Rhode Islands streak ends 1949-1950
Sounds to good to be true but it really was one for the record books.
Rhode Island’s repeat performance of leading the nation 14 years in a row in offense came to an abrupt end. Villanova senior forward Paul Arizin led college basketball players with a splendid 25.3 points per game average helped Villanova put an end to the 14 year Rhode Island streak. Villanova compiled a nation leading 72.8 ppg.
Headline News 1950-1951
The University of Cincinnati led the nation’s colleges with a splendid 77 points per game average. Coach Stan Watts guided Brigham Young to a school record in wins with a 28-9 record.
1950 and 1951 Headline News
Mel Payton set a new Tulane University rebounding record with a robust 31 in a game against Mississippi State. Mel Payton finished the 1950-1951 season with a sterling 17.8 rpg average, 4th highest in the country.
Carl McNulty hauled in a Purdue record 27 rebounds in a game against Minnesota.
Bill Mlkvy, a first team 1951 All American forward for Temple, led the nation with a resounding 29.2 points per game average in 1950-1951. In the last game of the season, Bill Mlkvy tallied a school record 73 points against Wilkes College, And, he scored 54 straight team points (that’s a fact!) For the season Bill Mlkvy averaged 39 field goals attempts per game en-route to setting a Temple ppg scoring record.
Bill Corley of Connecticut poured in 51 points against New Hampshire, a new school record.
Tippy Dye, coach of Washington men’s basketball, became the first ever head coach to led two different colleges to a Top 20 final rankings in consecutive seasons. Tippy Dye urged Washington U players to a 24-6 record as they captured the Pacific Coast Conference in 1951. They lost those six games by an average of just 4.5 points per game. In 1950 Tippy Dye led Ohio State to a 22-4 overall record and a Big 10 title.
Kansas St, coached by Jack Gardner, posted a school record in wins with a 25-4 season record.
Dick Ricketts, a freshman forward/center averaged a solid 12.4 points per game for Duquesne. The 6 ft 8 inch Dick Ricketts also averaged 10.7 rebounds. After his senior year, he was drafted by the St Louis Hawks of the NBA.
1950s stats from old newspapers and basketballhistorian.com archives.
Bill Mlkvy of Temple scored 73 points in the last game of the season against Wilkes College. Bill Mlkvy, a 6 ft 4 inch forward, led the nation in scoring with a 29.2 points per game average. Jay Handlan of Washington & Lee set an NCAA record with 71 field goal tries, making 30 and scored a total of 66 points against Furman. Jay Handlan finished second behind Mlkvy with 26.2 ppg.
1951 NCAA Consensus First Team Basketball All Americans
Clyde Lovellette, Center, junior Kansas… Gene Melchiorre, Guard, senior, Bradley… Bill Mlkvy, Forward, junior, Temple…Sam Ranzino, Forward, senior, North Carolina State… Bill Spivey, Center, junior, Kentucky
Selections by Colliers by Basketball Coaches rounded by Archives from basketballhistorian.com