So some of you may recall our great teams of the past, but let me tell you about the team that almost happened, the one Ben Braun thought could get to a final four.

Well after we beat Duke and lost to the #1 overall seed Ray Allen's Connecticut team in the 96 NCAA tournament, we had a boat load and I mean boat load of talent returning this next season. The starters on the 96 NCAA team were sophomores Boykins, Dial, Zajac, and seniors Tolbert (my favorite player), and Wilson. Now coming in to replace Tolbert was 95 MAC Freshman of the year who transferred to EMU from CMU and was sitting out in 96. We also had heavily recruited 6'9" Sean Lampley coming in out of Chicago to replace Wilson. On the bench returning we had Ezugwu, James Head, Mick Penisi and Tory Mills.

Unfortunately, when Braun left for California he took Kilgore and Lampley. How good were Kilgore and Lampley? Besides MAC Freshman of the year accolades, Kilgore averaged double figures his 1st season and was the PAC 10 newcomer of the year. How good was Lampley? He was PAC 10 Freshman of the year, earned all PAC 10 honors his Jr and Sr year and left California in their hall of fame as the all-time leading scorer.

Before Butler University's unbelievable run a few seasons ago, Braun told me he thought he could get EMU to a final four - I certainly believed him.........oh what could have been!

Go EMU!

I remember those days.

Was Lampley coming to EMU?

BTW, this shows the effects of blind 'luck', happenstance, etc.

If I remember the details correctly, Gary Waters left in March 1996 for Kent State.

The HC at Cal (I keep forgetting his name. EDIT: Todd Bozeman now at Morgan State) got into big trouble with the NCAA and the Cal job opened up in September. Braun took it. I believe Braun's dad lived in CA.

I agree we had the chance for a 'mini-Mid-Major' dynasty before Braun left.

We got Milton Barnes and things started getting rocky...

Milton Barnes believed in shortcuts...if only Gary Waters was just a little more patient!

(01-09-2016 01:07 PM)Bob Wickersham Wrote:  Milton Barnes believed in shortcuts...if only Gary Waters was just a little more patient!

Yes! Yes!! Yes!!!

Oh my gosh that would have been an incredible team. I had no idea thanks for sharing. Not that it did us any good.

Barnes had a couple good seasons with future NBA players of Boykins and Dial (Head had some NBA tryouts too). But the truth is those 3 were already playing at a high level as sophomores. So the 95-96 team with Wilson and Tolbert was actually the much better team than what Barnes was fielding. Had those 2 lost recruits played, would have been great.

One thing that I never understood was why Barnes did not pick up more talent. Boykins, Dial, Head, Zajak, and Ezugwu were literally. His only players for two years (mills also for one of those). Not very deep at all. Then they graduated, and the cuboards were literally empty- 3 to 6 wins that year. Finally his 4th year he had brought in a mid major version of a fab five with Hess, Grantham, Prillman, and Gates ( there was another). Add to it Warner from the previous year and that team could have flourished over the next few years. BUT why weren't there already players waiting in the wings. I inderstsnd not wanting to play behind Boykins for 4 years. But backing him up a couple years before taking over reigns should have been appealing to many recruits.

The first 2 years of barnes the team paid no attention to him what so ever. The guys ran the team. Barnes kicked off everyone but the starting 5 and the 6th man. Ehen barnes left they police had to round the team and get all the stuff back that they ttok.

(01-09-2016 03:47 PM)rayEMU Wrote:  Oh my gosh that would have been an incredible team. I had no idea thanks for sharing. Not that it did us any good.

Barnes had a couple good seasons with future NBA players of Boykins and Dial (Head had some NBA tryouts too). But the truth is those 3 were already playing at a high level as sophomores. So the 95-96 team with Wilson and Tolbert was actually the much better team than what Barnes was fielding. Had those 2 lost recruits played, would have been great.

One thing that I never understood was why Barnes did not pick up more talent. Boykins, Dial, Head, Zajak, and Ezugwu were literally. His only players for two years (mills also for one of those). Not very deep at all. Then they graduated, and the cuboards were literally empty- 3 to 6 wins that year. Finally his 4th year he had brought in a mid major version of a fab five with Hess, Grantham, Prillman, and Gates ( there was another). Add to it Warner from the previous year and that team could have flourished over the next few years. BUT why weren't there already players waiting in the wings. I inderstsnd not wanting to play behind Boykins for 4 years. But backing him up a couple years before taking over reigns should have been appealing to many recruits.

Ahhh Milton Friggin Barnes. The worst hire in EMU's history. He won with Brauns team then ran it into the ground. Sounds like he was kind of a crook too. Obviously the potential recruits saw through him. EMU had a ton of momentum and was just building the Convo. And this dick could not recruit anyone.

Mills was a waste great talent but no head for the game.

The timing for my thread ws due in two parts: 1) Wanted to build excitement for our basketball team, and 2) to juxtapose the goals of our former and current teams.

If only we found a way to keep Braun, we would have had a coach sharing with our school, local media, and perhaps the national media that the school from Ypsilanti will play in a final four someday. Many think this is wishful thinking, but I do not. With the right pieces place, EMU is a basketball gold mine. There's no way that a team like Oakland and UofD should compete for our re recruits.

Coach Murphy is doing the right thing by saying he's building the team around Thompson but he needs to make strategic adjustments or we will not realize the potential of this team for this season and next.

Without arrogance, I would love to hear coach Murphy tout we play for Championships at EMU!

Go EMU!