UNC Basketball Legend Lennie Rosenbluth Dies at 89

UNC men’s basketball legend Lennie Rosenbluth passed absent Saturday, the program introduced on Twitter. He was 89 several years aged.

Relaxation In Peace Tar Heel Legend Lennie Rosenbluth 🙏 https://t.co/YIGjZ3eK05

— Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) June 18, 2022

Originally from The Bronx, N.Y., Rosenbluth became a person of the greatest players in program historical past less than head mentor Frank McGuire. Rosenbluth performed three seasons at Carolina from 1955-57, becoming named very first crew All-ACC all three several years. He averaged at minimum 25 points per recreation in every of individuals seasons, pairing that with averages of 11 rebounds for every game in 1955 and 1956.

But it is Rosenbluth’s senior year which has turn out to be recognised as one particular of the most unforgettable in plan history. Rosenbluth averaged a UNC single-time record of 28 details for every recreation in 1957, serving to the Tar Heels blaze as a result of the ACC and NCAA Tournaments. He was named ACC Player of the Year, a consensus initial crew All-American and the National Participant of the Calendar year, all while foremost Carolina to the NCAA title activity against Wilt Chamberlain and Kansas.

Rosenbluth and the undersized Tar Heels took the Jayhawks to triple additional time, UNC’s 2nd triple overtime sport in a row. Rosenbluth scored 20 of Carolina’s 54 points in the activity, but it was Joe Quigg’s go-forward totally free throws and steal on the remaining Kansas possession which sealed the 54-53 victory. With the earn, UNC accomplished a 32- season and clinched the program’s to start with NCAA title in men’s basketball. It was also the initially in ACC background.

Rosenbluth’s No. 10 jersey has because been retired by the program. His job scoring normal of 26.9 details per activity is a Carolina file, and his 2,047 details scored are the most ever by a Tar Heel in a few seasons. Rosenbluth was picked with the No. 6 in general decide on in the 1957 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia Warriors, who ironically would select Chamberlain just two decades later on. In 2002, Rosenbluth was named to the ACC’s 50th Anniversary men’s basketball team.

“[He] is almost certainly liable for more Carolina Basketball fans than any particular person other than Michael Jordan,” wrote Adam Lucas. “And you could make a really truthful argument that with out Rosenbluth, there was no Jordan.”

Showcased graphic via Inside Carolina/Jim Hawkins

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