Last week, I wrote about the death of one of Northern Illinois' greatest basketball coaches, Tom Jorgensen, in 2013.
One of his best-players, and my own personal favorite from when I attended that school was Jerry Zielinski. games back then were played at Evans Field House, a glorified high school gymnasium (before the state-of-the-art Convocation Center was built). And, the games were exciting, much of it due to Zielinski's accurate long-range shots.
He'd get the ball way outside and the crowd would start yelling, "Zee, Zee, Zee!!" I sure did that a lot of yelling. he was Mr. Excitement.
He averaged 19.2 points a game and notched 1,402 career points in the era before the three-point shot was instituted. Imagine how many more he would have had
The "Zee" was on that great NIU 1971-1972 team that went 21-4 and beat national power house Indiana which wa sranked #5 at the time. His career high was against SIU with 46 points.
"Zee" played his high school basketball at Putnam County High School in Granville, Illinois.
"Zee" Shoots, He Scores!!!" --DaCootZee
Showing posts with label Tom Jorgenson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tom Jorgenson. Show all posts
Monday, June 27, 2016
Thursday, June 23, 2016
Death of Former NIU Basketball Coach Tom Jorgenson-- Part 3
I saw three seasons of "Jorgy" Ball between 1969 and 1973. Unfortunately, I was at the University of Georgia in that glorious 1971-1972 season, but sure followed the team.
From Wikipedia.
Records of NIU Jorgenson teams:
1966-1967 8-12
1967-1968 10-14
1968-1969 13-11
1969-1970 13-12
1970-1971 13-10
1971-1972 21-4
1972-1973 17-8
Tom Jorgenson attended Parker High School in Chicago in the Engklewood neighborhood.
NIU basketball is generally not very good in the record department, but these were sure some exciting years.
From Wikipedia.
Records of NIU Jorgenson teams:
1966-1967 8-12
1967-1968 10-14
1968-1969 13-11
1969-1970 13-12
1970-1971 13-10
1971-1972 21-4
1972-1973 17-8
Tom Jorgenson attended Parker High School in Chicago in the Engklewood neighborhood.
NIU basketball is generally not very good in the record department, but these were sure some exciting years.
Death of Former NIU Basketball Coach Tom Jorgenson in 2013-- Part 2
During his tenure as head coach, Tom Jorgenson coached NIU Hall of Famers Jim Bradley, Bradley Smith, Billy Hanson and Jerry Zielinski.
From 19966 to 1973, "Jorgy" teams went 96-71. He was an advicate of the wide-open offense.
As assistant coach at Michigan for six years, he won three consecutive Big Ten Championships 1963-1965 with Cazzie Russell. There were back-to-back NCAA Final Fours in 1964 and 1965. As a player, he was a 66 consecutive game starter. at Michigan.
More to Come.
From 19966 to 1973, "Jorgy" teams went 96-71. He was an advicate of the wide-open offense.
As assistant coach at Michigan for six years, he won three consecutive Big Ten Championships 1963-1965 with Cazzie Russell. There were back-to-back NCAA Final Fours in 1964 and 1965. As a player, he was a 66 consecutive game starter. at Michigan.
More to Come.
Death of Former NIU Basketball Coach Tom Jorgenson in 2013-- Part 1
From the November 29, 2013, DeKalb Daily Chronicle "Former NIU basketball coach Jorgenson passes away."
NIU Hall of Fame men's basketball coach Tom Jorgenson who put Northern Illinois on the national college basketball map with a Top Twenty ranking died November 29.
Known as "Jorgy," he was the first to have NIU post a 20-victory season with a 21-4 season 1971-1972 and was coach with the school's first-ever victory over a Big Ten team, Indiana, in the same season.. Same season, Northern was ranked #20 at one point. A member of his 1969 team, Jim Smith, was NIU's first NBA draft pick.
Other honors for "Jorgy" was a first Division 1 college basketball championship for the 71-72 team in the Midwestern Conference and its first college All-American, Jim Bradley that same season.
More to Come.
NIU Hall of Fame men's basketball coach Tom Jorgenson who put Northern Illinois on the national college basketball map with a Top Twenty ranking died November 29.
Known as "Jorgy," he was the first to have NIU post a 20-victory season with a 21-4 season 1971-1972 and was coach with the school's first-ever victory over a Big Ten team, Indiana, in the same season.. Same season, Northern was ranked #20 at one point. A member of his 1969 team, Jim Smith, was NIU's first NBA draft pick.
Other honors for "Jorgy" was a first Division 1 college basketball championship for the 71-72 team in the Midwestern Conference and its first college All-American, Jim Bradley that same season.
More to Come.
Death of Former NIU Basketball Coach Tom Jorgenson in 2013-- Part 1
From the November 29, 2013, DeKalb Daily Chronicle "Former NIU basketball coach Jorgenson passes away."
NIU Hall of Fame men's basketball coach Tom Jorgenson who put Northern Illinois on the national college basketball map with a Top Twenty ranking died November 29.
Known as "Jorgy," he was the first to have NIU post a 20-victory season with a 21-4 season 1971-1972 and was coach with the school's first-ever victory over a Big Ten team, Indiana, in the same season.. Same season, Northern was ranked #20 at one point. A member of his 1969 team, Jim Smith, was NIU's first NBA draft pick.
Other honors for "Jorgy" was a first Division 1 college basketball championship for the 71-72 team in the Midwestern Conference and its first college All-American, Jim Bradley that same season.
More to Come.
NIU Hall of Fame men's basketball coach Tom Jorgenson who put Northern Illinois on the national college basketball map with a Top Twenty ranking died November 29.
Known as "Jorgy," he was the first to have NIU post a 20-victory season with a 21-4 season 1971-1972 and was coach with the school's first-ever victory over a Big Ten team, Indiana, in the same season.. Same season, Northern was ranked #20 at one point. A member of his 1969 team, Jim Smith, was NIU's first NBA draft pick.
Other honors for "Jorgy" was a first Division 1 college basketball championship for the 71-72 team in the Midwestern Conference and its first college All-American, Jim Bradley that same season.
More to Come.
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