.8 0.1 0.2 1.9 Northern Arizona
1944-45 REBOUND LEADERS
# PLAYER POS MIN PTS REB AST STL BLK TO TEAM
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1 Jack Mikesell PF 35.3 8.9 9.2 1.1 0.7 1.2 1.3 Cornell
2 Catfish DiLeo PF 32.7 10.0 8.8 1.3 0.5 0.3 1.4 Rice
3 Paul Freeman PF 34.8 5.2 8.7 1.2 0.4 0.2 1.4 Northwestern
4 Jim Orndorff C 34.2 4.7 8.2 1.0 0.2 1.1 1.6 Brigham Young
5 George *Mikan PF 32.9 13.4 8.1 2.8 0.9 1.8 1.5 New York University
6 Zack Hogan PF 33.6 4.6 8.0 1.3 0.3 0.4 1.2 Western Kentucky
7 Bill Sobel C 30.6 4.4 7.7 1.0 0.3 0.5 1.0 Princeton
8 Fred Frawley C 32.7 5.7 7.6 1.2 0.2 0.4 1.2 St. Bonaventure
9 Bob *Kurland PF 32.5 7.3 7.5 2.0 0.3 2.4 0.8 Iowa State
10 Niles Rohde PF 31.4 5.6 7.5 0.8 0.6 0.3 1.2 Kansas State
11 Bill *Closs PF 29.7 9.2 7.5 1.0 0.3 0.4 0.9 Indiana
12 Connie *Simmons C 32.6 6.2 7.4 1.1 0.2 2.5 1.2 Wisconsin
1944-45 ASSIST LEADERS
# PLAYER POS MIN PTS REB AST STL BLK TO TEAM
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1 Lee Williams PG 34.2 3.6 2.9 5.7 1.9 0.1 3.3 Dartmouth
2 Fred *Campbell PG 31.9 9.2 3.2 5.6 0.9 0.2 1.7 Saint Mary's
3 Chuck *Shanklin PG 30.8 8.2 2.7 5.5 1.0 0.3 1.3 Washington
4 George Skinner PG 31.9 6.0 2.1 5.0 1.3 0.2 2.6 St. Francis-NY
5 Bernie *Voorheis PG 30.1 7.9 3.2 4.8 1.8 0.1 1.6 Alabama Polytechnic Insti
6 Dean Murray PG 32.6 6.8 2.4 4.6 1.0 0.2 1.2 Georgia Tech
7 George Munroe PG 31.7 6.7 2.8 4.4 0.6 0.2 1.4 Virginia
8 Nick *Shaback SF 32.8 10.8 3.4 4.2 0.5 0.2 1.8 Manhattan
9 Mace Parker PG 33.6 6.9 3.7 4.1 0.7 0.0 1.8 Oklahoma A&M
10 Lafayette Harrington PG 31.1 6.4 3.2 4.1 0.6 0.1 2.6 Northern Colorado
1944-45 STEALS LEADERS
# PLAYER POS MIN PTS REB AST STL BLK TO TEAM
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1 Lee Williams PG 34.2 3.6 2.9 5.7 1.9 0.1 3.3 Dartmouth
2 Bernie *Voorheis PG 30.1 7.9 3.2 4.8 1.8 0.1 1.6 Alabama Polytechnic Insti
3 Hank *BiasattiMLB SG 29.8 10.0 3.3 2.2 1.8 0.2 2.1 Alabama Polytechnic Insti
4 Jerry Elkins PG 33.5 5.3 4.1 2.5 1.6 0.1 1.5 Georgetown
5 Tuck Huck SG 33.4 10.8 4.4 2.0 1.6 0.2 2.1 Richmond
6 Larry *Killick PG 31.1 7.7 3.0 3.2 1.6 0.2 1.9 Tulane
7 Dick Lack SF 33.7 8.3 3.5 2.4 1.5 0.3 2.1 DePaul
8 Ken *Kearns PG 29.4 7.4 2.1 4.1 1.5 0.2 2.5 Texas Christian
9 Dal *Zuber PG 32.1 8.2 2.1 3.7 1.5 0.2 1.9 Kent State
10 Jack Taylor SG 29.3 8.4 3.7 1.2 1.5 0.2 2.3 Holy Cross
11 Chet *Strumillo SF 31.3 15.6 3.7 2.2 1.5 0.4 1.3 Alabama Polytechnic Insti
RECRUITING
The Kentucky Wildcats rise to prominence looks like it will continue as the school landed a pair of top recruits in 8th rated Jack Knopf and #14 Jack Dwan. In real life Dwan played one season for the Minneapolis Lakers while Knopf played college ball at Louisville and was an NBA pick of St Louis but did not play professionally.
We are starting to get into the era where future NBA stars in real life are beginning their college careers in this universe. Among those that were recruited this year include Hall of Famer Red Holzman, who would go on to be a longtime coach of the New York Knicks after a college career at CCNY and over a decade as a player in the NBA. In this world Holzman will join the powerful NYU squad.
Others include Harry Galatin, signing with Washington, Arnie Risen going to South Carolina and National player of the Year George Mikan's brother Ed committing to Illinois.
Next up the 1944-45 National Basketball League season.