Originally Posted by
DevilDan
All props to Davidson ... I was in high school in Greeensboro, already a DUKE fan for life, but I kept reading (because there was far less TV coverage) about Lefty Driesell and his team of Fred Hetzel, Don Davidson, Barry Teague, Dick Snyder, and Terry Holland (I think he was the other starter--guys, correct me if I'm wrong).
They kept winning and moving up the polls, and were my first exposure to a Cinderella story (even though the "experts" were criticizing their "weak" conference and sked).
I seem to remember the finals of the Southern Conference Tourney (possibly a year after Davidson's breakout season), and a game between VMI. VMI was a huge underdog against the Wildcats in the finals, but managed to hang around. A guard named Charlie Schmaus (sp?) threw up a desperate heave from 40ft+, Hetzel went up in front of the rim and caught it--the officials ruled it goaltending, and VMI got the win. (If anyone has a better recollection, please chime in). I saw the game on TV, and it really hacked me off--all I could think of was, "glad it didn't happen to MY guys" at DUKE.
This Davidson thread got me thinking about those times. Like everyone else, I watched the Wildcats and their March with Curry last season. Good luck to them this year. With respect for their All-American guard and their excellent Coach McKillop, I'll take DUKE in their matchup, 83-82, and be relieved and HAPPY, HA !
( Again, if someone can fill in the gaps from above on Davidson, please help ! )