NBA TRIVIA

If the vote had taken place after the 69 season and I had a vote, I would have voted for Russell, coach of the year...hands down. But he didn't get it, of course.
Who did? (Probably,pretty easy for you old timers...)

I would not know without looking but

Butch VB of the Lakers would be my guess.

beat

And after looking I see that I am wrong!

I haven't looked either, but I'll guess Red Holzman of the Knicks.

Sam

I see I was off by a year. Good question.

Sam

The envelope please...
...and the winner is: Gene Shue whose Baltimore Bullets won a league high 57 games in the 68-69 season, up from 36 the year earlier...and a full 9 games ahead of the eventual NBA champion Boston Celtics (maybe you've heard of them)

Here's some NBA trivia for you - which NBA team had four players on the roster who'd graduated from Jesuit colleges? Who were the players and what colleges?

1956-57 Celtics

Togo Palazzi, Tom Heinsohn, Bob Cousy, Holy Cross
Bill Russell, USF

1958-1963 Celtics

Tom Heinsohn, Bob Cousy, Holy Cross
Bill Russell, KC Jones, USF

worcester,

Actually there were 5 players in 1962-63. Add "Jack the shot" Foley also from Holy Cross.

swish

Swish and Sam, both right, and extra credit goes to Swish for remembering Jack "the Shot" Foley. I actually was at his 1962 college game, Holy Cross against UConn, in the Worcester Memorial Auditorium, when he went for 56 points - and that was in the days before the 3 pointer was even a glimmer in anyone's eye.

Career highlights: Shot” Foley:

* At Assumption Prep he had games of 57, 51, 51, 51, 47 and 46 points (luckyshow.org)
* At Holy Cross he has the record of 56 and 55 points in a game / was second in the country in scoring in 1962 / scored 2,185 points in three seasons (wickipedia)
* Second round draft choice of Boston Celtics

Getting back to the Jesuit colleges, they're universally fine institutions of higher learning. Which Celtics players today carry on that Celtics/Jesuit tradition?

worcester

This years roster has Delonte West from St. Joseph's.
As a Providence College fan I got to see Foley a few times on the local T.V telecasts down in Providence. He sure could light it up. At the same time (1960's) I had the chance to watch the "Run and and Gun" Assumtion Greyhounds. They always played the Friars tough. A bunch of 6'2" and 6'3" guys that were real good shooters. Wow--50 years ago, but its fun to remember.

swish

Swish, I lived two blocks from Assumption College and took French there. yes, they were some fine teams. Andy Laska - a HC teammate of the Cooz - was the coach at Assumption and was my only basketball coach, ever, when I was but 8 years old. Here's the scoop on Assumption basketball:

http://www.assumptiongreyhounds.com/news/2009-10/NE-HOF

btw, Luke Harangody is another Jesuit college grad - Notre Dame

Worcester

Kiernan, a former standout performer and captain with the Greyhounds was part of three N.C.A.A. postseason teams in 1963, 64 and 65. He scored 23 points in the Greyhounds 88-80 win over N.I.T. champion Providence College in the gymnasium dedication game in 1963.

Above was taken from link that you provided.That was a real good Providence team that lost to Assumtion that year. It featured John Thompson,Jim Stone,Vinnie Ernst, Bob Kovalski and Ray Flynn. I'm sure the lost made for a painfull night of basketball for me. I never missed a Friar or Celtic game back then.
I remember the Tornado of June 9th 1953 and recall seeing the damage at Assumtion college on my way back to college at Univ. of Mass. in Amherst that September. Were you living within 2 blocks at the time?

swish

I'd like to think of myself as essential in starting out this thread on players from Jesuit colleges...

I lived 4-5 mikles away from the old Assumption campus back in 1953. the top two floors of the college were ripped away by the Tornado, and about 200 people died. My dad took me to see the destruction. It was amazing for me as a little kid to see.

Yes LACELT, you were the essential snowball rolling down the hill that started this avalanche of Jesuit-philia.