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Cousy motivates Assumption men's hoop team prior to Elite 8

  • Posted by Local sports March 25, 2025 - Filed in Sports - #Assumption  #basketball  #sports  #Bob Cousy  #John DiPietro  - 2,360 views

    By John DiPietro

    As the Assumption College men’s basketball team finished final preparations to head to Evansville, Indiana, for the Men’s Division 2 Elite 8, they got a surprise boost from a person who is no stranger to championships.

    In hopes of encouraging the team, which is heading to the national event for the first time in 50 years, several Assumption alums and former stars spent a few minutes with the team. Included were Assumption Hall of Famers John Grochowalski, Neal Burgess, Bob Hunter and Jim Mullen as well as a video message from Mike Boylan. Grochowalski, Burgess and Boylan were stars on the teams that played in the national championships in Evansville from 1971 to 1975.

    The surprise audio message came from Boston Celtics and Holy Cross legend Bob Cousy. Ironically, the Assumption practice was held at Holy Cross, since the Laska Gym at Assumption was unavailable.

    As the Assumption players entered the gym at the Hart Center, they walked by a larger than life statue of Bob Cousy, not knowing that they would be hearing from him shortly thereafter.

    Cousy is a teammate and lifelong friend of former Assumption coach and Athletic Director Andy Laska. Cousy even had his own key to the gym where he could work out just a short distance from his Salisbury Street home. Cousy also broadcasted Assumption games in the 1970s and '80s on the former Chanell 27 with the late Bob Fouracre.

    The young Assumption players, many of them freshmen, were very impressed that a national figure like Cousy would take time to wash them well and congratulate them on their season so far.

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