Tag Archives: Syracuse

R.I.P. BRENDAN MALONE

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Sad news out of the basketball world. Brendan Malone, father of Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone has passed away. He was 81.

Brendan was from New York City. Attended Rice High School and would go on to play at Iona.

His coaching journey was amazing.

Power Memorial High School.

Fordham, Yale, Syracuse and Rhode Island.

Three stints with the New York Knicks.

Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Toronto Raptors, Cleveland Cavaliers, Kings and Orlando Magic.

Pistons won back-to-back titles while he was an assistant coach under Chuck Daly.

He was one of the true basketball lifers.

There’s a great a story from Five-Star Basketball Camp about Malone telling the late Tom Konchalski to take Aubrey Sherrod in the camp draft. Malone had to rush home for the night and would be back the next day, missing the draft. Instead Konchalski picked a kid named Mike Jordan.

Condolences to the Malone family.

R.I.P. LOUIS ORR

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The basketball world lost a good man. Louis Orr has died at the age of 64.

Orr grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio where he attended Withrow High School.

The 6-8 small forward played his college ball at Syracuse from 1976-80; he averaged 12.8 points per game and 7.4 rebounds.

There’s a legendary story on the recruiting trail where Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim interrupted Rick Pitino, his assistant coach at the time as Pitino was enjoying his honeymoon in Hawaii. Boeheim wanted Pitino to go watch a high school player from Cincinnati; the player was Orr.

I used to love watching those Orange teams with Roosevelt Bouie, Eddie Moss, and Marty Headd.

Orr was part of the “Louie and Bouie Show.” For four seasons the duo helped Syracuse take their program to the next level.

In their senior year the Cuse was 26-4 losing to Iowa in the second round of the NCAA tournament. Syracuse made four straight trips to the NCAA tournament while Orr was a member of the Orange. He lost just one home game (Manley Fieldhouse) in his career.

Orr was drafted by the Indiana Pacers in 1980 (2nd round, 29th pick) and played two years with Indiana before being dealt to the New York Knicks where he played six seasons. Following Knicks home games we would stand outside Madison Square Garden and ask the players for their sneakers and get their autographs. Louie was always cordial and friendly with us.

After his playing days were over Orr entered the college coaching profession in 1991 where he spent time as an assistant coach at Xavier, Syracuse and Providence.

In 2000 Orr became head head coach at Siena before moving on to Seton Hall and Bowling Green,

In 13 seasons as head coach Orr had a record of 201-201.

I had the opportunity to spend an entire day with him when I interviewed for a position on his coaching staff when he was the head coach at Bowling Green.

Orr has been on Patrick Ewing’s staff at Georgetown since 2017.

https://nypost.com/2022/12/16/louis-orr-former-seton-hall-coach-and-knicks-player-dead-at-64/

HELP AND RECOVER

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St. John’s crushed LIU Tuesday night 95-63. Rod Strickland is in his first year as head coach of the Blackbirds, oops, I mean Sharks.

Did you see where Siena beat Seton Hall?

I love watching Purdue, they’re off to a 6-0 start with wins over Duke, Gonzaga, West Vrginia and Marquette. They crushed Gonzaga by 18 and Duke by 19. Zach Edey is the best big man in the country. He averages 21 and 12. Freshman Fletcher Loyer (brother of Foster) is a shooting guard you would enjoy watching.

Maryland is 7-0. The Terps handled Louisville Tuesday night, 79-54. The Cards are now 0-7. In their last 3 games Louisville is 10-47 from distance.

Illinois smacked Syracuse 73-44.

Marquette was up 51-25 at the half over Baylor Tuesday night. Golden Eagles went on to win 96-70.

Watched the Knicks demolish the Pistons Tuesday night 140-110. Detroit played without Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey. Pistons are 5-18. Knicka are 9-11 and have been so inconsistent. One night they look really good, other nights they look awful. The Knicks have made the playoffs just once in the past 9 years. Detroit has made the playoffs just twice in the past 13 years.

Dallas Mavericks signed Kemba Walker. Nice win by Dallas over the Warriors, 116-113. Jason Kidd was in a foul or defend. Warriors ran a great SLOB for an open look by Klay Thompson but he missed. Luka 41 points, 13 rebounds, 12 assists for a +22. Steph Curry 32 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists for a -12.

Michigan Wolverines football handled Ohio State in Columbus last Saturday 45-23. Jim Harbaugh is a heck of a coach. Wolverines are 24-2 the past two seasons.

Wolverines basketball was at home Tuesday night vs Virginia – jump-ball was scheduled for 9:30. I didn’t make it past the first half. Too late.

Alabama should be in the college football playoffs.

Grand Valley State vs Ferris State this week in the D-2 college football playoffs. Going to be a good one. GVSU won their first meeting this season by one point.

Always play the right way…

E-Mail: SteveFinamore@yahoo.com