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Men's Basketball Millennium Celebration - 11/22/08 - ARC

 

 

 
The All-Millennium Team.
Athletic Director Bobby Morgan (center) is joined by (left to right) Associate Athletic Director Paul Klimitas and Head Men's Basketball Coach David Pauley to celebrate the All-Millennium Team of Gene Willard, Shannon Overton, Marc Tacelosky, Joe Miller, Keith Armson, Jeff Misenko, George Kinsler, Jack Kelly, Joe Smart, Meade Palmer, Bob Morgan John Rush, Bill Tedor, John Flanagan, Mike Tercha, Jeff Gubernick, Ed Miller, Gil D'Alonzo, Fred Sprissler (representing Bob Walchek), Tom Malseed, John Poole.

100 Years of Hoops and Hoopla

The University celebrated the 100-year history of its men's basketball with a ceremony on Nov. 22, 2008, that commemorated the accomplishments of 20 outstanding men's basketball players from the last 100 years and a lifetime supporter of Devils??? athletics who have bridged the millennium and laid the foundation for future generations.

The roots of the men's basketball program dates to 1901 when Philadelphia College of Pharmacy tipped off its first season of play. That inaugural team produced a 5-4 mark and over the next 100 seasons of play, men???s basketball would account for 1,160 wins against 841 losses.

It wasn't always an easy road. Seven times there was no basketball team to take the hardwood, and in 10 seasons, there is no record of a coach. There have been 15 named coaches, including three times when it was a manager at the helm. The first head coach was D. Frank Shull who was 9-9-1 (.500) in starting the program those first two years.

Much of the success of the University's cagers rests on the shoulders of current Athletic Director Bob Morgan. He helmed the program through 31 seasons in two stints (1968-80 and 1981-2000) while compiling a 598-250 (.705) mark as well as four national tournament appearances, 20-straight district/regional postseason berths, and a host of coaching honors.

To formulate the all-millennium team, a committee consisting of five ex-men's varsity basketball players representing the last five decades and two coaches poured over 100 years of statistics, records, and accomplishments. The final list that was culled from that hard work is a who's who of men's basketball at the University and celebrates individual as well as team accomplishments.

All-Millennium Team
Keith Armson

Played in 116 games from 1989-93...scored 1,479 points to rank 10th all-time...averaged 12.8 points per game...all-time blocked shot leader with 432...holds the top four single-season blocked shot marks, setting a school record with 116 in 1990-91...only player in school history to record 100 or more blocked shots in a season...ranked 6th all-time with a 55.1% field goal percentage...10th all-time in rebounds with 771...led team in scoring in 1990-91 (14.4 points per game)...led team in rebounding 191-92 (6.5 per game)...still holds NAIA national record for career blocked shots.

Gilbert D'Alonzo

Played from 1966-70...1,321 points scored...averaged 15.9 points per game...all-time leader in rebounding average (11.5 per game)...third all-time leading rebounder (953)...holds single season rebound average record (13.6 per game)...career 45.3% field goal shooting percentage...led team in rebounding all four seasons played...fifth-highest single season rebound total in school history (272)...recorded 10 or more rebounds 55 of his 83 career games played.

John Flanagan

A four-year starter  from 1972-77...1,518 points scored (9th all-time)...averaged 15.3 points per game (10th all-time)...307 career assists (7th all-time)...led team in scoring and free throw percentage in 1972-73 and 1974-75...led team in free throw percentage in 1975-76...PCPS was 73-30 (70.8%) during the four years he was a member of the varsity squad...scored 10 or more points in 76 of his 99 career games played...NAIA All- District 19 Team his senior year.

Jeff Gubernick

Four year starter from 1969-74, playing in 72 games...scored 800 points...averaged 11.1 points per game...career 78% free throw shooter...125 career assists...led team in free throw percentage (78.1%) and assists (47) in 1973-74...Coach Bobby Morgan's first blue chip recruit at the institution...first in a long line of point guards who were the foundation of the program during Morgan???s era.

Jack Kelly

Played in 98 games from 1981-86...scored 1,011 points...averaged 10.3 points per game...fourth-best career free throw percentage in school history (80.1%)...11th all-time in free throws made with 339...recorded second-best single-season free throw mark in school history in 85-86 (85%)...234 career rebounds...205 career assists....PCPS was 77-36  (68.1%) during his four years as a member of the varsity squad...named to NAIA All-District 19 Team as a senior.

George Kinsler

Four-year starter who played in 115 games from 1983-88...scored 1,449 points to rank 11th all-time...averaged 12.6 points per game...ranked 10th all-time with 584 field goals made...ranked 10th all-time with 302 career assists...career 49.4% field goal percentage...475 career rebounds...led team in field goal percentage 1984-85 (54.7%)...PCPS was 87-31 (73.7%) in his four years as a member of the varsity squad??? named to NAIA All-District 19 Team as a senior.

Tom Malseed

Played from 1961-65...scored 1,678 points (6th all-time)...at conclusion of career was then the Devils all-time leading scorer...all-time scoring average leader with 23.0 points per game...647 career field goals made (6th all-time)...384 free throws made (9th all-time)....first player in school history to score 500 points in a season (557 in 1964-65)...career 73.6% free throw percentage...led team in scoring all four seasons played...led team in rebounding in 1963-64 and in 1964-65...was also a four-year starter on the baseball team...named to the Philadelphia Area All-Small College Team twice.

Ed Miller

A four-year starter who played in 69 games from 1968-72...scored 887 points...averaged 12.9 points per game...ranked sixth all-time in free throw percentage (79.0%)...245 career free throws made...308 career rebounds...90 career assists...led team in scoring 1971-72 (18.2 points per game)...led team in free throw percentage in 1968-69, 1969-70, and 1971-72.

Joe Miller

Played in 119 games from 1991-95...fifth all-time leading scorer in school history with 1,773 points... averaged 14.9 points per game...second all-time in three-point field goals made with 253...holds single-season record with 97 three-point field goals made in 1994-95...ranked fifth all-time with 649 field goals made...career 77.9% free throw percentage...recorded fourth-highest point total in a single season with 637 in 1994-95...led team in scoring 1993-94 and 1994-95...led team in free throw percentage 1992-93, 1993-94, and 1994-95...named to NAIA All-District 19 Team as a junior and senior.

Jeff Misenko

Played from 1987-91...third all-time leading scorer with 1,911 points...second all-time leading rebounder with 984...holds career mark for field goal percentage, shooting 58.2%...ranked third all-time with 763 field goals...averaged 16.2 points per game (7th all-time)...362 free throws made (10th all-time)...career 77.4% free throw percentage...led team in rebounding all four seasons played...led team in scoring and field goal percentage in three of four seasons played...named to NAIA All-District 19 Team as a junior and senior.

Shannon Overton

Four-year starter from 1994-98...all-time leading scorer with 2,195 points...all-time leader in steals with 374...second all-time in assists with 576...averaged 18.8 points per game (3rd all-time)...second all-time in field goals made with 771...third all-time in free throws made with 488...ranked fourth all-time with 165 three point field goals made...holds single season mark for steals with 125...663 points scored in 97-98 is second best mark in school history...led team in scoring 1996-97 and 1997-98...led team in assists and steal all four seasons played...NAIA Second Team All-American in 1997-98... PCPS was 93-24 (79.5%) during his four years as a member of the varsity squad...named to Philadelphia Area All-Small College Team.

Meade Palmer

Played in 103 games from 1977-81...scored 1051 points...averaged 10.2 points per game...191 career assists...career 77.6% free throw percentage...367 career rebounds...career 44.6% field goal percentage... led team in assists 1979-80 (76)...PCPS was 72-34 (67.9%) in his four years as a member of the varsity squad...also was a four-year starter as a pitcher/first baseman on the PCPS baseball team.

John Poole

Played in 74 games from 1950-54...scored 1,093 career points...first 1,000 point scorer in school history...averaged 14.8 points per game, ranking 12th all-time...has fifth-highest single season free throw percentage in school history in 1952-53 (83.7%)...229 career free throws made.

John Rush

Four-year starter from 1976-81, playing in 96 games...1,319 points scored...averaged 13.7 points per game...led team in scoring 1979-80 and 1980-81...led team in free throw percentage in 1976-77 (69.4%)...led team in rebounding in 1979-80...one of the University???s most versatile athletes who was also a four-year starter in baseball and participated on the varsity golf team.

Joe Smart

Played in 103 games from 1980-85...scored 1,210 points...averaged 11.7 points per game...ranked 6th all-time in rebounds with 785...6th best career rebounding average (7.6 per game)...tied for 8th all-time in assists with 305...career 47.4% field goal percentage...lead team in scoring 1981-82 (12.8 points per game)...led team in rebounding in 1980-81, 1982-83, and 1984-85...named to NAIA All-District 19 team as a senior.

Mark Tacelosky

Played from 1992-96...second all-time leading scorer with 2,153 points...all-time leader in field goals with 870...averaged 18.2 points per game (5th all-time)...57.4% career field goal percentage (2nd all-time)...holds single season mark with 670 points scored in 1995-96...led team in scoring in 1992-93 and 1995-96...led team in rebounding all four seasons played...93 career blocked shots (6th all-time)...named to five regular season all-tournament teams during his career...name to NAIA All-District 19 Team in 1995-96, NAIA Second Team All-American in 1995-96, and Philadelphia Area All-Small College Team.

William Tedor

A four-your starter from 1974-79...1,397 points scored...1,069 rebounds...only men's basketball player in school history to score 1,000 points and have 1,000 rebounds...averaged 13.6 points per game...averaged 10.4 rebounds per game (2nd all-time)...led team in rebounding all four seasons played...career 53.3% field goal shooting percentage...has two of the top four highest single season rebound totals in school history...PCPS was 78-26 (75.0%) in his four years as a member of the varsity squad.

Mike Tercha

Played in 97 games from 1972-76...scored 1,173 points...averaged 12.1 points per game...518 career field goals made...455 career rebounds...138 career assists...led team in scoring 1973-84 (13.2 points per game)...led team in field goal percentage 1974-75 (47.5%)...described as one of the five best defensive players to play for Coach Bobby Morgan...PCPS was 65-36 (64.3%) in his four years as a member of the varsity squad...named to NAIA All-District 19 team as a senior.

Bob Walchek (deceased)

Played from 1964-68....was school's all-time leading scorer when he graduated with 1,804 points, which is now 4th on all-time list....all-time leader in free throws made with 530...second-highest scoring average in school history with 22.6 points per game...holds top two single season scoring average marks (32.0 and 26.9 points per game)...639 points in 67-68 is third highest total in school history...holds single season free throw mark with 225 made...led team in scoring in 1966-67 and 1967-68...career 78.1% free throw percentage....won Palumbo Trophy (top scorer amongst Philadelphia colleges) in 1964-65...co-holder of NAIA national record for best free throw percentage in a game (22-22).

Gene Willard

Four year starter from 2001-05.....started in 100 of 101 games played...scored 1,667 points (7th all-time)...second all-time with 514 free throws made...averaged 16.5 points per game (6th all-time)...sixth best career field goal percentage in school history (54.1%)...9th best career free throw percentage in school history (78.4%)...led team in scoring  2001-02 and 03-04...led team in free throw percentage 2001-02, 02-03 and 03-04...named to Philadelphia Area All-Small College Team in 2004-05.

Special Recognition for Support of Devils' Athletics

Robert L. McNeil, Jr.

Played one season,  1936-37...scored 191 points...had two 20-plus point games versus Westminster (21 and 23 points)...team's leading scorer that year... longtime friend and supporter of the University and the athletic department...founded the Class of 1938 Scholarship Fund, contributed to the Robert L. McNeil Sr. Graduate Study and Research Center, as well as the namesake McNeil Athletic Fields and McNeil Science and Technology Center a member of the board of trustees from 1961 to 1968 received an honorary doctor of science degree in 1970 and was inducted into the USP Athletic Hall of Fame in 1982.