Between 1968 and 1971, nothing was closer to certain than that phrase preceding the name Austin Carr on the ACC’s public address system after a Notre Dame basketball game. Carr, who will be added to ND’s Ring of Honor on Saturday, led the Irish in scoring 70 of the 74 times he played for them.
40 years after playing his last game at Notre Dame, Carr remains the school’s scoring leader with 2,560 points. Keep in mind that he set all of these scoring records before there was a three point shot in college basketball, and he ammassed his point total in three years because freshmen weren’t eligible to play on varsity teams until 1972. Because he was such a great outside shooter, he would have padded those averages by another four or five points with the three in his arsenal; and with four years of varsity basketball, his point total would be a pipe dream for any other player to reach.
Check out these numbers:
Carr in the Regular Season
- He averaged 34.6 points per game for his career at ND.
- He made 52.9% of his shots from the field and 81.4% of his free throws during his career.
- He averaged 22.0 points per game as a sophomore.
- He averaged 38.1 points per game as a junior.
- He averaged 37.9 points per game as a senior.
- He averaged 7.3 rebounds per game during his career.
- He scored more than 30 points in a game 48 times, i.e. in 65% of the games he played.
- He scored more than 40 points in a game 23 times, i.e. in 31% of the games he played.
- He scored more than 50 points in a game 9 times, i.e. in 12% of the games he played.
- He never scored fewer than 20 points in any game during the 1969-70 and 1970-71 seasons, 58 consecutive games.
- He has the 9 highest scoring games in Notre Dame history and 18 of the top 20.
Carr in the NCAA Tournament
- He still has the NCAA Tournament single game scoring record, 61 points.
- Carr has 3 of the top 5 single game point totals in NCAA Tournament history, 4 of the top 10, and 5 of the top 12. Nobody else is in the top 12 more than once.
- He had the top two highest scoring averages for a tournament (minimum three games) – 52.7 points per game in 1970 and 41.7 points per game in 1971.
- He owns the all-time career tournament scoring average – 41.3 over seven games. Bill Bradley is a distant second with 33.7 over nine games. Oscar Robertson’s 32.4 over ten games is third.
Carr in the NBA
- Carr was the first player chosen in the 1971 NBA draft. He played for 10 seasons, 9 in Cleveland.
- He averaged 21.2, 20.5, and 21.9 points per game his first 3 seasons in the NBA. He was an all-star in his 3rd season.
- Carr had a serious knee injury in his 4th pro season. He continued playing until he was forced to stop and have surgery halfway through the season. Knee injuries were career threatening and often career ending at that time because the trauma of cutting the knee open for repair was usually as bad as the injury itself. Arthroscopic surgery was brand new at that time, and it was used for only the simplest injuries. It was not an option for Carr.
- Because of the knee injury, Carr was able to average 30 or more minutes per game for just one more season over the rest of his career.
- Although the knee injury limited the minutes Carr could play per game, it didn’t limit his scoring ability when he was on the floor. He scored 20.8 points per 40 minutes played during the five seasons after his knee surgery.
- His final career averages were 15.4 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.8 assists.
Those are awesome statistics that any basketball fan can appreciate, but I got to see for myself what a great player Carr was.
Notre Dame’s games were on television several times a year in those days. Neither picture nor production quality were nearly what they have become today, but it was still obvious how much better than everyone else Carr was as I watched on the family’s 19 inch television; but true appreciation came when I finally got to see him play in person.
It was a pretty good game to see. Carr scored 46 points to lead Notre Dame to an 89-82 victory over UCLA, the Bruins’ only loss that season and their last loss for about three years. You all know how that streak ended.
I was a junior in high school when I received one of the all-time great Christmas presents from my older brother Tim, then a freshman at Notre Dame. Under the category of good things coming in small packages, Tim gave me an envelope containing a pair of tickets to the upcoming ND-UCLA game in South Bend.
I borrowed mom’s car a few Saturdays later, picked up my buddy Bob, and drove to South Bend anxious to see the unbeatable UCLA juggernaut as much as I was anxious to see Carr and the Fighting Irish. 40 years later, Carr’s performance is the part I remember vividly.
UCLA was the four-time defending national champion en route to seven in a row. That season’s squad featured All-Americans Sidney Wicks, Curtis Rowe, and Henry Bibby. The Irish complemented Carr with some fine players of their own. Along with Carr, Collis Jones and Sid Catlett (known as the D.C. Three) were Notre Dame’s best players. Point guard Jackie Meehan and center John Pleick completed the starting lineup.
Notre Dame Head Coach Johnny Dee always said Carr’s game against then ACC power South Carolina when he was a junior was his best ever – 43 points, 19-24 from the field, 6 rebounds, 11 assists, and no turnovers playing head-to-head against All-American John Roche. If that was Carr’s best, I wish I had seen it because I have never witnessed in person a better performance by a college basketball player than the one I saw that January afternoon in 1971.
Carr made baskets from outside. He drove and scored. He broke UCLA’s vaunted press. He rebounded. He passed. He drew fouls. He stole the ball.
To be sure, others played very well for the Irish. Meehan was solid handling the ball against constant pressure. Catlett and Pleick were tough in the lane. Jones made a perimeter player out of Wicks and got him in foul trouble before Carr put him out of his misery. Which leads me to the best story of that game…
Carr scored 15 of Notre Dame’s last 17 points of the game as John Wooden tried one defender after another hoping to make him miss a shot. Finally Wooden turned to Wicks.
Wicks backed away from Carr the first trip down the court, and Carr popped a jumper from the wing. Wicks stepped out to guard him closer the next time; and as Carr began to drive past him, Wicks reached for the ball, hacked Carr’s arm, and headed to the bench with his fifth foul.
Sports Illustrated’s Curry Kirkpatrick documented Wicks’ words as he got to the bench:
“I told you, Coach,” Wicks screamed at Wooden as he came to the bench. “I told you not to put me on him. I told you.”
Those who sat close to the UCLA bench will tell you Kirkpatrick understandably omitted the adverbs and adjectives Wicks used. Sports Illustrated is, after all, a family friendly magazine 51 weeks out of every year.
When Carr is honored on Saturday, that guy going nuts in Section 110 will be me. Whether you had the good fortune of seeing Carr or not, I hope you’ll join me. He deserves the honor, and he deserves an unparalleled reception from the crowd.
Known by schoolmates as Augie, Carr didn’t have a chant when he was in school. On Saturday, we’ll have to start one.
Augie, Augie, Augie, Augie, Augie…
– Kevin O’Neill
Tim says:
I remember the game against Ohio U in which AC scored 61 in the ’70 tournament. But I didn’t remember that they made it to the ME regional final, which they would have had to have done for him to play three games in the ’70 tourney. Without looking I would have said Jacksonville beat KY in that final. Was there a consy game?
DJ says:
Yes, back then there were consolation games.
jim garrett says:
I can remember my older brother and I trying to listen to the broadcast on the radio out of South Bend from our Ft. Wayne home. We were about 11 and 13 at the time. We would listen for one reason ; to hear every shot taken by Austin Carr and count his points. It just became a tradition for the both of us. We loved Austin Carr. I wish like you, we could have seen him play live. Thanks for the memories.
paul heintz says:
I was at that game(and the next loss for UCLA when I was a senior!) and agree that it was a masterful performance by Carr. My prized memento is a photo, taken by a classmate, of Augie making a lay-up over a flatfooted Sidney Wicks, which he signed for me outside his dorm room in the basement of Sorin Hall.( I was one of the lowly freshmen living on the third floor). I can’t imagine the numbers he would have posted if the three point shot existed then. As a side note, I think Collis Jones averaged about 25 points per game when they were seniors, and there was one memorable game where Carr scored 50 points and Jones scored 40 !
SBDomer says:
Kayo –
Beautiful article and well written. You have a fine memory and thanks for sharing all of that.
I have one addition – there’s another half to the usual opening phrase. Jack Lloyd was often heard to say, “High point man for the Irish, high point man for the ballgame . . . Austin Carr with XX points.”
We would stick around after the game just to hear the official scoring results and those magical words.
Pat D. says:
I remember that UCLA game – it was my Junior year. And I vividly recall seeing Wicks walking back to the UCLA bench after his last foul – his arms outstretched as is asking Wooden “what did you expect?” Now I know what he was saying. We were spoiled by Augie’s 3 years. He wasn’t flashy, just a superb ballplayer.
Jack says:
I was a class mate of Carr (1967-71) at ND and was among the fortunate to witness every home game in person. The end of the game announcement was “high point man for the Irish and high point man for the ball game …” essentially every time. Carr’s freshmen team (freshmen were not eligible for varsity play) scrimmaged the varsity throughout the preseason in 1967 and won every time. The varsity that year lost in the NIT semi-final to Dayton. The NIT was an excellent tournament in those days as only 24 teams went to the NCAA tournament. The UCLA game in 1971 was my all time favorite. Our section held up a bedsheet sign throughout the game, “Wooden barriers cant stop and Irish Carr.”
Kayo says:
I remember that bedsheet sign.
Ted Peters says:
As impressive as Carr’s stats may have been, they do not begin to convey the pure beauty of his game. His form on every imaginable shot was incomparably smooth and fluid.
Mike Bradley says:
Austin fouled out all three UCLA stars, Bibby, Wicks and Rowe.
We stood for the whole game and watched Carr toy with whoever guarded him — step back 22 footer, fake and drive for a layup (while being fouled) or coming off a double screen from both bigs to drain a jumper. A clinic in offensive basketball. However, a footnote, Carr did not win the national scoring title in either his junior or senior year. A guy named Pistol Pete did.
The word classy sums up Ausin Carr.
Doug Bevilacqua says:
Actually Johnny Neumann from Ole Miss led the nation in scoring Carr’s senior year. Carr was 2nd team AA as a junior because of the 3Ms. Maravich, Mount and Murphy.
Geoffrey Hui says:
I still remember the banner some students put up in the ACC – Rowe, Rowe your Wicks, up your Bibby! They cut the nets down that night!
Another remarkable characteristic of AC’s play was his ability to avoid making fouls. I don’t remember him ever fouling out, and it was rare that he would receive 3 fouls.
His name will be an ornament to the Ring of Honor. Congratulations, AC, we love you now as much as we loved you then.
Ed Mattingly says:
I was a cheerleader on the floor for that game as well as the game in Dayton when Augie scored 61. The crowd was electric. Augie averaged losing 11 pounds per game due to sweat. He gave it his all on every play. He was the player of the year in the NCAA. He missed almost half of his junior year due to injury so his numbers would have been ever greater. The only reason why his sophomore numbers are low compared to his junior and senior year numbers is because we had a great team with Bob Arnzen, Dino-might Murphy, and Bob Whitmore among others. The ball had to be spread around among Augie and the seniors. That sophomore year squad almost beat UCLA with Lew Alcindor in the ACC (not yet called the Joyce ACC). In fact the Lew Alcindor game was the first game in the ACC. The year before, when Augie was a freshman and could not play, Elvin Hayes and #3 Houston Cougars were upset by ND in the old fieldhouse. Ah, memory lane. Ed “Tex” Mattingly
Dennis says:
A slight nit. Carr was injured during his sophomore year not his junior year. He had a broken bone in his foot as I recall.
Bernie P. ND'74 says:
Like Paul Heintz above (we must have been classmates), I was at that game as a freshman, and was at the 71-70 ND win as a senior. Both of those games were a couple of my most treasured memories from ND.
I too remember the PA guy saying “High point man for the Irish, high point man for the game, Austin Carr with ___ points.” You could have almost recited it with him in unison, we were so used to hearing him say it every game in the same cadence.
Thanks for reminding me of some really happy memories. Go Irish!
Jack says:
As I recall, Carr came back at the end of his sophomore season to play in the NCAA tournament, but he reinjured the foot in the second round game which ND lost. There was a lot of concern on campus at the time that this injury could affect his career. Obviously it did not. Another small nit to an earlier responder. Pistol Pete won the NCAA scoring title in Carr’s junior season. I think it was Lloyd Free (World B Free) who won the scoring title his senior season.
irishtim says:
Still puzzled how Austin was not the first to be honored in the Ring of Honor.
Mike Hinga says:
Carr’s career ended on march 20 1971 in a 119-106 loss to Houston in Wichita, KS Austin had 45 to finish with a 41.5 average in NCAA tournament games (7). It will be fun to be in So. Bend tomorrow for the Ring of Honor ceremony.
MM2
GregB '70 says:
I returned to campus the Friday of that UCLA weekend to speak to some profs about writing letters of reference for me for graduate school admission. I stayed overnight with a friend, an ND senior, who had an extra ticket to the game. To my great fortune I got to watch that game and Carr’s memorable performance. Austin Carr made everything look effortless, as the great ones often do. Thanks for awakening that particular echo.
Thomas Guarino says:
As a kid, my idol was Austin Carr. How he wasn’t the first in the Ring of Honor , I have no idea. How about Sid Catlett and Collis Jones in the Ring of Honor also. And how about Carr’s 52 points against All-American Dan Issel and Kentucky, although at times he was tripled teamed!
Kayo says:
Regarding the Ring of Honor…
It was created at the end of last year. When people will be inducted will be based partly on their achievements and partly on when they’re available. Luke Harangody is certainly deserving, and he was eminently available on his Senior night. It would have been silly to withhold the honor just to make sure someone else was first, especially because Luke is likely to be unavailable to return to the JACC for a basketball game until his NBA career (and career in Europe if the NBA doesn’t work out) is over in 10 years or so.
Austin’s broadcasting commitment makes scheduling him back to campus a challenge, just as getting Adrian Dantley back is difficult because of his coaching duties. Both have been honored at ND basketball games in recent years as their schedules have permitted, Augie for making the college basketball hall of fame and AD for making the Naismith HOF.
Here’s an example of how difficult it can be. ND couldn’t get Dantley back until the last game of the 2008-09 season, and that was a stroke of luck. The Nuggets played in Indianapolis one night, ND played in South Bend the next night, and the Nuggets played in Detroit the third night. That’s how the schedule has to fall to honor the guys who work in the NBA.
If ND tried to induct people into the Ring of Honor in some sort of order of accomplishment, it would take ten years to induct the first five guys.
Anyone contemporary player deemed worthy of induction from now on will surely be honored on his or her senior night, not according to a pecking order. I’m okay with that.
Mike72 says:
I recall that the “Rowe, Rowe …” sign was mentioned in the Sports Illustrated story. I was also at both UCLA wins and recall each was within three weeks of knocking off the #1 football team in a bowl game and the next day after beating #1 hockey team. I’ve heard that Al McGuire said Carr was the purest shooter ever.
Rick says:
I was at the UCLA game and remember the last 20 minutes (of running time, not game time) the pep band played the fight song continuoulsy–or so it seemed. They did this again for the Western Michigan game in 1971, Carr, Jones, Catlett, Meehan, and Pleick’s last regular season home game at the JAC. One of my favorite things about attending the game was to watch Carr earn three points the old fashioned way. The announcer (beautiful voice; who was he?) would always say it this way when Austin swished the foul shot through, “Austin Carr (voice rising) . . .and . . .The Three Point Play.” Saying it as if Austin had the sole monopoly on the play or had invented it himself. Fun stuff! Wonderful memories.
SBDomer says:
Jack Lloyd.
Local SB insurance man. Also did internal play-by-play for press box at Bears games for many years. Great guy.
Bill73 says:
Great memories of a real class act. Actually, we often heard the phrase, “High point man for the Irish, high point man for the game…” “AC from DC” The ACC stood for the “Austin Carr Coliseum.””
Jack says:
One more comment about Carr and his teammates. John Pleick, Sid Catlett, Collis Jones and Jackie Meehan have been all mentioned. These were the starters. 2 seniors off the bench in 1970-71 were Tom Sinnott, a terrific scorer, and the late Jim Hinga, the Muncie Milkman and fan favorite. This must be the greatest single recruiting class in ND history. As sophomores they played with seniors Bob Whitmore, Dwight Murphy, Bob Arnzen and others. Could there have been any ND basketball team with greater talent top to bottom? I know Digger had some great teams in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s.
Joe Hoffer says:
Back when Autin Carr played at ND I lived in South Bend. in 1967 I was 22 years old and had borrowed a ND student ID card from a friend. A buddy and I went in to the Convocation Center to shoot around and play some one on one. After about an hour of shooting around 2 ND students poked their head into the gym we were in and asked to play 2 on 2. Of couse we YES. I stand 5’8″ and I got to guard this fantastic player that seemed to float in the air when he shot a jump shot. I was in awe!! When we we done playing around he introduced himself as ND freshman Austin Carr. I loved the man before he ever played a game for ND and to this day still do!! I was in the presence of greatness for about 90 minutes and I loved every moment.
bob says:
Nothing against the current honorees but Austin should have been first in the Ring. He was the most exciting player EVER to step on the ND hardwood His stats speak for themselves. And along with all the talent he also had the charisma. Find a picture from after the ’71 victory over UCLA … his smile could light up the universe. As previously aluded, in that era the ACC was often referred to as Austin Carr Colliseum … that says it all.
Next in the Ring should be Adrain Dantley!!
John Lee says:
I think the ACC PA announcer was Jack Lloyd. I was at the ND-Butler game in Indianapolis for the game when Austin scored 50 and Collis scored 40. Irish won with a final score of 121-114. Some guys (including Catlett) were late for the bus at ND and Dee left without them. There were only seven guys dressed that night – more than enough.
Jim Diette '73 says:
Augie would start every game with his jersey tucked in. He had a habit of wiping his browe with his untucked jersey. Pity the opponents when Augie worked up a sweat, as his trademark would be to leave the jersey untucked for the remainder of the game. Those of us in the student section would boo Johnny Dee if he pulled Augie before he scored at least 40.
mike says:
I never saw AC live in college but did see him play as a HS senior out of Mackin HS. Three nights in a row at the Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament in Cumberland, MD, I saw the proverbial man against boys. I have seen some terrific high school play at the tournament but none left the impression AC made. Some other stars seen at the ACIT included Adrian Dantley, Collis Jones, Martin Ingelsby and his father, Tom. Carmello Anthony is a current NBA player who played in the ACIT. DeMatha is an annual participant. Last year I was able to watch current freshmen, Atkins and Grant. I doubt anyone will ever match AC.
Tim says:
I was 10 at the time and remember watching the game that AC scored 61 in the NCAA tournament. It was at the University of Dayton Arena, which had just opened at the beginning of the 69-70 season. I believe I remember that the opponent was the Ohio University Bobcats. I think AC still holds the building record for points scored with that 61, on any level of basketball played at UD Arena…
Bill7176 says:
I also was in Carr’s class at ND. Saw every game. As noted, when Augie’s jersey was first untucked, the students roared because Carr was about to go into second gear. One quibble with the original article, i.e. that Augie had “no chant” when he was there. I can remember “Go Car(r) Go” ringing out from the students when he got on a roll, which was often.
Mike73 says:
Great memories here. I too was at both ends of that 88 game streak by UCLA and left the second one to bartend for for Digger’s after game party at his house. I will never forget when I was trying out for the freshman team and working out by myself one day, a guy came up and politely asked if he could shoot with me. After exchanges of home towns and other pleasantries, he told me his name. Of course I had heard of him but I was just a freshman and he was starting his junior year. Some of the other varsity guys drifted in and we started a pick up game. Carr took the first shot from about 30 feet, I said ok cool, I know you are on the varsity. He hit nothing but net on 5 straight shots from that distance. I remember saying to myself, uh, I’m on the wrong court… Anyway, I bumped into him occasionally over the next 2 years and he never failed to smile, wave, say hello. He was a good guy in addition to being the best shooter on the planet.
I remember the games mentioned by previous contributors, the SC game, KY, etc. One game no one mentioned was from his senior year when Indiana came to town and Carr laid 54 on Big George McGinnis, Al Downing, Joby Wright, and Bubbles Hawkins from all over the court. We lost by 3 but what a show. Two of my favorite quotes about Carr came from Adolph Rupp and another opponent of Carr. Rupp, who never had much good to say about opponents, was asked what he thought of Carr after he smoked them for 52 (double figures in boards) in the NCAA tournament and KY escaped with a win. “All I can say is the man conducted a clinic tonight.” The other quote was from All American Ralph Simpson from Michigan State after being asked to compare himself with Austin Carr. He said, “I need the whole court to play, Austin Carr only needs a postage stamp.”
He remains the best pure shooter I have ever seen for sure. I still get goose bumps….
Al Cramer '73 says:
Augie also had a song-Austin Carr, Superstar (Jesus Christ Superstar was big that year). As I recall, he was, in fact, the high point man for either team in every game his last two years at ND (Though I think Colis tied him once). I believe he also holds the all-time NCAA tournament for points in a single tournament, and did it in 3 games. Greatest pure player I ever saw.