Herm Brunotte
Encyclopedia
Herm Brunotte was an American college and professional basketball player. Born in Brooklyn
, New York, he was a star guard at Brooklyn Polytechnic until the outbreak of World War II sent him to Model City near Niagara Falls, New York for classified work in support of the Manhattan Project
. He began taking courses at nearby Canisius College
in Buffalo, and joined their basketball team. In 1944, he won the team's Most Valuable Player Award for leading the school to its first berth in the eight-team National Invitation Tournament
in Madison Square Garden. Brunotte scored a team-high 11 points in a 43–29 first-round loss to Oklahoma A&M on March 20, 1944 before a crowd of 16,273. The undersized Canisius team was forced to dramatically alter its shots when confronted with 7-foot center Bob Kurland
, who excelled at defensive goaltending. The 1943–44 season marked the end of legal defensive goaltending in NCAA competition. Canisius finished with a win–loss record of 15–6 including a 48–43 regular season win over eventual NIT champs St. Johns
. Brunotte was named a Sporting News 3rd Team All-American
.
He entered the Army in late 1944 and served in counter-intelligence. After the war, Brunotte returned to Brooklyn Polytechnic and completed his degree in chemical engineering. He had a short professional career playing for the Rochester Royals
of the National Basketball League
. He also assisted Van Miller
during broadcasts of Buffalo Bills
football games on WBEN
radio.
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York, he was a star guard at Brooklyn Polytechnic until the outbreak of World War II sent him to Model City near Niagara Falls, New York for classified work in support of the Manhattan Project
Manhattan Project
The Manhattan Project was a research and development program, led by the United States with participation from the United Kingdom and Canada, that produced the first atomic bomb during World War II. From 1942 to 1946, the project was under the direction of Major General Leslie Groves of the US Army...
. He began taking courses at nearby Canisius College
Canisius College
Canisius College is a private Roman Catholic college in Buffalo, New York, United States. The college was founded in 1870 by members of the Society of Jesus from Germany and is named after St. Peter Canisius. The college is one of 28 institutions in the Association of Jesuit Colleges and...
in Buffalo, and joined their basketball team. In 1944, he won the team's Most Valuable Player Award for leading the school to its first berth in the eight-team National Invitation Tournament
National Invitation Tournament
The National Invitation Tournament is a men's college basketball tournament operated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. There are two NIT events each season. The first, played in November and known as the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off , was founded in 1985...
in Madison Square Garden. Brunotte scored a team-high 11 points in a 43–29 first-round loss to Oklahoma A&M on March 20, 1944 before a crowd of 16,273. The undersized Canisius team was forced to dramatically alter its shots when confronted with 7-foot center Bob Kurland
Bob Kurland
Robert Albert "Bob" Kurland was a basketball center, who played for Henry Iba's Oklahoma A & M Aggies basketball team...
, who excelled at defensive goaltending. The 1943–44 season marked the end of legal defensive goaltending in NCAA competition. Canisius finished with a win–loss record of 15–6 including a 48–43 regular season win over eventual NIT champs St. Johns
St. John's Red Storm men's basketball
The St. John's Red Storm men's basketball team represents the St. John's University in Queens, New York. The team participates in the Big East Conference. The men’s coach Norm Roberts was fired on March 19, 2010...
. Brunotte was named a Sporting News 3rd Team All-American
1944 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans
The Consensus 1944 College Basketball All-American team, as determined by aggregating the results of four major All-American teams. To earn "consensus" status, a player must win honors from a majority of the following teams: the Helms Athletic Foundation, Converse, The Sporting News, and Pic...
.
He entered the Army in late 1944 and served in counter-intelligence. After the war, Brunotte returned to Brooklyn Polytechnic and completed his degree in chemical engineering. He had a short professional career playing for the Rochester Royals
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
of the National Basketball League
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...
. He also assisted Van Miller
Van Miller
Van Miller is a retired former radio and television sports announcer from Dunkirk, New York, where he began his career at Dunkirk radio station WFCB calling play-by-play for high school football games...
during broadcasts of Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
football games on WBEN
WBEN (AM)
WBEN is an AM and FM radio station serving the Niagara, Buffalo and Western New York area, broadcasting on 930 AM and, as of April 5, 2011, simulcasting on sister station WLKK at 107.7 FM. It previously simulcasted between 1946 and 1960 on 102.5 FM as WBEN-FM. Both stations retained the WBEN...
radio.