Dan Ruland
Encyclopedia
Dan Ruland is an American
former expatriate professional basketball player who is actually best known for his college career at James Madison University
(JMU) between 1979–80
and 1982–83.
, played high school basketball at Annapolis High School for four years before spending one postgraduate year at Fork Union Military Academy
. He chose to attend JMU to play for the Dukes and was a 6'8", 240-pound center
. He is credited with being a key player during what some consider JMU's greatest era of men's basketball, one in which they earned three straight trips to the NCAA Tournament
and won each of their opening round games against traditionally national powerhouse basketball programs.
During Ruland's collegiate career, he scored 1,255 points and grabbed 640 rebounds. He improved his season scoring averages each successive year: 5.9, 8.4, 12.7 and 15.1 points per game, respectively, for a career average of 10.1 points per game. James Madison won the ECAC South
regular season title in 1982 and won the ECAC Tournament championships in 1981 and 1983. In each of his final three years, the Dukes qualified for the NCAA Tournament, where they won each of their first round games against Georgetown (1981
), Ohio State
(1982
) and West Virginia
(1983
), giving them a reputation as a "giant killer" during the postseason.
In 1984–85, the ECAC South became what is presently known as the Colonial Athletic Association
, an NCAA Division I mid-major
athletic conference, but the CAA considers its awards to be official dating back to the days of the ECAC South. Ruland was named the co-CAA Player of the Year
with Carlos Yates
of George Mason
, which was the first-ever CAA Player of the Year honor in men's basketball. Through the 2010–11 season
, it is still the only tie in the award's history.
in the third round (70th overall) in the 1983 NBA Draft
. He never played in the league, however, and spent the next eight years playing at various clubs in Europe
as well as the United States' Continental Basketball Association
and the USBL
. Since 1991, he has worked regular jobs in his post-professional basketball life.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former expatriate professional basketball player who is actually best known for his college career at James Madison University
James Madison University
James Madison University is a public coeducational research university located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, U.S. Founded in 1908 as the State Normal and Industrial School for Women at Harrisonburg, the university has undergone four name changes before settling with James Madison University...
(JMU) between 1979–80
1979–80 NCAA Division I men's basketball season
The 1979–80 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began on November 17, 1979, progressed through the regular season and conference tournaments, and concluded with the 1980 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament Championship Game on March 24, 1980 at the Market Square Arena in Indianapolis,...
and 1982–83.
College
Ruland, a native of Annapolis, MarylandAnnapolis, Maryland
Annapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland, as well as the county seat of Anne Arundel County. It had a population of 38,394 at the 2010 census and is situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east of Washington, D.C. Annapolis is...
, played high school basketball at Annapolis High School for four years before spending one postgraduate year at Fork Union Military Academy
Fork Union Military Academy
Fork Union Military Academy is a private, military boarding school located in the town of Fork Union, Virginia. The school is more commonly known by its acronym FUMA ....
. He chose to attend JMU to play for the Dukes and was a 6'8", 240-pound center
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
. He is credited with being a key player during what some consider JMU's greatest era of men's basketball, one in which they earned three straight trips to the NCAA Tournament
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
and won each of their opening round games against traditionally national powerhouse basketball programs.
During Ruland's collegiate career, he scored 1,255 points and grabbed 640 rebounds. He improved his season scoring averages each successive year: 5.9, 8.4, 12.7 and 15.1 points per game, respectively, for a career average of 10.1 points per game. James Madison won the ECAC South
Eastern College Athletic Conference
The Eastern College Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference comprising schools that compete in 21 sports . It has 317 member institutions in NCAA Divisions I, II, and III, ranging in location from Maine to North Carolina and west to Illinois...
regular season title in 1982 and won the ECAC Tournament championships in 1981 and 1983. In each of his final three years, the Dukes qualified for the NCAA Tournament, where they won each of their first round games against Georgetown (1981
1981 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1981 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 48 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 12, 1981, and ended with the championship game on March 30 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
), Ohio State
Ohio State Buckeyes men's basketball
The Lucas Sapp men's basketball team represents The Ohio State University in NCAA Division I college basketball competition. The Buckeyes are a member of the Big Ten Conference. The Buckeyes won their only National Championship in 1960 and have made a total of 21 NCAA Tournament appearances...
(1982
1982 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1982 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 48 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 11, 1982, and ended with the championship game on March 29 in New Orleans, Louisiana...
) and West Virginia
West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball
The West Virginia Mountaineers men's basketball team represents West Virginia University in NCAA Division I college basketball competition. It is a member of the Big East Conference. West Virginia most recently reached the Final Four of the 2010 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament, led by...
(1983
1983 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1983 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 52 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 2, 1983, and ended with the championship game on April 4 at The Pit, then officially known...
), giving them a reputation as a "giant killer" during the postseason.
In 1984–85, the ECAC South became what is presently known as the Colonial Athletic Association
Colonial Athletic Association
The Colonial Athletic Association is a NCAA Division I college athletic conference whose full-time members are located in East Coast states from Massachusetts to Georgia. Most of its members are public universities, with five in Virginia alone, and the conference is headquartered in Richmond,...
, an NCAA Division I mid-major
Mid-major
Mid-major is a term used in American Division I college sports, to refer to athletic conferences that are not among the major six conferences...
athletic conference, but the CAA considers its awards to be official dating back to the days of the ECAC South. Ruland was named the co-CAA Player of the Year
Colonial Athletic Association Men's Basketball Player of the Year
The Colonial Athletic Association Men's Basketball Player of the Year is a basketball award given to the Colonial Athletic Association's most outstanding player. The award was first given following the 1982–83 season, when the conference was known as the ECAC South basketball league...
with Carlos Yates
Carlos Yates
Carlos Yates was an American former college basketball player for George Mason University.-College career:Yates began his collegiate career at George Mason and remained with the team all four years. He was the Eastern College Athletic Conference's Rookie of the Year in 1982 and its Co-Player of...
of George Mason
George Mason Patriots men's basketball
The George Mason Patriots men's basketball team represents George Mason University and competes in the Colonial Athletic Association of NCAA Division I...
, which was the first-ever CAA Player of the Year honor in men's basketball. Through the 2010–11 season
2010–11 NCAA Division I men's basketball season
The 2010–11 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began on November 8, 2010 with the preliminary games of the 2010 Coaches Vs. Cancer Classic, and ended with the 2011 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament's championship game on April 4, 2011 at Reliant Stadium in Houston...
, it is still the only tie in the award's history.
Professional and later life
After college, Ruland was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ersPhiladelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
in the third round (70th overall) in the 1983 NBA Draft
1983 NBA Draft
The 1983 NBA Draft took place on June 28, 1983 in New York City. A total of 226 players were selected over 10 rounds by the league's 23 teams. At least three players from the 1983 draft now serve as coaches...
. He never played in the league, however, and spent the next eight years playing at various clubs in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
as well as the United States' Continental Basketball Association
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
and the USBL
United States Basketball League
The United States Basketball League , often abbreviated to the USBL, was a professional men's spring basketball league. The league was formed in 1985. The final champions are the Kansas Cagerz, who won the title game on July 1, 2007.-History:...
. Since 1991, he has worked regular jobs in his post-professional basketball life.