Please retell the Joe B Hall story

[Old School]

At some point in the 1980s Hall landed a 7’3” German player named Gunther Behnke. He got homesick and left before playing in a game. I don’t remember whether that was before, after, or contemporaneous with Hakeem Olajuwon going from Nigeria to Houston, but those are the first overseas players I recall major programs pursuing.

[largebluej]

At some point in the 1980s Hall landed a 7’3” German player named Gunther Behnke. He got homesick and left before playing in a game. I don’t remember whether that was before, after, or contemporaneous with Hakeem Olajuwon going from Nigeria to Houston, but those are the first overseas players I recall major programs pursuing.

Remember Uwe Blab at IU? I think that was the same period of time

[EKYCat]

Similar experience. Pops attended UK during the Issel years, and his take on Joe B's tenure was 'accomplishing less with more'.

My dad isn't a huge Joe B fan either. Said he wasn't much of a bench coach. Seems like Cal kind of modeled himself after Joe B in that way 😂

[Old School]

Remember Uwe Blab at IU? I think that was the same period of time

I do. Good call. But I think he and Detlef Schrempf were living in the United States as teenagers. Behnke and Olajuwon went straight from other countries to U.S. colleges. They’re the first high profile players I remember doing that, but there may have been some before them.