Basketball legend Bill Walton returned to St. Louis on Wednesday, April 12 as the featured speaker for the USBWA College Basketball Awards. Fifty years ago in the Lou, Bill Walton delivered what is considered the greatest game in NCAA Tournament finals history when he scored 44 points, making 21 of 22 shot attempts to lead UCLA to the national championship. The three-time Oscar Robertson Trophy winner is a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame and is currently one of the most colorful commentators in the game. 

Listen to the latest Club Connections podcast. It features one-on-one interviews with the USBWA honorees as well as Bill Walton. The full awards ceremony is also available to rewatch on the Missouri Athletic Club's YouTube channel or listen to it anywhere you get your podcasts.

WATCH HERE LISTEN HERE

KMOX Sports Director Tom Ackerman and ESPN Radio’s Michelle Smallmon co-hosted this year’s banquet. The winningest coach in Notre Dame history Mike Brey was in attendance receiving the “Good Guy” Award. Florida State’s Ta’Niya Latson won the Tamika Catchings Women’s Freshman of the Year Award. Marquette Coach Shaka Smart received the Henry Iba Men’s Coach of the Year Award. Purdue’s Zach Edey took home the Men’s Player of the Year Oscar Robertson Trophy. 

The evening began with a media hour in the fifth-floor gym for the honorees and Walton. There, reporters from television stations, radio stations and the Post-Dispatch were able to speak with the Missouri Athletic Club’s distinguished guests. 

Following the conclusion of the media hour, the night continued in the Crystal Room, where Smallmon moderated a Q&A with the college coaches in attendance including Smart, Brey, and Florida State Coach Brooke Wyckoff who accompanied Latson to the awards. 

The main event was held in the Missouri Room starting at 7:45 p.m. The program went as planned with a surprise for Coach Brey who started his college coaching career as an assistant for Duke under Coach Mike Krzyzewski. The USBWA honored Coach K with the Dean E. Smith Award. Coach K sent in an acceptance video that also congratulated Coach Brey on receiving the “Good Guy” Award. 

Once all the honorees had their moment to shine, Bill Walton’s lively personality took center stage for nearly an hour. He covered a multitude of topics including his childhood, getting recruited by John Wooden and his decision to get into broadcasting. He closed the night by telling the audience to meet him at the Jack Buck Grille! 

The strong support of the Membership and the sponsors made the event possible, and the MAC looks forward to continuing to grow this event into another great annual sports banquet on the Club’s social calendar.