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Topic: Shaka Smart's Ohio connection

Topic: Shaka Smart's Ohio connection

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oldkatz
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Member Since: 12/22/2004
Post Count: 1,439

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Shaka Smart's Ohio connection

Posted: 3/30/2011 7:53:06 AM

When Shaka Smart played at Kenyon, his head coach was former Bobcat captain (and in my opinion the smoothest OU court presence ever) Bill Brown. Billy went to California (Pa) and Smart followed him after graduation from Kenyon to work the camps.

For you young'uns who don't remember Bill Brown, he played in the early 70's under Jim Snyder, held some very prestigious assistant positions, but had some self-imposed issues that set his career back. In class, he was hard working and gracious, and was silky smooth on the court. While I feel Eddie Hicks was the all time best defensive player, Billy Brown is still my all time favorite to watch.

"All my inside sources tell me I have no inside sources." Salvatore "money bucks" Mafiosiano.

Bobcat61
General User

Member Since: 5/24/2005
Post Count: 238

Status: Offline

RE: Shaka Smart's Ohio connection

Posted: 3/30/2011 8:51:47 PM

Great words regarding Bill Brown. I have known Bill since his college days at Bobcat U and have seen his Kenyon

and Cal-Pa teams play many times. Bobcats can be very proud of this one and teaching Shaka how to

play and coach are only two of MANY things that Bill has done and can be proud of.

Matt Noonan
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Member Since: 7/6/2010
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Post Count: 59

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RE: Shaka Smart's Ohio connection

Posted: 3/31/2011 12:00:59 AM

Shaka also coached Bubba Walther while he was at Akron.

Bobcatbob
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Member Since: 12/21/2004
Location: Coolville, OH
Post Count: 1,347

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RE: Shaka Smart's Ohio connection

Posted: 3/31/2011 7:37:26 AM

I was stunned and delighted a few years ago to stroll into a Disney sponsored pre-season tournament to find Cal-PA on the court; coached by my contemporary, the eternally cool Bill Brown and featuring Seth Martin. (I think that;s the right Martin.)

It made a good day great.

brucecuth
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Member Since: 12/21/2004
Post Count: 1,837

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RE: Shaka Smart's Ohio connection

Posted: 3/31/2011 1:04:06 PM

agree with all the comments about bill brown. if he's not in our HOF, he should be...

giacomo
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Member Since: 11/20/2007
Post Count: 2,734

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RE: Shaka Smart's Ohio connection

Posted: 3/31/2011 10:29:59 PM

I played for Bill Brown, Bill Brown is a friend of mine, BB is one one of the smoothest cats that ever played the game. He should have had a chance to coach the Bobcats if the world was fair.

Last Edited: 3/31/2011 10:30:23 PM by giacomo

Doc Bobcat
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
Post Count: 4,280

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RE: Shaka Smart's Ohio connection

Posted: 3/31/2011 10:31:27 PM

giacomo wrote:

I played for Bill Brown, Bill Brown is a friend of mine, BB is one one of the smoothest cats that ever played the game. He should have had a chance to coach the Bobcats if the world was fair.

True......but it doesn't seem to be that way.

DXer
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Member Since: 12/21/2004
Location: Mobile, AL
Post Count: 135

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RE: Shaka Smart's Ohio connection

Posted: 4/1/2011 12:36:55 AM

One of my all-time favorite Bobcat memories was Bill Brown in a win against Ohio Sate in the Convo. Huge crowd, of course, and the Convo was electric the entire game (I miss those days). It's a close game and we have a slight lead late in the game when we get a steal at the tosu end of the court and have a fast break going up court. The crowd in the Convo is instantly on its feet as the Cats have a 2 on 1 going. The tosu defender drops back near the basket to prevent a layup so Bill Brown pulls up and takes a 15 ft. jumper - and nails it. Time out, Ohio State. Bedlam in the Convo as few have ever heard it. I remember this as if it happened just last week.

We were 2-0 against the Buckeyes in the Convo in the early 70's and this was one of them.

Yes.

OhioCatFan
General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 14,762

Status: Offline

RE: Shaka Smart's Ohio connection

Posted: 4/1/2011 2:25:10 PM

Yes, we're still 2-0 against A&M in the Convo in regular season games. The only time they've come back since the 1970s was an NIT opening round game in the Nee Era. The Evil Empire won the NIT that year after pulling out a narrow victory over Ohio. I'd love to see them come back. I think it could happen, but it would take a change of regimes in both Cowtown and Athens before we'd ever see it.

The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA

"It is better to be an optimist and be proven a fool than to be a pessimist and be proven right."

Note: My avatar is the national colors of the 78th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, which are now preserved in a climate controlled vault at the Ohio History Connection. Learn more about the old 78th at: http://www.78ohio.org

Jeff McKinney
Moderator

Member Since: 11/12/2004
Post Count: 6,155

Status: Offline

RE: Shaka Smart's Ohio connection

Posted: 4/1/2011 4:41:11 PM

DXer wrote:

One of my all-time favorite Bobcat memories was Bill Brown in a win against Ohio Sate in the Convo. Huge crowd, of course, and the Convo was electric the entire game (I miss those days). It's a close game and we have a slight lead late in the game when we get a steal at the tosu end of the court and have a fast break going up court. The crowd in the Convo is instantly on its feet as the Cats have a 2 on 1 going. The tosu defender drops back near the basket to prevent a layup so Bill Brown pulls up and takes a 15 ft. jumper - and nails it. Time out, Ohio State. Bedlam in the Convo as few have ever heard it. I remember this as if it happened just last week.

We were 2-0 against the Buckeyes in the Convo in the early 70's and this was one of them.

Yes.

In today's college basketball, the most likely outcome of this scenario would be for the player with the ball to continue driving to the hoop and to crash into the defender, leaving the refs to figure out whether it's a blocking foul or a charge.

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