Joe Ruklick: Quick Hits

Matt Forman

This story is part of a series on the 1959 Northwestern basketball team.

– One of Northwestern’s eight All-Americans, and the third-to-last to achieve that mark

– Ranks 11th on NU’s all-time scoring list with 1,315 points

– Holds a career scoring average of 19.9 points per game, the highest in school history

– His single-season average of 13.9 rebounds per game is the best in school history

– Two-time team MVP in junior and senior year

– Averaged 23 points per game his senior year on 45.3 percent shooting from the field to earn First team All-Big Ten

– Thanks to a 17-of-26 shooting night, including 6-of-7 on free throws, he broke the McGaw Memorial Hall scoring record with 40 points against Illinois his junior year

– In the 1957-58 season as a junior, he scored 20 points at least seven times, averaging 18.2 points per game and earning Second-Team All-Big Ten honors

– Scored 22 points against Wilt Chamberlain and 33 points in a loss to Illinois his sophomore year en route to averaging 18 points per contest and winning Second-Team All-Big Ten accolades

– Second-round draft pick by the Philadelphia Warriors in 1959

– Played in the NBA for three seasons, averaging eight minutes, 3.5 points and 2.5 rebounds per game

Read more:Ruklick hooks way to history book 5/27/09A look at men’s basketball in 1959 5/26/09A game-by-game look at the 1958-59 ‘cagers’ season 5/26/09