Men's Basketball

Over the past couple of years I have assisted the Notre Dame Sports Information Departmentin updating their Media Guide.

When these record books were first created, it was much more difficult to locate sources to compile and check information.

When I noticed that there were more than 300 players who were not properly identified, I started using on-line sources (e.g. SCHOLASTIC Magazines and on-line newspaper services I subscribe to).

Here’s a few additional things I’m recommending get added to the Guide.

We used 19 players, in the December 7, 1929, 49-21 win over Lake Forest College.

NOTRE DAME (49) G F P 

Newbold, rf 2 1 2

Gavin, rf 3 1 1

Heenan, rf 2 0 1

Forsee, rf 0 0 0

Crowe, If 0 0 0

J. McCarthy, If 6 3 1

Host, If 1 1 1

McNally, If 0 0 0

DeCook, c 0 1 0

Busch, c 0 0 1

Duwan, c 0 0 0

O'Connell, c 1 1 1

Smith, Ig 5 0 1

Burns, Ig 0 0 0

W. McCarthy, Ig 0 0 1

Carideo, Ig 0 0 0

Donovan, rg 0 1 2

Johnson, rg 0 0 1

Kizer, rg 0 0 0

Totals 20 9 13

And used 20 (!) in the November 30, 1935, 62-26 win over Albion!

Notre Dame 

Moir, f

Hopkins, f

Crowe, f

Borowski, f

Meyer, f

Ford, f

Carson, f

Gleason, f

Novak, e

DeMotts, c

Moritz, c

O'Connor, c

Ireland, g

Jordan, g

Allen, g

Sweeney, g .

Wade, g

Wukovits, g

Bonner, g

Jackowski, g.

From this second game, four ND players would later go on to have fine careers as college coaches:  

George Ireland, Johnny Jordan, Clem Crowe, and Ray Meyer.

And George Keogan, ND’s Coach is still the greatest coach in ND basketball history, by winning percentage and 

TWO retroactive National Championships:

George Keogan Coaching Record

·         

Season	School	Conf	G	W	L	W-L%	SRS	SOS	AP Pre	AP High	AP Final	Notes	Adjusted
1915-16	Saint Louis	Ind	19	13	6	.684
1919-20	Valparaiso	Ind	20	12	8	.600
1920-21	Valparaiso	Ind	24	19	5	.792
1923-24	Notre Dame	Ind	23	15	8	.652
1924-25	Notre Dame	Ind	22	11	11	.500
1925-26	Notre Dame	Ind	20	19	1	.950
1926-27	Notre Dame	Ind	20	19	1	.950						Helms Foundation Champ
1927-28	Notre Dame	Ind	22	18	4	.818
1928-29	Notre Dame	Ind	20	15	5	.750
1929-30	Notre Dame	Ind	20	14	6	.700
1930-31	Notre Dame	Ind	20	12	8	.600
1931-32	Notre Dame	Ind	20	18	2	.900
1932-33	Notre Dame	Ind	22	16	6	.727
1933-34	Notre Dame	Ind	24	20	4	.833
1934-35	Notre Dame	Ind	22	13	9	.591
1935-36	Notre Dame	Ind	25	22	2	.917						Helms Foundation Champ
1936-37	Notre Dame	Ind	23	20	3	.870
1937-38	Notre Dame	Ind	23	20	3	.870
1938-39	Notre Dame	Ind	21	15	6	.714
1939-40	Notre Dame	Ind	21	15	6	.714
1940-41	Notre Dame	Ind	22	17	5	.773
1941-42	Notre Dame	Ind	22	16	6	.727
1942-43	Notre Dame	Ind	13	12	1	.923
Career	Overall		488	371	116	.762
	Saint Louis		19	13	6	.684
	Valparaiso		44	31	13	.705
	Notre Dame		425	327	97	.771

 

Clem Crowe Coaching Record

·         

Season	School	Conf	G	W	L	W-L%	SRS	SOS	AP Pre	AP High	AP Final	Notes	Adjusted
1933-34	Xavier	Ind	10	9	1	.900
1934-35	Xavier	Ind	18	14	4	.778
1935-36	Xavier	Ind	15	8	7	.533
1936-37	Xavier	Ind	14	7	7	.500
1937-38	Xavier	Ind	19	10	9	.526
1938-39	Xavier	Ind	20	13	7	.650
1939-40	Xavier	Ind	23	6	17	.261
1940-41	Xavier	Ind	22	13	9	.591
1941-42	Xavier	Ind	18	10	8	.556
1942-43	Xavier	Ind	16	6	10	.375
1944-45	Notre Dame	Ind	20	15	5	.750
Career	Overall		195	111	84	.569
	Xavier		175	96	79	.549
	Notre Dame		20	15	5	.750

 

George Ireland Coaching Record

·         

Season	School	Conf	G	W	L	W-L%	SRS	SOS	AP Pre	AP High	AP Final	Notes
1951-52	Loyola (IL)	Ind	25	17	8	.680	4.00	5.72
1952-53	Loyola (IL)	Ind	23	8	15	.348	-1.81	4.64
1953-54	Loyola (IL)	Ind	22	7	15	.318	-4.88	1.57
1954-55	Loyola (IL)	Ind	24	13	11	.542	-0.31	0.99
1955-56	Loyola (IL)	Ind	24	10	14	.417	-2.96	2.60
1956-57	Loyola (IL)	Ind	24	14	10	.583	-6.69	1.71
1957-58	Loyola (IL)	Ind	24	16	8	.667	0.74	0.24
1958-59	Loyola (IL)	Ind	24	11	13	.458	-5.33	-0.11
1959-60	Loyola (IL)	Ind	22	10	12	.455	-7.88	-2.16
1960-61	Loyola (IL)	Ind	23	15	8	.652	1.84	3.17
1961-62	Loyola (IL)	Ind	27	23	4	.852	13.92	4.60		10
1962-63	Loyola (IL)	Ind	31	29	2	.935	21.43	3.74	4	2	3	NCAA Tournament; NCAA FF; NCAA Champion
1963-64	Loyola (IL)	Ind	28	22	6	.786	14.82	2.22	1	1	8	NCAA Tournament
1964-65	Loyola (IL)	Ind	25	11	14	.440	-0.22	4.04
1965-66	Loyola (IL)	Ind	25	22	3	.880	16.21	3.32		3	6	NCAA Tournament
1966-67	Loyola (IL)	Ind	22	13	9	.591	5.63	5.32
1967-68	Loyola (IL)	Ind	24	15	9	.625	9.38	5.78				NCAA Tournament
1968-69	Loyola (IL)	Ind	23	9	14	.391	-2.99	3.66
1969-70	Loyola (IL)	Ind	24	13	11	.542	2.28	3.02
1970-71	Loyola (IL)	Ind	24	4	20	.167	-7.91	4.62
1971-72	Loyola (IL)	Ind	22	8	14	.364	-4.77	5.58
1972-73	Loyola (IL)	Ind	23	8	15	.348	-6.25	3.10
1973-74	Loyola (IL)	Ind	26	12	14	.462	-1.37	2.63
1974-75	Loyola (IL)	Ind	14	8	6	.571	-7.04	2.90
Career	Loyola (IL)		573	318	255	.555	1.24	3.04

 

Ray Meyer Coaching Record

 

Season	School	Conf	G	W	L	W-L%	SRS	SOS	AP Pre	AP High	AP Final	Notes
1942-43	DePaul	Ind	24	19	5	.792						NCAA Tournament; NCAA FF
1943-44	DePaul	Ind	26	22	4	.846
1944-45	DePaul	Ind	24	21	3	.875						NIT Champ
1945-46	DePaul	Ind	24	19	5	.792
1946-47	DePaul	Ind	25	16	9	.640
1947-48	DePaul	Ind	30	22	8	.733
1948-49	DePaul	Ind	25	16	9	.640				16
1949-50	DePaul	Ind	25	12	13	.480	6.79	9.34
1950-51	DePaul	Ind	25	13	12	.520	8.88	9.68
1951-52	DePaul	Ind	27	19	8	.704	8.47	11.39		18
1952-53	DePaul	Ind	28	19	9	.679	7.32	8.00		7	19	NCAA Tournament
1953-54	DePaul	Ind	21	11	10	.524	4.27	16.00
1954-55	DePaul	Ind	22	16	6	.727	6.11	7.86
1955-56	DePaul	Ind	24	16	8	.667	7.69	9.26				NCAA Tournament
1956-57	DePaul	Ind	22	8	14	.364	0.75	6.38
1957-58	DePaul	Ind	20	8	12	.400	0.82	6.22
1958-59	DePaul	Ind	24	13	11	.542	-0.22	3.08				NCAA Tournament
1959-60	DePaul	Ind	24	17	7	.708	7.43	5.33		20		NCAA Tournament
1960-61	DePaul	Ind	25	17	8	.680	6.44	6.05		7
1961-62	DePaul	Ind	23	13	10	.565	2.61	3.33
1962-63	DePaul	Ind	23	15	8	.652	2.93	4.35
1963-64	DePaul	Ind	25	21	4	.840	8.87	1.62		8	9
1964-65	DePaul	Ind	27	17	10	.630	11.44	4.09	20	20		NCAA Tournament
1965-66	DePaul	Ind	26	18	8	.692	10.09	-0.06
1966-67	DePaul	Ind	25	17	8	.680	6.36	2.52
1967-68	DePaul	Ind	25	13	12	.520	-1.01	4.25
1968-69	DePaul	Ind	25	14	11	.560	-0.80	4.38
1969-70	DePaul	Ind	25	12	13	.480	-2.18	2.66
1970-71	DePaul	Ind	25	8	17	.320	-10.42	6.25
1971-72	DePaul	Ind	23	12	11	.522	-3.50	4.93
1972-73	DePaul	Ind	25	14	11	.560	1.38	3.43
1973-74	DePaul	Ind	25	16	9	.640	0.12	3.79
1974-75	DePaul	Ind	25	15	10	.600	4.17	2.12
1975-76	DePaul	Ind	29	20	9	.690	10.52	5.48		17	17	NCAA Tournament
1976-77	DePaul	Ind	27	15	12	.556	5.13	2.33	18	18
1977-78	DePaul	Ind	30	27	3	.900	14.27	2.27		3	3	NCAA Tournament
1978-79	DePaul	Ind	32	26	6	.813	10.10	2.49		6	6	NCAA Tournament; NCAA FF
1979-80	DePaul	Ind	28	26	2	.929	14.10	4.57	9	1	1	NCAA Tournament
1980-81	DePaul	Ind	29	27	2	.931	15.47	2.64	2	1	1	NCAA Tournament
1981-82	DePaul	Ind	28	26	2	.929	14.73	2.80	8	2	2	NCAA Tournament
1982-83	DePaul	Ind	33	21	12	.636	9.43	4.22
1983-84	DePaul	Ind	30	27	3	.900	16.68	5.54	18	2	4	NCAA Tournament
Career	DePaul		1078	724	354	.672	5.86	5.10

 

John Jordan Head coaching record

Season	Team	Overall	Conference	Standing	Postseason
Loyola Ramblers(Independent)(1950–1951)
1950–51	Loyola (IL)	15-14
Loyola (IL):		15–14 (.517)
Notre Dame Fighting Irish(Independent)(1951–1964)
1951–52	Notre Dame	16-10
1952–53	Notre Dame	19-5			NCAA Elite Eight
1953–54	Notre Dame	22-3			NCAA Elite Eight
1954–55	Notre Dame	14-10
1955–56	Notre Dame	9-15
1956–57	Notre Dame	20-8			NCAA Sweet Sixteen
1957–58	Notre Dame	24-5			NCAA Elite Eight
1958–59	Notre Dame	12-13
1959–60	Notre Dame	17-9			NCAA First Round
1960–61	Notre Dame	12-14
1961–62	Notre Dame	7-16
1962–63	Notre Dame	17-9			NCAA First Round
1963–64	Notre Dame	10-14
Notre Dame:		199–131 (.603)
Total:		214–145 (.596)

 

And, an additional player on this team, John Moir, was one of ND’s all-time greats!

Moir decided to enroll at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. Back then, NCAA rules prohibited freshmen from playing varsity sports, so it was not until Moir's sophomore year of 1935–36 that he was able to play basketball for coach George Keogan.^[1]

Despite having not played basketball until the interim period between high school graduation and college, Moir led the Fighting Irish to a 22–2–1 record and the Helms Athletic Foundation NCAA National Championship in his first season of eligibility.^[1] He played the forward position and led the team in scoring at 11.3 points per game (ppg).^[1] Moir was also named the Helms Foundation College Basketball Player of the Year. Over the next two seasons, he led the team in scoring at 13.2 and 10.5 ppg, respectively, while also being named a consensus All-America selection in each of his three years playing for Notre Dame.^[2] Moir had broken every single school scoring record that Edward "Moose" Krause* had set during his three-time All-American career earlier that decade.^[1][2]

*Many ND fans think of Moose as a football guy…….and he was……..but it was as a basketball player that he earned his greatest collegiate fame.  Like Wilt Chamberlain, 30 years later, Moose was responsible for changes in officiating to eliminate the advantage that a big man had in defending the “paint”.

 

After graduating from Notre Dame, Moir played professionally in the National Basketball League. In his first two seasons in the league, he won two NBL championships as a member of the Akron Firestone Non-Skids in 1938–39 and 1939–40.^[1] Over the course of those two championship seasons Moir averaged 7 ppg, and in the 1940 playoffs he led all players with an 11 ppg average.^[1] He spent one more season playing for Akron before joining the Rochester Seagrams in 1942. However, World War II suspended Rochester's ability to play.

When Moir resumed play in 1945–46, he joined the Cleveland Allmen Transfers for whom he played his final season. When his NBL career ended, he had played for four years, won two league championships and scored 562 points in 89 total games.^[1]

Here’s another item which might be worthy of our Basketball Media Guide:

Monogram Winner Dies In South Pacific Zone

 

The first major monogram winner among Notre Dame athletes to be killed in World War No. II was Lieut. Robert G. Smith, age 24, a marine corps flyer, who was killed in action in the southwest Pacific.  Smith was a star guard on the Notre Dame basketball teams of 1940 and 1941 and was one of the highest scoring

guards in Notre Dame basketball history. In his senior year he scored 134 points.  (This was published 3/17/1944.  Smith was ND’s 85^th man “who have perished in the cause of God, Country, and Notre Dame”.) 

 

Go Irish!!