K-State to honor 1948, 1958 squads Saturday
Feb 15, 2008 | Men's Basketball
Three members of the 1947-48 squad Lloyd Krone, Ken Mahoney and David Weatherby will be in attendance, while family members of Rick Harman and Al Langton will also be present. Hayden Abbott, Bob Boozer, Roy DeWitz, Steve Douglas, Larry Fischer, Wally Frank, Bob Graham, Don Matuszak, Jack Parr and the wife of Sonny Ballard will represent the 1957-58 team.
Led by head coach Jack Gardner, the 1947-48 team posted a 22-6 overall record and a 9-3 mark in Big Seven play. The Wildcats captured both the Big Seven Conference title as well as the Big Seven Holiday Tournament title held at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Mo., before advancing to the school’s first-ever NCAA Tournament. The squad defeated
The 1947-48 team was led by guard Howard Shannon, who was named a second team All-American by the Helm Foundation as well as a first team All-Big Seven selection. Center Clarence Brannum was also named first team All-Big Seven in 1948.
The only team in school history to rank No. 1 in the country, the 1957-58 squad tallied a 22-5 overall record and a 10-2 mark in Big Seven play. The Wildcats collected both the Big Seven Conference title as well as the Big Seven Holiday Tournament en route to their second Final Four appearance. The team finished the year ranking No. 3 in The Associated Press poll and No. 4 in the United Press International poll. The squad opened the NCAA Tournament with a double-overtime 83-80 win over No. 2 Cincinnati at Allen Fieldhouse on March 14 then knocked off No. 19 Oklahoma State, 69-57, to advance to Freedom Hall in
The 1957-58 squad was guided by two of the best players in the country in All-Americans Bob Boozer and Jack Parr. Boozer was a first team All-American by the Helms Foundation, Look magazine and the National Association of Basketball Coaches and a second team selection by The Associated Press. Parr was named a third team All-American by the National Association of Basketball Coaches. In addition, guard Roy DeWitz was a first team All-Big Seven selection.
