Bill Buntin
Encyclopedia
William L. "Bill" Buntin (May 5, 1942 in Detroit, Michigan
– May 9, 1968) was an American basketball
player. He played collegiately for the University of Michigan
and in the NBA
.
In three seasons playing center for Michigan, the 6' 7" Buntin had 1,037 rebounds, ranking second in school history. He averaged 15.7 rebounds a game in 1963
and recorded 58 double-doubles in 79 games, still a school record. His 1,725 points ranks 9th in school history. Playing with Cazzie Russell in the 1963-1964 season, Buntin helped Michigan win its first Big Ten title in 16 seasons and advance to the Final Four
. In his senior year, the Wolverines advanced to the 1965 NCAA title game, where they lost, 91-80, to John Wooden
's UCLA. He was named an All-American in both 1964 and 1965.
Buntin was selected by the Detroit Pistons
in the 1965 NBA Draft
and played for the Pistons for 42 games in the 1965-66 season
.
During a pick-up basketball game on May 9, 1968, Buntin suffered a fatal heart attack.
Buntin has received numerous posthumous honors for his accomplishments in basketball, including:
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
– May 9, 1968) was an American basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player. He played collegiately for the University of Michigan
Michigan Wolverines
The Michigan Wolverines comprise 27 varsity sports teams at the University of Michigan. These teams compete in the NCAA's Division I and in the Big Ten Conference in all sports except men's ice hockey which competes in the NCAA D1 Central Collegiate Hockey Association, and women's water polo, which...
and in the NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
.
In three seasons playing center for Michigan, the 6' 7" Buntin had 1,037 rebounds, ranking second in school history. He averaged 15.7 rebounds a game in 1963
1962–63 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team
The 1962–63 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team represented the University of Michigan in intercollegiate college basketball during the 1962–63 season. The team played its home games at Fielding H. Yost Field House on the school's campus in...
and recorded 58 double-doubles in 79 games, still a school record. His 1,725 points ranks 9th in school history. Playing with Cazzie Russell in the 1963-1964 season, Buntin helped Michigan win its first Big Ten title in 16 seasons and advance to the Final Four
Final four
Final Four isa sports term that is commonly applied to the last four teams remaining in a playoff tournament, most notably NCAA Division I college basketball tournaments. The term usually refers to the four teams who compete in the two games of a single-elimination tournament's semi-final round...
. In his senior year, the Wolverines advanced to the 1965 NCAA title game, where they lost, 91-80, to John Wooden
John Wooden
John Robert Wooden was an American basketball player and coach. Nicknamed the "Wizard of Westwood", he won ten NCAA national championships in a 12-year period — seven in a row — as head coach at UCLA, an unprecedented feat. Within this period, his teams won a record 88 consecutive games...
's UCLA. He was named an All-American in both 1964 and 1965.
Buntin was selected by the Detroit Pistons
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are a franchise of the National Basketball Association based in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The team's home arena is The Palace of Auburn Hills. It was originally founded in Fort Wayne, Indiana as the Fort Wayne Pistons as a member of the National Basketball League in 1941, where...
in the 1965 NBA Draft
1965 NBA Draft
The 1965 NBA Draft was the 19th annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on May 6, 1965, before the 1965–66 season....
and played for the Pistons for 42 games in the 1965-66 season
1965-66 NBA season
The 1965–66 NBA Season was the 20th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Boston Celtics winning an unprecedented 8th straight NBA Championship, beating the Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 3 in the 1966 NBA Finals.- Sixers :...
.
During a pick-up basketball game on May 9, 1968, Buntin suffered a fatal heart attack.
Buntin has received numerous posthumous honors for his accomplishments in basketball, including:
- He was inducted into the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of HonorUniversity of Michigan Athletic Hall of HonorThe University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor, founded in 1978, recognizes University of Michigan athletes, coaches, and administrators who have made significant contributions to the university's athletic programs...
in 1980 as part of the third induction class. Only two basketball players, Cazzie Russell and Rudy TomjanovichRudy TomjanovichRudolph Tomjanovich, Jr. , nicknamed Rudy T., is an American retired basketball player and coach who coached the Houston Rockets to two consecutive NBA championships. He is currently a scout for the Los Angeles Lakers.-Early life:...
were inducted into the Hall of Honor before Buntin. - In 2006, Buntin's jersey (#22) was honored and hung from the rafters at Crisler ArenaCrisler ArenaCrisler Arena, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA, is the home arena for the University of Michigan men's and women's basketball teams. Constructed in 1967, the arena seats 13,751 spectators. It is named for Herbert O...
. Buntin's jersey became the fifth to be honored in Crisler Arena. Only Cazzie Russell's jersey is retired. - The award given each year to the best player on the Michigan basketball team is the Bill Buntin Most Valuable Player Award. Past winners include Louis BullockLouis BullockLouis Bullock, Jr. is an American professional basketball player. He is currently with the pro club CB Cajasol Sevilla in Spain....
(1997), Robert TraylorRobert TraylorRobert DeShaun "Tractor" Traylor was an American professional basketball player.-High school and college:...
(1997), Lester AbramLester AbramLester C. Abram, Jr. is an American basketball player .Abram was named team captain during his senior year at University of Michigan, making him the Wolverines' first three-time captain. He averaged 10 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game in his 21 appearances. He has made quite a...
(2004), Dion Harris (2005), and Daniel Horton.