Iowa to honor 1970 B1G Champions on Sep 25 (during Colorado State Football Game)

[Franisdaman]

1970 was the last time an Iowa basketball team sat alone atop the league.

The Hawkeyes finished a perfect 14-0 in conference play, the only Iowa squad ever to make it through the league without a loss. Winning the Big Ten meant an invitation to the NCAA Tournament, which then took just 25 teams. It was the first time since 1956 that an Iowa team would play in the tournament.

The 1969-70 Hawkeyes were exceptional in other ways, too. They scored an astonishing 102.9 points a game in conference play — an all-time Big Ten record — without the benefit of a shot clock or 3-point line. The team’s star, John Johnson, still holds the school’s high mark for most points scored in a game — 49, against Northwestern on Feb. 24, 1970. He also held the school record for the most points in a single season (699) for 50 years, until it was recently surpassed by Luka Garza in March 2020.

Read more here. This is a really good story about a very good team: https://hawkeyesports.com/news/2020/03/15/mens-basketball-peace-war-and-basketball-the-story-of-the-1969-70-hawkeyes/

 

[kcgolfer]

Love that team! They were a great team and so much fun to watch.

 

[SSG T]

Nearly 103 ppg, that's how basketball should look.

 

[JEDN]

Yup, Ben McGilmer died within the past year or so. IMO Fred Brown and John Johnson are 2 of the 5 best players to ever wear a aHawk uniform.

 

[Franisdaman]

Yup, Ben McGilmer died within the past year or so. IMO Fred Brown and John Johnson are 2 of the 5 best players to ever wear a aHawk uniform.

When you consider they both played essentially a season and a half at Iowa compared to today's 32 game (at minimum) seasons, their numbers were incredible.


John Johnson...1,172 points (2 yrs: 1969-1970, 49 GP, .543 FG%, 23.9 ppg)

Fred Brown...1,091 points (2 yrs: 1970-1971, 48 GP, .501 FG%, 22.7 ppg)

 

[skydog0784]

That 1969-70 team is the reason I have a life long obsession with Iowa hoops. Heck, I could probably tell you about 8 of those players on that squad without even looking it up.

 

[Terrykohawk]

Best Iowa team I have ever seen. Bad rebound bounce against Jacksonville cost them a chance at UCLA and a national championship. No other team has come close to their level as a team. Ralph Miller’s 6 pack!

 

[TooTall25]

Glenn "Stick" Vidnovic, the most under appreciated Hawkeye basketball player of all time IMHO.

 

[twindman]

I remember comments by broadcasters say The Stick Vidnovic could slide to the basket by turning sideways and just slip thru a crack in the defense!! I think he weighed 150 lb. at 6'6". A skinny guy.

 

[jo12208]

I listened to a delayed Armed Forces broadcast of the game on an outpost in Vietnam.

 

[WadeWilson]

Love that team! They were a great team and so much fun to watch.

I'm jealous. I remember watching the mid to late 70's but missed the 70 team.

 

[twindman]

I'm jealous. I remember watching the mid to late 70's but missed the 70 team.

Yep, the were incredible to watch. I always wondered why they started the season so poorly and finished like they did. Article explained some were injured and Brown was new to the team and it took a while integrate everyone into the offense.

 

[IllQChawk]

How many players are still alive from that team, 51 years ago? Too bad I was in the Navy and on Midway Island at that time and didn't get to see that team, pretty much you had to go to the games to see them play as very few games were televised at that time, I would guess.

 

[NevadaHawk]

I remember comments by broadcasters say The Stick Vidnovic could slide to the basket by turning sideways and just slip thru a crack in the defense!! I think he weighed 150 lb. at 6'6". A skinny guy.

Yep, the players of that golden era were skinny compared to the players of today.

 

[Franisdaman]

Who can name these 10?? I bet @Suterman can!!!

 

[wneff]

When they were on the field, the scoreboard said it was the 1971 team. I was just hoping that none of the players looked up and saw it.

 

[2432Hawk]

When they were on the field, the scoreboard said it was the 1971 team. I was just hoping that none of the players looked up and saw it.

Why was Tim Brando operating the scoreboard?

😉

 

[NI hawk]

That 1969-70 team is the reason I have a life long obsession with Iowa hoops. Heck, I could probably tell you about 8 of those players on that squad without even looking it up.

The year I became a lifelong Hawkeye fan.

 

[NI hawk]

When they were on the field, the scoreboard said it was the 1971 team. I was just hoping that none of the players looked up and saw it.

I pointed this out to the people sitting around me. None of them had a clue.

 

[HawkRugged17]

Hopefully the current team got some tips.

 

[twindman]

I was disappointed in the tv coverage that they didn't show any of this ceremony. I can't name any of the guys in the picture except maybe Jenson since he is tall and white! I had a class with him one semester. He didn't really say much but it was Advance Calc or some other math class.

 

[SSG T]

Hopefully the current team got some tips.

View embedded media

Play D, push the tempo, dunk a lot.

 

[hopstiguy61]

Play D, push the tempo, dunk a lot.

They might not have learned to 'dunk a lot' from the 1970 team, because dunks were banned when that team was at Iowa:

DunkOrThree.com: Your Basketball Blog Archive

At DunkOrThree, we pride ourselves on being more than just a basketball blog – we’re a community of hoops enthusiasts united by our love for the game. We are dedicated to providing diverse perspectives and in-depth content that goes beyond the surface. From breaking news to our opinion, we play...

dunkorthree.com

 

[SuperSK]

They might not have learned to 'dunk a lot' from the 1970 team, because dunks were banned when that team was at Iowa:

DunkOrThree.com: Your Basketball Blog Archive

At DunkOrThree, we pride ourselves on being more than just a basketball blog – we’re a community of hoops enthusiasts united by our love for the game. We are dedicated to providing diverse perspectives and in-depth content that goes beyond the surface. From breaking news to our opinion, we play...

dunkorthree.com

I was lucky enough to have a meal several times with Downtown Freddie at quadrangle dining. Easy to talk with, very modest, funny, great smile. Best shooter I've ever seen. Listed at 6-3, he wasn't. 6-1 on a good day. Loved that guy, a wonderful human being. 😎❤️🏀

 

[JEDN]

Freddie Brown next to Joe T., and Porpoise Richards on the other side of Freddie. Porpoise is his nickname and was the team manager. Stick Vidnovic in the back row to Mulveys right.

 

[Franisdaman]

Name a better nickname than Downtown Freddie Brown.

 

[HawkRugged17]

Name a better nickname than Downtown Freddie Brown.

Well, John Johnson was JJ.

 

[JEDN]

Freddie was also called Freddie Fred

 

[Ronman]

Name a better nickname than Downtown Freddie Brown.

Dr. J? Wilt The Stilt? Magic Johnson? Black Mamba? Clyde the Glide? The Mailman? The Human Highlight Film? Air Jordan?

 

[HawkRugged17]

Dr. J? Wilt The Stilt? Magic Johnson? Black Mamba? Clyde the Glide? The Mailman? The Human Highlight Film? Air Jordan?

 

[jamesvanderwulf]

White Magic...

 

[Ronman]

White Magic...

Wait! Isn't that White Jesus?!?

 

[HawkRugged17]

 

[skydog0784]

Freddie Brown next to Joe T., and Porpoise Richards on the other side of Freddie. Porpoise is his nickname and was the team manager. Stick Vidnovic in the back row to Mulveys right.

I appreciate you identifying some of the 1970 team members; the squad that fueled a life long addiction to Iowa Hoops for me as a youngster growing up in Eastern Iowa.

I didn’t recognize anyone other than Brown - who along with Johnson warrants serious consideration as a member of the all-time starting lineup of IA hoops since at least 1970.

Any others you or anyone else can identify?

 

[TopHawkeye]

I appreciate you identifying some of the 1970 team members; the squad that fueled a life long addiction to Iowa Hoops for me as a youngster growing up in Eastern Iowa.

I didn’t recognize anyone other than Brown - who along with Johnson warrants serious consideration as a member of the all-time starting lineup of IA hoops since at least 1970.

Any others you or anyone else can identify?

Chad Calabria is standing next to Fran.

 

[skydog0784]

Chad Calabria is standing next to Fran.

Thanks Top. Calabria was actually my favorite player on that team…

 

[nu2u]

The year I became a lifelong Hawkeye fan.

Me also. The golden era for a very young kid like me - skipped a classes in school to listen to the '69 Miracle Mets and glued to the radio listening to the '70 Iowa BB team play in the F4.

 

[13thman]

Dr. J? Wilt The Stilt? Magic Johnson? Black Mamba? Clyde the Glide? The Mailman? The Human Highlight Film? Air Jordan?

Old time baseball had the best nicknames.

 

[HawkRugged17]

Old time baseball had the best nicknames.

 

[Ronman]

Old time baseball had the best nicknames.

I think my favorite was The Splendid Splinter.