Northside Hawk
Well-Known Member
Bobby Knight, who played against ahead-of-his-time Oscar Robertson in college, would bring backcourt physicality to what was for decades a wallflower conference. At the time, Bill Musselman's Minnesota teams were probably the most physical in the conference. Bobby's guards were like NFL defensive backs, and Buckner himself did go to Indiana originally to play football. It would take the B1G a decade to catch up. Coaches like Lou Henson, Gene Keady and Jud Heathcote would eventually see that the only way to slow the Knight train was to recruit bigger, more physical guards.Yeah, but Bobby Wilkerson jumped center, and got hurt early in the NC game, so he doesn't count.
Come to think of it, it's not like Quinn Buckner was lighting up the scoreboard. Their 1975 team, which some claim to be better, lost its mojo when Scott May broke his arm at the end of the season, though he did try and play with a big protector/brace on his forearm.
Man, Bobby Knight had some good teams at Indiana...
Oscar Robertson has been criminally overlooked when it comes to mentioning the all time NBA greats. It's another part of the Jordan effect. Pre-Michael, many people did talk about Robertson as possibly the GOAT, especially inch per inch. Not playing on those great Celtic or Laker teams may have hurt him as well.