Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Biedenbach on Boeheim & Bing


I referred to UNC Asheville's Eddie Biedenbach as "the longtime coach of the Bulldogs" today, before he interrupted me to point out that his 16 years at the school were a "walk in the park" compared to Jim Boeheim's 36 at Syracuse.


Biedenbach grew up in Syracuse before starring at North Carolina State in the '60s. He was two-time all-ACC before playing just seven NBA games with the Phoenix Suns and heading into coaching.


"I remember Jimmy coming to play at N.C. State in the regionals with Bing," Biedenbach said.


Dave Bing averaged 28.4 points per game and 10.8 rebounds per game for a the 1965-66 Orange that played in the NCAA East Region in Raleigh. The Orange beat Davidson and lost to Duke in the last games the roommates would play together.


"I always admired Dave Bing, one of the greatest players to every play the game. I got to watch (N.C. State all-American) David Thompson and Michael Jordan, very comparable to Dave Bing."

"Jimmy was a great player at Syracuse and he and I have been friends a long, long time."

Biedenbach was an assistant at his alma mater in the 1970s before getting his first head job at Davidson. Another Boeheim friend now Texas coach, Rick Barnes, Wake Forest's Jeff Bzdelik and current Davidson leader Bob McKillop were all among Biedenbach's early hires.

Syracuse has played UNC Asheville three times before, twice since Biedenbach has been there, and won all three.

All-time vs. UNC Asheville
12/28/03 W 81-63
11/15/97 W 60-57
11/30/91 W 83-68


"We had a couple really, really good games with them in the past," Boeheim said. "I was kind of afraid to schedule them anymore because I was afraid Eddie might come in there and beat us."

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