Randy Buchmann 1971-75 ?? Milw Hamilton
Buchman is another guy who never started at MU. If memory serves, didn't he transfer to another school? I have a vague recollection of RB transferring. Did he come in with Tatum's class or Luke's class?
I remember Al Maguire night Tony's senior year against DePaul. At one point, Pat Kennedy had 3 guys on Tony and he still scored on them. He ended up with 41 or 44 and willed us to win. I also saw go against a ranked Fordham team at MSG. The Piano Man at one point posts him up against Fordham's two bigs and has someone throw lobs to Tony who got up and scored over them. It only lasted a few trips before Fordham adjusted but is showed how athletic he was. Tony was scary good in college and to think that he was a casual pick up by Majerus with no story or accolades ('biggest sleeper' anyone).
Tony Smioth was one of the best players in the state. He and Robert Berryhill from Racine. All knew Tony would be good. The question was who would be better, Smith or Berryhill?
"He understands Justice under God"--Augustus Cornelius Johnson
Tony Smith is terribly underrated. He was a gem on teams filled mostly with crap. Doesn't get nearly the recognition he deserves.
RB is listed attending MU '71-75 and as a 3 year letter winner... Dont recall him transferring...
I remember watching Tony Smith play in the State Tournament - I'm pretty sure it was his senior year. It was obvious he was a terrific athlete, but he couldn't shoot a lick outside of five feet. He could get to the hoop and score, but he didn't have even a decent mid-range shot. I recall thinking, "I really hope MU doesn't recruit him." But they did, and, of course, the rest is history.
I'm not sure any MU player, at least in the last 40 years or so, improved as much over his four years at MU as TS did. The fact that he became such a good three-point shooter by his senior season was astonishing, but equally impressive, his ball handling also improved dramatically. He evolved into a more than serviceable point guard his senior year after having never played the position at any level.
It's hard to imagine to what depths - or should I say greater depths - the program would have sunk to without Tony. We could have ended up like Detroit and Loyola. We came pretty close to that even with him.