Bob Cousy is a basketball legend who played for Lafayette College’s basketball team, the Lafayette Leopards, from 1946 to 1950. Here’s a timeline of his time with the team:
1946: Bob Cousy starts his college basketball career as a freshman at Lafayette College. He immediately becomes a standout player for the Lafayette Leopards, averaging 15.4 points per game in his first season.
1947: Cousy continues to excel in his sophomore season, leading the Leopards to a 16-7 record and earning All-East honors.
1948: Cousy’s junior season is arguably his best at Lafayette. He averages 21.2 points per game and leads the Leopards to a 19-3 record and a spot in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT).
March 1948: Cousy and the Leopards make their first-ever appearance in the NIT. They beat Loyola Marymount in the first round before falling to eventual champion Kentucky in the quarterfinals. Cousy averages 19.5 points per game in the tournament.
1949: Cousy’s senior season is another successful one for the Leopards. He averages 19.0 points per game and leads the team to a 19-5 record and another berth in the NIT.
March 1949: Lafayette makes its second consecutive appearance in the NIT. They beat Rhode Island in the first round before falling to St. John’s in the quarterfinals. Cousy averages 20.0 points per game in the tournament.
1950: Cousy graduates from Lafayette College as one of the greatest basketball players in school history. He finishes his college career with 1,429 points and is later inducted into the Lafayette College Maroon Club Hall of Fame.
April 1950: Cousy is selected by the Tri-Cities Blackhawks (now the Atlanta Hawks) in the first round of the NBA draft.
Overall, Cousy’s time with the Lafayette Leopards was marked by individual excellence and team success. He helped elevate the program to new heights and set the stage for his legendary professional career.