Bob McCurdy
Encyclopedia
Robert "Bob" McCurdy is an American
businessman who is best known for his time as a college basketball player at the University of Richmond
from 1973 to 1975. He was the nation's leading scorer during his senior
season of 1974–75, averaging 32.9 points per game for the Richmond Spiders
.
, attended Deer Park High School
and graduated in 1970. He enrolled at the University of Virginia
on a basketball scholarship, but in 1970–71 college freshmen were ineligible to play varsity basketball, so McCurdy had to play on Virginia's freshman team. He claims to have scored 30 points against North Carolina
's Bobby Jones and 40 against Maryland
's Tom McMillan
en route to a 38 points per game average that season. He then played for one varsity season as a Virginia Cavalier
, but Bill Gibson
, the coach who had recruited him, left the school. McCurdy made the decision to transfer to a different school and chose Richmond.
season in 1973–74, he averaged approximately 24 points per game. McCurdy was the team's leading scorer and was named to the All-Southern Conference
Second Team. The following year, the last of his collegiate career, he increased his scoring average to 32.9 per game and led all of Division I in scoring. He scored a total of 855 points that season, and on February 26 he had a career high 53-point outing against Appalachian State
. Both the single season and game totals are still school records. McCurdy was an All-Southern Conference First Team selection, and the Associated Press
named him to their All-America Third Team
. In just two seasons at Richmond, he scored 1,347 points.
Kevin Eastman, the starting point guard
alongside shooting guard
McCurdy, was in awe at his ability to score. Many years later, Eastman was quoted as saying, "Looking back now, it was a remarkable feat.[McCurdy] had virtually no quickness. He didn't really have dribbling skills. He couldn't jump that high. He couldn't run real fast. He was a prime example of how will and enthusiasm and effort allowed him to rise to another level." Jokingly, Eastman added, "He worked harder than anybody else on the team, but he was very focused on one skill, and that was shooting. I'm not sure I saw him in a defensive stance all year, and the one or two assists
that he got were mistakes."
by the Milwaukee Bucks
. He never played a game in the league, however, and it is speculated that the constant cortisone
injections into his foot during his senior year may have scared off teams from giving him a chance.
, he said, "I was almost incoherent when I got out of college. Here I was, hoping to be a businessman, and I couldn't even talk basketball." So he hired a tutor to catch him back up to speed in statistics, and within a few years he was a successful employee at Katz Marketing Solutions. He eventually moved his way all the way up to his current position of company president.
and is married to wife Cindy. They have four children together, including a son, Sean, who was also a successful basketball player. Sean played at St. Anthony High School
for Hall of Fame coach Bob Hurley, Sr.
Both Bob and Sean were mentioned in the book The Miracle of St. Anthony: A Season with Coach Bob Hurley and Basketball's Most Improbable Dynasty by author Adrian Wojnarowski
. Sean was a starter for the undefeated and national champion St. Anthony Friars in 2003–04. He accepted a scholarship to play basketball at Arkansas
, but after two seasons transferred to William & Mary
(ironically, a big rival of his father's alma mater, Richmond) to finish his collegiate basketball career.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman who is best known for his time as a college basketball player at the University of Richmond
University of Richmond
The University of Richmond is a selective, private, nonsectarian, liberal arts university located on the border of the city of Richmond and Henrico County, Virginia. The University of Richmond is a primarily undergraduate, residential university with approximately 4,000 undergraduate and graduate...
from 1973 to 1975. He was the nation's leading scorer during his senior
Senior (education)
Senior is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the 4th year of study .-High school:...
season of 1974–75, averaging 32.9 points per game for the Richmond Spiders
Richmond Spiders men's basketball
The Richmond Spiders men's basketball team represents the University of Richmond in Richmond, Virginia and currently competes in the Atlantic 10 Conference...
.
Virginia
McCurdy is native of Deer Park, New YorkDeer Park, New York
Deer Park is a hamlet and census-designated place in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 27,745 at the 2010 census.-History:...
, attended Deer Park High School
Deer Park High School (New York)
Deer Park High School is a public high school in the town of Deer Park in suburban Long Island, New York. It is the only high school in the Deer Park School Union Free School District and serves students in grades 9–12.-Academics:...
and graduated in 1970. He enrolled at the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
on a basketball scholarship, but in 1970–71 college freshmen were ineligible to play varsity basketball, so McCurdy had to play on Virginia's freshman team. He claims to have scored 30 points against North Carolina
North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball
The North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball program is the intercollegiate men's basketball of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and is considered one of the most successful programs in NCAA history...
's Bobby Jones and 40 against Maryland
Maryland Terrapins men's basketball
The Maryland Terrapins men's basketball team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I competition...
's Tom McMillan
Charles Thomas McMillen
Charles Thomas "Tom" McMillen is a retired NBA professional basketball player, Rhodes Scholar, and Democratic U.S. Congressman who represented the 4th congressional district of Maryland from January 3, 1987 to January 3, 1993.-Basketball:Prior to entering politics, McMillen was a star basketball...
en route to a 38 points per game average that season. He then played for one varsity season as a Virginia Cavalier
Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball
The Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball program represents the University of Virginia in the Atlantic Coast Conference in the NCAA's Division I. The team is coached by Tony Bennett.-Statistics:-Retired numbers:-Retired jerseys:...
, but Bill Gibson
Bill Gibson (basketball)
William J. "Bill" Gibson was an American basketball coach who was the head men's basketball coach at the University of Virginia and the University of South Florida....
, the coach who had recruited him, left the school. McCurdy made the decision to transfer to a different school and chose Richmond.
Richmond
Due to NCAA transfer eligibility rules, McCurdy was forced to sit out for one full year before suiting up for Richmond. In his juniorJunior (education)
"Junior" is a term used in the United States to describe a student in their 3rd year of study . A Junior is considered an upperclassman...
season in 1973–74, he averaged approximately 24 points per game. McCurdy was the team's leading scorer and was named to the All-Southern Conference
Southern Conference
The Southern Conference is a Division I college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Southern Conference football teams compete in the Football Championship Subdivision . Member institutions are located in the states of Alabama, Georgia, North...
Second Team. The following year, the last of his collegiate career, he increased his scoring average to 32.9 per game and led all of Division I in scoring. He scored a total of 855 points that season, and on February 26 he had a career high 53-point outing against Appalachian State
Appalachian State Mountaineers men's basketball
The Appalachian State Mountaineers basketball team is the college basketball team at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. The Mountaineers have competed in the Southern Conference since 1972, and are currently a Division I member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association ....
. Both the single season and game totals are still school records. McCurdy was an All-Southern Conference First Team selection, and the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
named him to their All-America Third Team
1975 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans
The Consensus 1975 College Basketball All-American team, as determined by aggregating the results of four major All-American teams. To earn "consensus" status, a player must win honors from a majority of the following teams: the Associated Press, the USBWA, The United Press International and the...
. In just two seasons at Richmond, he scored 1,347 points.
Kevin Eastman, the starting point guard
Point guard
Point guard , also called the play maker or "the ball-handler", is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. A point guard has perhaps the most specialized role of any position – essentially, he is expected to run the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that...
alongside shooting guard
Shooting guard
The shooting guard , also known as the two or off guard, is one of five traditional positions on a basketball team. Players of the position are often shorter, leaner, and quicker than forwards. A shooting guard's main objective is to score points for his team...
McCurdy, was in awe at his ability to score. Many years later, Eastman was quoted as saying, "Looking back now, it was a remarkable feat.
Assist (basketball)
In basketball, an assist is attributed to a player who passes the ball to a teammate in a way that leads to a score by field goal, meaning that he or she was "assisting" in the basket. There is some judgment involved in deciding whether a passer should be credited with an assist...
that he got were mistakes."
NBA
McCurdy was selected in the eighth round (132nd overall) in the 1975 NBA Draft1975 NBA Draft
The 1975 NBA Draft was the 29th annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on May 29, 1975 before the 1975–76 season. In this draft, 18 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players...
by the Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
. He never played a game in the league, however, and it is speculated that the constant cortisone
Cortisone
Cortisone is a steroid hormone. It is one of the main hormones released by the adrenal gland in response to stress. In chemical structure, it is a corticosteroid closely related to corticosterone. It is used to treat a variety of ailments and can be administered intravenously, orally,...
injections into his foot during his senior year may have scared off teams from giving him a chance.
Business career
With professional basketball out of the picture, McCurdy focused on becoming a successful businessman. Later in life, after admitting to skipping classes while in college to work on his jump shotJump shot
In basketball , a jump shot is an attempt to score a basket by jumping, usually straight up, and in mid-jump, propelling the ball in an arc into the basket. It is accomplished by the player bringing his or her elbow up until it is aligned with the hoop, then sent towards the hoop in a high arc. It...
, he said, "I was almost incoherent when I got out of college. Here I was, hoping to be a businessman, and I couldn't even talk basketball." So he hired a tutor to catch him back up to speed in statistics, and within a few years he was a successful employee at Katz Marketing Solutions. He eventually moved his way all the way up to his current position of company president.
Personal
McCurdy resides in Westport, ConnecticutWestport, Connecticut
-Neighborhoods:* Saugatuck – around the Westport railroad station near the southwestern corner of the town – a built-up area with some restaurants, stores and offices....
and is married to wife Cindy. They have four children together, including a son, Sean, who was also a successful basketball player. Sean played at St. Anthony High School
St. Anthony High School (New Jersey)
St. Anthony High School is a four-year co-educational Roman Catholic high school located in Jersey City, New Jersey, United States, operating under the supervision of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark...
for Hall of Fame coach Bob Hurley, Sr.
Bob Hurley
Robert Matthew "Bob" Hurley, Sr. is the basketball coach at St. Anthony High School in Jersey City, New Jersey. Hurley has amassed 26 state championships and more than 1000 wins in 39 years as a coach, creating a national powerhouse despite substandard facilities and financial limitations...
Both Bob and Sean were mentioned in the book The Miracle of St. Anthony: A Season with Coach Bob Hurley and Basketball's Most Improbable Dynasty by author Adrian Wojnarowski
Adrian Wojnarowski
Adrian Wojnarowski is a sports columnist and author, who regularly writes NBA articles for Yahoo! Sports.Wojnarowski has worked in print media, and in 2006 published a New York Times best-seller: The Miracle of St. Anthony: A Season with Coach Bob Hurley and Basketball's Most Improbable Dynasty. ...
. Sean was a starter for the undefeated and national champion St. Anthony Friars in 2003–04. He accepted a scholarship to play basketball at Arkansas
Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball
The Arkansas Razorbacks basketball team represents the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas in NCAA Division I men's basketball competition. The school's team currently competes in the Southeastern Conference. The team last played in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament in 2008...
, but after two seasons transferred to William & Mary
William & Mary Tribe men's basketball
The William & Mary Tribe men's basketball team represents The College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia in NCAA Division I competition. The school's team competes in the Colonial Athletic Association and play their home games in Kaplan Arena....
(ironically, a big rival of his father's alma mater, Richmond) to finish his collegiate basketball career.