Originally Posted by
ricks68
I showed up on campus just after Mullins graduated. One day, I went to my mailbox to discover that Jay Buckley's draft card was delivered to it. Since I wasn't of age at the time, I thought of changing the 6' 11 to 5' 11 and using it. It might have worked back home, but not anywhere in the ACC area for sure.
I also stayed one Summer School session and played 2nd base for the intramural softball team that was made up of the bball players. Mike Lewis was the pitcher, Vacendak the catcher, and Kolodziej at first base. I think Kennedy was at short, but it might have been another bball player. Kolodziej and I became friendly, and we took a road trip together with the guys to the beach. Fun time for a rising soph.
I actually didn't "play" second base. I just sat down on it, as no one could even come close to hitting Lewis' pitches. He was one powerful stud.
Another few notes:
Marin averaged about 10 rebs. a game to go along with his wonderful shooting touch. His favorite shot was from the right corner using the backboard, as he was able to create an angle being left handed. Note that it would also be a three pointer today.
I don't think Verga would have been a problem for Coach K, as he was not a discipline problem. He was a loner that just appeared to be. In fact, he was the only starter allowed to play in a game due to discipline violations by the other players just after Xmas/New Years. I think it was a game against Penn. (Correct me on that, Greybeard, if that's not entirely right.) His outside shooting was outstanding. He took a few steps over the halfcourt line on some shots and bingo. He scored 38, I think, in that one, with most coming from way outside---and they only counted for 2 points. If the 3-point shot was around and with an extra year of eligibility, he definitely would have been the man to beat.
For those that never saw Vacendak play, I can understand the lean towards Wojo. Wojo was almost a carbon copy of Vacendak, in reality, but just a notch less skilled and less stocky. Vacendak songlehandedly broke the famous "UCLA press" two games in a row. He could dribble through anybody. He also dove on the floor with the best of them and was the high scorer in a number of games with Verga and Marin present. Coach K would have loved him.
And yep, we probably would have been in the finals of the FF if Verga had not been sick. He was replaced by Tony Barone. At 5'8" (maybe) and a one-handed shot he used to launch from his chest, he was no match for Rupp's Runts (a bogus nickname, as the only true "runt" was their 6'5" center). And Mike Lewis was actually about 6'7".
I was at the game in College Park, and I can tell you that we would have had a chance at beating Texas Western, as we matched up pretty well with them with a healthy Verga in the game. But only a chance. No one had really seen much of TW during the year, as college bball wasn't televised much back then, and they were located way out in the West Texas desert. If you were at the FF, you could see how good they really were. The smallest players could dunk the ball during warm-ups, and Big Daddy dunked during the game with UK players still hanging onto the ball! And fast. Really, really fast.
ricks