qs, nice post. And the strategy you described is a tribute to Jimmy McDermott. Against a very good (NIT) St. Francis team, in the 57-58 season, I believe, in a game won by the Gaels, McDermott came up with the strategy of playing his center, George Carter on the perimeter, and his guard, Jumping Joe Bernardi, down low. With that strategy we were able to draw St. Francis' great rebounding center, Sam (I believe) Innes away from the boards, and also take advantage of Bernardi's strength and jumping ability. IMO, McDermott was a very good game planning coach. Game was also at MSG.
I was at that game at MSG, and that was no heave by Warren. Warren held the ball on the perimeter, and dribbled in place as the clock wound down to about one second with the score tied. The Dukes did not come out on him, so he literally stood there (about 20 or so feet from the basket) dribbling the ball in his unique behind-the-back style. He then turned and drilled the shot with about a second - all net, with the Daily News photo showing the shot going in with "00" on the clock. I don't remember how long he stood there, but I do remember thinking "What the ***k are you doing?"
Come to think of it, that was the joebird special that joebird did not get to see (evidently??).
It's bizarre that the NY Times would say Isaac heaved the ball 40 feet. I believe your account and it's actually more interesting and intriguing. So he must have planned to take that shot and knew he could make it. That's guts.
WE banter a lot here about our lack of size. The center on that team that beat the Dukes was George Jonic, who was listed at 6' 3".
SLG, true about Jonic. But George did have two forwards playing with him who were 6'7 (Iasaac) and 6'8 (Marty Conlon). George was a true 6'3 though. But he could elevate.
SLG, true about Jonic. But George did have two forwards playing with him who were 6'7 (Iasaac) and 6'8 (Marty Conlon). George was a true 6'3 though. But he could elevate.
Nah! Little Joe was 6' 6" tops and after a few $0.15 cent beers at the VI, and Conlon (transfer from North Carolina, before it was North Carolina) was 6' 5". Others on that team, I think, were George Landgrebe, Jack Keating, Tom Qualters (John Holland??).
Any discussion about size in basketball must enter year talked about into the equation. When I was in High School back in l94l we had a center who was 6-4..He was such a anomaly that our gym attracted fans throughout the county just to have a look at him. You never hear the description ''He is a six footer''. That was a big man in my memory. I use a rule that has worked pretty well. Aprox every 12 years, I increase basketballs height 1 inch. I have no idea as to future human growth, but I have little doubt that about the turn of the century, there will be 8 foot front court men. It will force changes in court dementions and basket heights. But it will still be a great game..
qs, nice post. And the strategy you described is a tribute to Jimmy McDermott. Against a very good (NIT) St. Francis team, in the 57-58 season, I believe, in a game won by the Gaels, McDermott came up with the strategy of playing his center, George Carter on the perimeter, and his guard, Jumping Joe Bernardi, down low. With that strategy we were able to draw St. Francis' great rebounding center, Sam (I believe) Innes away from the boards, and also take advantage of Bernardi's strength and jumping ability. IMO, McDermott was a very good game planning coach. Game was also at MSG.
Just want to thank everyone for this thread. I started out not really understanding and not appreciating Coach McDermott. I knew there was a reason he kept his job for so long and now it's so apparent. He seems like an excellent coach who dealt with some serious facility/recruiting disadvantages.
BTW Al Innis? 6'7'' St. Francis great. Iona beat St. Francis 82-77 during the 57-58 season.
Last Edit: Feb 17, 2014 15:10:43 GMT -5 by jtay799
Another quick note. If anybody has the season stats from 1961-62 & 1965-66, these are the last two Iona teams that I need. In each case, all I have are the top 2-3 scorers, but I need all of the individual players' stats. Anybody have them or know where I can get 'em? Athletics and school archives are dead ends.
Not sure of the years, but in the early sixties, the 'stars" imo, were Kevin Reilly, Neil McLaughlin, and Julio Mollica. Kevin (All Hallows) was a 5'8 guard, Julio (Rice) was a muscular 6'3 forward and Neil, from Long Island, possibly Holy Trinity HS, was a 6'3 og/sf. The 64-65 team, was discussed above (Isaacs/Conlon/Jonic/Qualters?Mannion/Holland), and was one of our best.
Jtay, Tom Qualters was by far best player on 65-66 team. Kevin McCullough and Tom Burke were also starters. I remember the DePaul massacre being reported on the 11 o'clock NBC news as "DePaul defeated Iona at the Garden 82-37, that's right 37". Ouch!
jtay799, I suggest you contact Vin Parise, whom you've probably heard of, as his wife's grandmother was Jim McDermott's secretary. Her first name escapes me, but her husband's name was Mike Morris, who went by the nickname, Rusty. Vinny's wife, Amy recently had a baby, and while she's the head of the Iona Alumni Association, she's probably out on 'Maternity'. Just possibily there are some papers, scorebooks, etc. stored in their attic. And yes I know it's a longshot, but a shot nevertheless.
jtay799, I suggest you contact Vin Parise, whom you've probably heard of, as his wife's grandmother was Jim McDermott's secretary. Her first name escapes me, but her husband's name was Mike Morris, who went by the nickname, Rusty. Vinny's wife, Amy recently had a baby, and while she's the head of the Iona Alumni Association, she's probably out on 'Maternity'. Just possibily there are some papers, scorebooks, etc. stored in their attic. And yes I know it's a longshot, but a shot nevertheless.
Hi there,
Sorry for not responding but I took your advice and got in touch with Amy. Unfortunately, her grandmother does not have any records.
I went through microfilm and online newspapers and pulled together boxscores from nearly game from the seasons I'm missing. The bad news is, I'm missing multiple games' boxscores, which means I can never compile the full season stats from these seasons:
1960-61 Iona 1961-62 Iona 1965-66 Iona
I'm also missing some 1950s season stats, but let's start there for the love of Pete!
Anybody else out there collect old Iona media guides or know somebody who might have a collection?