Temple University Athletics
TEMPLE TO HONOR ITS 1969 NIT CHAMPIONS AT PENN GAME
12.6.04 | Men's Basketball
PHILADELPHIA -
Assistant Athletic Director and current Temple men's basketball radio color analyst, John Baum, highlights the returning players from the 1968-69 squad. Baum, a Big 5 and Temple Hall of Famer, led the Owls with a 19.3 scoring average that year. Baum will be joined by three of his fellow starters, Joe Cromer, Tony Brocchi and Bill Strunk from that historic Temple team. Eddie Mast, the final starter, is deceased and will be represented by his wife, Diane.
Tom Wieczerak, who came off the bench to spark a 25-9 rally in the Owls' 89-76 win over Boston College in the NIT Championship game, will also be in attendance. Two other reserves, Pat Cassidy and Gordon Mulava, round out the members of the team expected to be at the Liacouras Center.
The 1968-69 team was the last Temple men's basketball team to win a National Championship. The team will attend a dinner in the Fox-Gittis Room prior to the start of the men's game against Penn. Al Meltzer, who served as a Big 5 broadcaster during that season, will serve as the Master of Ceremonies for the dinner.
Temple University will celebrate one of its best basketball teams, the 1969 NIT Championship squad, when it celebrates the 35th Anniversary of that memorable accomplishment at halftime of the men's basketball team's Big 5 game against Penn Wednesday night (8:00 p.m.) at the Liacouras Center. Seven members of that 1969 squad, along with assistant coaches Don Casey, Skip Wilson and Jay Norman and head coach Harry Litwacks wife, Estelle, will be in attendance.
