Extra! Extra! As a new season shifts into high gear, you can shake your head in sorrow at political and press pestilent #Dimorats supporting MS-13 gang vermin or read news all about memorable major league baseball achievements, moments and transactions involving former college basketball players! Numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games and dates in MLB history.

Former hoops All-Americans Danny Ainge (Brigham Young) and Bosey Berger (Maryland) made MLB news on this date. Ditto ex-CA juco hoopers Steve Barber (Riverside City), Garth Iorg (Redwoods) and Jackie Robinson (Pasadena City) plus other J.C. hoopers Tony Phillips (New Mexico Military) and Carl Reynolds (Lon Morris TX). Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an April 19 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

APRIL 19

• Toronto Blue Jays LF Danny Ainge (three-time Brigham Young basketball All-American and national player of year as senior in 1980-81) went 3-for-3 in an 8-1 setback against the Cleveland Indians in 1980.

• Only MLB decision for RHP Steve Barber (J.C. starter under coach Jerry Tarkanian before attending La Verne CA) was a 9-8 victory for the Minnesota Twins against the Kansas City Royals in 1971.

• San Diego Padres RHP Andy Benes (joined Evansville's shorthanded basketball squad in 1985-86 under coach Jim Crews) allowed only one earned run in his first three starts in 1992 covering 23 1/3 innings.

• 3B Bosey Berger (Maryland's first hoops All-American in 1931-32) awarded on waivers from the Cleveland Indians to the Chicago White Sox in 1937.

• Pittsburgh Pirates 1B Donn Clendenon (four-sport letterman with Morehouse GA) provided four hits against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1966 game.

• SS Lee Elia (averaged 13.7 ppg in three basketball games for Delaware in 1957-58) traded by the Chicago Cubs to New York Yankees in 1969.

• Washington Senators RHP Mark Filley (Williams MA hooper in early 1930s) made his lone MLB appearance, hurling one-third of an inning in relief against the Boston Red Sox in 1934.

• In midst of going deep in four consecutive contests, Chicago White Sox C Carlton Fisk (runner-up in scoring with 13.7 ppg and top rebounder for New Hampshire's 1965-66 freshman squad) homered twice in 1988 game against the Seattle Mariners.

• In 2017 in his third MLB start, Amir Garrett (averaged 7.4 ppg and 4 rpg for St. John's under coach Steve Lavin in 2011-12 and 2012-13 before RS transfer year at Cal State Northridge) tied a Cincinnati Reds record for a rookie LHP by fanning 12 Baltimore Orioles batters.

• Cincinnati Reds RHP Ken Hunt (freshman hooper for Brigham Young in 1957-58) won his first MLB start (4-2 against the San Francisco Giants in 1961), fanning Felipe Alou and Willie McCovey.

• St. Louis Cardinals RHP Walt Huntzinger (All-Ivy League forward with Penn in 1921-22) toiled 14 innings but lost, 5-4, against the Chicago Cubs in 1926. He was waived to the Cubbies two months later.

• Toronto Blue Jays 3B Garth Iorg (juco hooper with College of the Redwoods CA in mid-1970s) went 4-for-4, including a game-winning triple in bottom of the ninth inning, in 2-1 win against the Baltimore Orioles in 1984.

• New York Giants 1B Monte Irvin (Lincoln PA hooper 1 1/2 years in late 1930s) collected six RBI against the Boston Braves in the nightcap of a 1951 doubleheader.

• St. Louis Cardinals 1B George Kernek (Oklahoma hoops letterman in 1959-60 and 1960-61) contributed three hits for the second time in four games in 1966.

• Five hits by CF Bake McBride (averaged 12.7 ppg and 8.1 rpg in 21 games for Westminster MO in 1968-69 and 1969-70) were in vain as the St. Louis Cardinals incurred a 17-inning, 4-3 loss against the New York Mets in 1976.

• In a 1961 contest, Los Angeles Dodgers LF Wally Moon (averaged 4.3 ppg with Texas A&M in 1948-49 and 1949-50) supplied two homers and five RBI against his original team (St. Louis Cardinals).

• In 1942, Chicago Cubs RHP Claude Passeau (Millsaps MS hooper in late 1920s and early 1930s) didn't yield a hit until there was one out in the eighth inning when CF Harry Craft (Mississippi College hooper first half of 1930s) singled for the Cincinnati Reds.

• Chicago White Sox LHP Gary Peters (Grove City PA hooper from 1955-57) drilled two doubles good for four RBI in first three innings of a 1964 contest against the Boston Red Sox.

• Oakland Athletics INF Tony Phillips (New Mexico Military juco hooper in 1977-78 as teammate of eventual Drake All-American Lewis Lloyd) banged out four hits in a 1986 game against the Seattle Mariners. The next day, he collected three safeties and scored three runs against Seattle.

• Boston Red Sox CF Carl Reynolds (Southwestern TX hoops MVP and captain in mid-1920s) went 4-for-4 (including two triples) in the nightcap of a 1934 twinbill against the Washington Senators.

• Brooklyn Dodgers LF Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) went 4-for-4 against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1954.

• RHP Sonny Siebert (team-high 16.7 ppg for Missouri in 1957-58 as All-Big Eight Conference second-team selection) traded by the Cleveland Indians to the Boston Red Sox in a six-player swap in 1969.

Extra! Extra! As a new season shifts into high gear, you can listen to how self-absorbed #Dimorat politicians are more concerned about criminal illegal aliens than American citizens impacted by their misdeeds or read news about memorable major league baseball achievements, moments and transactions involving former college basketball players. Numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games and dates in MLB history.

Arizona, Cincinnati, Duke, Kansas, Michigan State, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, Syracuse and UCLA - NCAA playoff kingpins at some point in their respective histories - had former hoopers make MLB news on this date. Ditto five ex-hoopers from Pennsylvania small colleges - Albright, Grove City, Mansfield, Susquehanna and Wilkes - before they became MLB pitchers. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an April 18 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

APRIL 18

• Chicago White Sox rookie 1B Zeke Bonura (best basketball forward for Loyola LA in late 1920s and early 1930s) belted two homers against the Detroit Tigers in 1934 in his second MLB game. Four years later with the Washington Senators, Bonura contributed three hits and four RBI in a 12-8 win against the Philadelphia Athletics in 1938 season opener.

• Philadelphia Phillies INF Gene Freese (West Liberty WV basketball captain of 1952 NAIA Tournament team) smacked a pinch grand slam against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1959 game.

• Atlanta Braves RHP Kevin Gryboski (backup hooper for Wilkes PA in 1991-92 and 1992-93) surrendered his only run in first 17 relief appearances of 2004 campaign.

• San Diego Padres RF Tony Gwynn (All-WAC second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81) went 5-for-5 against the St. Louis Cardinals in a 1993 contest.

• Texas Rangers 1B Mike Hargrove (Northwestern Oklahoma State hoops letterman) collected four hits and five RBI against the Milwaukee Brewers in the opener of a 1976 doubleheader.

• St. Louis Browns 1B Dick Kauffman (Susquehanna PA multi-sport athlete/class of 1909) contributed a career-high three hits - two for extra bases - in game against the Cleveland Indians in 1915.

• RHP Jim Konstanty (Syracuse hooper in late 1930s) traded by the Cincinnati Reds with cash to the Boston Braves in 1946.

• Los Angeles Dodgers LHP Sandy Koufax (Cincinnati's freshman hoops squad in 1953-54) threw the second of two immaculate innings in his career when he struck out the side on nine pitches against the Cincinnati Reds in third frame in 1964.

• St. Louis Cardinals RHP Frank Linzy (listed on Oklahoma State's freshman hoops roster in 1959-60) posted his third save in a week in 1971.

• Atlanta Braves CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling 35-3 record) provided a homer among his five hits in a 14-0 romp over the Colorado Rockies in 1997. Five years later with the Chicago White Sox, Lofton delivered multiple safeties seven times in a span of eight games while raising his batting average from .250 to .426 in 2002.

• Davey Lopes (NAIA All-District 15 selection for Iowa Wesleyan averaged 16.9 ppg and 3.4 rpg as freshman in 1964-65 and 12.1 ppg as sophomore in 1965-66 before transferring with his coach to Washburn KS and becoming All-CIC choice for 1968 NAIA Tournament team) fired as manager of the Milwaukee Brewers in 2002.

• San Francisco Giants CF Billy North (played hoops briefly for Central Washington in 1967-68) stole three bases against the Atlanta Braves in a 1981 contest.

• Chicago White Sox LHP Gary Peters (Grove City PA hooper from 1955-57) knocked in four runs with a pair of doubles in 1964 game against the Boston Red Sox.

• Minnesota Twins 3B Rick Renick (played in one basketball game for Ohio State in 1963-64 under coach Fred Taylor) ripped a grand slam homer against the Oakland Athletics in 1970.

• Montreal Expos RHP Steve Renko (averaged 9.9 ppg and 5.8 rpg as Kansas sophomore in 1963-64) won his first start of season against the New York Mets before dropping last 10 decisions of the 1972 campaign.

• St. Louis Cardinals LF Rip Repulski (occasional hoops starter for St. Cloud State MN in 1946-47) went 4-for-4 in a 1955 outing against the Cincinnati Redlegs.

• Hall of Fame RHP Robin Roberts (one of Michigan State's top three scorers each season from 1944-45 through 1946-47) surrendered the first hit on artificial turf in 1966 when Los Angeles Dodgers SS Maury Wills singled to center at Houston's Astrodome.

• 1B Jackie Robinson (highest scoring average in Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with UCLA in 1939-40 and 1940-41) ripped his first homer for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947 (against New York Giants). The blast was Robinson's lone round-tripper in his first 30 MLB games.

• Cleveland Indians LHP Joe Shaute (hooper for Mansfield PA in early 1920s) allowed only one earned run in tossing complete-game victories in his first two appearances of 1928 campaign.

• New York Yankees RHP Roy Sherid (Albright PA hoops center in 1926-27 and 1927-28) toiled 15 innings but lost, 5-4, against the Boston Red Sox in 1931.

• Chicago White Sox DH Jim Thome (played junior-college hoops for Illinois Central in 1988-89) swatted two homers in 2007 game against the Texas Rangers.

• RHP Cecil Upshaw (led Centenary in scoring as junior while averaging 13.7 ppg and 6 rpg from 1961-62 through 1963-64) registered his fourth victory hurling at least three innings of relief in the Atlanta Braves' first 11 games of the 1971 season.

• Philadelphia Athletics 3B Billy Werber (first Duke hoops All-American in 1929-30) provided four safeties in season opener en route to seven multiple-hit games in his first 11 outings of the 1938 campaign. Ellis also coached two DI schools in Alabama (South Alabama and Auburn).

Extra! Extra! As a new season gains steam, you can listen to leftist lunatics on #MSLSD and CNN Sucks about deporting "MD Man" (a/k/a illegal alien) or learn something reading news about memorable major league baseball achievements, moments and transactions involving former college basketball players. Numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games and dates in MLB history.

Former San Diego State hoopers Tony Gwynn and Graig Nettles supplied significant National League hitting performances as lefthanded batters on this date. Several ex-hoopers from Illinois colleges - Cal Neeman (Illinois Wesleyan), Wally Roettger (Illinois) and Jim Thome (Illinois Central) - also made N.L. news on this date. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an April 16 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

APRIL 16

• Detroit Tigers 2B Frank Bolling (averaged 7.3 ppg for Spring Hill AL basketball team in 1950-51), en route to hitting .632 through first five games of the 1958 campaign, banged out four hits in a 5-4 win against the Chicago White Sox.

• Kansas City Athletics LF Bob Cerv (ranked fourth on Nebraska's career scoring list in 1949-50 when finishing college career) collected three extra-base hits and five RBI in a 9-4 triumph against the Cleveland Indians in 1958.

• Philadelphia Athletics starting LHP Chubby Dean (reserve guard for Duke in 1936) did not allow an earned run in 10 innings in a 2-1 win against the New York Yankees in 1940.

• Detroit Tigers 1B Walt Dropo (first player in Connecticut history to average 20 ppg in single season with 21.7 in 1942-43) knocked in five runs with two extra-base hits in a 1953 game against the Cleveland Indians.

• 1B Kerby Farrell (key hooper for couple of strong Freed-Hardeman TN squads in mid-1930s) purchased from the Boston Braves by the Chicago White Sox in 1945.

• Houston Astros C Joe Ferguson (played in 1967 NCAA playoffs with Pacific) furnished three extra-base hits against the Atlanta Braves in a 1977 game.

• Philadelphia Athletics RF Walt French (hoops letterman for Rutgers and Army) furnished four hits against the Washington Senators in a 1926 contest.

• Debut with San Francisco Giants for RHP Rich Gale (led New Hampshire with 7.2 rpg in 1975-76) was a success, hurling a three-hit, 6-1 victory against the Cincinnati Reds in 1982.

• St. Louis Cardinals RHP Bob Gibson (Creighton's leading scorer and rebounder in 1955-56 and 1956-57) and Philadelphia Phillies P Cal McLish both failed to finish first inning when each starter allowed six runs in the Cards' 12-6 win at Philly in 1962.

• Chicago White Sox C Frank Grube (Lafayette starting hoops guard as senior in 1926-27) went 4-for-4 against the Cleveland Indians in a 1932 game.

• San Diego Padres RF Tony Gwynn (All-Western Athletic Conference second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81) went 5-for-5 against the Los Angeles Dodgers in a 1987 contest en route to N.L.-high 218 hits.

• Cleveland Indians CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling 35-3 record) delivered three extra-base hits against the Toronto Blue Jays in a 1993 contest.

• Milwaukee Braves SS Johnny Logan (Binghamton hooper in 1948-49) went 5-for-5 against the Cincinnati Reds in a 1955 game.

• Rookie C Cal Neeman (Illinois Wesleyan's leading scorer in 1947-48 and 1948-49) scored the Chicago Cubs' only run of 1957 season opener after notching his initial big-league hit (single to right-center off Warren Spahn in bottom of fifth inning of 4-1 setback).

• Final blast of 390 MLB career homers by 3B Graig Nettles (shot 87.8% from free-throw line for San Diego State in 1963-64) was a pinch-hit, game-tying round-tripper for the Montreal Expos against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1988.

• RHP Roy Parmelee (hoops letterman for Eastern Michigan in 1924-25 and 1925-26) purchased from the Chicago Cubs by the Boston Red Sox in 1938.

• In a 1931 contest, Cincinnati Reds RF Wally Roettger (Illinois hoops letterman in 1921-22 and 1922-23) went 5-for-5 against his original team (St. Louis Cardinals).

• Texas Rangers RHP Mike Smithson (teammate of Tennessee All-American Ernie Grunfeld averaged 1.9 ppg and 1.6 rpg under coach Ray Mears in 1974-75 and 1975-76) won his first three starts in 1984.

• Philadelphia Phillies 1B Jim Thome (played junior-college hoops for Illinois Central in 1988-89) went 4-for-4 in 2004 game against the Montreal Expos.

• Detroit Tigers rookie CF Hub Walker (Ole Miss hooper in 1927 and 1929) secured three hits as leadoff batter in his first two MLB games in 1931.

"A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives." - Jackie Robinson

The entirety of SportsNation accepts the cultural significance of Jackie Robinson Day, an annual event commemorating and honoring the groundbreaking day he made his debut 78 years ago on April 15 with the Brooklyn Dodgers as MLB's first African-American player. It doesn't appear as if BLM (Buy Large Mansions) hucksters claiming systemic racism and police brutality will diminish his justifiable accolades.

Observers might not know about Robinson also impacting basketball. UCLA's initial all-conference hooper in the 1940s was a forward who compiled the highest scoring average in the Pacific Coast Conference both of his seasons with the Bruins (12.3 points per league game in 1939-40 and 11.1 ppg in 1940-41) after transferring from Pasadena (Calif.) City College. Continuing his scoring exploits, the six-time National League All-Star also materialized as the leading scorer for the Los Angeles Red Devils' barnstorming team in 1946-47. He certainly brought a massive load of more credibility to thought-provoking table than opportunistic steamy-romance novelist Stacey Abrams (a/k/a Selena Montgomery) plus fellow budding Lizzo backup dancers Letitia James and Fani Willis.

In 1949, Jackie triggered a streak of eight different African-Americans winning a total of 11 N.L. MVPs in 14-year span through 1962. In deference to Robinson's uniform number, following is an alphabetical list of 42 more of the best African-American basketball players for four-year colleges who subsequently competed at the MLB level:

Todd Golden, coach of Florida's NCAA Tournament champion, is only 39 years old. But will a "Golden Age" kingpin campaign be marred after having difficulty shaking uncertainty and controversy stemming from alleged sexual harassment and stalking of an unidentified number of women, including multiple UF students. Alleged exchange of explicit photos and videos reeked of some sort of shirtless selfie contest among videographer/straw artist hideous Hunter, Plagiarist Biledumb's younger brother (Frank), boiler-room boy Geraldo Rivera, Eric "Chinese Check-Her-Out" Swalwell (Fang Fang's friend atop camel) and obnoxious politician Anthony Weiner.

Much of media was abuzz about Jay Wright stepping down as Villanova's coach at the age of 60 several years ago after capturing NCAA Tournament crowns with the Wildcats in 2016 and 2018. But a total of 13 title bench bosses bowed out of coaching when they were younger than Wright. Following is a list of NCAA DI championship coaches who departed profession as college head coach by the age of 60 (including five of the first six titlists from 1939 through 1944):

NOTE: Billy Donovan was 49 when he left Florida (2006 and 2007) for the NBA.

NCAA champion Florida flogged then top-ranked Tennessee by 30 points in mid-season before the Gators bowed to the Volunteers by 20 in Knoxville less than a month later. The seemingly dramatic 50-point swing pales in comparison, however, to robust reversal results in power-conference competition over the years.

In 1997-98, Missouri rebounded from its most-lopsided loss in school history (111-56 at Kansas State) to defeat the Wildcats in their Big 12 Conference return engagement (89-59 at Mizzou) for an incredible 85-point turnaround in margin. Following is a look at about-faces of at least 60 points in the same season between power-league rivals (including nine results with at least a 48-point margin):

*SEC Tournament (Tennessee lost at Kentucky, 84-70, earlier in season).

Extra! Extra! Rather than watching #MessMedia misfits trying to prop up their next Michael #Avenaughty (ESPN's Screamin' A. Stiff) as presidential timber, you can read news about memorable major league baseball achievements, moments and transactions involving former college basketball players. Numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games and dates in MLB history.

Ivy League hoopers Bill Almon (Brown) and Tony Lupien (Harvard) made MLB news on this date. Ex-college hoopers Tommy Herr (Delaware), Wally Moon (Texas A&M) and Lee Smith (Northwestern State) generated headlines for the St. Louis Cardinals on this date. Former HBCU hoopers "Sweet" Lou Johnson (Kentucky State) and Leon Wagner (Tuskegee AL) were outfielders traded for each other in 1961. Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an April 13 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

APRIL 13

• Montreal Expos SS Bill Almon (averaged 2.5 ppg in half season for Brown's 1972-73 basketball team ending school's streak of 12 straight losing records) stroked four hits in a 5-4 win against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1980.

• In his first MLB game in 1954, Detroit Tigers 2B Frank Bolling (averaged 7.3 ppg for Spring Hill AL in 1950-51) belted a homer off Baltimore Orioles P Don Larsen.

• San Diego Padres RF Tony Gwynn (All-Western Athletic Conference second-team selection with San Diego State in 1979-80 and 1980-81) and two teammates establish a MLB record by each hitting a homer as the first three batters in the bottom of first inning of their 1987 home opener against San Francisco Giants RHP Roger Mason (multiple-year letterman in late 1970s for Saginaw Valley State MI).

• St. Louis Cardinals 2B Tommy Herr (hooper with Delaware's freshman team in 1974-75) went 3-for-3 and scored three runs in a 1985 contest against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

• OF "Sweet" Lou Johnson (teammate of legendary HBCU coach Davey Whitney averaged 5.7 ppg and 2 rpg for Kentucky State in 1951-52) traded by the Los Angeles Angels to Toronto (International League) for OF Leon Wagner (Tuskegee AL hooper in 1952-53) in 1961.

• Boston Red Sox C Duane Josephson (led Northern Iowa in scoring in 1962-63 and 1963-64 under coach Norm Stewart) opened the scoring with a second-inning, two-run homer off Denny McLain in a 5-3 victory against the Washington Senators in 1971.

• 1B Tony Lupien (Harvard hoops captain in 1938-39) awarded on waivers from the Boston Red Sox to the Philadelphia Phillies in 1944.

• St. Louis Cardinals CF Wally Moon (averaged 4.3 ppg with Texas A&M in 1948-49 and 1949-50) swatted a homer against the Chicago Cubs in his first at-bat en route to becoming 1954 N.L. Rookie of the Year.

• Minnesota Twins RHP Jim Perry (averaged more than 20 ppg in late 1950s for former juco Campbell) fired a four-hit shutout against the New York Yankees in his first start of 1968 campaign.

• INF-OF Tony Phillips (New Mexico Military juco hooper in 1977-78 as teammate of eventual Drake All-American Lewis Lloyd) traded by the Detroit Tigers to the California Angels in 1995.

• Detroit Tigers RHP Jeff Robinson (two-time NAIA All-District 3 hoops honoree in early 1980s left Azusa Pacific CA as school's No. 9 all-time scorer) hurled a four-hit shutout against the Minnesota Twins in 1989.

• St. Louis Cardinals closer Lee Smith (averaged 3.4 ppg and 1.9 rpg with Northwestern State in 1976-77) set MLB record for most career saves in 1993 (RHP's mark stood for 13 years).

• Chicago White Sox DH Jim Thome (played junior-college hoops for Illinois Central in 1988-89) smacked a homer in his fourth consecutive contest in 2006.

• RHP Jim Wilson (hoops letterman for San Diego State's 1942 NAIA Tournament participant) purchased from the Milwaukee Braves by the Baltimore Orioles in 1955.

• California Angels RF Dave Winfield (starting forward with Minnesota's first NCAA playoff team in 1972) collected 15 total bases and six RBI on three homers, a double and single in a 15-9 verdict over the Minnesota Twins in 1991.

Extra! Extra! Instead of listening to #MessMedia misfits on MSLSD and CNN Sucks transparently try to support the #Dimorats' Spit Show or listening to Cacklin' Kamala's history lesson on women's NCAA brackets, you can read news about memorable major league baseball achievements, moments and transactions involving former college basketball players! Numerous ex-college hoopers had front-row seats to many of the most notable games and dates in MLB history.

Two former small-college hoopers from Pennsylvania - Dick Hall (Swarthmore) and Lynn Jones (Thiel) - made MLB news on this date. Joining Jones among small-college hoopers generating headlines for the Detroit Tigers on this date were Tony Phillips (New Mexico Military) and Jeff Robinson (Azusa Pacific CA). Baseball is portrayed as a thinking man's game but only 4% of active MLB players earned college diplomas. Unless you habitually pore over the content at baseballlibrary.com, baseballreference.com and nationalpastime.com, following is an April 12 calendar focusing on such versatile MLB athletes:

APRIL 12

• RHP Rich Beck (listed on Gonzaga's basketball roster in 1961-62) was purchased from the Philadelphia Phillies by the New York Yankees in 1965.

• In his initial MLB appearance in 1961, San Francisco Giants INF Ernie Bowman (East Tennessee State hoops letterman in 1954-55 and 1955-56) scored the game-winning tally as a pinch-runner in a 2-1 victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

• RHP Dick Hall (averaged 13.5 ppg from 1948-49 through 1950-51 for Swarthmore PA Middle Atlantic States Conference Southern Division champions) traded by the Kansas City Athletics to the Baltimore Orioles in 1961.

• In 1961, San Francisco Giants C Tom Haller (backup forward for Illinois in 1956-57 and 1957-58 under coach Harry Combes) stroked his first MLB hit, a homer off Pittsburgh Pirates P Vern Law.

• A pinch-hit homer by OF Lynn Jones (averaged 10.4 ppg for Thiel PA from 1970-71 through 1973-74) accounted for the Detroit Tigers' only runs in a 6-2 loss against the Toronto Blue Jays in 1981.

• Cleveland Indians rookie CF Kenny Lofton (Arizona's leader in steals for 1988 Final Four team compiling 35-3 record) swiped four bases against the Boston Red Sox in the opener of a 1992 doubleheader.

• Detroit Tigers 3B Tony Phillips (New Mexico Military juco hooper in 1977-78 as teammate of eventual Drake All-American Lewis Lloyd) went 4-for-4 in a 1990 game against the Boston Red Sox.

• Seattle Mariners RF Leon Roberts (grabbed one rebound in four basketball games for Michigan in 1970-71 under coach Johnny Orr) contributed a sacrifice fly and two solo homers, including game-winning blast in bottom of the 10th inning, in 3-2 win against the Toronto Blue Jays in 1980.

• Detroit Tigers RHP Jeff Robinson (two-time NAIA All-District 3 hoops honoree in early 1980s left Azusa Pacific CA as school's No. 9 all-time scorer) won his MLB debut, allowing only one run in seven innings in a 7-1 victory against the Chicago White Sox in 1987.

• After a pair of rainouts, 1B-OF Norm Siebern (member of Southwest Missouri State's back-to-back hoops NAIA Tournament titlists in 1952 and 1953) socked a decisive eighth-inning HR to give the New York Yankees a season-opening 3-2 win over the visiting Boston Red Sox in 1959.

• Pittsburgh Pirates RHP Kent Tekulve (freshman hooper for Marietta OH in mid-1960s) commenced a streak of 12 relief appearances in a row without allowing an earned run in 1978.

• Pittsburgh Pirates LHP Bob Veale (scored 1,160 points from 1955-56 through 1957-58 with Benedictine KS) outdueled San Francisco Giants P Juan Marichal, 1-0, in 1965.

• San Diego Padres RF Will Venable (All-Ivy League first-team selection as junior and second-team choice as senior averaged 9.3 ppg under Princeton coach John Thompson III from 2001-02 through 2004-05) scored four runs against the Atlanta Braves in 2010.

"Success is simple. Do what's right, the right way, at the right time." - Arnold H. Glasow

There is a good reason to schedule wisely in non-league play as hiring occasionally stems from at least partially what can be designated a job audition. For instance, Digger Phelps guided Fordham to its winningest season in school history in 1970-71. But what likely really impressed Notre Dame's administration was a 94-88 victory that season over the Irish. He was UND's bench boss the next campaign and went on to compile seven triumphs against nationally top-ranked opponents in his career at South Bend. Will Kevin Willard be the next Brey after leaving Maryland for Villanova (MD edged Nova, 76-75, last season)?

Non-conference schedules frequently are frustrating for fans of power-league members because of what seems like feasting on a steady diet of cupcake opponents. But you never know when a single game becomes a career changer. Initial research of results in this category shows Mick Cronin's 29-point margin of victory for Cincinnati against UCLA is exceeded only by Tommy Amaker's 32-point difference when Michigan overwhelmed Harvard. Similar to almost any job, timing is everything. Following is an alphabetical list of impressionable coaches generating favorable reviews after defeating a school (in non-conference game) they were hired by for the same role before the next campaign:

*Competed in season-opening Military Classic before VMI defeated The Citadel twice in Southern Conference competition.

In the wake of Alan Huss leaving High Point to return as an aide at Creighton as Greg McDermott's eventual successor, it should be acknowledged that assistant coaches for NBA teams and power-conference members frequently are paid significantly more than head coaches for mid-major colleges. Just ask David Patrick, who reportedly doubled his salary five years ago when forsaking head-coaching responsibilities with UC Riverside to become chief assistant at Arkansas and likely duplicated the feat last year when abandoning job as bench boss for Sacramento State to become an aide at Louisiana State.

Matthew Driscoll was North Florida's head coach for 16 seasons before becoming an aide at Kansas State. Billy Donlon, joining Clemson's staff as an aide three seasons ago, became the second UMKC mentor this century joining the following alphabetical list of NCAA Division I head coaches who had years remaining on their contract when they departed to become an assistant for a power-conference member or NBA franchise:

NOTE: Huss, Painter and Williams were head-coaches-in-waiting. Stoudamire (Georgia Tech) and Williams (Maryland) are now power-conference head coaches.

No state is close to winning as much as two-thirds of its NCAA Tournament games and none has as many as five different schools with winning playoff records. The Michigan Wolverines reaching the 2018 NCAA final instead of the Kansas Jayhawks enabled Michigan (.6284) to nudge ahead of Kansas (.6279) as the state with highest all-time winning percentage before the Michigan State Spartans padded the state's advantage with a 2019 Final Four appearance and both schools reaching the Sweet 16 in 2025. Kansas, one of 20 states represented by four or fewer members in the U.S. House of Representatives, is represented much more in the NCAA playoffs by ranking eighth with 175 victories from only three universities although Kansas posted the state's only triumph in the last two years.

Virginia - Liberty, Norfolk State and VCU - sustained three opening-round exits in 2025. Six of the 13 states securing more than 100 all-time NCAA tourney triumphs - Illinois, Kansas, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania - combined to post half of champion Florida's six victories in 2025. Texas had the most participants this year with five. With neither UK and Louisville reaching the Final Four since 2015, California passed the Commonwealth in total NCAA playoff triumphs. Additional stately views of national winners and sinners you might want to review include:

• Despite going winless in 2021 and notching only one victory in 2023, schools from the state of North Carolina have collected more NCAA Tournament triumphs (348 after Duke reached national final this year) than a total of 23 states including those with power-conference members such as Georgia, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey and West Virginia.
• All four ACC members in Carolina have more than 25 playoff triumphs. Each of them (Duke, North Carolina, North Carolina State and Wake Forest) has more all-time wins than entire states such as Colorado, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Mexico, Rhode Island and South Carolina.
• California is the only state with as many as 18 schools winning at least one NCAA Tournament game. Alas, fewer than 1/4 of them (four) have winning marks.
• Other than Syracuse, Canisius is the only current New York Division I school to compile a winning NCAA playoff record (6-4) as the state went winless in 2023. CCNY, the NCAA's DI champion in 1950, assembled a 4-2 mark ledger before de-emphasizing its program.
• Villanova (plus 32 in PA; 71-39) and Syracuse (plus 29 in NY; 70-41) are the most games above .500 in states with overall losing playoff marks. On the flip side, Miami OH (minus 13; 6-19) and Murray State KY (minus 13; 5-18) are tied for most games below .500 in states with overall winning worksheets.
• Abilene Christian enabled Texas earlier this decade to nudge ahead of California for most different schools participating in the tourney with 24 although Baylor and Houston are the only institutions from the Lone Star State posting a winning record. Texas has a total of 15 Final Four teams but is more games under .500 than any state (minus 31 including nine different participants never winning a playoff contest). California moved back into a tie with Texas after UC San Diego made its playoff debut.
• None of Louisiana's 13 schools appearing in the playoffs have notched a winning record. South Carolina has the most universities participate in the tourney (nine) without any of them posting a break-even or winning playoff record. Kansas has only three different colleges appear in the NCAA Tournament but boasts more than six times as many victories as entire state of South Carolina and in excess of four times as many triumphs as all of Louisiana.
• All six Mid-American Conference members from Ohio have losing records, combining for a 19-56 mark (.253).
• Tennessee, the winningest state in NCAA playoff history despite never having a national champion, is the only state with as many as six schools at least five games below .500 in NCAA tourney competition.
• Virginia is the only one of 13 different schools from its state to post a winning record.
• Memphis (35-29) is joined by Spokane, Wash.-based Gonzaga (47-27) as the only mid-major schools leading a state with total of more than 40 playoff wins.
• The only two states with fewer than 50 tourney triumphs assembling overall winning records are Nevada (39-30 by 6-11 Nevada and 33-19 UNLV) plus New Hampshire (10-7 by Dartmouth).
• Utah is the only state saddled with as many as three schools posting tourney marks more than 10 games below .500 - Brigham Young (17-35), Utah State (7-27) and Weber State (6-17).

Plagiarist Biledumb, despite big tech and much of #MessMedia hiding details about his soap-opera family, "showers" prospect of success telling truth about attending HBCU Delaware State a mite more than the NCAA Tournament win total of the state he served as Senator because Delaware is 0-7. At least four different schools from Texas posted a minimum of one NCAA tourney triumph for the fourth straight year as the Longhorn State secured the most wins in 2025 with 10. Following are NCAA Division I playoff cumulative records listed by most state victories through 2024:

NOTE: Two states - Alaska and Maine - never had a school participate in the NCAA Division I Tournament.