1943–44 Drexel Dragons men's basketball team

The 1943–44 Drexel Dragons men's basketball team represented Drexel Institute of Technology during the 1943–44 men's basketball season. The Dragons, led by 1st year head coach John Marino, played their home games at Curtis Hall Gym.

1943–44 Drexel Dragons men's basketball
ConferenceIndependent
Record4–5
Head coach
  • John Marino (1st season)
CaptainEd Stier (1st year)
Home arenaCurtis Hall Gym
Seasons

Due to wartime, the Drexel varsity men's basketball team was replaced with the Drexel men's junior varsity (or "frosh") team. This team is presumed to be the Drexel Dragons men's basketball team for the 1943–44 season for record keeping purposes. Following the season, it was expected that most, if not all, of the players from this team, including the head coach, would ever return to the team again due to joining the armed forces in World War II.[1] The schedule for the season was essentially made as the season went on, with few games scheduled before the season began.

During the season, a mixed team of civilians and cadets (3318th S.U.) that were stationed on the Drexel University campus formed, called the Drexel ASTU. The team attempted to form the previous season, however had trouble composing a schedule when they learned they would only be allowed to face teams that were also ASTP teams.[2] This team was coached by Maury McMains, who was the director of the physical training program for the cadets. When McMains was unavailable, Gene Carney (A-3) assumed coaching responsibilities as a player-coach. While the team was at a disadvantage due to a lack of practice, members of the team included former college basketball players and other experienced basketball players.[3][4] The Drexel ASTU men left the campus in April after being recalled.[5]

Roster

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Drexel J.V. Team

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1943–44 Drexel Dragons men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown
F Ed Stier (C)
Fr
F 5 Norm Cassey
Fr
F 11 Earl Rohm
Fr
F Stier
Fr
F McHale
Fr
C E.J. Hopkins
Fr
G 10 Leon Dumont
Fr
G 14 Larry Tecosky
Fr
G 12 Reds Sobel
Fr
G Rothbaum
Fr
G Kaplan
Fr
C Judd Williams
Fr
C Brown Hill
Fr
F W. Fernon
Fr
Head coach
  • John Marino
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Drexel ASTU

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1943–44 Drexel Dragons men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown
F Gene Carney (C)
G John Cannon
George Benning
G Harold Westfall
F Harry Taylor
C Warren Topp
Richard Swanson
Paul Franson
Charles Randall
Robert Hill
George Woods
Archie Twito
Lest Roby
Jacob White
Robert Phillips
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Gene Carney


Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Schedule

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Drexel J.V. Team

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Date
time, TV
Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Regular season
Unknown*
at Swarthmore J.V. L 23–36  0–1
                   
 
Unknown*
vs. Drexel ASTU L 24–29  0–2
                  Curtis Hall Gym 
Philadelphia, PA
January 1944*
at Pennsylvania Military College W 55–47  1–2
                  Hyatt Armory 
Chester, PA
Unknown*
3:30 pm
Penn V-12[6] W 37–36  2–2
 13  Williams              Curtis Hall Gym 
Philadelphia, PA
January 1944*
7:30 pm
Haverford Army Air Corps (Haverford ASTU) L 37–49  2–3
                  Curtis Hall Gym 
Philadelphia, PA
February 3, 1944*
at Haverford Army Air Corps (Haverford ASTU) L 31–46  2–4
 10  Stier              Haverford Field House 
 
February 12, 1944*
Pennsylvania Military College W 42–38  3–4
 12  Stier              Curtis Hall Gym 
Philadelphia, PA
February 12, 1944*
8:00 pm
Naval Air Material Center W 46–24  4–4
 11  Stier              Curtis Hall Gym 
Philadelphia, PA
Unknown*
vs. Drexel ASTU L 38–44  4–5
 20  Dumont              Curtis Hall Gym 
Philadelphia, PA
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Eastern Time.

Drexel ASTU

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Date
time, TV
Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Regular season
Unknown*
vs. Drexel W 29–24  1–0
                  Curtis Hall Gym 
Philadelphia, PA
January 29, 1944*
4:00 pm
Penn V-12 W 45–32  2–0
 22  Carney              Curtis Hall Gym 
Philadelphia, PA
February 5, 1944*
8:00 pm
Haverford Army Air Corps (Haverford ASTU) W 30–29  3–0
 10  Carney              Curtis Hall Gym 
Philadelphia, PA
February 12, 1944*
Naval Aviation Supply Depot W 38–32  4–0
 10  Tied              Curtis Hall Gym 
Philadelphia, PA
February 1944*
Naval Air Material Center L 44–50  4–1
                   
 
February 1944*
at Haverford Army Air Corps (Haverford ASTU) L 34–56  4–2
                  Haverford Field House 
 
Unknown*
vs. Drexel W 44–38  5–2
 18  Carney              Curtis Hall Gym 
Philadelphia, PA
March 1944*
Naval Air Material Center L   5–3
   Carney               
 
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Eastern Time.

References

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  1. ^ "Cadets Nip Dragons in Final Game" (PDF). The Triangle. March 3, 1944. p. 4. Retrieved June 20, 2017.
  2. ^ "ASTP Five to Begin Play Soon" (PDF). The Triangle. January 14, 1944. p. 4. Retrieved June 20, 2017.
  3. ^ "Dragon Frosh Lose To ASTU" (PDF). The Triangle. January 21, 1944. p. 4. Retrieved June 20, 2017.
  4. ^ "The Triangle Regrets..." (PDF). The Triangle. January 28, 1944. p. 4. Retrieved June 20, 2017.
  5. ^ "ASTP Ended Recall Troops" (PDF). The Triangle. April 14, 1944. p. 1. Retrieved June 20, 2017.
  6. ^ The University of Pennsylvania V-12 team was composed of troops stationed on the University of Pennsylvania Campus