Enter Ed Jucker, Smith's assistant. With Smith taking over as athletic director, Jucker instituted a more deliberate style over the previous running ways. Initially, it wasn't popular. By Dec. 23, 1960 UC has lost to Seton Hall, Saint Louis and Bradley and was 4-3.
Then, they didn't lose again. 22 victories later they hoisted the trophy in Kansas City taking down a powerhouse Ohio State team that featured a pair of future NBA players in Jerry Lucas and John Havlicek.
Wiesenhahn averaged a double-double that season (17.1 points and 10 rebounds) though that terminology was unknown. Ditto for the three-point shot. He was assigned to guard "Hondo" Havlicek in the title game. All he did was outscore him 17 to four and outrebound him nine to four. UC won the game 70-65 in overtime.
"He was taller than me but I was a lot stronger than him," Wiesenhahn said. "I knew what he was going to do so I just stepped in front of him and kept him from where he wanted to go.It seemed to work out for us because Lucas gave us trouble. I beat Havilicek pretty good and Carl Bouldin had three or four jumpers in a row in the second half. He could shoot."
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