College basketball season is scheduled to begin with practices at the end of September, and the regular season is scheduled to open Nov. 10. Despite the success, the Bona Director of Public Relations, Jack Ritzenthaler (Athletics Hall of Fame inductee, 1977), remarked to reporters immediately before the Holiday Festival that the Bonnies had been playing over their heads.. Nick Mogavero, the coach who cut Lanier, told The News in 1990 that he wanted Laniers stamina and coordination to catch up with his 6-foot-6, 240-pound frame. Even Eddie Jordan, a guard for Rutgers at the time, acknowledged as much on another website, He (Baron) took two dribbles, then a whistle blew, he said. We missed a lot of open shots and free throws, said Bonas Dominick Welch, who scored 19 points and had four steals. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. They lost their last regular season game at third-ranked Rutgers, 85-80, in a heartbreaking defeat. Neither were we, quite frankly, but we and they were able to outscore teams most of the year. Walk-ons and incoming freshmen are scheduled to start training Monday at UB, and athletes from other select teams will begin a similar phased plan to return to campus for workouts starting Monday. The front page had no story of the consecutive home wins. He's played as a pro overseas for 15 years. No question, he said. Smoking was prohibited in the Armory. Welcome! Named MVP of the 1977 NIT, he is St. Bonaventure's career leader in points with 2,238 (1974-78). Satalin led a 20-6 squad to Princeton, NJ, to face Rutgers, a matchup with a team that the Bonnies had lost to 374 days prior in the previous season. 14 jersey hangs in the Reilly Center rafters and he was selected to the Athletics Hall of Fame. He was an intern at The Buffalo News in the summer of 2006, and served as an intern in the Sports Department of the Olean Times Herald his junior and senior years. Low 29F. Orange County girls basketball top 25, Jan. 31 Quick to steal the ball, he was the ultimate playmaker and team player. What he did was incredible down that stretch., One of the most famous baskets in Bona basketball history followed. In his senior year, he was the Times Herald's beat reporter for St. Bonaventure's women's basketball team. Tournament Game. In the first round of the NCAA Tournament in 1970, he had a stat line of 19 points and 16 rebounds in a first round win over Davidson, then had 15 and 11 in a second round triumph over N.C. State. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please call our customer service team at716-372-3121or emailnfinnerty@oleantimesherald.com. I have been a fan of St. Bonaventure mens basketball for as long as I can remember. As part of the St. Bonaventure Basketball Centennial Season celebration, the Athletics Department gathered voting from fans and partnered with some of the most well-versed individuals on the history of the program to create an All-Time Team. Timmy was our only size to speak of, Satalin said. The 78-73 setback to Wake Forest in the NCAA East Regional semifinals at the Charlotte Coliseum was unique from the outset. Bremer ranks ninth on SBU's all-time scoring list with 1,732 points and led the Bonnies to three postseason appearances (NCAA Tournament in 2000 and NIT in 2001 and 2002). 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Stith fouled a Niagara player, who made both free throws to put the Purple Eagles ahead by a point. St. Bonaventure basketball players return to campus this month Would you like to receive our breaking news? They advanced to the quarterfinals of the A-10 Tournament where they lost to Dayton. Athletes also will be tested when they arrive on campus, and they will complete a daily health screen through an app before they attend classes or team activities. In this Dec. 7, 2019 file photo, Bob Lanier speaks during a celebration of the 1969-70 St. Bonaventure mens basketball team as teammate Billy Kalbaugh looks on Saturday at the Reilly Center. 5. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. He was named by Look Magazine to the All-District Team the same season. If you are experiencing difficulties logging in or are a subscriber getting a paywall, please try one or more of the following steps. The game was also unique in a way likely unmatched in any NCAA game since 1961. The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference announced Monday that it will not allow athletes to return to campus in June or July for offseason workouts and that the MAAC will begin its fall sports competition Sept. 11. Lanier played for 14 seasons in the NBA, with the Pistons and Bucks, and was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992. Stith, who passed the 2000-point mark in the subsequent consolation victory over Princeton, saw his spectacular career at St. Bonaventure come to an end, and, just two months after the Wake Forest loss, Donovan accepted a head coaching position with the New York Knicks. He spent the 2018-19 season in the NBA with the Atlanta Hawks. Follow us on Twitter Like us on Facebook Send us Feedback 2005- 2023 SportSpyder, LLC All rights reserved. At one point during the run, the Billikens went without a successful shot from the floor for nearly six minutes. Lanier died Tuesday in Arizona. There was a problem saving your notification. A cause of death was not immediately given, but Lanier had been battling bladder cancer in the last few years, and had also undergone various surgeries on his neck and knees. In the same year, 1163 students were at St. Bonaventure University. Lanier was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992. The campaign for A Bolder Bonaventure Tour Stop: San Clemente, CA 4 March, 2023, 4 30 PM-7 30 PM Join us as we celebrate the beginning of Dr. Gingerich's tenure as president and launch the Campaign for A Bolder Bonaventure, the largest fundraising campaign in the university's history. Years later, Lanier was instrumental in bringing the Final Four team back to campus every few years for an under-the-radar reunion few people knew was happening. Belcher averaged 19.9 points per game and was a member of the NCAA Tournament team in 1978, and also played on the 1979 NIT team. 1. The standing room only crowd was an estimated 2300. He also helped Bona to the 1971 NIT with a 21-6 record and 62-17 during his career. But when I ran back down the court and tried to pivot, my leg collapsed. Satalin remembers the call 46 years later. Thank goodness we had a strong first half.. To watch the All-Team Team Selection Show, please click here. Tommasino, the voice of the Bonnies from 1988-1995, called 180 games over that span. You have permission to edit this article. St. Bonaventure forward Osun Osunniyi (21) attempts a shot over the outstretched arm of Saint Louis forward Francis Okoro (5). That would have really been disastrous. Promotional Rates were found for your code. His success in the ensuing seasons propelled the program to new heights, which prompted kids like me to become ardent Bona fans and to keep special memories in all kinds of ways for decades to come. Nonetheless, St. Bonaventure left the Garden with a 76-73 victory. Just ask the guy in the co-pilot's seat in 'Airplane!'. The Bonnies last loss had come to Niagara on February 11, 1948. The NCAA Division I council approved a plan last month that allows for required summer activities for up to eight hours a week in basketball to begin July 20, and to last up to eight weeks or until the schools first day of classes. . The Bonnies will play in the A-10 quarterfinals against a yet-to-be-determined opponent on Friday in Washington, D.C. Now starting five seniors, the Bonnies must win three games in three days to defend their title and return to the NCAA Tournament for the seco, Hes coached at the college and professional levels since 1975, a tenure defined by both success and controversy, but his coaching path brings, The senior guard finished 7 for 8 from the floor and 6 for 6 on free throws, and his 20 points helped the Bonnies bounce back from a 75-66 los, The Bonnies lived up to a big-game billing, but a late offensive surge couldn't lift the Bonnies in an 81-76 loss to Davidson, despite Jalen A. St. Bonaventure basketball players return to campus this month. Tom Stith, the two-time All-American and runner-up national player of the year that season, scored 34 points, while Freddie Crawford added 29 points. : Our digital products are available 24/7 and are accessible anywhere, anytime. Bonaventure will require its athletes to be tested at testing centers in their hometowns, and it is asking athletes to self-quarantine for two weeks before returning to the Allegany campus. College/high school sports enterprise reporter. Butler finished his career with 1,462 points during his career and grabbed 650 rebounds, also delivering 34 points in an NCAA Tournament win over Boston College in 1968. Siena visited the Armory on February 23. In his three seasons, the Bona teams coached by Eddie Donovan amassed a record of 62-13, good for a .827 winning percentage. In 1960, Ohio State (OSU) enrolled about 18,000 undergraduate students. In the closing minutes and the Bonnies down 87-86, Sanders made a 22-foot jumper from directly in front of the Bona bench. The later assistant coach of the program was inducted to the SBU Hall of Fame in 1989. The No. This blog certainly wouldnt be happening without them. Billy Packer, the famed Wellsville (NY)-born television analyst who covered 34 consecutive Final Fours, wouldnt have been courtside at that point. On March 16, 1995, the top pop song in the US was Madonnas Take a Bow. He more than handled it for us. As part of the St. Bonaventure Basketball Centennial Season celebration, the Athletics Department gathered voting from fans and partnered with some of the most well-versed individuals on the history of the program to create an All-Time Team. Sign Up Today! For St. Bonaventure, there would be no rematch against Ohio State, which eventually suffered an overtime loss to Cincinnati in the NCAA championship game. Since you viewed this item previously you can read it again. As a reserve on the Bona team in 1947-48, Donovan knew the history all too well. Three other startersJohn Havlicek, Larry Siegfried, and Mel Nowellsubsequently played in the NBA. A shower of rain or wet snow possible late. Adaway (17 points, six rebounds) missed a dunk attempt with less than four minutes left, and Gibson Jimersons free throws cut the lead to six with 3:26 left. The backcourt dished out 14 assists, while both Hollis and Sanders fouled out of the game. 201415 St. Bonaventure Bonnies men's basketball team, 201415 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, 201415 Atlantic 10 men's basketball standings, 201415 St. Bonaventure Bonnies women's basketball team, "201415 St. Bonaventure Bonnies men's basketball team", Learn how and when to remove this template message, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=201415_St._Bonaventure_Bonnies_men%27s_basketball_team&oldid=1115582051. Stith had an almost unstoppable hook shot and won more national attention for the program than any other player up to that time. He blocked out. 4. According to the OTH writer, they were dazed as though in disbelief that a dear friend had departed from this life.. What made the victory more memorable was that it marked the Bonnies first return to post-season action since the 1983 NIT (a 90-76 loss to Iona). The Reilly Center Arena court where the Bonnies have played since 1966 was named after Lanier in 2007. This victory is for those guys. In the preview story, an OTH reporter wrote, Its practically unanimous that the hapless men of Siena will be the 99th Armory victim. The reporter was correct: The Saints were marched out of Olean, 99-57. An eight-time NBA All-Star and member of the 1970-71 All-Rookie team, Lanier scored more than 19,000 points over his 14-year career with Detroit and Milwaukee, averaging 20.1 points, 10.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.5 blocks, and 1.1 steals while shooting 51.4 percent from the field. He took over mid-season for Don McLean, whose career covered 33 seasons, and found himself at Rutgers announcing his first game at the age of 24. From the days of Butler Gymnasium and the Olean Armory through to the past five decades in the Reilly Center, St. Bonaventure basketball has remained a constant in the University community for the last century. At that point, once we got ahead of them, that was going to be hard for them to come back, Satalin said. Santa Margarita (13-6): Eagles can clinch third in the Trinity League by defeating host Orange Lutheran on Wednesday. Was there pressure in the moment with such a long win streak on the line? The lead story was about area flooding, though a top-page banner indicated that Niagara had used St. Bonaventure as a "stepping stone" to the NIT Tournament and . He served as captain his senior season of 1962-63 and was named All-East that year. I cant sleep thinking about those memories . Playing at a time in college basketball when players werent eligible to play at the varsity level until their sophomore year, Stith also collected 620 rebounds, rather impressive for a 6-2 guard/forward. As many college basketball fans know, the St. Bonaventure basketball fan base is a special one: dedicated, loyal, and vocal. They finished the season 1813, 108 in A-10 play to finish in a three way tie for sixth place. Lanier's death was announced this morning by St. Bonaventure. Win #100 was denied by the same team upon which the win streak started: the Purple Eagles of Niagara University. "Becky" Millis Field, 59, of Olean, passed away unexpectedly Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022, at her home. Still the Purple Eagles of Niagara nearly sent SBU fans home from the Armory in shock. I think everybody thought they were going to win. MAAC athletes must also sign a "Social Responsibility Pledge for Covid-19" as a condition of participating in championship competition. That Madison Square Garden tilt on New Years Eve 1960 found the Bonnies down by 11 points in the second half before losing, 84-82. He didnt need to take any shots. With 30 seconds left, Jim Baron seemingly stole the ball from Rutgers guard Mike Dabney in open court where the Bonnies were poised to score and tie the game at 82. The new Bona coach, 24-year-old Larry Weise, inherited the team later that year. He's also seventh in career field goal percentage (.528) and fifth in scoring average at 20.8 points per game. In three years (1971-74), Price played his way into the program record book. Donovan, however, kept Stith on the floor and instructed the Bonnies to run a set play. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver called the Hall of Fame player among the most talented centers in the history of the NBA, but that his impact on the league went far beyond what he accomplished on the court. (Records through Sunday, Jan. 30) 1. I dont mean this to be trite: We honestly loved each other and would go through the wall for each other, Lanier said, recalling the preseason goal the team had set for itself over beers and burgers at The Burton. Pacifica Christian (18-5): The top-ranked team in Division 4A closes the regular season against 2A Rancho Christian on Saturday. Being called for a charge on that last shot, particularly after committing the foul to allow Niagara to take the lead, may have affected his subsequent time in a Bona uniform. Theres no way in the world that someone would come into the Armory and beat us, Stith recalled. I think about the lasting memories and the lasting friendships I have to this day because of those guys I was in a trench with for so long.. (); : More than anything else, I was petrified that I wouldnt get on the air or something would go wrong. JSerra (10-11): Lions finish the regular season against Orange Lutheran and Mater Dei, so reaching .500 will be a challenge. He carried a 26 points-per-game average during the tournament, yet prior to the Bona game, Lewis remarked, Hed be the first to tell you he hasnt had a good tournament. One high point of Birdsongs season was scoring 43 in a nationally televised loss to UCLA at Pauley Pavilion in January, proving that explosive games were possible. We had so much fun together over the years in Motown . They didn't get an opportunity to show their talent.". St. Bonaventure Bonnies men's basketball - Wikipedia His injury didnt scare the Pistons, who, according to an NBA.com story, signed Lanier as he was still in the hospital, recovering from knee surgery that spring. Mr. Jester was born at St. Francis Hospital in. By the time that Stith joined the varsity squad in 1957, the streak of victories in the Olean (NY) Armory had gained national attention. Recruiting buzz is already building just days after the St. Bonaventure men's basketball team's season ended at the hands of the LSU Tigers in the NCAA Tournament. Even with the strong offense, Crawford pointed to a solid defense as pivotal to the Bonnie success in forcing opponents to make passes and plays they didnt want to make., Both Crawford, a 6-4 sophomore forward, and 6-5 senior forward Tom Stith were the leading scorers for the 6-0 Bonnies entering the OSU game, as they had defeated teams that included Utah (#18), St. Joes, and Xavier. We tried to create a lot. We still have to handle business, do our jobs.. The men's basketball team's 2019-20 season ended March 12, before it played its first game in the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament. Neil J. O'Connell, OFM, 84, former president of St. Bonaventure University, died Thursday evening (March 24, 2022) at the nursing care unit of St. Elizabeth Motherhouse in Allegany . He went on to play in the NBA and later, a long and successful professional career overseas. A player in the NBA for Washington and New Jersey, Vanterpool today is a well-respected NBA assistant coach, today with Minnesota and previous with Portland. St. Bonaventure had its own challenge in the first round. 31 jersey that brought the University national fame hangs in the Reilly Center rafters and he was inducted into SBU's Athletics Hall of Fame in 1975. During his three years of varsity competition, he totaled 1,738 points and ranks eighth in program history. The 2014-15 St. Bonaventure Bonnies men's basketball team represented St. Bonaventure University during the 2014-15 NCAA Division I men's basketball season.The Bonnies, led by eighth year head coach Mark Schmidt, played their home games at the Reilly Center and were members of the Atlantic 10 Conference.They finished the season 18-13, 10-8 in A-10 play to finish in a three way tie for . "I talked to the team about it, Schmidt said. In March 2018, St. Bonaventure won its first NCAA Tournament game since the 1970 win against Villanova, a 65-58 victory against UCLA in a First Four game in Dayton, Ohio. In his first varsity season, the 6-11 Lanier and his teammates the legendary Iron Man Five of Lanier, Bill Butler, Billy Kalbaugh, John Hayes and Jim Satalin put together an undefeated regular season and a No. 22 is retired and he was a member of the inaugural Athletics Hall of Fame class. Both The Bona Venture and Olean Times Herald reports of the game referred to numerous traveling infractions called against the Bonnies. An upset against the second-ranked Bonnies would add to its resume. It was the little engine that could in St. Bonaventure going against Ohio State, Crawford summarized. With 21.7 seconds remaining, Saint Louis called a timeout. Sign Up Today! Mike Harrington: His team looks good, even without Alex Tuch. A post-game commentary in The Bona Venture concluded, When a coach is allowed to pass the ball into one of his players and this results in a score for his team, it is apparent that the officials either dont care or are blindor both., On top of this, a story in the Charlotte Observer referred to a clock malfunction in the scoreboard in the final minutes of regulation, leading to anxious inquiries about the time remaining.. OLEAN, NY The Olean Elks Club will offer patrons tacos or taco salads with a choice of hot, medium or mild sauce on Wednesday. Sam Stith I was in a hospital bed and I watched them bust their butts against Artis (Gilmore) and Pembrook (Burrows) and I know that I could have helped them overcome that. We were ready, and they didnt do anything we didnt think they were going to do, Billikens coach Travis Ford said. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. He specializes in football and all the aquatics but covers many different sports. While the Bonnies won the NIT in 1977, Southern Mississippi took that same crown in 1987 in defeating LaSalle in the championship game. Error! Over his four seasons, Adams helped the Bonnies to 87 wins, which is the most ever for a graduating class. Tell your old man to drag Walton and Lanier up and down the court for 48 minutes, Abdul-Jabbar mutters, as he breaks character. Preview of tonight's St. Bonaventure - Olean Times Herald | Facebook The games were often the topic of wintertime conversations at school, the neighbors hoop, the dinner table, and really anywhere in the community. Each player added eight rebounds apiece. Boeheims assessment in the same story echoed respect for the Bona offensive threat in saying, We couldnt play zone here, not with the shooters they have., The Bona backcourt of Baron and Hagan got into early foul trouble, but Satalins squad got 18 bench points from Dan Viglianco (8 points), Delmar Harrod (5 points), and Nick Urzetta (5 points). Hollis enjoyed a tremendously successful career, ranking seventh in program history with 1,798 points while he still stands second in rebounds with 939 - 9.2 per game over 109 contests. St. Bonaventure, NBA basketball legend Bob Lanier passes away Yes, I had them, too, not to mention a collection of Bona game programs from my time as a sports information intern in the early 1980s. The dream had been realized fairly early in life: Tommasino said that getting the radio job for St. Bonaventure was his dream since second grade. I didnt even know at the time I tore my knee up. At 14-4 on the season, the Bonnies were looking to rebound in facing Syracuse (#17) in the Reilly Center. The Atlantic 10 announced the pairings Thursday. A two-time ECAC All-Star (1976, '77), he was a co-captain of the NIT Championship Team in 1977, scoring 24 points in the championship game win over Houston after scoring in double figures in every game of that tournament. Birdsongs scoring prowess hadnt declined during the Cougars run. Called the best team in the East, the story related that the enterprising Bonnies could get a rematch against Ohio State, the only team to beat them to that point in the season. And then the worst thing in the world that could happen (vs. Villanova) Billys (Kalbaugh) going down on a break, I turn around, and boom, a guy falls into my knee. Jandoli School Alumni in Sports Media - St. Bonaventure University Low 29F. If I went one more step, I would have run into him. It was a labor of love for Bob, who was one of the kindest and most genuine people I have ever been around. The St. Bonaventure University - Olean Times Herald | Facebook Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. They werent a great defensive team. Fast forward to February 12, 1977. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. OLEAN - Frank S. Jester, 76, passed away Sunday (Feb. 26, 2023) at home, surrounded by his family, following a courageous battle with cancer. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Cloudy. His 22.5 points per game is still good for third all-time among Bona players. My first time on a plane (age 20) was flying from Bradford (PA) to Washington, DC, to see an SBU-GW game (sadly a 78-64 loss). The University's first consensus All-American, he ranks fifth in program history with 2,052 points including the '59-60 season when he averaged 31.5 ppg, the all-time program record. He became an eight-time NBA All-Star who averaged more than 20 points and 10.1 rebounds per game, and had his uniform number (16) retired by the Pistons and the Bucks. St. Bonaventure tied the score at 61 with 11:20 left, but Niagara surged ahead behind 70 percent shooting in the second half. In fact, no college basketball fan can bring up St. Bonaventure without the association of Lanier, the larger-than-life Buffalo native. When we looked at that game, I thought, This team is really good, and were going to have to score a lot of points to win this thing, but it should be a great game, he said. He finished his career third in rebounds and still stands there with 922, an average of 12.1 per game over 76 contests. The following games against Oregon and Villanova featured three- and four-point wins, respectively. Meanwhile, Ohio State featured a powerful squad, highlighted by All-American and US Olympic star center Jerry Lucas who averaged 25 points and 18 rebounds a game.