HOUNDS WATCH
Men’s Basketball Program Records 1,000th Victory, Most in Division II in New England Front row (sitting) (L-R) Courtland Bluford, Dominique Price. Second row (L-R) Leroy Byron, Corey Diethorn, Greg Twomey, Mike Foti, Marek Kulig, Mike Baldarelli, Alex Popp, Walter Weeks. Third row (L-R) Patrick Shea, trainer Tim Hay, Renan Malafaia, Assistant Coach Tim Bibaud, Head Coach Serge DeBari ’71, Assistant Coach Alfonso Payne, student aide Corey Gagnon.
History By Steve Morris ’72, assistant athletics director for media relations
M
Jim Boylan (now the head coach of the NBA’s Chicago Bulls) passes to Bill Wurm ’77 (25) as John Grochowalski ’75 looks on. South Carolina’s #33 is Tom Boswell, the first round draft choice of the Boston Celtics that year. The game was played at Providence Civic Center before 11,300 fans in ECAC Holiday Festival.
24
Assumption College Magazine • Spring 2008
aybe you were there when Bob Gaudreau dropped in 20 points against Providence in 1934 or perhaps you made the trip to Saint Anselm and watched Josh Renkens ’95 toss in 49 with 10 three-pointers in 1995. The road to 1,000 wins is one that only 62 Division II institutions across the nation have trekked and just 16 in any division have made the trip in New England. On December 29 when Corey Diethorn ’08 dropped in two free throws to beat Post (CT) University, 64-62, the Greyhounds joined the select group. They have won more games than any Division II team in New England history. The most storied names in men’s basketball history, of course, are Andy Laska and Joe O’Brien ’57. Laska, whose name adorns the Assumption gym and who still watches every game from the ‘coaches corner,’ brought a winning attitude, while O’Brien, first as a standout player and later as coach, perpetuated that attitude. It’s been a long and storied ride for the Greyhounds’ men’s basketball program since Coach Joe Drummey directed the “Blue & White” over the Greendale A.C., 63-1, (they played tight defense in those days) in the first game back in 1923. The Laska years began as Charlie Bibaud ’55 scored the gamewinner and Don Lemenager ’56 led the offense with 18 points in a two-point win over Worcester State in 1951. There have been 30 postseason tournaments since 1955, an