UNC men’s basketball legend Lennie Rosenbluth passed away Saturday, the program announced on Twitter. He was 89 years old.
Originally from The Bronx, N.Y., Rosenbluth became one of the finest players in program history under head coach Frank McGuire. Rosenbluth played three seasons at Carolina from 1955-57, being named first team All-ACC all three years. He averaged at least 25 points per game in each of those seasons, pairing that with averages of 11 rebounds per game in 1955 and 1956.
But it is Rosenbluth’s senior season which has become known as one of the most memorable in program history. Rosenbluth averaged a UNC single-season record of 28 points per game in 1957, helping the Tar Heels blaze through the ACC and NCAA Tournaments. He was named ACC Player of the Year, a consensus first team All-American and the National Player of the Year, all while leading Carolina to the NCAA title game against Wilt Chamberlain and Kansas.
Rosenbluth and the undersized Tar Heels took the Jayhawks to triple overtime, UNC’s second triple overtime game in a row. Rosenbluth scored 20 of Carolina’s 54 points in the game, but it was Joe Quigg’s go-ahead free throws and steal on the final Kansas possession which sealed the 54-53 victory. With the win, UNC completed a 32-0 season and clinched the program’s first NCAA title in men’s basketball. It was also the first in ACC history.
Rosenbluth’s No. 10 jersey has since been retired by the program. His career scoring average of 26.9 points per game is a Carolina record, and his 2,047 points scored are the most ever by a Tar Heel in three seasons. Rosenbluth was selected with the No. 6 overall pick in the 1957 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia Warriors, who ironically would select Chamberlain just two years later. In 2002, Rosenbluth was named to the ACC’s 50th Anniversary men’s basketball team.
“[He] is probably responsible for more Carolina Basketball fans than any individual other than Michael Jordan,” wrote Adam Lucas. “And you could make a very fair argument that without Rosenbluth, there was no Jordan.”
Featured image via Inside Carolina/Jim Hawkins
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