UGA Men’s Basketball
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Georgia at Wake Forest
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Wake Forest
Demon Deacons Host Georgia Bulldogs in Friday Night Showdown
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – “The Wake Forest men's basketball team will continue their non-conference slate with a home contest against the Georgia Bulldogs on Friday night. This is the first of two games against SEC opponents this season.
The Demon Deacons (1-0, 0-0) are coming off of a 71-59 home victory over Fairfield on Monday night in the season opener.
Junior forward Andrew Carr scored 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting and five rebounds in the win, including the first 10 Wake Forest points in his team debut.
Freshman forward Bobi Klintman made an immediate impact off the bench for the Deacs in his collegiate debut. The Malmo, Sweden native recorded 11 points on 3-of-5 shooting in addition to a team-high six rebounds. Klintman played a pivotal role in a 10-0 run at the end of the first half.
As a team, the Deacs made the most of their trips to the free throw line, converting on 29-of-39 attempts from the charity stripe.
The Bulldogs (1-0, 0-0) are led by first year head coach Mike White. Prior to arriving in Athens, White spent seven seasons at Florida, where he compiled a 243-128 record. He coached Wake Forest guard Tyree Appleby in his last two seasons with the Gators.
Georgia opened its season with a 68-55 win over Western Carolina in Athens. The Bulldogs were led by junior guard Kario Oquendo, who finished the game with 18 points and three blocks. Oquendo was Georgia's leading scorer in the 2021-22 season with 15.2 points per game following his transfer from Florida Southwestern State.
Friday night's tipoff inside LJVM is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. and the game will stream live on ACC Network.
Fans can follow along via the Demon Deacons Twitter, Instagram and Facebook accounts (@WakeMBB).
Standout Stat
* Wake Forest had four players record double-digits in points during the win over Fairfield:
* Andrew Carr – 14 points
* Daivien Williamson – 14 points
* Cameron Hildreth – 14 points
* Bobi Klintman – 11 points
Series History
Versus Georgia
Series: Wake Forest trails 2-4
Last: December 8th, 2007, in Athens
Result: L – 72-50”
Wake Forest Notes
Georgia Notes
Wake Forest Basketball Program 1
Wake Forest Roster
Starters vs Fairfield
1 Tyree Appleby 6-1 165 RS Senior
17-18 Cleveland State 11.8 2.4 4.0
18-19 Cleveland State 17.2 3.7 5.6
20-21 Florida 11.3 3.1 3.3
21-22 Florida 10.9 2.1 3.6
22-23 Wake Forest 8.0 4.0 3.0
Dasher Rivals.com Mike White interview: “It’s going to be great to see him. I’ve known him since he was really young. I coached him for a couple of years, of course,” White said. “I coached his older brother for four years, one of the winningest players I’ve ever coached. He’s great, I love him. He’ll be a good fit for Coach Forbes. We had a lot of communication throughout Tyree’s recruiting process when he jumped into the portal with the Wake staff. He seems happy, he’s playing well. I just hope he doesn’t get it going on us.”
The Athletic: Top transfers/Fits
“65. Tyree Appleby | 6-1 guard | graduate | Transferred from Florida to Wake Forest
The Scout: Originally a transfer from Cleveland State, Appleby had a couple of solid years as a starter at Florida. But with a new regime coming in, he decided to hit the portal, where he’s seen as a steady hand at the lead guard spot for potential high-major suitors. He’s not really all that capable of finishing in the paint because of his lack of size, but Appleby is a reliable shooter who ended up taking a ton of tough shots because Florida’s offense often looked like a clogged toilet this past season. He’s better as a shooter from distance than the 35 percent mark would indicate. He also made some strides as a distributor this past year, particularly improving on some of the wild decisions he made in the past and cutting down on the turnovers. Appleby’s not going to be the sexiest option in the portal, but with only a one-year commitment necessary, I would expect him to end up at a high-major as a potential fifth starter or sixth-man type guard.
The Fit: Steve Forbes has built back his guard depth with the additions of Appleby in addition to Jao Ituka. Both could end up starting or one start and one come off the bench if Daivien Williamson decides to return to school. Appleby being gradually better than a year ago would be solid returns, but it’s possible he blows past that. Why is that? Because Forbes seems to have a great eye for finding some hidden gems in the portal. A year ago no one would have ever imagined Alondes Williams would be anywhere close to how good he turned out to be for the Deacs.”
4 Daiven Williamson 6-1 180 RS Senior
18-19 ETEU 9.5 2.0 2.5
19-20 ETSU 10.4 2.0 2.6
20-21 Wake Forest 12.9 2.1 2.5
21-22 Wake Forest 11.8 2.5 1.2
22-23 Wake Forest 14.0 1.0 2.0
0 Lucas Taylor 6-3 195 Sophomore
21-22 Wake Forest 0.1 0.1 0.2
22-23 Wake Forest 3.0 4.0 0.0
11 Andrew Carr 6-10 220 Junior
20-21 Delaware 8.2 3.7 1.8
21-22 Delaware 10.0 5.1 1.3
22-23 Wake Forest 14.0 5.0 1.0
SB Nation:
“Carr is definitely what I would consider to be a stretch forward and should be a solid replacement for Jake LaRavia, should he decide not to return for his senior season. Like LaRavia, Carr has impressive size at 6-9 but is also a fantastic shooter and finished the 2021-22 season shooting 56% from the field and 41% from beyond the arc—that’s a better 3-point percentage than any player on Wake’s roster this season. As you can see from his shot chart below—courtesy of CBBAnaltyics.com—he excels down low where he can use his size to score over defenders and can light it up from almost anywhere from beyond the arc.”
20 Davion Bradford 7-0 270 Junior
20-21 Kansas State 7.7 4.3 0.2
21-22 Kansas State 3.3 1.9 0.2
22-23 Wake Forest 3.0 4.0 1.0
Bench
2 Cameron Hildreth 6-4 195 Sophomore
21-22 Wake Forest 3.9 2.9 1.2
22-23 Wake Forest 14.0 3.0 3.0
34 Bobbi Klintman 6-10 225 Freshman
22-23 Wake Forest 11.0 6.0 0.0
Twitter:
“Wake Forest +10 in 18 mins with Andrew Carr + Bobi Klintman on the floor together vs. Fairfield. Not a lot of teams can roll out two 6-10 guys who can shoot, pass, handle in space, screen, attack 1-on-1 matchups
Lots of 5-out optionality, closed the game with Klintman-Carr at 4-5.”
25 Zach Keller 6-10 228 Freshman
22-23 Wake Forest 4.0 0.0 0.0
30 Damari Monsanto 6-6 225 RS Junior
20-21 ETSU 11.8 7.3 0.9
21-22 Wake Forest 7.3 3.4 0.8
22-23 Wake Forest 0.0 3.0 0.0
33 Matthew Marsh 7-1 250 Sophomore
21-22 Wake Forest 2.8 1.6 0.0
22-23 Wake Forest 0.0 1.0 0.0
UGA Recruiting
Gwinnett Daily Post: 2022-23 Gwinnett Daily Post Super Six Boys Basketball
UGA Signee
“Name: Lamariyon Jordan
School: Norcross
Class: Senior
Height: 6-foot-6
Place of birth: Kentucky
College choice: Georgia
Favorite basketball shoes: Nike Kyrie Irving
Funniest teammate: Samarion Bond or Mykel Valrie
Most points I’ve scored in a game: 40
Favorite gym: Norcross
Least favorite gym: Shiloh
Favorite teacher: Mrs. Bibb, language arts
Dream job: Professional basketball player (NBA)
Noteworthy:
• Earned all-state, all-metro and all-county honors last season at Dacula
• Averaged 19.7 points and 5.9 rebounds
Coach Jesse McMillan’s take: “Lamariyon (Mari) is a young man that has all the tools to play basketball at a high level for a long time. He has great size and athleticism as a wing and his shooting ability allows him to be a multi-dimensional scorer. Defensively, he wants to be great, and I feel he will be able to rise to the challenge of guarding some of Georgia’s best players throughout the course of this season. He has the consistent work ethic and practice habits that bode well for consistent improvement during his senior year and beyond. We are excited that he will be representing Norcross and Gwinnett County basketball at the University of Georgia next year. He is a quality young man both on and off the court.”
Keep an eye on:
“Name: Jayce Nathaniel
School: Lanier
Class: Junior
Height: 6-foot-8
Place of birth: Atlanta
College choice: Undecided, multiple offers
Favorite basketball shoes: Zoom Freak 1s
Best Gwinnett basketball player not on my team: Mari Jordan
Funniest teammate: Cam Thorton
Most points I’ve scored in a game: 28
Favorite gym: Lanier High School
Least favorite gym: Habersham Central
Favorite teacher: Collin Jones
Dream job: NBA
Noteworthy:
• Averaged 17 points, 7 rebounds last season
• All-county and all-region selection
Coach Branden Mayweather’s take: “Jayce Nathaniel is a coach’s dream, because he is the first guy in the gym and the last one to leave. In all my years of coaching, I have never had a kid work as hard as he does day in and day out. With relentless effort every time he steps onto the floor and an amazing skill set in a 6-foot-8 frame, it is easy to see why he is recognized for this amazing accomplishment. A lot of players want to be leaders and think they are cut out for the grind of being a high level player and they simply are not. Jayce is the epitome of hard work, and that is why he is the leader of our team.”
“Name: Gicarri Harris
School: Grayson
Class: Junior
Height: 6-foot-4
Place of birth: Scottsdale, Ariz.
College choices: Purdue, Stanford, Georgia, Indiana, SMU, Florida, Dayton, Arizona State, LSU, others
Favorite basketball shoes: Kyrie 7’s
Best Gwinnett basketball player not on my team: Mari Jordan
Funniest teammate: Kayden Allen
Most points I’ve scored in a game: 40
Favorite gym: Rock Hill Sports and Event Center
Least favorite gym: Berkmar aux gym
Favorite teacher: Ms. Scott
Dream job: NBA/basketball coach
Noteworthy:
• Key player on the Rams’ state quarterfinal team
• Four-star recruit has almost 15 Power Five offers
Coach Geoffrey Pierce’s take: “You'd be hard pressed to find a harder-working or more coachable player than Gicarri. His maturity and work ethic allow him to command respect at all times whether it's in the locker room, classroom or the hallway at school. He's the embodiment of what any coach in any sport would want in regard to representing the brand of their program. You can really tell that getting better and winning are the only things that matter to him every single time he steps on the basketball court. He blocks out the noise and comes in ready to work every single day. He does a phenomenal job encouraging his teammates to work hard and be better players. He's mature beyond his years. After coming in as a freshman known as a shooter, as a junior, he's turned himself into one of the most complete players in the state regardless of class. He's done this by working hard to add to his game every offseason, and by remaining eager to learn and to be coached hard at all times. His continued development as a player and young man has been fun to be a part of. I'm excited to get a front seat view of him performing in his new role as a leader on this team.”
Georgia Women’s Basketball
Gadogs.com: Bulldogs Top Hornets 77-47
SEC Basketball
Alabama
Alabama.com: What Alabama expects in Game 2 and an area for improvement
Kentucky
Louisville Courier Journal: Numbers game: Who makes the 8-man rotation for John Calipari, Kentucky men's basketball?
Mississippi
College Basketball
Rothstein: The Breakfast Buffet: Gonzaga/Michigan State, Adem Bona, Villanova/Temple
Miller Field of 68: The season takes flight
After four days of appetizers, college hoops finally gets an entree with Gonzaga vs. Michigan State on an aircraft carrier. What to watch this weekend, plus storylines to remember.
Boston College
Colorado
Greeley Tribune: Five-star coup: Coveted recruit Cody Williams signs with CU Buffs men’s basketball
Connecticut
Zag’s Blog: UConn’s Hurley says it will be a ‘failure’ if Fab 5 recruiting class doesn’t win an NCAA title
Florida State
Maryland
(Defeated Western Carolina 71-51 after leading by 33, UGA defeated Western Carolina by 13 Monday night)
Wash Post: Fighting hard on defense, Terps cruise to a win over Western Carolina
“These kids are playing so hard. It’s fun. I’m having fun just watching them run,” first-year coach Kevin Willard said after his Terrapins’ 71-51 victory over Western Carolina at Xfinity Center. “They’re talking. They’re communicating. To be this connected defensively this early is really, really good.”
Maryland’s defense led the charge, and after the game Willard praised how quickly his players have adapted to his system. His deal with the players is simple: Play hard defensively and reap the benefits of offensive freedom.
Amid some first-half struggles offensively, the Terps set the tone on defense with their intensity as they led from start to finish. In the first 20 minutes, Maryland (2-0) forced 10 turnovers and held Western Carolina (0-2) to 20 percent shooting. That tenacity provided a boost on the other end of the court, creating easy opportunities in transition and resulting in 24 points in the paint in the half — and 46 on the night.
The Terps didn’t make a three-pointer in the first half, going 0 for 8, while Western Carolina shot just 2 for 12. Maryland shot just 38.7 percent overall to take a 32-15 halftime lead…
The defensive intensity continued in the second half before the Terps found some life on offense, expanding their lead to 33 points before Western Carolina closed the gap late…
The Catamounts of the Southern Conference, who went 11-21 last season, put just one scorer in double digits: Tyzhaun Claude with 12 points…
After shooting 9 for 20 from three-point range in Monday’s season-opening win over Niagara, the Terps struggled Thursday, making 2 of 19 attempts. Their first make came more than four minutes into the second half courtesy of Hart.
That cold perimeter shooting forced the Terps to attack downhill, and they thrived. Maryland shot 59.5 percent from inside the arc.
Maryland smothered West Carolina from the opening tip. The Catamounts shot 27 percent from the field and 25 percent from three-point range.
The Terps forced 17 turnovers and notched seven steals while blocking five shots. The Catamounts rarely attempted an uncontested shot and struggled to finish around Reese and other big men in the paint.
After the win over Niagara, Willard was not happy with his team’s effort on the glass. Even though the Terps fared better against Western Carolina — they had 41 boards compared with the Catamounts’ 40 — rebounding will continue to be a point of emphasis.”
Memphis
Memphis Commercial Appeal: Why Memphis basketball's Kendric Davis said 'I'm a bad (expletive)' before Tigers play SLU
Michigan State
Notre Dame (UGA 2022 Opponent)
Rivals: Notre Dame rallies past Radford to avoid upset in season opener
“SOUTH BEND, Ind. — When the chaos kicks in, Mike Brey figures his veteran team has a little bit of an edge.
If that’s the case, it was just enough Thursday night for his Notre Dame men’s basketball team to escape with a 79-76 season-opening victory over Radford at Purcell Pavilion.
“There may have been a couple times under 10 minutes tonight when you might not think so,” said Brey.
Actually, there were more than a couple.
Down nine with 12:37 to go.
Down seven at the 12:13 mark.
Down five with 5:19 to play.
Trey Wertz, one of six grad students on the club, was the calming presence in the second half, hitting some of the critical shots to stabilize the offense in the second half and one especially clutch pass to teammate Cormac Ryan for a layup and 77-76 Irish lead with 9.5 seconds to play.
It was actually a 5-on-4 situation in the Irish favor in the sequence when Ryan tangled under the Radford hoop with DaQuan Smith. As they untangled, Smith stayed down, and Ryan took off. Trailing on the play, he found a seam in the defense and Wertz found him close to the bucket.
“I saw him coming into the picture (from behind),” said Wertz, who had 18 points that included a 4-for-5 performance from the 3-point line, a team-high four assists and three rebounds.
“He is a calming presence with the ball,” Brey said of Wertz. “He’s really got a feel for things.”
Ryan’s bucket off the feed made it 77-76 Irish, but the school from Virginia and the Big South Conference had time to produce more angst for the 4,698 in attendance.
Josiah Jeffers, who had 13 points, drove down the right side of the lane and got to the side of the basket before lofting a shot over Ryan. It bounced off the rim with two seconds to play and Nate Laszewski grabbed his 12th rebound before being fouled.
He hit both free throws to put it away, fitting considering he started the game by scoring ND’s first nine points, and tied his career best with 28 points
But it was a struggle all night for the Irish to separate, their biggest lead reaching seven late in the first half. Radford, led by 20 points from Kenyon Giles, grabbed some late momentum to get it to 40-39 at the end of the first half.
“They have some good guards, and they were making some tough shots,” Brey said.
It was a slugfest the rest of the way against a team that came to Purcell in November of 2018 and knocked off the Irish by three.
“Radford will never come back to play here again during my tenure,” joked Brey, who is now 23-0 in home openers at ND.
“Their experience is a big benefit,” said Radford coach Darris Nichols, whose team features 13 newcomers, including eight transfers. “And when one through five can shoot the ball, they’re always going to be in it.”
Not all shot well for the Irish. Starters Dane Goodwin went 1-for-8 overall and Ryan was 0-for-5 from 3-point range.
The unranked Irish were double-digit favorites coming in but didn’t look the part for much of the night. They played without their transfer grad student guard Marcus Hammond, who is nursing a strained knee ligament. He is expected to miss Sunday’s home game against Youngstown State (4 p.m.) and likely more.
The starting five picked up the slack by staying on the floor. Goodwin, Ryan, Laszewski and Wertz all played over 36 of the 40 minutes.
Even freshman guard JJ Starling was on the court for more than 30 minutes and flashed some of the potential that made him the 22nd ranked recruit in the country by Rivals.
He was 2-for-4 from three, totaled nine points and got fouled on a strong drive to the bucket with 46 seconds to play. He hit one of two free throws to get the Irish within one at 76-75.
With more grad students (6) than any other Power 5 team in the country, Brey sees another benefit – experienced players know how to draw fouls and get to the line.
Brey called it a weapon – “old guys know how to play through things,” he said – and it saved his club against the Highlanders, who were coming off a 79-69 loss Monday to Marquette.
The Irish went 21-for-25 from the line to Radford’s 8-for-12. No one mixed it up more than Laszewski who was a handful for the Highlanders with his drives and play around the bucket. He finished 12-of-15 from the line.
“It was a physical game, but it was fun to play,” Laszewski said.
Freshman Ven-Allen Lubin was the only player to leave the bench for Notre Dame and most of it came in the first half. He had a highlight dunk on a rebound of a missed Goodwin jumper and finished with six points, but Brey kept him on the bench for most of the second half, preferring to put his trust in the veterans in a tight season opener.
There will be better days for the Irish. They had an edge on the boards at 32-29, but also had 10 turnovers to only 11 assists – not a typical Irish performance. They also forced only six Radford turnovers after the Highlanders had committed 15 in the loss to Marquette.”
Pittsburgh
Rutgers
Asbury Park Press: Rutgers basketball: Milestone win for Steve Pikiell in romp of Sacred Heart
USC
AP: Peterson sparks USC to 96-58 romp over Alabama State
Utah
Deseret News: ‘Now it is on us to go get it done’: Pieces are in place for Runnin’ Utes to exceed expectations in 2022-23
NBA
NBA.com: BLEACHER REPORT: RANKING TOP 50 PROSPECTS AS COLLEGE BASKETBALL TIPS OFF
Golden State
The Ringer: Can the Warriors Be Two Teams At Once?
Golden State’s veteran starters have played like champs. Its promising young core, however, has gotten blown off the court, raising questions about whether the franchise can execute its ambitious two-timeline approach.
New York
NYP: Knicks still ‘trying to figure ourselves out’ amid costly inconsistency
Utah
NBA.com: "This Was A Mini Homecoming" | Beasley And Kessler Shine In Happy Homecoming
History
Hoops Birthdays 11-11
Hilton Armstrong C Connecticut NO, SAC, HOU, WAS, ATL, GS 2006-2014 11-11-1984 38 YOA
Kevin Kunnert C Iowa BUF, HOU, SD, POR
1973-1982 11-11-1951 71 YOA
Rudy (Deuce, The Ivy Leaguer With Muscles, Honey Boy, Musty, Brutus, Roughhouse Rudy) LaRusso PF Dartmouth MINL, LAL, SF 1959-1969 born 11-11-1937 died 7-09-2004
Pro Hoops History
“Rudy LaRusso was certainly an intellectual having graduated from Ivy League Dartmouth College in 1959. But he was also certainly worthy of that freeway description. LaRusso was one of the roughest, toughest players of the 1960s NBA. It was a turbulent decade that practically framed his career. His first professional game was October 18, 1959 as a member of the Minneapolis Lakers and his last game was April 5, 1969 against the Los Angeles Lakers…
From the 1960-61 season until the 1965-66 season, the Lakers of Baylor, West, and LaRusso would appear in 4 NBA Finals losing to the Boston Celtics each time. The losses were often painfully close. The 1962 series ended with a 3-point Celtics win in an overtime Game 7. The 1963 series ended with a 3-point Celtics win in Game 6. The Lakers big 3 combined for 79 of Los Angeles’ 109 points in that game. In 1966, the Lakers lost another Game 7, this time by 2 points.
Add to these Finals losses the 1961 defeat in Game 7 of the Western Division Finals, 105 to 103, at the hands of the St. Louis Hawks and you have a ridiculous amount of frustrated glory for LaRusso and the Lakers.
But to boil down LaRusso’s career as a bystander in these catastrophic defeats is unwarranted. He carved out his niche role on these successful, if not championship, Laker teams. Facing off against the likes of Bob Pettit, Bailey Howell, Tommy Heinsohn and others, LaRusso was usually tasked with guarding the opposing team’s best forward. His physical and aggressive defense often led to quarrels and outright fights on the court.
In February 1962, LaRusso and the Celtics exchanged some not-so-friendly moments…
The trouble broke out early in the first period, when LaRusso and Boston’s Bob Cousy started making hostile gestures at each other with arms and elbows after a struggle over the ball. This little drama was just petering out when Heinsohn ran up behind LaRusso and socked him the back of the head. Both benches emptied but a riot was averted and no one was kicked out of the game.
Shortly after this outburst, Tommy Heinsohn was knocked flat on his behind by someone and had to leave the game with blurred vision and a concussion. No one knew who exactly delivered the blow, but suspicion fell upon LaRusso:
…for several minutes after the incident, [Red] Auerbach was yelling at LaRusso: “Remember, Rudy, you’ve got to come to Boston.”
But LaRusso’s most famous tangle came with the New York Knicks’ young center Willis Reed in 1966:
Reed, 6’8″, 235, then in his third year, had been exchanging elbows all night with Rudy LaRusso. After a third-quarter free throw. Reed tripped LaRusso, who tagged Reed with a right while Darrall Imhoff held Willis from behind. That sent Reed into a frenzy. He slugged Imhoff and chased LaRusso to the bench. Then he hit John Block with an enormous left hook, spreading his nose all over his face, turned and again belted Imhoff, who fell and knocked five Lakers off the bench like dominoes. Reed planted two more shots on LaRusso and one more on Imhoff, who, bleeding from above the left eye, dived under the bench, to find Block already hiding there with a broken nose.
As it happens, LaRusso’s beat down at the hands of Willis Reed would turn out to be one of his final moments as a Laker. Later that same season (1966-67), the Lakers traded their forward to the Detroit Pistons. LaRusso was not too pleased with the development and refused to report to Detroit. In January 1967, LaRusso declared he’d rather retire in southern California than play basketball in Michigan. Rudy was suspended and fined by the NBA, but he refused to budge.
As the calendar turned from winter to spring to summer, LaRusso still maintained his recalcitrance. Detroit finally caved in by selling LaRusso’s rights to the San Francisco Warriors. The Warriors agreed to let LaRusso commute from Los Angeles and Rudy was thus back in the NBA.
Fittingly, LaRusso’s career bookmarked the 1960s. His first season was 1959-60, the last 1968-69. During that span, LaRusso’s sneakily placed himself as one of the game’s best players. The following are LaRusso’s ranks for NBA players during the 1960s:
* 10th in Games Played (736)
* 9th in Minutes Played (24,487)
* 10th in Rebounds (6936)
* 12th in Points (11,507)
And most charmingly, he was fourth in that span in the number of personal fouls committed with 2553.
During this span, he was also named a to the All-Star Game four times: twice as a Laker in 1963 and 1966; twice as a Warrior in 1968 and 1969. At the age of 31 in 1969, LaRusso was also named to the inaugural All-NBA Defensive 2nd Team…”
Perry Moss PG Northeastern WAS, PHI, GS 1985-1987 11-11-1958 64 YOA
Ron Riley PF USC KC, HOU 1972-1976 11-11-1950 72 YOA
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University of Georgia Athletics
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Georgia at Wake Forest
Gadogs.com: MBB Game Notes - Georgie Visits Wake Forest
University of Georgia Athletics
georgiadogs.com
Wake Forest
Demon Deacons Host Georgia Bulldogs in Friday Night Showdown
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – “The Wake Forest men's basketball team will continue their non-conference slate with a home contest against the Georgia Bulldogs on Friday night. This is the first of two games against SEC opponents this season.
The Demon Deacons (1-0, 0-0) are coming off of a 71-59 home victory over Fairfield on Monday night in the season opener.
Junior forward Andrew Carr scored 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting and five rebounds in the win, including the first 10 Wake Forest points in his team debut.
Freshman forward Bobi Klintman made an immediate impact off the bench for the Deacs in his collegiate debut. The Malmo, Sweden native recorded 11 points on 3-of-5 shooting in addition to a team-high six rebounds. Klintman played a pivotal role in a 10-0 run at the end of the first half.
As a team, the Deacs made the most of their trips to the free throw line, converting on 29-of-39 attempts from the charity stripe.
The Bulldogs (1-0, 0-0) are led by first year head coach Mike White. Prior to arriving in Athens, White spent seven seasons at Florida, where he compiled a 243-128 record. He coached Wake Forest guard Tyree Appleby in his last two seasons with the Gators.
Georgia opened its season with a 68-55 win over Western Carolina in Athens. The Bulldogs were led by junior guard Kario Oquendo, who finished the game with 18 points and three blocks. Oquendo was Georgia's leading scorer in the 2021-22 season with 15.2 points per game following his transfer from Florida Southwestern State.
Friday night's tipoff inside LJVM is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. and the game will stream live on ACC Network.
Fans can follow along via the Demon Deacons Twitter, Instagram and Facebook accounts (@WakeMBB).
Standout Stat
* Wake Forest had four players record double-digits in points during the win over Fairfield:
* Andrew Carr – 14 points
* Daivien Williamson – 14 points
* Cameron Hildreth – 14 points
* Bobi Klintman – 11 points
Series History
Versus Georgia
Series: Wake Forest trails 2-4
Last: December 8th, 2007, in Athens
Result: L – 72-50”
Demon Deacons Host Georgia Bulldogs in Friday Night Showdown - Wake Forest University Athletics
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – The Wake Forest men's basketball team will continue their non-conference slate with a home contest against the Georgia Bulldogs on Frid...
godeacs.com
Wake Forest Notes
Georgia Notes
Wake Forest Basketball Program 1
Wake Forest Roster
Starters vs Fairfield
1 Tyree Appleby 6-1 165 RS Senior
17-18 Cleveland State 11.8 2.4 4.0
18-19 Cleveland State 17.2 3.7 5.6
20-21 Florida 11.3 3.1 3.3
21-22 Florida 10.9 2.1 3.6
22-23 Wake Forest 8.0 4.0 3.0
Dasher Rivals.com Mike White interview: “It’s going to be great to see him. I’ve known him since he was really young. I coached him for a couple of years, of course,” White said. “I coached his older brother for four years, one of the winningest players I’ve ever coached. He’s great, I love him. He’ll be a good fit for Coach Forbes. We had a lot of communication throughout Tyree’s recruiting process when he jumped into the portal with the Wake staff. He seems happy, he’s playing well. I just hope he doesn’t get it going on us.”
The Athletic: Top transfers/Fits
“65. Tyree Appleby | 6-1 guard | graduate | Transferred from Florida to Wake Forest
The Scout: Originally a transfer from Cleveland State, Appleby had a couple of solid years as a starter at Florida. But with a new regime coming in, he decided to hit the portal, where he’s seen as a steady hand at the lead guard spot for potential high-major suitors. He’s not really all that capable of finishing in the paint because of his lack of size, but Appleby is a reliable shooter who ended up taking a ton of tough shots because Florida’s offense often looked like a clogged toilet this past season. He’s better as a shooter from distance than the 35 percent mark would indicate. He also made some strides as a distributor this past year, particularly improving on some of the wild decisions he made in the past and cutting down on the turnovers. Appleby’s not going to be the sexiest option in the portal, but with only a one-year commitment necessary, I would expect him to end up at a high-major as a potential fifth starter or sixth-man type guard.
The Fit: Steve Forbes has built back his guard depth with the additions of Appleby in addition to Jao Ituka. Both could end up starting or one start and one come off the bench if Daivien Williamson decides to return to school. Appleby being gradually better than a year ago would be solid returns, but it’s possible he blows past that. Why is that? Because Forbes seems to have a great eye for finding some hidden gems in the portal. A year ago no one would have ever imagined Alondes Williams would be anywhere close to how good he turned out to be for the Deacs.”
4 Daiven Williamson 6-1 180 RS Senior
18-19 ETEU 9.5 2.0 2.5
19-20 ETSU 10.4 2.0 2.6
20-21 Wake Forest 12.9 2.1 2.5
21-22 Wake Forest 11.8 2.5 1.2
22-23 Wake Forest 14.0 1.0 2.0
0 Lucas Taylor 6-3 195 Sophomore
21-22 Wake Forest 0.1 0.1 0.2
22-23 Wake Forest 3.0 4.0 0.0
11 Andrew Carr 6-10 220 Junior
20-21 Delaware 8.2 3.7 1.8
21-22 Delaware 10.0 5.1 1.3
22-23 Wake Forest 14.0 5.0 1.0
SB Nation:
“Carr is definitely what I would consider to be a stretch forward and should be a solid replacement for Jake LaRavia, should he decide not to return for his senior season. Like LaRavia, Carr has impressive size at 6-9 but is also a fantastic shooter and finished the 2021-22 season shooting 56% from the field and 41% from beyond the arc—that’s a better 3-point percentage than any player on Wake’s roster this season. As you can see from his shot chart below—courtesy of CBBAnaltyics.com—he excels down low where he can use his size to score over defenders and can light it up from almost anywhere from beyond the arc.”
20 Davion Bradford 7-0 270 Junior
20-21 Kansas State 7.7 4.3 0.2
21-22 Kansas State 3.3 1.9 0.2
22-23 Wake Forest 3.0 4.0 1.0
Bench
2 Cameron Hildreth 6-4 195 Sophomore
21-22 Wake Forest 3.9 2.9 1.2
22-23 Wake Forest 14.0 3.0 3.0
34 Bobbi Klintman 6-10 225 Freshman
22-23 Wake Forest 11.0 6.0 0.0
Twitter:
“Wake Forest +10 in 18 mins with Andrew Carr + Bobi Klintman on the floor together vs. Fairfield. Not a lot of teams can roll out two 6-10 guys who can shoot, pass, handle in space, screen, attack 1-on-1 matchups
Lots of 5-out optionality, closed the game with Klintman-Carr at 4-5.”
25 Zach Keller 6-10 228 Freshman
22-23 Wake Forest 4.0 0.0 0.0
30 Damari Monsanto 6-6 225 RS Junior
20-21 ETSU 11.8 7.3 0.9
21-22 Wake Forest 7.3 3.4 0.8
22-23 Wake Forest 0.0 3.0 0.0
33 Matthew Marsh 7-1 250 Sophomore
21-22 Wake Forest 2.8 1.6 0.0
22-23 Wake Forest 0.0 1.0 0.0
UGA Recruiting
Gwinnett Daily Post: 2022-23 Gwinnett Daily Post Super Six Boys Basketball
UGA Signee
“Name: Lamariyon Jordan
School: Norcross
Class: Senior
Height: 6-foot-6
Place of birth: Kentucky
College choice: Georgia
Favorite basketball shoes: Nike Kyrie Irving
Funniest teammate: Samarion Bond or Mykel Valrie
Most points I’ve scored in a game: 40
Favorite gym: Norcross
Least favorite gym: Shiloh
Favorite teacher: Mrs. Bibb, language arts
Dream job: Professional basketball player (NBA)
Noteworthy:
• Earned all-state, all-metro and all-county honors last season at Dacula
• Averaged 19.7 points and 5.9 rebounds
Coach Jesse McMillan’s take: “Lamariyon (Mari) is a young man that has all the tools to play basketball at a high level for a long time. He has great size and athleticism as a wing and his shooting ability allows him to be a multi-dimensional scorer. Defensively, he wants to be great, and I feel he will be able to rise to the challenge of guarding some of Georgia’s best players throughout the course of this season. He has the consistent work ethic and practice habits that bode well for consistent improvement during his senior year and beyond. We are excited that he will be representing Norcross and Gwinnett County basketball at the University of Georgia next year. He is a quality young man both on and off the court.”
Keep an eye on:
“Name: Jayce Nathaniel
School: Lanier
Class: Junior
Height: 6-foot-8
Place of birth: Atlanta
College choice: Undecided, multiple offers
Favorite basketball shoes: Zoom Freak 1s
Best Gwinnett basketball player not on my team: Mari Jordan
Funniest teammate: Cam Thorton
Most points I’ve scored in a game: 28
Favorite gym: Lanier High School
Least favorite gym: Habersham Central
Favorite teacher: Collin Jones
Dream job: NBA
Noteworthy:
• Averaged 17 points, 7 rebounds last season
• All-county and all-region selection
Coach Branden Mayweather’s take: “Jayce Nathaniel is a coach’s dream, because he is the first guy in the gym and the last one to leave. In all my years of coaching, I have never had a kid work as hard as he does day in and day out. With relentless effort every time he steps onto the floor and an amazing skill set in a 6-foot-8 frame, it is easy to see why he is recognized for this amazing accomplishment. A lot of players want to be leaders and think they are cut out for the grind of being a high level player and they simply are not. Jayce is the epitome of hard work, and that is why he is the leader of our team.”
“Name: Gicarri Harris
School: Grayson
Class: Junior
Height: 6-foot-4
Place of birth: Scottsdale, Ariz.
College choices: Purdue, Stanford, Georgia, Indiana, SMU, Florida, Dayton, Arizona State, LSU, others
Favorite basketball shoes: Kyrie 7’s
Best Gwinnett basketball player not on my team: Mari Jordan
Funniest teammate: Kayden Allen
Most points I’ve scored in a game: 40
Favorite gym: Rock Hill Sports and Event Center
Least favorite gym: Berkmar aux gym
Favorite teacher: Ms. Scott
Dream job: NBA/basketball coach
Noteworthy:
• Key player on the Rams’ state quarterfinal team
• Four-star recruit has almost 15 Power Five offers
Coach Geoffrey Pierce’s take: “You'd be hard pressed to find a harder-working or more coachable player than Gicarri. His maturity and work ethic allow him to command respect at all times whether it's in the locker room, classroom or the hallway at school. He's the embodiment of what any coach in any sport would want in regard to representing the brand of their program. You can really tell that getting better and winning are the only things that matter to him every single time he steps on the basketball court. He blocks out the noise and comes in ready to work every single day. He does a phenomenal job encouraging his teammates to work hard and be better players. He's mature beyond his years. After coming in as a freshman known as a shooter, as a junior, he's turned himself into one of the most complete players in the state regardless of class. He's done this by working hard to add to his game every offseason, and by remaining eager to learn and to be coached hard at all times. His continued development as a player and young man has been fun to be a part of. I'm excited to get a front seat view of him performing in his new role as a leader on this team.”
Prep
www.gwinnettprepsports.com
Georgia Women’s Basketball
Gadogs.com: Bulldogs Top Hornets 77-47
University of Georgia Athletics
georgiadogs.com
SEC Basketball
Alabama
Alabama.com: What Alabama expects in Game 2 and an area for improvement
What Alabama expects in Game 2 and an area for improvement
Alabama plays host to Liberty on Friday night in Coleman Coliseum.
www.al.com
Kentucky
Louisville Courier Journal: Numbers game: Who makes the 8-man rotation for John Calipari, Kentucky men's basketball?
Numbers game: Who makes the 8-man rotation for John Calipari, Kentucky men's basketball?
Kentucky coach John Calipari says he has a "good problem" on his hands: trying to figure out the best eight-man rotation from an 11-player roster.
www.courier-journal.com
Mississippi
College Basketball
Rothstein: The Breakfast Buffet: Gonzaga/Michigan State, Adem Bona, Villanova/Temple
The Breakfast Buffet: Gonzaga/Michigan State, Adem Bona, Villanova/Temple
Who’s hungry for college basketball? Here’s today’s installment of “The Breakfast Buffet”, a daily column that can be found here every single morning getting you caught up to date on everything that’s happened from the day/night before and everything that’s going to happen in the next 24 hours...
collegehoopstoday.com
Miller Field of 68: The season takes flight
After four days of appetizers, college hoops finally gets an entree with Gonzaga vs. Michigan State on an aircraft carrier. What to watch this weekend, plus storylines to remember.
The season takes flight
After four days of appetizers, college hoops finally gets an entree with Gonzaga vs. Michigan State on an aircraft carrier. What to watch this weekend, plus storylines to remember.
fieldof68.beehiiv.com
Boston College
Colorado
Greeley Tribune: Five-star coup: Coveted recruit Cody Williams signs with CU Buffs men’s basketball
Five-star coup: Coveted recruit Cody Williams signs with CU Buffs men’s basketball
Colorado fans still have plenty to look forward to during the 2022-23 men’s basketball season. But there officially is a huge reason to already get excited for 2023-24.
www.greeleytribune.com
Connecticut
Zag’s Blog: UConn’s Hurley says it will be a ‘failure’ if Fab 5 recruiting class doesn’t win an NCAA title
UConn's Hurley says it will be a 'failure' if Fab 5 recruiting class doesn't win an NCAA title | Zagsblog
By ADAM ZAGORIA With big recruiting classes […]
www.zagsblog.com
Florida State
Maryland
(Defeated Western Carolina 71-51 after leading by 33, UGA defeated Western Carolina by 13 Monday night)
Wash Post: Fighting hard on defense, Terps cruise to a win over Western Carolina
“These kids are playing so hard. It’s fun. I’m having fun just watching them run,” first-year coach Kevin Willard said after his Terrapins’ 71-51 victory over Western Carolina at Xfinity Center. “They’re talking. They’re communicating. To be this connected defensively this early is really, really good.”
Maryland’s defense led the charge, and after the game Willard praised how quickly his players have adapted to his system. His deal with the players is simple: Play hard defensively and reap the benefits of offensive freedom.
Amid some first-half struggles offensively, the Terps set the tone on defense with their intensity as they led from start to finish. In the first 20 minutes, Maryland (2-0) forced 10 turnovers and held Western Carolina (0-2) to 20 percent shooting. That tenacity provided a boost on the other end of the court, creating easy opportunities in transition and resulting in 24 points in the paint in the half — and 46 on the night.
The Terps didn’t make a three-pointer in the first half, going 0 for 8, while Western Carolina shot just 2 for 12. Maryland shot just 38.7 percent overall to take a 32-15 halftime lead…
The defensive intensity continued in the second half before the Terps found some life on offense, expanding their lead to 33 points before Western Carolina closed the gap late…
The Catamounts of the Southern Conference, who went 11-21 last season, put just one scorer in double digits: Tyzhaun Claude with 12 points…
After shooting 9 for 20 from three-point range in Monday’s season-opening win over Niagara, the Terps struggled Thursday, making 2 of 19 attempts. Their first make came more than four minutes into the second half courtesy of Hart.
That cold perimeter shooting forced the Terps to attack downhill, and they thrived. Maryland shot 59.5 percent from inside the arc.
Maryland smothered West Carolina from the opening tip. The Catamounts shot 27 percent from the field and 25 percent from three-point range.
The Terps forced 17 turnovers and notched seven steals while blocking five shots. The Catamounts rarely attempted an uncontested shot and struggled to finish around Reese and other big men in the paint.
After the win over Niagara, Willard was not happy with his team’s effort on the glass. Even though the Terps fared better against Western Carolina — they had 41 boards compared with the Catamounts’ 40 — rebounding will continue to be a point of emphasis.”
Memphis
Memphis Commercial Appeal: Why Memphis basketball's Kendric Davis said 'I'm a bad (expletive)' before Tigers play SLU
Why Memphis basketball's Kendric Davis said 'I'm a bad (expletive)' before Tigers play SLU
Memphis basketball's next game, at Saint Louis, is set for 8 p.m. Tuesday.
www.commercialappeal.com
Michigan State
Notre Dame (UGA 2022 Opponent)
Rivals: Notre Dame rallies past Radford to avoid upset in season opener
“SOUTH BEND, Ind. — When the chaos kicks in, Mike Brey figures his veteran team has a little bit of an edge.
If that’s the case, it was just enough Thursday night for his Notre Dame men’s basketball team to escape with a 79-76 season-opening victory over Radford at Purcell Pavilion.
“There may have been a couple times under 10 minutes tonight when you might not think so,” said Brey.
Actually, there were more than a couple.
Down nine with 12:37 to go.
Down seven at the 12:13 mark.
Down five with 5:19 to play.
Trey Wertz, one of six grad students on the club, was the calming presence in the second half, hitting some of the critical shots to stabilize the offense in the second half and one especially clutch pass to teammate Cormac Ryan for a layup and 77-76 Irish lead with 9.5 seconds to play.
It was actually a 5-on-4 situation in the Irish favor in the sequence when Ryan tangled under the Radford hoop with DaQuan Smith. As they untangled, Smith stayed down, and Ryan took off. Trailing on the play, he found a seam in the defense and Wertz found him close to the bucket.
“I saw him coming into the picture (from behind),” said Wertz, who had 18 points that included a 4-for-5 performance from the 3-point line, a team-high four assists and three rebounds.
“He is a calming presence with the ball,” Brey said of Wertz. “He’s really got a feel for things.”
Ryan’s bucket off the feed made it 77-76 Irish, but the school from Virginia and the Big South Conference had time to produce more angst for the 4,698 in attendance.
Josiah Jeffers, who had 13 points, drove down the right side of the lane and got to the side of the basket before lofting a shot over Ryan. It bounced off the rim with two seconds to play and Nate Laszewski grabbed his 12th rebound before being fouled.
He hit both free throws to put it away, fitting considering he started the game by scoring ND’s first nine points, and tied his career best with 28 points
But it was a struggle all night for the Irish to separate, their biggest lead reaching seven late in the first half. Radford, led by 20 points from Kenyon Giles, grabbed some late momentum to get it to 40-39 at the end of the first half.
“They have some good guards, and they were making some tough shots,” Brey said.
It was a slugfest the rest of the way against a team that came to Purcell in November of 2018 and knocked off the Irish by three.
“Radford will never come back to play here again during my tenure,” joked Brey, who is now 23-0 in home openers at ND.
“Their experience is a big benefit,” said Radford coach Darris Nichols, whose team features 13 newcomers, including eight transfers. “And when one through five can shoot the ball, they’re always going to be in it.”
Not all shot well for the Irish. Starters Dane Goodwin went 1-for-8 overall and Ryan was 0-for-5 from 3-point range.
The unranked Irish were double-digit favorites coming in but didn’t look the part for much of the night. They played without their transfer grad student guard Marcus Hammond, who is nursing a strained knee ligament. He is expected to miss Sunday’s home game against Youngstown State (4 p.m.) and likely more.
The starting five picked up the slack by staying on the floor. Goodwin, Ryan, Laszewski and Wertz all played over 36 of the 40 minutes.
Even freshman guard JJ Starling was on the court for more than 30 minutes and flashed some of the potential that made him the 22nd ranked recruit in the country by Rivals.
He was 2-for-4 from three, totaled nine points and got fouled on a strong drive to the bucket with 46 seconds to play. He hit one of two free throws to get the Irish within one at 76-75.
With more grad students (6) than any other Power 5 team in the country, Brey sees another benefit – experienced players know how to draw fouls and get to the line.
Brey called it a weapon – “old guys know how to play through things,” he said – and it saved his club against the Highlanders, who were coming off a 79-69 loss Monday to Marquette.
The Irish went 21-for-25 from the line to Radford’s 8-for-12. No one mixed it up more than Laszewski who was a handful for the Highlanders with his drives and play around the bucket. He finished 12-of-15 from the line.
“It was a physical game, but it was fun to play,” Laszewski said.
Freshman Ven-Allen Lubin was the only player to leave the bench for Notre Dame and most of it came in the first half. He had a highlight dunk on a rebound of a missed Goodwin jumper and finished with six points, but Brey kept him on the bench for most of the second half, preferring to put his trust in the veterans in a tight season opener.
There will be better days for the Irish. They had an edge on the boards at 32-29, but also had 10 turnovers to only 11 assists – not a typical Irish performance. They also forced only six Radford turnovers after the Highlanders had committed 15 in the loss to Marquette.”
Notre Dame rallies past Radford to avoid upset in season opener
Cormac Ryan's layup put the Irish ahead with less than 10 seconds remaining
notredame.rivals.com
Pittsburgh
Rutgers
Asbury Park Press: Rutgers basketball: Milestone win for Steve Pikiell in romp of Sacred Heart
Rutgers basketball: Milestone win for Steve Pikiell in romp of Sacred Heart
5 takeaways as the Scarlet Knights rolled to 2-0
www.app.com
USC
AP: Peterson sparks USC to 96-58 romp over Alabama State
Peterson sparks USC to 96-58 romp over Alabama State
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Drew Peterson scored 21 points to lead five players in double figures and Southern Cal cruised to a 96-58 victory over Alabama State on Thursday night.
www.postregister.com
Utah
Deseret News: ‘Now it is on us to go get it done’: Pieces are in place for Runnin’ Utes to exceed expectations in 2022-23
Utah basketball: Talent, size and experience in place for Runnin’ Utes to have success in 2022-23 season
Utah basketball: Branden Carlson, Marco Anthony lead confident Runnin’ Utes into 2022-23 season
www.deseret.com
NBA
NBA.com: BLEACHER REPORT: RANKING TOP 50 PROSPECTS AS COLLEGE BASKETBALL TIPS OFF
Bleacher Report: Ranking top 50 prospects as college basketball tips off | NBA.com
With the college season starting, Jonathan Wasserman updates his Big Board with the top 50 2023 Draft prospects.
www.nba.com
Golden State
The Ringer: Can the Warriors Be Two Teams At Once?
Golden State’s veteran starters have played like champs. Its promising young core, however, has gotten blown off the court, raising questions about whether the franchise can execute its ambitious two-timeline approach.
Can the Warriors Be Two Teams At Once?
www.theringer.com
New York
NYP: Knicks still ‘trying to figure ourselves out’ amid costly inconsistency
Knicks still ‘trying to figure ourselves out’ amid costly inconsistency
Through 11 games, there has been one Knicks constant: Their inconsistency.
nypost.com
Utah
NBA.com: "This Was A Mini Homecoming" | Beasley And Kessler Shine In Happy Homecoming
"This Was A Mini Homecoming" | Beasley And Kessler Shine In Happy Homecoming
It was a happy homecoming for Malik Beasley and Walker Kessler — Not only did they play pivotal roles in Utah's 125-119 victory over Atlanta, but they did so in front of as many as 30 family and friends
www.nba.com
History
Hoops Birthdays 11-11
Hilton Armstrong C Connecticut NO, SAC, HOU, WAS, ATL, GS 2006-2014 11-11-1984 38 YOA
Kevin Kunnert C Iowa BUF, HOU, SD, POR
1973-1982 11-11-1951 71 YOA
Rudy (Deuce, The Ivy Leaguer With Muscles, Honey Boy, Musty, Brutus, Roughhouse Rudy) LaRusso PF Dartmouth MINL, LAL, SF 1959-1969 born 11-11-1937 died 7-09-2004
Pro Hoops History
“Rudy LaRusso was certainly an intellectual having graduated from Ivy League Dartmouth College in 1959. But he was also certainly worthy of that freeway description. LaRusso was one of the roughest, toughest players of the 1960s NBA. It was a turbulent decade that practically framed his career. His first professional game was October 18, 1959 as a member of the Minneapolis Lakers and his last game was April 5, 1969 against the Los Angeles Lakers…
From the 1960-61 season until the 1965-66 season, the Lakers of Baylor, West, and LaRusso would appear in 4 NBA Finals losing to the Boston Celtics each time. The losses were often painfully close. The 1962 series ended with a 3-point Celtics win in an overtime Game 7. The 1963 series ended with a 3-point Celtics win in Game 6. The Lakers big 3 combined for 79 of Los Angeles’ 109 points in that game. In 1966, the Lakers lost another Game 7, this time by 2 points.
Add to these Finals losses the 1961 defeat in Game 7 of the Western Division Finals, 105 to 103, at the hands of the St. Louis Hawks and you have a ridiculous amount of frustrated glory for LaRusso and the Lakers.
But to boil down LaRusso’s career as a bystander in these catastrophic defeats is unwarranted. He carved out his niche role on these successful, if not championship, Laker teams. Facing off against the likes of Bob Pettit, Bailey Howell, Tommy Heinsohn and others, LaRusso was usually tasked with guarding the opposing team’s best forward. His physical and aggressive defense often led to quarrels and outright fights on the court.
In February 1962, LaRusso and the Celtics exchanged some not-so-friendly moments…
The trouble broke out early in the first period, when LaRusso and Boston’s Bob Cousy started making hostile gestures at each other with arms and elbows after a struggle over the ball. This little drama was just petering out when Heinsohn ran up behind LaRusso and socked him the back of the head. Both benches emptied but a riot was averted and no one was kicked out of the game.
Shortly after this outburst, Tommy Heinsohn was knocked flat on his behind by someone and had to leave the game with blurred vision and a concussion. No one knew who exactly delivered the blow, but suspicion fell upon LaRusso:
…for several minutes after the incident, [Red] Auerbach was yelling at LaRusso: “Remember, Rudy, you’ve got to come to Boston.”
But LaRusso’s most famous tangle came with the New York Knicks’ young center Willis Reed in 1966:
Reed, 6’8″, 235, then in his third year, had been exchanging elbows all night with Rudy LaRusso. After a third-quarter free throw. Reed tripped LaRusso, who tagged Reed with a right while Darrall Imhoff held Willis from behind. That sent Reed into a frenzy. He slugged Imhoff and chased LaRusso to the bench. Then he hit John Block with an enormous left hook, spreading his nose all over his face, turned and again belted Imhoff, who fell and knocked five Lakers off the bench like dominoes. Reed planted two more shots on LaRusso and one more on Imhoff, who, bleeding from above the left eye, dived under the bench, to find Block already hiding there with a broken nose.
As it happens, LaRusso’s beat down at the hands of Willis Reed would turn out to be one of his final moments as a Laker. Later that same season (1966-67), the Lakers traded their forward to the Detroit Pistons. LaRusso was not too pleased with the development and refused to report to Detroit. In January 1967, LaRusso declared he’d rather retire in southern California than play basketball in Michigan. Rudy was suspended and fined by the NBA, but he refused to budge.
As the calendar turned from winter to spring to summer, LaRusso still maintained his recalcitrance. Detroit finally caved in by selling LaRusso’s rights to the San Francisco Warriors. The Warriors agreed to let LaRusso commute from Los Angeles and Rudy was thus back in the NBA.
Fittingly, LaRusso’s career bookmarked the 1960s. His first season was 1959-60, the last 1968-69. During that span, LaRusso’s sneakily placed himself as one of the game’s best players. The following are LaRusso’s ranks for NBA players during the 1960s:
* 10th in Games Played (736)
* 9th in Minutes Played (24,487)
* 10th in Rebounds (6936)
* 12th in Points (11,507)
And most charmingly, he was fourth in that span in the number of personal fouls committed with 2553.
During this span, he was also named a to the All-Star Game four times: twice as a Laker in 1963 and 1966; twice as a Warrior in 1968 and 1969. At the age of 31 in 1969, LaRusso was also named to the inaugural All-NBA Defensive 2nd Team…”
The Lowdown: Rudy LaRusso
Years Active: 1960 – 1969 Regular Season Stats: 736 games, 33.3 MPG 15.6 PPG, 9.4 RPG, 2.1 APG, 43.1% FG, 76.7% FT Postseason Stats: 93 games, 34.3 MPG 14.5 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 2.1 APG, 40.5% FG, 7…
prohoopshistory.wordpress.com
Perry Moss PG Northeastern WAS, PHI, GS 1985-1987 11-11-1958 64 YOA
Ron Riley PF USC KC, HOU 1972-1976 11-11-1950 72 YOA
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