Wes Bialosuknia

[Danzz]

Lee Otis no doubt threw up some bombs, probably shot from the furthest out but not the best shooter still a good one, streaky. Another who could bomb was Al Weston……………

But to be clear, none as good as Wes.

True

 

[GlastonTim]

Great thread, thanks for sharing with us. Sure wish there was footage of Wes out there that we could see.

 

[maurbia44]

https://soundcloud.com/johnbialosuknia/wes-bialosuknia-50pt-game

 

[UConnNick]

I just read that Burr Carlson set the bball program back ? I feel a need to defend him. It was mainly due to a lack of ADM. support,andd as Pink Floyd says, "MONEY!" And,as Wes told me many times. Tom Penders would hold the title Most Assists if records had been kept back then.

I'm sure you're right, Maureen.

A few years ago, Tom tried to convince me he averaged 16 assists per game during his UCONN career. While there's no question he was a great point guard, I kidded him and indicated 16 per game is quite a stretch. Either way, nobody can prove him wrong because they didn't keep track of assists back in those days!

 

[UConnNick]

Lee Otis no doubt threw up some bombs, probably shot from the furthest out but not the best shooter still a good one, streaky. Another who could bomb was Al Weston……………

But to be clear, none as good as Wes.

Lee Otis tore up the house league the year before he played on the varsity, routinely scoring 40+ ppg. He averaged almost 14 ppg during his lone season in a UCONN uniform. I believe he was declared academically ineligible for the following season.

Although not nearly as impactful at the time, his rise from the intramural league to the varsity is reminiscent of Nadav Henefeld's one season at UCONN. It's the type of thing that's never likely to happen again. The 1974-75 team lost 71-61 in the first round of the NIT to a South Carolina team that was loaded...Alex English and Mike Dunleavy played on that Gamecock team. "The Mad Bomber" is certainly well deserving of his rightful place in Husky lore.

 

[GlastonTim]

https://soundcloud.com/johnbialosuknia/wes-bialosuknia-50pt-game

Thanks for the clip, I loved it! Great announcing, I was giggling after every basket.

 

[mauconnfan]

https://soundcloud.com/johnbialosuknia/wes-bialosuknia-50pt-game

Wow thank you……that was just great to listen to. I'm guessing the 30-35 footers George spoke of were a bit exaggerated but not by as much as people may think…….man that was cool!

 

[MTHusky]

https://soundcloud.com/johnbialosuknia/wes-bialosuknia-50pt-game

Listening to the game brought back memories. I was in the field house for that and also Toby record setting night before Wes's. Also caught bill Corley's record night.

 

[Uconnfanatic]

Maureen, thank you for the radio clip. I remember listening to the game that night. Wes was on fire. It was like he couldn't miss. As a young teen in CT, I idolized Wes. As I said in a post last fall, I would spend hours out in my driveway shooting hoops and pretending I was Wes Bialosuknia. For all his success, it is clear he remained a humble man who had his priorities in order. Thank you for coming to the Boneyard and giving us some insight into Wes after UConn. As fans, we've been blessed with so many good players, so many good teams and so many good memories. Wes will always be ranked among my favorite players and remembered as the one who hooked me on UConn basketball. Thanks for providing us with the opportunity to revisit some great memories.

 

[maurbia44]

Floyd Richards,George Ehrlich:"If you ever had a boy,you'd want him to be just like Bialosuknia." We Did!!! And he is John Wesley B. who shares his Dad's best qualities plus my sensitivity. We certainly are blessed.
Wes would agree with Tom...16 assists per game!

 

[CTFIRERETIRED]

Maureen, thank you for all of the memories. Growing up in Willimantic, and being one of those early season ticket holders, yeah when they were about 20 dollars or so for all the home games, I remember watching Wes and the Huskies. I was at Fred Shabels basketball camp 2 years when Wes was a counselor. Everyone wore #44. Just think if they sold jerseys back then, the money they would have taken in. I remember when Wes was picked by the old ABA Oakland Oaks. I remember his outrageous shooting night against Boston University. Yeah his scoring nights against Maine. What I also recall was his quiet dignity. Even back then he had an almost bashfulness at all the attention. Reading this and the other threads about Wes, takes me back to when UCONN basketball was a big deal. Thanks for all the memories.

 

[Yonick]

In the 60's & early 70's, UConn's admin. had that ivy league, New England mentality. It remained during the 1st 3-4 years of UConn's BE run.
Finally, after years of frustration , the board hired John Casteen, from UVA, with the understanding that a commitment to big time sports programs need to be emphasized.
Guys like Wes, Toby, Bill Corley could have starred in todays college atmosphere. It's too bad that they didn't have that Big East chance.

 

[maurbia44]

Whenever anyone told Wes that he wasn't strong enough to play in today's game,his answer was,"I'd find a way." He was smart and quick. We watched an old tape with Jane (daughter) last summer. She was in awe at how fast her Dad ran and shot.

 

[GlastonTim]

Whenever anyone told Wes that he wasn't strong enough to play in today's game,his answer was,"I'd find a way." He was smart and quick. We watched an old tape with Jane (daughter) last summer. She was in awe at how fast her Dad ran and shot.

Post the tape.............Please.

 

[Hoophound]

While the 60's game isn't comparable with today in terms of strength and skill, it's all relative. Wes would have been born with the same natural talent and then his game and body would have developed in today's environment. I suspect that guys that were great players years ago, if born today, would still become very good players. On average, they might not be quite as good because there is much more competition now, but they'd be very capable.

 

[HooHusky]

Maureen,
A big thanks. I'm another that saw him play in 66/67, and the game he set the record. I followed UConn from the early 60's, and listened to every game on radio, until I became a freshman in 1966.

Wes was the first true star I followed, and it was magically to listen to the radio and imagine what the game looked like I your mind. In some ways, that was better than watching games on TV.

Again, thanks for all the memories and sharing your life with Wes, with us.

 

[maurbia44]

GlastonTim Have to ask my son to post video,probably Tues. Thank you!

 

[GlastonTim]

GlastonTim Have to ask my son to post video,probably Tues. Thank you!

That would be amazing! Thanks to you and your son. I feel like a kid on Christmas eve.

 

[Yonick]

What I remember about Wes' game was how well he moved to get open to get that great shot off. In those days, the 3 point shot didn't exist, . therefore few players exhibited those moves. Wes was a unique player in those days.

 

[maurbia44]

-UConn vs BU 2/11/1967. No audio and not the best quality, but still interesting !

 

[Danzz]

https://soundcloud.com/johnbialosuknia/wes-bialosuknia-50pt-game

Just listened to the sound link for the second time. Funny thing is if there were a 3 pt, line Wes could have had 65-70 points. Thank you very much for sharing everything with us. Your post was the best ever on the Boneyard. Wes was a lucky man.

 

[Hoophound]

Just listened to the sound link for the second time. Funny thing is if there were a 3 pt, line Wes could have had 65-70 points. Thank you very much for sharing everything with us. Your post was the best ever on the Boneyard. Wes was a lucky man.

It is funny that they always say he was shooting 30-35 footers all game. I'm sure Wes had range to about 35-40 feet when on fire but consistently shooting 30 footers in those days is unlikely. They were probably 20'-25' most of the time. This was an era where it was all about getting the ball close to the hoop.

 

[sdhusky]

Just listened to the sound link for the second time. Funny thing is if there were a 3 pt, line Wes could have had 65-70 points. Thank you very much for sharing everything with us. Your post was the best ever on the Boneyard. Wes was a lucky man.

Its interesting - watching the players, the defense isn't that great nor is the ball handling, but the shooting is fantastic.

 

[Danzz]

It is funny that they always say he was shooting 30-35 footers all game. I'm sure Wes had range to about 35-40 feet when on fire but consistently shooting 30 footers in those days is unlikely. They were probably 20'-25' most of the time. This was an era where it was all about getting the ball close to the hoop.

Hard to be exact from those videos but most of his shots looked to be beyond the 3 pt. line. UConn was about outside shooting when Wes was at UConn his junior and senior years. I believe that Wes played with Toby Kimball his sophomore year who provided inside scoring and rebounding. My memory may be a little fuzzy but I believe that freshmen couldn't play varsity in those days . Nothing against Tony Hanson who was an outstanding player but Wes's numbers were for 3 years.
I remember watching the game on TV when Hanson broke Wes's record. Wes was at the game and congratulated Tony Hanson.

 

[Hoophound]

I watched the whole thing and kept pausing and rewinding and marking where he was shooting from. Truth is, only like 2 shots were clearly 20 plus feet. He wasn't shooting from Jimmer range. The illusion is created by there being no 3pt line. When he is out there in a sea of wood floor with no lines, the shots look longer because the floor looks bigger.