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Buck Freeman (basketball)

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Buck Freeman
Biographical details
Born(1902-02-16)February 16, 1902
New York City, New York, U.S.
DiedFebruary 14, 1974(1974-02-14) (aged 71)
Columbia, South Carolina, U.S.
Playing career
Men's basketball
1924–1927St. John's
Position(s)Center / power forward
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
Men's basketball
1927–1936St. John's
1937–1938St. Thomas
1938–1941LIU (assistant)
1941–1945Power Memorial Academy
1947–1949Scranton
1949–1951LIU (assistant)
1952–1961North Carolina (assistant)
1964–1973South Carolina (assistant)
Baseball
1928–1936St. John's
1939LIU
Football
1928–1938Iona Prep
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1932–1935St. John's
1938Iona Prep
Head coaching record
Overall202–69 (College basketball)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
As assistant: NCAA national (1957)

James A. "Buck" Freeman (February 16, 1902 – February 14, 1974) was an American basketball coach who was head coach of the St. John's Red Storm men's basketball team from 1927 to 1936.

Career

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Freeman played forward and center for St. John's basketball team.[1][2] After graduating in 1927, he became the team's head coach.[3] From 1927 to 1931, he coached the "Wonder Five" of Matty Begovich, Mac Kinsbrunner, Max Posnack, Allie Schuckman, and Jack "Rip" Gerson. The group compiled a 88–8 record and led the university to national prominence.[4] He also served as the school's baseball coach and athletic director. He resigned unexpectedly in 1936 without giving a reason.[5]

In 1937, Freeman became basketball head coach at St. Thomas College (now known as the University of Scranton).[6] He left the school after one season to become athletic director at Iona Preparatory School, where he had coached football since 1928.[6][7] In 1938, he became an assistant basketball coach at Long Island University. He succeeded Clair Bee as the school's baseball coach the following spring.[8] In 1941, he became head basketball coach at Power Memorial Academy.[9] In 1947, Freeman returned to the University of Scranton following the in-season resignation of John "Les" Dickman.[10] He resigned after two losing seasons and rejoined the athletic staff at LIU, where he remained until the school dropped its basketball program in 1951 following a point shaving scandal.[11][12]

Freeman served as an assistant coach under one of his former players, Frank McGuire, at the University of North Carolina and University of South Carolina.[3] McGuire called Freeman "the best assistant coach in the business" and gave him much of the credit for the success of the Tar Heels national championship team.[13] In between his stints at the two schools, Freeman was a scout for the Houston Colt 45s.[14]

Freeman resigned after the 1972–73 season, but remained involved with the South Carolina program as a consultant and adviser.[15] He died on February 14, 1974 at Providence Hospital in Columbia, South Carolina.[3]

Head coaching record

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College basketball

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Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
St. John's Red Storm (Independent) (1927–1933)
1927–28 St. John's 18–4
1928–29 St. John's 23–2
1929–30 St. John's 23–1
1930–31 St. John's 21–1
1931–32 St. John's 22–4
1932–33 St. John's 23–4
St. John's Red Storm (Metropolitan New York Conference) (1933–1936)
1933–34 St. John's 16–3 3–4 5th
1934–35 St. John's 13–8
1935–36 St. John's 18–4 4–3 4th
St. John's: 177–31
St. Thomas Tommies (Independent) (1937–1938)
1937–38 St. Thomas 12–9
Scranton Royals (Independent) (1947–1949)
1946–47 Scranton 9–12
1947–48 Scranton 7–20
1948–49 Scranton 9–16
St. Thomas/Scranton: 25–38
Total: 202–69

References

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  1. ^ "St. John's Five Practices". The New York Times. November 10, 1926.
  2. ^ "St. John's Faces Test". The New York Times. February 13, 1927.
  3. ^ a b c "Freeman Is Dead At 69". Herald-Journal. February 15, 1974. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  4. ^ Exit, Merle (April 2, 2014). "'Wonder Five' leads St. John's to big time". QNS. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  5. ^ "Freeman to Give Up Posts at St. John's". The New York Times. April 26, 1936.
  6. ^ a b "Freeman to Coach St. Thomas". The New York Times. August 6, 1937.
  7. ^ "History of University of Scranton Basketball". The University of Scranton. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  8. ^ "Freeman L.I.U. Coach". The New York Times. April 8, 1939.
  9. ^ "Coaching Post to Freeman". The New York Times. October 13, 1941.
  10. ^ "New York Expert Returns As Coach". The Aquinas. January 17, 1947. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  11. ^ "Scranton Court Coach Resigns". Meriden Record. March 23, 1949. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  12. ^ Williams, DeVere (January 27, 1970). "A Coach's Coach". The Sumter Daily Item. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  13. ^ "McGuire Gives Credit To Assistant". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. March 31, 1957. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  14. ^ "Freeman Gets Athletic Post". The New York Times. May 2, 1964.
  15. ^ "Buck Freeman, 69, Basketball Coach". The New York Times. February 16, 1974.
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