Miracles on the Hardwood: The Hope-and-a-Prayer Story of a Winning Tradition in Catholic College Basketball

by John Gasaway

Discover the David vs. Goliath rise of Catholic college basketball, from Villanova to Georgetown to Gonzaga, where small schools perennially shoot past the big power conference programs.

In MIRACLES ON THE HARDWOOD, author John Gasaway traces the rise of Catholic college basketball—from its early days (Villanova made an appearance in the Final Four in the first NCAA tournament in 1939) to the dominance of the San Francisco Dons in the 1950s and the ascendance of powerhouses Georgetown, Villanova, and Gonzaga—through their decades-long rivalries and championship games. Featuring interviews with notable coaches, players, alums, and fans—including Loyola Chicago's most famous and dedicated fan, 100-year-old Sister Jean—to get at the heart of how these universities have excelled at this sport.

Small in number but devout in the game's spirit, these teams have made the miraculous a matter of ritual, and their greatest works may be yet to come.
 

Genres: Sports, Basketball, Catholic

336 pages, Hardcover

Published March 16, 2021

Reviews

[Lance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Catholic colleges have a very important place in the history of college basketball, going all the way back to the first NCAA tournament (Villanova was one of the Final Four schools in the 1939 tourney), through the era when the National Invitational Tournament (NIT) was just as prestigious as the NCAA and into the modern era which saw a year (1985) when three of the Final Four schools – Georgetown, St. John’s (NY) and Villanova – were Catholic schools. This deep connection between Catholic colleges and basketball is discussed in this very good book by John Gasaway.

If a reader is looking for information on the school’s theological history and how that relates to basketball, then this is not the book for them. If, however, a reader wants to learn about the ins and outs of basketball teams that played an important part of college basketball history, then this is one to pick up. This includes details on the seasons and games of some of the schools and certain personalities. Probably the best chapter on this is on Marquette University in Wisconsin and their colorful coach Al McGuire when they won the championship in 1977, McGuire’s last game as coach.
Not just Marquette, but most Catholic schools that have won a championship (either NIT or NCAA) or played an important role in the sport’s history are included. Examples are the University of San Francisco when Bill Russell was their star player, Georgetown during the John Thompson era and Villanova, both in their “perfect game” to win the 1985 NCAA championship (against Georgetown) and their recent success in 2016 and 2018.

Some of the passages about how Catholic schools have affected the history of the game are very interesting. The best of these is during the discussion of the period in which schools could enter both the NCAA and NIT tournaments or later when a school had to decide whether to accept one or the other. This was during the late 1940’s and early1950’s when the NIT was considered to be the more prestigious of the two tourneys. It was also interesting in that many Catholic schools chose the NIT because it was held in New York and since most of these schools were in the East, the travel costs were much lower because the NCAA tourney was always held in Kansas City at that time.

All in all, this was an entertaining and informative book that hard core college basketball fans will enjoy. More casual fans may find some of the details too intense, but it’s still a fin source of information on this segment of college basketball.

I wish to thank Twelve Books for providing a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

https://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/20...

[Sean Tenaglia · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a hoops junkie this is fun, but it’s mostly a chronological history of successful Catholic teams. Definitely perfect timing on the read to have me amped for March.

“If there were no game of basketball, Catholic colleges and universities would have been deprived of one of their defining characteristics in the public imagination. As Frank Deford phrased it in the aftermath of the peak moment furnished by the 1985 Final Four, ‘For many Americans, college basketball is the outward and visible sign of Catholicism in the United States.’ It is perhaps the ritual of basketball itself, more than any particular success within the sport, that binds this one faith to this one game. The defining quality of Catholic college basketball programs is not that they necessarily prevail, but, instead, that they persist—as a familiar, distinct, and cohesive body of the sport’s disciples. When speaking of Catholicism in the United States, college basketball is an identity as much as it is a prowess.”

[Douglass Gaking · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title is deceiving. There is not much about miracles, and it's not very story-driven. It's more a review of which Catholic college basketball teams throughout history have been good and why.

John Gasaway is a sports analytics expert, and it shows here. The book is about 80% quantitative analytics and 20% qualitative story-telling. The stats tell the story. Nevertheless, he did interview some folks and do a ton of amazing research. The sections about old teams are interesting but dry. As he gets into newer teams, Gasaway has more to say, and the writing improves.

The intended audience for this book seems to be a niche of college basketball nerds like me, but even I wondered at times while reading this why I should care about some of the details and what exactly the point of the book is. I suppose that is sports writing, so I don't want to punish Gasaway with a bad rating. I am going to give this 4 stars in the context of sports writing with a warning that if you are not in that niche audience of super basketball nerds it's really a 3-star book. And I will say that if Gasaway wants to write more of this nerdy stuff, I will keep buying it and reading it!

[Jenny Shank · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review: Inside the very Catholic history of college basketball
From America, March 2021 issue

N.C.A.A. hoops fans often link Catholic colleges with basketball excellence. In Miracles on the Hardwood, John Gasaway investigates why. “If there were no game of basketball, Catholic colleges and universities would have been deprived of one of their defining characteristics in the public imagination,” Gasaway writes.

Gasaway examines the entire history of Catholic college basketball through Villanova’s third men’s national championship title in 2018. At times he whips through the years as quickly as Loyola Marymount moved the ball up the court during its record-breaking 122-points-per-game season in 1990. We see just how many different teams, coaches and athletes have contributed to this reputation for basketball excellence, from the University of San Francisco to Georgetown, Gonzaga and Villanova.

“Basketball was invented to save Protestant men’s souls,” Gasaway writes. When James Naismith, a Presbyterian, developed basketball in 1891, he agreed with the Y.M.C.A. vision of evangelization through sports. In the early 1900s, when Catholic colleges were losing students to secular universities, Jesuit institutions updated their Ratio Studiorum, the standard curriculum at Jesuit schools, by allowing students to declare a major and take a wider variety of classes—and many of them added basketball teams.

At times Gasaway whips through the years as quickly as Loyola Marymount moved the ball up the court during its record-breaking 122-points-per-game season in 1990.
Tweet this

Catholic intercollegiate athletics burgeoned, and the church soon began seeing sports as a way to enhance young men’s moral formation. In 1932, Gasaway writes, George Cardinal Mundelein of Chicago praised sports for “rescuing our boys from speakeasies, gangster hang-outs, street corners, and from the other temptations that lie in wait for discontented youth.”

Gasaway demonstrates how as basketball developed, Catholic basketball teams often leaped ahead of their competition when they embraced innovations: players conferring with coaches during timeouts, jump shots, shot clocks, slam dunks and three-pointers.

By far the most important change was the racial integration of the game. Catholic programs have often been credited with playing a praiseworthy role in integration efforts, Gasaway notes, a “credit that nevertheless acknowledges that the coaches in question were interested primarily in winning games.”

Through his minute analysis, Gasaway documents how each Catholic college team that achieved greatness did so through its own unique mix of talent, strategy and luck. But he notes, “even when wins are plentiful, Catholic teams can speak in the familiar language of the underdog."

This article also appeared in print, under the headline “Catholic hoops through history,” in the March 2021, issue.

https://www.americamagazine.org/arts-...

[Lou Kreuzer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great companion reader to March Madness, especially this year because as of this writing Gonzaga, Creighton, Villanova, and Loyola-Chicago are still in the tournament. Anyone interested in the history of college basketball will enjoy it. There are also great tidbits about legends like Phog Allen, Adolph Rupp, and John Wooden and how other great programs, players, and coaches intertwined the Catholic schools. The first half of book provides a glimpse of mid-Twentieth Century America in which a school like Duquesne was a national power and Kansas City's Municipal Auditorium rivaled the old MSG as the hotbed of college of hoops.

Of course race is a big part of this history and Gasaway handles it well and without preaching. After all, if someone is interested in college basketball they already know that it was wrong that the University of San Francisco Dons were denied accommodations in Oklahoma or that it was absurd that Mississippi State had to flee the jurisdiction to play Loyola-Chicago, and don't need to be lectured.

I found the story of the Bill Russell and the Dons to be of particular interest as Gonzaga tries to become the second Catholic school to go undefeated to the title and because USF was the first to break the unwritten rule of not starting three Black players. Also resonating now - for sad reasons - is the account of Elgin Baylor's college career in which he took Seattle to the title game against Kentucky.

The one unfair criticism I have is that Gasaway lets too many facts get in the way of the narrative and doesn't give much of much of a sense of time and place. Still, I'd prefer that over another popular history author who over-stylizes. Gasaway also deserves credit for noting that we can't really describe a long-ago team's style of play because we don't have enough information. Not many authors have that honesty and compunction.

The book also admittedly can't fully explain why Catholic schools became so identified with basketball. They don't win a disproportionate share of championships and and have been non-factors in decades such as the 90's. The author teases the possible answer early when he notes that once the Ivies and other prestigious schools began accepting more Catholic students at the early 20th Century, schools like Georgetown saw their enrollment drop. Given their smaller enrollments, it would be difficult for them to compete in football (with one famous exception). But, since they were usually located in cities, they had access to plenty of good players, and a network of related institutions to schedule games against. Mix in a chance to play in the Garden (the birth of the NIT), and you've got a product that's been attracting tuition-paying students, their parents, and fans ever since.

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why do Catholic schools seem to have so much success in men's college basketball?
ESPN.com analyst John Gasaway shares his insight along with an extensive history of college hoops and the impact teams from Catholic universities have had on the game — and on American culture.
"Miracles of the Hardwood" hits all the highlights and all the big names, but also blankets the smaller "miracles" and the lesser-known, little remembered.
It's a fun ride through the decades with great anecdotes, rarely-told stories, behind-the-lockerroom-door quotes and possibly forgotten moments that fans of the collegiate game will be glad he's captured.
Of course there's DePaul's Ray Meyer turning George Mikan into a game-changing factor and Austin Carr and Noter Dame breaking UCLA's 88-game win streak.
But did you know that when Bob Cousy of Boston Celtics professional fame was leading Holy Cross to the 1947 national title he was reputed to be the first college player to dribble behind his back?
And that Bill Russell, who lead the University of San Francisco, wasn't a highly recruited high school player, that the Dons were the only college to offer the hall-of-famer a scholarship?
Read about the highs of Russell, Elgin Baylor and Jerry Harkness bringing recognition to Jesuit schools in San Francisco, Seattle and Loyola Chicago respectively, but also the lows those three and others faced as black stars in portions of the nation unready to accept racial equality — or even have their teams play against black players.
All the great teams are there, St. John's, Villanova, Gonzaga, Providence, Marquette, Loyola Marymount, Dayton, Canisius, Georgetown and others.
All the great coaches, too: Lou Carnesecca, John Thompson, George Ireland, Digger Phelps, Dave Gavitt, Jay Wright, Mark Few and so many more.
The chapter on Al McGuire will have you laughing; the one on Hank Gathers will sadden.
The way the NIT and the NCAA tournaments evolved is enlightening.
The part Catholic schools played in breaking the unwritten rule that teams could field no more than three black players at a time is consoling.
Gasaway's research is amazingly thorough, and the book at times has the drama of a good novel. His analysis of how Catholic college teams have fared as well as they have is the icing on the cake. It's a book that tells you not only who won or lost but how they did it, under what conditions, and, in some cases, what that win or loss meant in the grand scheme of things in the world of collegiate athletics and life in the United States.

[Navin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an extremely informative and interesting book. I have been a huge basketball fan my entire life. I would say I have more knowledge about the game of basketball than the average person, but after reading this book it became clear to me that there is still so much more that I can learn. I loved how in-depth this book went. There were so many small details that stood out and made the book that much more entertaining. For example, at the beginning of the book, Gasaway writes about the Madison Square Garden stating, "With a capacity of 18,000 and a location on the west side of Eighth Avenue, between 49th and 50th Streets, the Garden hosted professional basketball, hockey, and even rodeo, in addition to boxing" (Page 18). Gasaway also writes about how many of the first NIT (National Invitation Tournament) games took place at the Garden. It was very interesting to learn about the history of a place that for much of my life I have seen as an extremely significant landmark in American sports culture. I also thought it was interesting to learn about the religious history of basketball. Although, now you definitely don't see as many of those aspects in sports, it was still fascinating learning about how religion used to be such a big part of the game. There were so many other times while I was reading this book when I had to pause because of a detail that I never would have guessed to be true. That is what makes this book such a good read.

[Brian · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this book because it was the selection for a Catholic book club I follow on Facebook through America Magazine. All of the previous selections, I've read about 3 0r 4, I thoroughly enjoyed. This book, however, fell flat.

The most interesting parts for me were early on in the book, as it discussed the evolution of basketball and compared the two contrasting origins - prairie and parish. I also learned a lot about some of the early Catholic university teams from the 1940-50s.

However, this book only gives a cursory glance at the Catholicity of the teams and players and coaches. It isn't until the end, in the epilogue, where any real discussion or thought goes into the idea of what makes Catholic basketball teams any different that good 'ol State U.

There's much more to cull from this material, unfortunately for readers, Gasaway leaves it sitting on the bench.

[Andrew · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gasaway evaluates Catholic college basketball in a statistical manner. With some descriptions and far more numbers, his narrative strays from the cultural and moves into the habit of looking more like an effort box-score recitation. His later chapters about Gonzaga and Villanova were more animated, as was his discussion of USF's run with Bill Russell. However, this obviously well-researched discussion could use significant editing to introduce the flair that comes with such a popular and dramatic sport.

[Kyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

A well researched book that is a perfect read during March Madness, especially if you have an affinity for one of the Catholic institutions dominating the sport of basketball. The book will take the reader on a journey from the inception of the sport to the most recent championships by Villanova. Readers will enjoy the exploration of the past and gain a greater appreciation for the sport of basketball.

[Tony Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book about basketball history and Catholic schools' influence on that history. I did not realize how closely the two were interwoven - particularly in the 50s and prior. While it was more tightly intertwined then, the ties remain today, though perhaps looser and a bit more inconsistent. The author did an excellent job of walking us down memory land and sharing the stories of people who remain prominent to this day in basketball history.

[Sam Scialabba · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good historical Catholic college book.

Having attended a Catholic University (Duquesne) in the early 70s, I was caught up in the rivalry with Villanova, but rooted hard for them in the Jay Wright years. Having never realized or thought about the impact of Catholic colleges in basketball, I enjoyed the historical perspective brought by this book. I heard , or experienced most of the stories, but this is a great compilation of a proud tradition.

[Anthony Ball · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredible book that chronicles the highs and lows of Catholic basketball in America. As a double alum of a Jesuit institution, it was a historic journey that I found difficult to put down. If John Gasaway writes another book on basketball in the future, I will be reading it. If there was an option to give more than 5 stars, I would!

[Jim Willse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book to read during the NCAA and especially the Big East tournaments. Pretty much for hard core hoops fans of a certain age, like me. Could do better bringing some of the great characters to life, like Al McGuire, John Thompson and Looie Carnesecca, but it’s readable nonetheless. Although not sure author ever answers the question of why Catholic schools seemingly do so well at the sport.

[Brendon Desrochers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mostly a college basketball history, the Catholicity of the schools is generally underlying and not formative in the narrative. But it's still good basketball history and a lot I hadn't put together previously. I like the author's ability to mix in specific game narratives and advanced stats as well.

[Perry · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid history of college basketball told through the view of Catholic schools. I have been a fan of Gasaway's writing since the College Basketball Prospectus days. The book, however, left me with a big question: why do we care about Catholic schools?

[Janelle Mummey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellently researched. I really loved the stories of the different players, teams and conferences. It is much more basketball than Catholicism. If you don’t enjoy basketball and sports statistics this book is not for you.

[Ian Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great, comprehensive history of Catholic Basketball. I learned a ton about the history and less-recent success of historic powerhouses like Duquesne. The book lacked a strong narrative but the information made up for it.

[David Barney · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is amazing how basketball has reached so many people, in so many situations. It is great to see how basketball has played a part in the Catholic universities. A good source of sports history.

[Patrick Tarbox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book, would have liked for it to go more in-depth on the administrative side of how these schools and basketball programs operate and co-exist, but it is a great book of history.

[Mark Frigo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. But I’m a basketball player and graduate from a Catholic university. So, I’m biased. It was a trip down memory lane for me. Anyone who is not into basketball will likely find it a bore.

[Kaden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bought this book because it’s one of my favorite covers I’ve ever seen. Great look at the rich history of Catholic college basketball.

[Blue · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great idea! I had never thought about the long thread of successful college basketball teams and programs - all connected by their faith-based roots. Bill Russell's San Francisco Dons, the Loyola team from the "game of change", the Big East of the 80s (Georgetown, Syracuse, St. Johns, etc), and the modern day juggernauts (Villanova & Gonzaga) are all described in the book. The book doesn't "preach" and doesn't paper over problems in Catholic school athletics. A great book for any college basketball fan.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the audible version of the book. The voice was a great match for the book. A great listen while driving on a long road trip. Very engaging writing.

[korykeys · Rating 3 out of 5]

Light, easy read if you’re a college basketball fan. A+ cover art.