Long before Miami (OH) achieved an undefeated regular season, the face of the RedHawks was Wally Szczerbiak.
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The NBA forward turned analyst first made a name for himself in Oxford, Ohio, as one of the best offensive players in the country and led Miami to an improbable Sweet 16 appearance.
Szczerbiak was able to sit back and watch the resurgence of the program he helped resurrect in the late 1990s, and the latest iteration of the RedHawks certainly makes him prouder than ever.
Here’s a look back at Szczerbiak’s college career and memorable Miami (OH) run in 1999.
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Where did Wally Szczerbiak go to college?
Szczerbiak spent all four of his collegiate seasons at Miami (OH), starting as a reserve in 1995-96 and becoming the RedHawks’ focal point in his final two seasons with the program.
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Szczerbiak was born in Spain while his father played basketball internationally, but his family originally lived in Pittsburgh before moving to New York. Szczerbiak committed to Miami (OH) after a visit and was recruited by coach Herb Sendek, who currently coaches Santa Clara.
Here’s more on Szczerbiak’s career with the RedHawks.
FURTHER:Where is Miami (Ohio) located?
Wally Szczerbiak plays his career in Miami (OH)
Szczerbiak came off the bench under Sendek in his freshman season, averaging 8.0 points per game, and assumed a starting role as a sophomore despite Sendek leaving for NC State. Miami reached the NCAA Tournament in Szczerbiak’s second season, falling to Clemson as a No. 13 seed.
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Szczerbiak’s breakout season came in 1997-98, when he missed a portion of the schedule with a broken wrist, but still averaged 24.4 points and 7.6 rebounds per game.
Szczerbiak posted similar numbers as a senior in 1998-99, and on-court success continued. Miami went 15-3 in the MAC and earned a No. 10 seed in the NCAA Tournament, setting the stage for a Sweet 16 run that still lives on in RedHawks lore. Szczerbiak earned Second Team All-American honors in 1999 and became the No. 6 pick in the 1999 NBA Draft; his number would later be retired in Miami.
Here’s a closer look at Szczerbiak’s Sweet 16 career in a RedHawks uniform.
FURTHER:How did Miami, Ohio get its name?
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Miami (OH) Sweet 16 Race
Miami (OH) earned the No. 10 ranking after going 22-7 in 1998-99. Szczerbiak’s defense and heroics led the RedHawks to two victories in the NCAA tournament.
Szczerbiak put Miami’s offense on his back in a 59-58 victory over No. 7 Washington in the first round, scoring 43 of the RedHawks’ 59 points with 12 rebounds and three blocks. Only two other players scored for Miami, and only one other player scored more than four points.
Miami outscored No. 2 Utah by 11 in the second half to pull off a second-round upset, getting 24 points, eight rebounds and five assists from Szczerbiak.
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The streak ended in the Sweet 16, when Tubby Smith and Kentucky held Miami to just 43 points in a 15-point victory. Miami’s streak in 1999 tied the deepest in program history, and Szczerbiak further etched his name in RedHawks history with his incredible first-round performance.
FURTHER: Miami (Ohio) schedule strength, explained
Wally Szczerbiak College Statistics
|
Season |
Games |
PPG |
role play |
APG |
STL |
GF% |
|
1995-96 |
22 |
8.0 |
3.3 |
1.0 |
0.3 |
52.0% |
|
1996-97 |
30 |
12.8 |
5.4 |
2.1 |
0.7 |
47.5% |
|
1997-98 |
21 |
24.4 |
7.6 |
2.5 |
0.9 |
52.9% |
|
1998-89 |
32 |
24.2 |
8.5 |
2.9 |
1.2 |
52.2% |
|
Career |
105 |
17.6 |
6.3 |
2.2 |
0.8 |
51.2% |
Szczerbiak steadily improved his production during his time in Miami, emerging as a starter in his second year and becoming a star in his third year with 24.4 points per game.
As a senior, Szczerbiak set career highs in rebounds, assists and steals while leading the RedHawks to the Sweet 16.
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