It is the most stunning of statistics. Pete Newell’s California squads beat the mighty John Wooden’s UCLA Bruins the last eight times they played with Newell on the bench. Wow.

Newell just passed away, and he is receiving the due he should for being one of the game’s great gurus.

What I remember is this. It was 1959. Louisville was the mecca of college hoops. The Final Four was at Freedom Hall as it had been the year before when Rupp’s Runts slipped away with the title without ever leaving the commonwealth, and as it would be for several years in the future, including Loyola’s stunning OT upset of Cincy in ‘63.

The ‘59 Final Four field was intriguing, with major local flavor. U of L had upset Kentucky and Michigan State the weekend before in Evanston to make to make it to the national semis on its home floor. Two of college hoops all-time greatest made it to the show. Oscar Robertson led the Bearcats, and Jerry West (66 points and 26 boards in the semis and final) did the same for West Virginia.

Then there was the school whose all Cali all the time blonde cheerleaders got more attention than the team, Newell’s Golden Bears. California, led by Darrell Imhoff whom you’ve probably never heard of and a bunch of no names you couldn’t name, stole the title. The next year they made it back to the championship game but fell to Ohio State.

Newell, a coach’s coach, retired at age 44, which is why few really know of him. The guy knew the game and knew how to teach the game.

Pete Newell, RIP.