Let me preface this post by saying I love Louie to death but his overall accomplishments are in my opinion overrated! I remember in the pre Big East era when we were an independent Louie would load up the schedule with the St Peter’s, HoLu Cross, St Francis’ of the world and when we did face a top 10 team it seemed that we always lost! Louie always played it safe! I guess he wanted to be sure he always had a job! I remember Al McGuire talking about our 1985 team saying if Louie doesn’t win a championship with this team he never will! How true! 4 first round draft picks and he still could not win it! Fact is he played it to close to the vest and Thompson completely out coached him!
Louie's Last Season
- Thread starter MattyHoops
- Start date
Larry Wright
Well-known member
I was often disappointed in Louie teams but considering what followed…. Well they should probably name the arena after him
You and Maher are both 100% correct.
Now given that he was not hurt his senior year just ask yourself why Buchanan stopped being Buchanan of the 3 prior seasons.
Jason btw really good guy. Had a bunch of classes with him over the 4 years he went to class all the time he was humble like Malik used to see him at games after we graduated. The entire team over my 4 years were mostly really good guys. Kranmars must remember since he was next door in the torch and we had mutual friends in college all in kinda the sane circles
L J S A
Well-known member
Does he still go to games? Does anyone know where he is these days?
They were good dudes. Very approachable.
That was an extension of Louie as well. Sure he could have recruited more talent, while doing it more often, especially piggybacking the mid 1980’s success. He liked to run a “small shop”.
But that also made him very approachable on campus. There were countless times I called his office last minute asking for few minutes because I needed quotes for a story. His long time assistant (bless her heart, but I forgot her name) even knew my voice after a while.
Louie never said no. Not many high profile college coaches would have that wide of an open door.
We would all have liked to become a national power of course. But, then we would not have had fond stories like this to look back at with a smile.
Now. Get off my lawn.
I haven’t seen him in real long time might have been before Norm. When we’d catch up at a game it was usually small talk like hoops or some of our crazier teachers. He was from upstate originally maybe he is back up there idk it’s been so long since I’ve seen him
I don’t think it hurts Louie’s legendary status in Redmen history to look at his record over the Years . He certainly Coached us to lofty Rankings in more than a few years . But , he wasn’t perfect .,Few Coaches are . I , like many thought there were a few games that maybe a little better game plan might have taken us further . Back in 1979 , we beat Rutgers in a final 8 game on a Friday night , Jammin James Bailey was the Rutgers star in a close game . On that Sunday , we played Penn in a game that the winner was going to the final 4 . We lost ! A game we should have won . That was a team with Wayne McCiy and others . I thought Lou was outcoached . Of course , the Final 4 loss to G’Town always comes to mind too. G’Town put a box and 1 on Mullin and we didn’t adjust well . Remember that was a team that had Wennington , Jackson , Berry too. Louie played Mike Moses much too much in that game over Mark . And , Berry , because of the defense on Mullin should have touched the ball on nearly every possession . He didn’t . I think The Truth would have gotten Ewing in foul trouble and Wennington should have taken Ewing outside and let Walter get to the rim . Never happened . Berry , Jackson, Rowan win the BE Championship the next year 1986 but , lost to Auburn in the NCAA .
Alumni Hall
Well-known member
JB used to attend our games at Syracuse and we would place him behind the bench each year. He was living and working nearby.
Her name was Connie Maffie is memory serves me correctly.
What a wonderful person she was.
Buchanan senior year was very disappointing. His trend was good years 1 and 3, not so good years 2 and 4.
The second half of that year is when Cain stopped being a turnover machine and you had confidence he could actually handle the ball and make good decisions but no one was calling for him to replace JB. That being said, no one saw what he would do in his senior year coming,
Werdann’s injuries were huge and a negative factor.
Malik had no scoring help.
After the strong NCAA run the year prior, we had final four expectations so it was a disappointment.
The second half of that year is when Cain stopped being a turnover machine and you had confidence he could actually handle the ball and make good decisions but no one was calling for him to replace JB. That being said, no one saw what he would do in his senior year coming,
Werdann’s injuries were huge and a negative factor.
Malik had no scoring help.
After the strong NCAA run the year prior, we had final four expectations so it was a disappointment.
Cain sat for 2 1/2 of those years because when he got in he was a turnover waiting to happen. People referred to him as David Turnover in my section at MSG.
And let’s not forget his freshman year, we had a point guard named Boo Harvey who after sitting a year rightfully regained his PG spot moving JB over to the SG spot. After Boo left, JB went back to his natural PG spot and had a pretty darn good year running the show. JB’s senior year however was not good at all.
And let’s not forget his freshman year, we had a point guard named Boo Harvey who after sitting a year rightfully regained his PG spot moving JB over to the SG spot. After Boo left, JB went back to his natural PG spot and had a pretty darn good year running the show. JB’s senior year however was not good at all.
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She married Mr. Kaiser later in life.
I read this and thought to myself, I am too fond of Looie and have such good memories to say anything negative here.
Enjoyed reading it though like a trip down memory lane.
'85 we match up against Nova instead of Georgetown in semis, we at least make the Finals, then who knows, we might play Memphis State as there is a good chance they beat Georgetown and we had Nova's #. Even if we play Georgetown at least it's in the Finals and maybe Georgetown has something taken out of them by a fine Memphis State team led by Keith Lee and surrounded by a Twin Tower and other good players. They were in 3 sweet 16s the 3 previous seasons. That FF team was 31-4 and 13-1. Dana Kirk their coach joked, it was a CYO Tournament being crashed by one non-catholic school.
Enjoyed reading it though like a trip down memory lane.
'85 we match up against Nova instead of Georgetown in semis, we at least make the Finals, then who knows, we might play Memphis State as there is a good chance they beat Georgetown and we had Nova's #. Even if we play Georgetown at least it's in the Finals and maybe Georgetown has something taken out of them by a fine Memphis State team led by Keith Lee and surrounded by a Twin Tower and other good players. They were in 3 sweet 16s the 3 previous seasons. That FF team was 31-4 and 13-1. Dana Kirk their coach joked, it was a CYO Tournament being crashed by one non-catholic school.
fan since 65
Well-known member
I was at a Lapchick luncheon where Coach K (I will not attempt to spell his name and I'm Polish) was honored and Carmine Calzonetti and K joked about how they held each other scoreless in their games when they played each other....because both coaches did not believe in having their point guards shoot. Knight was the other of course.
In '85, my wife wanted to surprise me...so she called Alumni Hall to find out how to get a replica of THAT sweater. Louie got on the phone and told her about a replica T-Shirt that was available, I believe in the bookstore. She bought it...I still have it. Louie never got too big to be nice to his fans.
Wasnt there William Bedford and Andre Turner on that team as well. They had a good tourney run. Turner led a comeback at one point and the SI article was "a little Tiger Turneround" or something. Maybe the one with the famous cover of the three big east stars.