Three-Point Legend Mike Vreeswyk to be Inducted into Temple Basketball Ring of Honor Saturday

On Saturday former Temple Basketball forward Mike Vreeswyk will be inducted into the Temple Athletics Ring of Honor. It will take place at halftime of the Owls game against SMU (Noon/ESPNU/1210 AM WPHT).

Vreeswyk, a 1989 graduate left Temple as the sixth-highest scorer in men's basketball history and the all-time leader in three-pointers made with 271. The Morrisville, Pa. native earned First Team All-Big 5 honors as a senior and was a member of the second team as a junior. He was later inducted into both the Philadelphia Big 5 Hall of Fame (1995) and the Temple Athletics Hall of Fame (2001).

After scoring just 28 points while playing limited minutes as a freshman, the Owls sharpshooter started to shine in his sophomore season, especially with the introduction of the three-point line to college basketball. Affectionately known as "Threeswyk" due his proficiency from behind the arc, he would make 88 threes this season and finish second on the team in scoring at 14.5 points per game. That would help lead the Owls to a school-record 32 wins and a final ranking of eighth in both the Associated Press and Coaches polls.

As a junior, Vreeswyk was again the second leading scorer (16.7 ppg) of Temple's only Top-ranked team in school history. He improved upon his single season mark for three-pointers by one (89) while starring for arguably the best-ever Temple team in school history. Under Hall of Fame coach John Chaney, the Owls posted an incredible 32-2 record, tying the previous season's record win total, and finished the regular season #1 in both the Associated Press and Coaches Polls.

"My biggest moment was when we became number one in the country and the immediate games that followed," said Vreeswyk. Following the team's ascendance to #1, the Owls' first game was against Big 5 rival #10 Villanova at McGonigle Hall. The Owls won this game, 98-86, in what Vreeswyk noted "a lot of people called the best Big 5 game ever played."

The Villanova game was a major staple of this season. However, Vreeswyk points to the game against #5 North Carolina on February 21, 1988 as the biggest game for this team. "We remember hearing the talking heads on TV really disrespecting us, saying they are number one, but probably not for long" explained Vreeswyk. The Owls defeated the Tar Heels by 17 points that day.

Temple entered the NCAA Tournament as the #1 team in the nation. After wins over Lehigh, Georgetown, and Richmond, the Owls were eliminated in the Elite 8 by the #5 Duke Blue Devils. "As good as all of those wins were, we also had the disappointment of losing to Duke," said Vreeswyk, "We didn't know what losing felt like."
For the fourth straight season Vreeswyk improved all of his numbers, averaging 17.8 points and draining 94 threes, but the team, having suffered key losses to graduation, finished just 18-12 with a NIT appearance.

Following his graduation from Temple University, Vreeswyk, whose three seasons still rank in the Top 10 in school history for threes made, went on to play professional basketball overseas for nine years.

In looking at his induction into the Ring of Honor, Vreeswyk added, "It's such an honor, I really have a tough time putting it into words." The Basketball Ring of Honor was created to honor the greatest players of the impressive history of Temple Basketball.

The induction has allowed Vreeswyk to further reminisce upon his historic Temple career. "I wish I could say that I took it all in and that I took advantage of such great times, but I was young and stupid" added Vreeswyk. "It was years or decades later that I got a full appreciation for what was happening."

Vreeswyk was largely known as an outside shooter to people looking on due to three-point percentages nearing 40% in his final three seasons. However, former teammate and Temple all-time leading scorer Mark Macon saw Vreeswyk for everything he was. "Mike was a heck of a rebounder, he had a great mid-range game that nobody ever talked about," said Macon, "He was a scary good rebounder."

The members of the Temple '87-88 Basketball team have never lost touch. "We were a very close team, it has never been a matter of, if we get together, but when," said Vreesywyk. Macon explained the team with one word "family." "We always kept in contact as long as we have phones" added Macon.

Vreeswyk currently resides in Bucks County with his wife, Andrea, and his children Jack and Julia. Jack is a senior basketball player at the George School and Julia is a member of the West Chester University Volleyball Team.

Vreeswyk will be inducted alongside Nelson "Nitzy" Bobb (1943, 47-49) and Grace Schuler McGeoy (1942-45), both of whom have passed away.

While Vreeswyk solidified his position in Temple, and Big 5 basketball history in his time wearing the Cherry and White, his induction into the Temple Basketball Ring of Honor is yet another accolade that signifies his legendary playing career.

Temple University Athletics

Three-Point Legend Mike Vreeswyk to be Inducted into Temple Basketball Ring of Honor Saturday

Related Videos