BRONCOS START
HIGH; HIT BRICK WALL AT ISU 89
No. 44 Greg Bunn. ABOVE: No. 34 Bob McCollum, no. 52 Ron Franklin RIGHT: No. 22 Clyde Dickey, no. 32 Bill Barnes.
'72-73 SEASON DISAPPOINTING The 1972-73 basketball season was one of the worst in BSC history. It was lowlighted by huge defeats, inexperienced players, poor attendance, disciplinary action and a coach who resigned midway through the 26-game schedule. Big Sky Conference action was no better as the Broncos suffered seven league defeats on the road. BSC did, however, manage to win five of seven conference games in the Bronco gym and only gave up.four tests of 15 all year at home. In reviewing the whole conference scene, Weber State took the crown with Idaho State placing second and Montana State a close third. Boise State finished third from the bottom, ahead of Northern Arizona and the University of Idaho. Montana and Gonzaga rounded out the final standings with the Bulldogs nosing out BSC. No. 12 Alonzo Goggins. No. 24 Ron Maxwell, no. 44 Greg Bunn, no. 32 Bill Barnes, no. 30 George Glover. LEFT: From Boise State we have Ron Franklin, no comment on the rest.
No. 52 Ron Franklin. No. 30 Booker Brown
ZAGS POSED TOUGHEST THREAT Interestingly enough, the toughest game all season came when BSC and the Zags were paired up in the Bronco gym at the end of the home schedule. That game saw Cochise State Junior College transfer Maurice Buckingham whiff the nets for 28 points in the overtime contest besides clearing the boards for 13 rebounds. Boise State went on to win 87-85 with the aid of freshman player Alonzo Goggins. the 5-6 Goggins from Denver pumped the ball from 20-30 feet out and sent it through the nets just as the final second ticked off the scoreboard clock. Those long desperate shots have become a trademark for the freshman who made the varsity squad. Coach Murray Satterfield, No. 32 Bill Barnes. LEFT: No. 22 Clyde Dickey, no. 34 Bob McCollum.
Bill Barnes, no. 30 George Glover, no. 44 Greg Bunn, no. 22 Clyde Dickey. ABOVE: No. 44 Greg Bunn. RIGHT: No. 40 Maurice Buckingham.
Buckingham was the high scorer in eight games for Boise State and led the team statistics in that department averaging 16.0 points per game and 19.1 in conference play. His best performance was 35 points at home in the Broncos 91-75 win over Northern Arizona. Buck was also high in rebounding for 11 games, earning an 8.9 carom mark in the league. Lucky for the Broncos, Buck will be back next winter as a senior along with Cochise College mate Clyde Dickey who missed the last three games of the season due to "disciplinary action" by new head Coach Doran "Bus" Connor. Dickey was the second leading scorer on the Bronco roster averaging 14.9 ppg for the year and 12.2 ppg in the conference. He has the speed and agility on the court that frightens and surprises long-time BSC fans who are used to a slower game. A definite asset to the team, Dickey led in assists with 85 for the year, 20 more than runner-up Greg Bunn. Connor was ushered into his new role as head coach when former head mentor Murray Satterfeld resigned following a mid-season, six-game losing streak. Satterfeld's resignation had not been anticipated until the end of the season but he felt it would be better for the program if he resigned mid-season. ABOVE: No. 50 Mike Warren, no. 42 Dan Kessler. LEFT: No. 50 Bill Cottrell
CONNOR TAKES THE HELM The first game Connor had to prepare for in his new position was the test with ISU. The Bengals were slated against the Broncos four times and this was the third meeting. ISU had handled the BSC-five easily so far. Understandably, the BSC gym was packed (one of those rare occasions unless a rock concert was being held) with fans, curiosity intermingling with hope for a fresh turnover in Bronco basketball. They were not disappointed. When it was all over, ISU head coach Jim Killingsworth was verbally upset as he witnessed an unsuccessful rally fall, and the Broncos won 64-63. Connor's charges won five more after that, all at home, and dropped seven Big Sky tilts two of which were played in the Bronco gym. _ It was approved by the Idaho State Board of Education that Connor would continue as head coach of the Broncos. No. 30 Booker Brown. \ Head coach Doran "Bus" Connor. RIGHT: No. 22 Clyde Dickey.
No. 24 Ron Maxwell, no. 44 Greg Bunn No. 40 Maurice Buckingham, no. 44 Gregg Bunn.
The senior players left the hoop scene quietly. Greg Bunn, the 6-7 forward who averaged 16.7 ppg last season mostly on free throws, hit a mild 11.7 ppg for the 72-73 season. This was partly due to the new ruling on fouls that took the ball in bounds rather than at the charity stripe, thus hindering Bunn's scoring potential. He was strong in rebounds and assists and deserves credit for keeping the zone defense supported and many games under control. Each senior will be missed in a different way. Their past performances are recalled when we remember Bunn, Steve Clifford, Bill Barnes, Booker Brown and Bob McCollum. A host of returning players will greet Connor next winter besides Buck and Dickey. Bill Cottrell and Ron Franklin will provide a part of that nucleus flanked by Alonzo Goggins, George Glover, Pat Hoke, Cal Cleveger, and Scott McLlenny. No. 50 Bill Cottrell. ABOVE: No. 32 Bill Barnes, rio. 42 Steve Clifford, no. 30 Booker Brown RIGHT: No. 30 Booker Brown.
At the end of the season one couldn't help but notice the changes in style of basketball tactics and performances. There was more determination, dedication and willingness to win. These observations must carry over to the 1973-74 season if Boise State is to make its presence a formidable one to Big Sky Conference hopefuls. Tony McLean. ; No. 50 Bill Cottrell, no. 44 Greg Bunn, no. 30 Booker Brown, no. 32 Bill Barnes. ABOVE: No. 32 Bill Barnes. LEFT: Head coach Bus Connor. 99
... AAAYBE The 72-73 season proved disappointing for the team and spectators. VARSITY: FRONT ROW: Booker Brown, Steve Clifford, Bill Barnes, Ron Maxwell, Bob McCollum, Ernie Elliott. BACK ROW: Coach Bus Connor, Clyde Dickey, Bill Cottrell, Cal Clevenger, Ron Franklin, Greg Bunn, Maurice Buckingham, Coach Murray Satterfield. JUNIOR VARSITY: FRONT ROW: Mike Knopp, Jim Robbins, Randy Ketterling, Tony Saras, Rick Fletcher, Alonzo Goggins. BACK ROW: Coach Ron Austin, Scott Mcllhenny, Mike Warren, Pat Hoke, George Glover, Doug Butler, Dan Kessler and Coach Bus Connor. 100
NEXT YEAR... Bus Connor, who took over Bronco reins in mid-season, was appointed head ooach for the 73-74 season. SCOREBOARD BSC OPP 92 U. North Dakota 79 64 Idaho State 87 70 Portland State 61 89 Eastern Montana 90 78 Hardin-Simmons 50 87 Cal State-Hayward 76 109 Univ. Puget Sound 72 61 Univ. Washington 98 73 Idaho State 82 56 Gonzaga University 73 67 Idaho 72 67 Univ. Puget Sound 74 65 Portland State 80 64 Idaho State 63 81 College Great Falls 63 69 Weber State 81 57 Northern Arizona 62 60 Weber State 91 91 Northern Arizona 75 74 U. Montana 69 98 Montana State 100 87 Gonzaga University 85 84 Idaho 73 75 Idaho State 82 63 U. Montana 78 77 Montana State 93 101