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Post by wtm97 on Oct 19, 2014 6:46:01 GMT -5
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Post by bostonfriar on Oct 19, 2014 9:30:55 GMT -5
Except it did not happen. Walker had another big game and Cousey proved he could not coach. Kavolski dribbled out the clock, handed off to Walker on the clear out and Jimmy made the winning shot at the buzzer.
K9valski dribbled at the sideline next to Mullaney and no one from BC challenged him. Funny moment.
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Post by bostonfriar on Oct 19, 2014 9:36:08 GMT -5
The year before with Juniors Blair and Benudect and Sophs Walker, Riordan and Dexter Westbrook PC had what I think is one of their best teams with a #3 national ranking before Princeton and Bill Bradley ended the year for us in the regal final.
Westbrook not returning was a Hugh loss the following two years.
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Post by wtm97 on Oct 19, 2014 12:20:17 GMT -5
So, here is some background along with what I found out yesterday chatting it up with Jim Benedict down in Falmouth...
Jim Benedict 6’ 4” was from Hartford CT, was originally recruited by and he fully expected to attend Fairfield University. He told me that changed when Joe Mullaney reached out to him as a late recruit and that it was John Eagan who influenced him to fully consider Providence College.
When he did and arrived on campus he was introduced to one other late Mullaney and it was none other than Bill Blair. His freshman team coach was none other than a young Dave Gavitt. Both he and Blair were told that their scholarships opened up when two expected recruits had backed off attending PC and they were the replacements. When they asked Coach Mullaney who these other recruits were, he deferred telling them both – “Don’t worry about it – you guys are better ball players’ than they are…”
Benedict had quite a career at PC - scoring over 1000 pts in three seasons, playing Guards while shooting at a very respectable .455 clip. He played with John Thompson as a sophomore and then with Jimmy Walker/Mike Riordan/Dexter Westbrook e. al. in his Junior/Senior seasons. So did Bill Blair as PC firmly established the Friars as the premier program in New England.
Benedict told me each year he would ask Mullaney who the “other guys” were and each year he got the same answer - “Don’t worry about it – you guys are better than they are…”
Finally after graduation, he asked Mullaney the same question and finally got an answer…the two recruits who went elsewhere were John Austin, (BC) and Dave Bing, (Syracuse)!!!!
Austin had a huge reputation was many say he was the best guard ever at BC even though at 6’ he basically had a cup of coffee in the NBA. Dave Bing of course played 12 seasons in the NBA is in the NBA Hall of Fame and was until recently the Mayor of Detroit.
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The codicil to all of this of course is not only the All American status of both Austin and Bing but the turn of fate that brought Bill Blair to PC along with Jim Benedict. Blair was Jimmy Walker’s cousin and his coming to PC led to the recruitment of Jimmy Walker.
Walker of course was the greatest Friar Player ever – he torched John Austin and BC scoring 50 at the stuff of legends Holiday Festival showdown at Madison Square Garden. After being drafted #1 in the NBA draft, he went on to play many years as the back court partner of Dave Bing with the Detroit Pistons.
Jim Benedict went on to say anyone who has spread rumors of issues about Jimmy Walker is flat out wrong – he told me yesterday there was no alcohol or gambling issues, etc. and his only weakness were the women…he also added he agreed Jimmy Walker was among the greatest college players ever and what made his game so great beyond his amazing natural talent? Benedict said he was the easiest guy to play basketball with – the ultimate team player who made everyone around him better…
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Post by mikey2 on Oct 19, 2014 13:12:22 GMT -5
Thanks for posting this....
Really nice to think back to those magical days....listening to Chris Clark on a transistor radio!
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Post by rooster on Oct 19, 2014 13:25:21 GMT -5
Thanks for posting - love hearing Friar history.
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Post by dex on Oct 19, 2014 14:04:32 GMT -5
"who made everyone around him better" The real Walk never has gotten enough credit for the fact that he was the ultimate team player...especially his first two years when he didn't have to carry the team quite as much as his last year. In fact, and WTM may speak to this, in his 50 point masterpiece against BC at MSG I don't think he took a shot till near the end of the first half. He was a terrific passer because his instincts for the game and his perepheral vision were uncanny. Actually in all the clips many of you have seen, you rarely see interviews...but when he was interviewed he was very soft spoken and humble. If I'm not mistaken, I think WTM has a nice story about John Austin and Union Station in Providence. Bitter Sweet: If Bing had come to PC, Boeheim would have played with a bum at Cuse and they would have continued to stink...there would be no Carrier Dome and they would be in the Patriot League today. The sweet part is that I got to watch James Anthony Walker's career up close which cemented the foundation laid by Egan, Hadnot, Ernst, and Flynn with two national championships. As far as Benedict is concerned...solid, unflappable, very good shooter at 6-4. He still comes to the games BTW. On the rare occasion when Jim Benedict would make a mistake or call the wrong set, I can still hear, ever so clearly, Friar Joe scream: "Benny you're killing me!" Lasher and Big K ...ha ha remember them well. If only Westbrook had stayed, just maybe we could have gotten our 3rd national championship. ...and then the 4th if Marvin didn't get hurt
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Post by wtm97 on Oct 19, 2014 16:42:49 GMT -5
Beyond the eye-opening revelation of the other recruits I do agree with dex - Walker was indeed the ultimate team player and Benedict confirmed - called him the easiest guy he ever played with to "play with"...and yes, he did not take a shot for 15 minutes at MSG when he dropped the 50...he himself talks about this in a video made when he came back to campus a few years ago to hang with Ernie D and promote their book.
Within the framework of "things happen for a reason" I do believe this is a significant piece of the PC Legacy - think about it OK? Sure Dave Bing comes and maybe Austin and good things happen, probably wonderful things - no doubt.
BUT in their place we had fill-in recruits; what are now considered 'second option' recruits who were exceptional pieces for PC - hardly chopped liver....and most important - NO BLAIR; NO WALKER. 'Benny'was by all accounts an exceptional shooter - look at the respectable .455 pct. and the 14.3 career average while playing with guys who really were the top recruits.
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He also told me a very funny story about himself and Walker and their summer shape up job at some sort of construction equipment company; jobs Gavitt 'got' them where they were 'oilers' for the machines...it paid very well do do very little and all was great until Walker failed to show up to set up and lay down the lines for the company's nationally ranked adult softball team.
Benedict went and did it - he worked. Jimmy learned his lesson and showed up the next week after being passed over for a week at the shape up for failing to get the baseball field in tip-top shape...
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Post by dex on Oct 19, 2014 16:58:57 GMT -5
Yes WTM they were a big time softball team...The Local 57 Engineers. The played at beautiful Engineer's Field on Gano St on College Hill near Brown University. Fast Pitch and exciting played on like a Little League field. Actually I played Little League there as I recall for some City and State tourney games. The grass was like a putting green for crice sakes.
Local 57 guys ran heavy construction equipment and cranes...a powerful union indeed...I had family that were members.
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Post by friar71 on Oct 19, 2014 17:30:59 GMT -5
Yes WTM they were a big time softball team...The Local 57 Engineers. The played at beautiful Engineer's Field on Gano St on College Hill near Brown University. Fast Pitch and exciting played on like a Little League field. Actually I played Little League there as I recall for some City and State tourney games. The grass was like a putting green for crice sakes. Local 57 guys ran heavy construction equipment and cranes...a powerful union indeed...I had family that were members. Al "Tootsie" Thompson, one of their stars was a neighbor in his later years. Al went about 300 and so did many of his home-runs.
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Post by jacka252 on Oct 19, 2014 17:40:29 GMT -5
This post brings back some great memories. Old men like me love those great memories. Don’t believe I’ve heard before what a great teammate Walk was and so easy to get along with. Maybe don’t remember or so much to say about the incredible Walk that overlooked it. Was fortunate to see his 50 point holiday festival game. It goes without saying he was virtually unstoppable just going down and sinking jumper after jumper. To me, one of the most incredible plays I ever witnessed was Mike Riordan defense on a John Austin jumper during that game. Those who saw John Austin remember he had a jumper similar to that of Jimmy Stone. Like a sling shot with the release coming from far back over the shoulder which made it almost impossible to block. We also remember that Mike Riordan was a 6’ 4” white man who could jump. Austin who must have been completely frustrated trying to compete with the Walk went up for a jumper. Mike Reardon jumped up in front of him and had his whole hand wrapped around the ball and proceeded to knock Austin backward on his butt to the floor. Don’t ever remember seeing a block like that where someone was literally slammed to the floor with a total block like that. Was at Newport festival to see DeMatha and Austin play his senior year I believe when Mullaney was recruiting him. We knew he was being recruited by Mullaney and big disappointment when he chose BC. Who know, if Austin had come would Mullaney still have recruited the Walk? Probably so but never know how the world turns although the Blair connection still would have been there. When Gavitt went to see the Walk at Laurenberg remember hearing or reading of his glowing assessment that the Walk could do it all. My memory, always shaky these days, is little different that earlier poster re the Walk/Kavolski play at the end of that great PC/BC game coached by Cousey for BC. Believe play was for Walker to drive to the basket, take the shot if it was there or kick it out to Kavolski at the top of the key if not. Shot not there for the Walk who delivered to Kavolski who took the deep shot and delivered the game for PC. BC not anticipating Kavalski, 6’8” taking shot at top of the key or little beyond. Kavalski as we know was a very good shooter. Bob Cousey, friend and teammate of Mullaney, one of all time basketball greats in the Hall of Fame as player. College Coach, not in the Hall of Fame. Will go to my grave believing that if PC had another day or two rest after playing St. Jose’s they would have beaten Princeton even with the great Bill Bradley. St. Joes and PC were the two best teams in the east that year and it was total war when they played. Matt Goukas and something Anderson their big guns. Memory somewhat faded re that St. Joes game but it was a war and think it might have gone into single or even double overtime. PC was physically and emotionally exhausted after that game IMHO. While I’m on a roll, will always believe the 63 team would have beaten Loyola of Chicago for the National Championship if had been given an NCAA invite. PC team at the top of it game with incredible fast break that was unstoppable. Great outlet passes to start the break from Thompson, Ernst jetting the ball up court and delivering pin point passes many bounce passes to tremendous finishers in Flynn and Stone. Really fun and exciting team to watch. I may be a little prejudice here. Sure wish we could have witnessed a Barnes Walton matchup even if we came up short on it. Would have been an incredible game but it wasn’t meant to be.
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Post by jacka252 on Oct 19, 2014 17:55:06 GMT -5
Don't ever recall hearing that Dave Bing was a PC recruit. Wow, that could have been two NBA all stars in the PC back court. Thanks for the post.
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Post by 4friars on Oct 19, 2014 18:44:32 GMT -5
Great discussion that brings back so many great Friar memories.
One funny note that I can add is regarding John Austin and his recruitment. In those days the school always posted a list of incoming Freshman on the bulletin board in Harkins Hall. When that Freshman class was posted John Austin's name was on it. That's how close he came to being a Friar. The rest of the story was that he was indeed scheduled to be a Friar and was taking the train from his home in DC to stop in Providence and start his freshman year at PC. When he got off the train in Providence Bob Cousy was there waiting for him and convinced him on the spot that BC would be a better place to go to school. The rest is history. It was the biggest recruiting steal from PC until Sly Williams came along a few years later and was redirected to URI
I was at the Holiday Festival game at the old MSG in 65 as well jacka252 and agree that Walk's performance that day was as good as any I've ever seen. He was unstoppable
Also really enjoyed your note on the 63 team which was spot on. That team had the best fast break that I have ever seen. The rebounders (Thompson, Big K and Stone did there job and got the rebound and passed it out to Ernst who was amazing directing the play. Flynn would be on one wing and Stone would catch up from rebounding on his gimpy leg and be on the other wing. When Ernst got to the top of the key he always made the right decision on what to do with the ball and that team got tons of easy baskets as a result. That 63 team was very underrated in the list of best Friar teams and like you said jacka we all thought that they could have won the national championship. The two tournament finals were played on the same day in those years and when the NIT final was over and we went back to the hotel to watch the NCAA final and there was no question in our minds that we could have beaten either of those teams. No doubt that I'm prejudiced regarding this as well but there is no questioning how good that team was
Just to put things in perspective on what it was like on campus in those days, when we played in the NIT in 63 the school closed down and the campus literally moved to NY to take in every game. Thrill of a lifetime that I can still remember today
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Post by pc1971 on Oct 19, 2014 21:24:37 GMT -5
Great reading all of this.Brings back great memories.
Watching Walker etal starting from the '64-65 season Was what made me (watching on TV from New Bedford) want to go to PC.
Benedict is a player who does not get the props he should,being overshadowed by Walker,for sure.But Jim was a really good shooter. Thanks for sharing guys.
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Post by 4friars on Oct 20, 2014 4:45:33 GMT -5
and thanks especially for the meeting story by WTM that got this all started. A lot of info that I had never heard before especially the personal information on Walk
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