Who would go on Flyer MBB Mt. Rushmore?

[UDEE79]

This thread is inspired by the active "Statue" thread. Four all-time greatest UD men's Bball players. Remember it's Mt. Rushmore you can only pick 4.

My vote:

Don May
Jim Paxson jr.
Roosevelt Chapman
Obi Toppin

Obi to me is tricky because he only played two years. But dragging the team to a #3 ranking plus winning every national POY award overcame his short stint.

[Chris R]

There's no tricky with me regarding Obi. You put Naismith Player of the Year and Wooden Award trophies on your mantle, that's all the politicking you need to do.

[UDEE79]

He really was the first one I put on the mountain but then when i knocked Johnny Davis off because he didn’t graduate i had to reconsider Obi for a millisecond or two
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[Runnin' Rebel]

May, Chapman, and Obi definately... that 4 person is tough one - Paxson, Knight, Roberts or Finkel?

[FlyingArrow]

May and Obi for sure. Serious debate on the rest. Probably Paxson and Chapman.

[Smitty10]

Originally Posted by Runnin' Rebel May, Chapman, and Obi definately... that 4 person is tough one - Paxson, Knight, Roberts or Finkel?

Easy removal of Knight. Obi became the greatest player in the country in his sophomore season and moved on so he easily belongs. May and Chapman along with Paxson, Roberts and Finkel were super stars for a majority of their years at UD. Knight was good, but he really only had one great season. Donald Smith and Johnny Davis along with Perryman fit the multi year format.

[Class of 73 Alum]

For me, the 4th spot goes to Smith or Davis. Having a hard time deciding between the 2.

[CJ#4]

I know the post said 4 players, but for me, there are three that clearly stand out (May, Chapman, Toppin), so I'm putting Don Donoher in the fourth spot.

	Don Donoher DON DONOHER Legendary Flyer men's basketball coach who guided Dayton to 435 victories in 25 seasons (1964-1989) including the 1967 NCAA Runner-Up. Took over the program after the passing of Tom Blackburn and earned many NCAA and NIT bids over his career, including five Sweet-16s, one Elite Eight appearance, and the 1968 NIT Championship. Groomed All-Americans Don May and Jim Paxson, along with all-time leading scorer Roosevelt Chapman. Coached UD as they joined conference affiliation for the first time (Midwest Collegiate). A graduate of UD, Donoher played for Blackburn and credits much of his coaching success to his mentor's teachings: defense, ball protection, patience, and unselfishness.

[Bill McPeek]

Tough question to answer. No one from the 50's? Monk Meineke? These players from the 50's put Dayton on the basketball map.

[Smitty10]

Originally Posted by CJ#4 I know the post said 4 players, but for me, there are three that clearly stand out (May, Chapman, Toppin), so I'm putting Don Donoher in the fourth spot.

We've only had 46 presidents so 4 of them are on Mt. Rushmore. The Flyers basketball program has had many more players than the USA has had presidents so we need to expand this to maybe 10 or 15.

[MrFlyerFanatic]

Originally Posted by Smitty10 We've only had 46 presidents so 4 of them are on Mt. Rushmore. The Flyers basketball program has had many more players than the USA has had presidents so we need to expand this to maybe 10 or 15.

Construction of Mount Rushmore was started in 1927. At that time, there had only been 30 presidents. By ratio, there would need to be a lot more faces on the UD basketball version.

It would almost be like a "mountain of fame." Maybe we should have something like that.

[UDEE79]

OK rank any number you want in order of when they go up on the mountain. If your mountain has room for two, the first two on the list if it has room for 7 then the first 7 on the list, and so on.

[N2663R]

Originally Posted by MrFlyerFanatic Construction of Mount Rushmore was started in 1927. At that time, there had only been 30 presidents. By ratio, there would need to be a lot more faces on the UD basketball version. It would almost be like a "mountain of fame." Maybe we should have something like that.

Flyer Last Supper

[UDEE79]

Originally Posted by N2663R Flyer Last Supper

Who is Judas?

[John C.]

I think you guys are missing the point of the Mount Rushmore reference. Baseball did this a few years ago. Its top 4 and they have had 10,000 players.

[UDEE79]

Originally Posted by John C. I think you guys are missing the point of the Mount Rushmore reference. Baseball did this a few years ago. Its top 4 and they have had 10,000 players.

Who did baseball pick?

[T-Bone 84]

Originally Posted by UDEE79 Who is Judas?

Meacham
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[John C.]

I went back and looked and it was at the 2015 all star game and it was the 4 best living. Bench, Mays, Aaron and Koufax. The top four Reds were Bench, Morgan, Larkin and Rose.

[maddog07]

Can’t see how one could omit Finkel. A good case could be made for him as the greatest ever at UD.


He averaged 25.3 points and 14.9 rebounds as we went 22-7 his junior year.
Compare that to Obi who was 20 and 7.5 last year.

The next averaged 22.7 points and 12.1 rebounds as we went 23–6. He dropped 44 on Maryland. He was named All-American. He was co-MVP of the team in 1963–64 and the outright winner in 1964–65 and 1965–66.

He led us to the Sweet Sixteen in both his junior and senior seasons when there were many fewer teams and in both years we lost to the #1-ranked team.

He’s third in scorer in UD history with 1,968 points, behind May and Chapman(who played 4 years). He holds the school record for scoring average in a single season (25.3) and career (23.7). His career field goal percentage of .619 first among players with 500 or more field goals made.
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[Smitty10]

Originally Posted by maddog07 Can’t see how one could omit Finkel. A good case could be made for him as the greatest ever at UD. He averaged 25.3 points and 14.9 rebounds as we went 22-7 his junior year. Compare that to Obi who was 20 and 7.5 last year. The next averaged 22.7 points and 12.1 rebounds as we went 23–6. He dropped 44 on Maryland. He was named All-American. He was co-MVP of the team in 1963–64 and the outright winner in 1964–65 and 1965–66. He led us to the Sweet Sixteen in both his junior and senior seasons when there were many fewer teams and in both years we lost to the #1-ranked team. He’s third in scorer in UD history with 1,968 points, behind May and Chapman(who played 4 years). He holds the school record for scoring average in a single season (25.3) and career (23.7). His career field goal percentage of .619 first among players with 500 or more field goals made. Posted via Mobile Device

Sticking to just players, I think it can be narrowed to 5, that arguably stand above all the others. Meineke, Finkel, May, Chapman and Obi. There's a level just below those 5 that include Smith, Davis, Paxson, B-Rob and such, but I believe the top 5 will be in the consensus of top 5 combination best and/or most important players in Flyers history.

[Smitty10]

Originally Posted by John C. I think you guys are missing the point of the Mount Rushmore reference. Baseball did this a few years ago. Its top 4 and they have had 10,000 players.

And for most baseball teams, it's not as difficult separating out contenders from pretenders because they aren't held to only 4 seasons at max to each team. Withing 4 seasons, it's difficult to separate from the pack as it would be if with an unlimited amount of seasons. Also, of those 10000 players you refer to, at least 3/4 of them would be as easily dismissed as Luke Frazier.

The Reds who've been around for 150 years, how much debate could go into their top four? Rose, Bench and Morgan are no-brainers. Perez, Larkin, Robinson(who was included on the Orioles but could be included on Reds as well as I believe Nolan Ryan was included on several teams) would probably be the only debate as their Hall Of Fame status separates them from the rest of the pack.

[flyerman]

How can we omit Tom Blackburn. The NIT was the most prestigious tournament during his era. The modern day equivalent of his accomplishment would be 10 NCAA tournaments in a row with 6 trips to the finals and 1 national championship.

He took a lackluster team to a national powerhouse. The winningest team from the 50-60's is not Woodens UCLA or Rupps Kentucky it was Blackburns Dayton until 64 and Donoher with Blackburns recruits. IMHO he is the first to go up

	Don Donoher DON DONOHER Legendary Flyer men's basketball coach who guided Dayton to 435 victories in 25 seasons (1964-1989) including the 1967 NCAA Runner-Up. Took over the program after the passing of Tom Blackburn and earned many NCAA and NIT bids over his career, including five Sweet-16s, one Elite Eight appearance, and the 1968 NIT Championship. Groomed All-Americans Don May and Jim Paxson, along with all-time leading scorer Roosevelt Chapman. Coached UD as they joined conference affiliation for the first time (Midwest Collegiate). A graduate of UD, Donoher played for Blackburn and credits much of his coaching success to his mentor's teachings: defense, ball protection, patience, and unselfishness.

[T-Bone 84]

Originally Posted by Smitty10 Sticking to just players, I think it can be narrowed to 5, that arguably stand above all the others. Meineke, Finkel, May, Chapman and Obi. There's a level just below those 5 that include Smith, Davis, Paxson, B-Rob and such, but I believe the top 5 will be in the consensus of top 5 combination best and/or most important players in Flyers history.

Agreed. Each of the 5 players you named was a “transformational” presence on the court for UD, who elevated the program on a national stage. And as much as I loved watching Smitty, Johnny D, Paxson, B-Rob, and others, the only other player I can see who comes close to being “transformational” is Ryan Perryman, who came into a dumpster fire and helped build the program back to being respectable. But even then, he’s not at the level of the other 5.
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