Kit Mueller
Encyclopedia
Christopher J. "Kit" Mueller is a retired American basketball player. He played high school basketball in the Chicago metropolitan area for Downers Grove South High School. Subsequently, he starred for the Princeton Tigers men's basketball
team, where he was a two-time Ivy League Men's Basketball Player of the Year
(1990 and 1991) and three-time first team All-Ivy League
player (1989, 1990 and 1991) as a center
. He was also a two-time Academic All-America
selection. As an All-Ivy League performer, he led his team to three consecutive Ivy League Championships and NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournaments.
He matriculated to Princeton University
, after an injury late in his senior year caused other Division I schools to withdraw their offers. , he continues to rank second in school history in career assists
(381) and points
(1546). He led the team in rebounds
all four seasons and in points, assists and blocked shots three times each. He led the Ivy League in field goal percentage
three times and ranks third all-time in Princeton history in that statistic for his career.
The team earned three consecutive Ivy League championships during his tenure, including an undefeated conference record during his senior season. Despite the team's success and his individual accolades, his Princeton tenure was punctuated by three NCAA Tournament first round losses by a total of seven points, most notably the March 17, 1989 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
first round 50–49 loss to the number-one seeded team featuring Alonzo Mourning
and Dikembe Mutombo
as well as 1989 Big East Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year Charles Smith.
After his collegiate career ended, Mueller played professional basketball in Switzerland. Then he returned to Chicago, where he became a hedge fund
trader. In Chicago, he has played amateur 3-on-3 basketball with other Ivy League athletes at national competitions.
as a sophomore to average 10 points per game as a 6 in 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lbs forward. He grew 2 inches (5.1 cm) and 20 lbs prior to his junior season and became a center. As a junior, his outside shot was still undeveloped, but he averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds, leading his team to the 1986 Des Plaines Valley League championship and a second straight trip to the sectional finals. The team was ranked in the Chicago Sun-Times
Super 25 for a couple of weeks during the season. The Chicago Sun-Times named him the MVP of the league. Mueller also played varsity tennis as a junior. Following the school year, he played in the suburban summer league at Triton College
in River Grove, Illinois
.
As a senior, he was his team's only returning varsity letter
man, and was ranked by the Chicago Sun-Times among the preseason top 50 Metro Chicago basketball players. Off The Glass, a national basketball magazine, ranked him among the 19 best basketball players in the state of Illinois, along with Walter Bond
, Marcus Liberty
, Brian Banks
and Rodell Davis. At the beginning of December of his senior season, the team was ranked 23 in the Chicago Sun-Times Metro Chicago top 25, and there was talk of the team improving on the 23–6 record of the prior year. He was benched for one game in early March of his junior year for disciplinary reasons by coach Dick Flaiz. He led the West Suburban Conference
in scoring and rebounding most of the season and was an all conference selection. Mueller posted his career-high 45 points on March 3, 1987 in an 83–47 victory against Montini High School
. By the end of his senior season, he was one of the 20 All-Chicago Area selections by the Chicago Sun-Times, in a class that included Eric Anderson
, Bond, Liberty and Sam Mack
, after averaging 23 points and 14 rebounds. However, unlike Anderson, Liberty and Bond, he was not one of the 9 area All-State nominees.
Mueller, who scored 1290 out of 1600 on his SAT
and a 31 on his ACT, was a highly recruited high school basketball player. However, by early March 1987, he had not signed a National Letter of Intent
as a commitment to any school. At that time, he was keeping a pair of piranha
s at home in an aquarium and accidentally injured his left foot by breaking the aquarium's glass. The resulting injury caused severe damage to his leg including a severed achilles tendon
; he had surgery to repair the damage in late March. Division I schools like Northwestern University
withdrew their scholarship offers; however, Princeton maintained an interest, with supporters like John Rogers
behind him. As most of his scholarship offers were withdrawn, he began to focus on schools that could provide him an academic opportunity in the event that his basketball career was over. He eventually matriculated to Princeton unsure of whether he would ever play competitive basketball again.
win their final three games in March to finish the season with a 17–9 (9–5 Ivy League) record. He posted 25 points in the March 1, 1988 67–65 victory against . Then, two games later in the final game of the season on March 5, he added 22 in 79–58 victory over league champion . He finished the season as the Ivy League statistical champion in field goal percentage for the first of three times. He led the team in rebounds and blocked shots.
Mueller began his career wearing the number 55, but switched to 00 by his sophomore year. During his sophomore season, the 1988–89 team
earned a #1 vs. #16 matchup in the first round of the 1989 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
with their Pete Carril
-coached princeton offense
. The New York Times
reported that the matchup seemed comical to some even though Carill had a system that frustrated many offensive systems and had already produced upsets. In the St. Patrick's Day Georgetown game, the 16th-seeded Tigers were 23 point underdogs according to the Las Vegas bookmakers and Dick Vitale
had promised to serve as a Tiger ballboy
if they won. Entering the game, the last four Ivy League representatives in the tournament had lost in the first round by an average of 35 points. During the game, Mueller's defensive assignment was Mourning, and he contributed 9 points and 8 assists to Princeton's 49-point effort. During the game, Mueller played beyond the foul line on the offensive end, forcing Mourning to leave passing lanes open for back-door attacks. Although the strategy enabled Princeton to stay in the game, Mourning had seven blocked shots, including two in the final fifteen seconds. Mueller's final shot was deflected by Mourning. It is remembered by Princeton fans as an uncalled foul
. The team finished with a 19–8 (11–3) record. Later in the same tournament, Duke would use Christian Laettner
at the top of the key, like Princeton had used Mueller, and eliminate Georgetown by shutting down Mourning. The Princeton-Georgetown game is regarded as one of only a handful of close #1 vs. #16 matchups in NCAA tournament history. For the season, he repeated as Ivy League field goal percentage champion. He was a first-team All-Ivy honoree. He led the team in points, rebounds, assists and blocked shots.
As a junior, Mueller led the 1989–90 Tigers
to a repeat Ivy League championship as the Ivy League Player of the Year. The team earned a 13 seed for the 1990 NCAA Tournament
. The team finished with a 20–7 (11–3) record after losing to the by a 68–64 margin. Mueller was one of only six Tigers to appear in the game and led the team with 19 points. As a junior, Mueller earned a third team Academic All-America
recognition from College Sports Information Directors of America
. He was a first-team All-Ivy performer as well as Ivy League Player of the Year. He led the team in points, rebounds, and assists.
In a February 23, 1991, game against , Mueller earned his current position as Princeton's second all-time leading scorer one night after the 1990–91 Princeton Tigers men's basketball team
had clinched its third consecutive Ivy League championship with a victory over . The team went undefeated in the Ivy League and earned a birth in the 1991 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
. After its strong tournament performances in the prior two seasons and strong regular season, the team earned a number 8 seed, which was a record for the highest seed by an Ivy League school at the time. The team had another close but disappointing loss, this time by a 50–48 margin to , finishing with a 24–3 (14–0) record. That year, senior Mueller served as team captain
, and earned first team Academic All-America honors. That season marked the third year that Mueller led the team in points, assists and blocked shots and fourth time he led the team in rebounds. For the season, he earned his third Ivy League field goal percentage championship. He repeated as Ivy League Player of the Year and was a first-team All-Ivy performer for the third consecutive seaason.
He continues to remain prominent in the Princeton basketball record books. His 1546 career points trail only Bill Bradley
and 381 career assists are also second in school history. His single-season assist totals of 140 in 1989-90 and 128 in 1990-91 remain second and fourth in school history. Only one other Tiger has totalled 11 assists in a game (a feat Mueller achieved three times). His career 59.5 field goal percentage is third in school history, as is his sophomore single-season rate of 64.9%. A 2009 publication by ESPN
ranked him among the five greatest basketball players in Princeton history.
. He then became a professional hedge fund
trader, and has played in competitive 3-on-3 basketball leagues with various combinations of Ivy League athletes including Arne Duncan
, Craig Robinson, Mitch Henderson
and Rogers in the mid to late 1990s and early 2000s. The mid 1990s versions of the team were Chicago area champions. In 1998, he won a 3-on-3 tournament in Dallas with Rogers and Robinson. Both the 2001 and 2003 versions of the team, named "Slow and Steady", qualified for national competition. The 2003 team with Duncan, Robinson, Henderson and Brian Earl made the national championship.
Princeton Tigers men's basketball
The Princeton Tigers men's basketball team is the intercollegiate men's basketball program representing Princeton University. The school competes in the Ivy League in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association . The Tigers play home basketball games at the Jadwin Gymnasium in...
team, where he was a two-time Ivy League Men's Basketball Player of the Year
Ivy League Men's Basketball Player of the Year
The Ivy League Men's Basketball Player of the Year is a basketball award given to the Ivy League's most outstanding player. The award was first given following the 1974–75 season. There have been five players honored on two occasions: Craig Robinson, Kit Mueller, Jerome Allen, Ugonna Onyekwe and...
(1990 and 1991) and three-time first team All-Ivy League
Ivy League
The Ivy League is an athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group...
player (1989, 1990 and 1991) as a 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 was also a two-time Academic All-America
Academic All-America
Academic All-America program is a student-athlete recognition program...
selection. As an All-Ivy League performer, he led his team to three consecutive Ivy League Championships and NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournaments.
He matriculated to Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
, after an injury late in his senior year caused other Division I schools to withdraw their offers. , he continues to rank second in school history in career assists
Assist (basketball)
In basketball, an assist is attributed to a player who passes the ball to a teammate in a way that leads to a score by field goal, meaning that he or she was "assisting" in the basket. There is some judgment involved in deciding whether a passer should be credited with an assist...
(381) and points
Point (basketball)
Points in basketball are used to keep track of the score in a game. Points can be accumulated by making field goals or free throws ....
(1546). He led the team in rebounds
Rebound (basketball)
A rebound in basketball is the act of successfully gaining possession of the basketball after a missed field goal or free throw. Rebounds in basketball are a routine part in the game, as all possessions change after a shot is successfully made...
all four seasons and in points, assists and blocked shots three times each. He led the Ivy League in field goal percentage
Field goal percentage
Field goal percentage in basketball is the ratio of field goals made to field goals attempted. Its abbreviation is FG%. Three-point field goals are included in this percentage. Instead of using scales of 0 to 100%, the scale .000 to 1.000 is commonly used. A higher field goal percentage denotes...
three times and ranks third all-time in Princeton history in that statistic for his career.
The team earned three consecutive Ivy League championships during his tenure, including an undefeated conference record during his senior season. Despite the team's success and his individual accolades, his Princeton tenure was punctuated by three NCAA Tournament first round losses by a total of seven points, most notably the March 17, 1989 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
1989 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1989 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 16, 1989, and ended with the championship game on April 3 in Seattle, Washington...
first round 50–49 loss to the number-one seeded team featuring Alonzo Mourning
Alonzo Mourning
Alonzo Harding Mourning, Jr. is a former American professional basketball player, who played most of his 15-year NBA career for the Miami Heat....
and Dikembe Mutombo
Dikembe Mutombo
Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean-Jacques Wamutombo , commonly referred to as Dikembe Mutombo, is a retired Congolese American professional basketball player who last played for the Houston Rockets of the NBA...
as well as 1989 Big East Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year Charles Smith.
After his collegiate career ended, Mueller played professional basketball in Switzerland. Then he returned to Chicago, where he became a hedge fund
Hedge fund
A hedge fund is a private pool of capital actively managed by an investment adviser. Hedge funds are only open for investment to a limited number of accredited or qualified investors who meet criteria set by regulators. These investors can be institutions, such as pension funds, university...
trader. In Chicago, he has played amateur 3-on-3 basketball with other Ivy League athletes at national competitions.
High school
Mueller attended Downers Grove South High School. As a freshman, he led the sophomore team with 18 points per game. He came off the bench for the varsity teamVarsity team
In the United States and Canada, varsity sports teams are the principal athletic teams representing a college, university, high school or other secondary school. Such teams compete against the principal athletic teams at other colleges/universities, or in the case of secondary schools, against...
as a sophomore to average 10 points per game as a 6 in 3 in (1.91 m) 185 lbs forward. He grew 2 inches (5.1 cm) and 20 lbs prior to his junior season and became a center. As a junior, his outside shot was still undeveloped, but he averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds, leading his team to the 1986 Des Plaines Valley League championship and a second straight trip to the sectional finals. The team was ranked in the Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun-Times
The Chicago Sun-Times is an American daily newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois. It is the flagship paper of the Sun-Times Media Group.-History:The Chicago Sun-Times is the oldest continuously published daily newspaper in the city...
Super 25 for a couple of weeks during the season. The Chicago Sun-Times named him the MVP of the league. Mueller also played varsity tennis as a junior. Following the school year, he played in the suburban summer league at Triton College
Triton College
Triton College is a two-year community college located in River Grove, Illinois, a suburb northwest of downtown Chicago. Triton College facilitates accredited degrees, career-oriented learning opportunities, and English as a second language and GED classes.Over 17,000 students enroll at Triton...
in River Grove, Illinois
River Grove, Illinois
River Grove is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 10,668 at the 2000 census.-Geography:River Grove is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of ....
.
As a senior, he was his team's only returning varsity letter
Varsity letter
A varsity letter is an award earned in the United States for excellence in school activities. A varsity letter signifies that its winner was a qualified varsity team member, awarded after a certain standard was met.- Description :...
man, and was ranked by the Chicago Sun-Times among the preseason top 50 Metro Chicago basketball players. Off The Glass, a national basketball magazine, ranked him among the 19 best basketball players in the state of Illinois, along with Walter Bond
Walter Bond
Walter Bond is an American former professional basketball player. A 6'5" shooting guard from the University of Minnesota, Bond was not drafted by an NBA team but did manage to play in 3 NBA seasons. He played for Dallas Mavericks , Utah Jazz and Detroit Pistons...
, Marcus Liberty
Marcus Liberty
Marcus Liberty is a retired American professional basketball player.-High School:Liberty attended Chicago King High School from 1983 to 1987. During his time at King, Liberty led his basketball teams to an IHSA State Championship in 1986 and a second-place finish in 1987...
, Brian Banks
Brian Banks
Brian Glen Banks , is a former Major League Baseball player who played first base and outfield in the major leagues from -. He played for the Florida Marlins and Milwaukee Brewers. Banks was a part of the 2003 World Series Champion Florida Marlins...
and Rodell Davis. At the beginning of December of his senior season, the team was ranked 23 in the Chicago Sun-Times Metro Chicago top 25, and there was talk of the team improving on the 23–6 record of the prior year. He was benched for one game in early March of his junior year for disciplinary reasons by coach Dick Flaiz. He led the West Suburban Conference
West Suburban Conference
The West Suburban Conference is an athletic conference in DuPage County and Cook County in the state of Illinois.The conference was founded in 1924.-Member schools:All of the schools are also members of the Illinois High School Association...
in scoring and rebounding most of the season and was an all conference selection. Mueller posted his career-high 45 points on March 3, 1987 in an 83–47 victory against Montini High School
Montini Catholic High School (Lombard, Illinois)
Montini Catholic High School is a co-educational, college preparatory, high school, run by the Christian Brothers in Lombard, Illinois. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Joliet in Illinois. The school was planned by the Christian Brothers in 1963...
. By the end of his senior season, he was one of the 20 All-Chicago Area selections by the Chicago Sun-Times, in a class that included Eric Anderson
Eric Anderson (basketball)
Eric Walfred Anderson is a retired American college and professional basketball player. He attended St. Francis DeSales High School on Chicago's far southeast side and was named 1988's Mr. Basketball for the state of Illinois....
, Bond, Liberty and Sam Mack
Sam Mack
Sam Mack is a retired American professional basketball player, formerly of the NBA.The 6'7" shooting guard from Iowa State University, Tyler Junior College and the University of Houston played with five different NBA teams over a 10-year span...
, after averaging 23 points and 14 rebounds. However, unlike Anderson, Liberty and Bond, he was not one of the 9 area All-State nominees.
Mueller, who scored 1290 out of 1600 on his SAT
SAT
The SAT Reasoning Test is a standardized test for college admissions in the United States. The SAT is owned, published, and developed by the College Board, a nonprofit organization in the United States. It was formerly developed, published, and scored by the Educational Testing Service which still...
and a 31 on his ACT, was a highly recruited high school basketball player. However, by early March 1987, he had not signed a National Letter of Intent
National Letter of Intent
The National Letter of Intent is a document used to indicate a student athlete's commitment to participating NCAA colleges and universities in the United States. The NCAA Eligibility Center manages the daily operations of the NLI program while the Collegiate Commissioners Association provides...
as a commitment to any school. At that time, he was keeping a pair of piranha
Piranha
A piranha or piraña is a member of family Characidae in order Characiformes, an omnivorous freshwater fish that inhabits South American rivers. In Venezuela, they are called caribes...
s at home in an aquarium and accidentally injured his left foot by breaking the aquarium's glass. The resulting injury caused severe damage to his leg including a severed achilles tendon
Achilles tendon
The Achilles tendon , also known as the calcaneal tendon or the tendo calcaneus, is a tendon of the posterior leg. It serves to attach the plantaris, gastrocnemius and soleus muscles to the calcaneus bone.- Anatomy :The Achilles is the tendonous extension of 3 muscles in the lower leg:...
; he had surgery to repair the damage in late March. Division I schools like Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
withdrew their scholarship offers; however, Princeton maintained an interest, with supporters like John Rogers
John W. Rogers, Jr.
John Washington Rogers, Jr. is an investment manager who founded Ariel Capital Management , which is the United States' largest minority-run mutual fund firm, in 1983. He is chairman and CEO of the company. He served as the Board President of the Chicago Park District for six years in the 1990s...
behind him. As most of his scholarship offers were withdrawn, he began to focus on schools that could provide him an academic opportunity in the event that his basketball career was over. He eventually matriculated to Princeton unsure of whether he would ever play competitive basketball again.
College
As a freshman, Mueller helped the 1987–88 Tigers1987–88 Princeton Tigers men's basketball team
The 1987–88 Princeton Tigers men's basketball team represented Princeton University in intercollegiate college basketball during the 1987–88 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The head coach was Pete Carril and the team captain was John Thompson III. The team played its home games in the...
win their final three games in March to finish the season with a 17–9 (9–5 Ivy League) record. He posted 25 points in the March 1, 1988 67–65 victory against . Then, two games later in the final game of the season on March 5, he added 22 in 79–58 victory over league champion . He finished the season as the Ivy League statistical champion in field goal percentage for the first of three times. He led the team in rebounds and blocked shots.
Mueller began his career wearing the number 55, but switched to 00 by his sophomore year. During his sophomore season, the 1988–89 team
1988–89 Princeton Tigers men's basketball team
The 1988–89 Princeton Tigers men's basketball team represented Princeton University in intercollegiate college basketball during the 1988–89 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The head coach was Pete Carril and the team captains was Bob Scrabis. The team played its home games in the Jadwin...
earned a #1 vs. #16 matchup in the first round of the 1989 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
1989 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1989 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 16, 1989, and ended with the championship game on April 3 in Seattle, Washington...
with their Pete Carril
Pete Carril
Peter J. "Pete" Carril is a former collegiate head coach and former NBA assistant with the Sacramento Kings.-Early years:...
-coached princeton offense
Princeton offense
The Princeton offense is an offensive basketball strategy which emphasizes constant motion, passing, back-door cuts, and disciplined teamwork. It was used and perfected at Princeton University by Pete Carril, though its roots may be traced back to Franklin “Cappy” Cappon, who coached Princeton...
. The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
reported that the matchup seemed comical to some even though Carill had a system that frustrated many offensive systems and had already produced upsets. In the St. Patrick's Day Georgetown game, the 16th-seeded Tigers were 23 point underdogs according to the Las Vegas bookmakers and Dick Vitale
Dick Vitale
Richard J. "Dick" Vitale , also known as "Dickie V", is an American basketball sportscaster. A former head coach in the college and professional ranks, he is well-known as a college basketball broadcaster and for the enthusiastic and colorful remarks he makes during games. He is known for his...
had promised to serve as a Tiger ballboy
Ballboy
Ballboy are a four piece indie band from Edinburgh, Scotland. Formed in the late 1990s, the band have released five albums between 2001 and 2008.-Biography:...
if they won. Entering the game, the last four Ivy League representatives in the tournament had lost in the first round by an average of 35 points. During the game, Mueller's defensive assignment was Mourning, and he contributed 9 points and 8 assists to Princeton's 49-point effort. During the game, Mueller played beyond the foul line on the offensive end, forcing Mourning to leave passing lanes open for back-door attacks. Although the strategy enabled Princeton to stay in the game, Mourning had seven blocked shots, including two in the final fifteen seconds. Mueller's final shot was deflected by Mourning. It is remembered by Princeton fans as an uncalled foul
Foul (basketball)
In basketball, a foul is an infraction of the rules concerning illegal personal contact with an opponent and/or unsportsmanlike behavior. A personal foul is the most common type of foul in basketball. Due to the nature of the game, personal fouls occur on occasion and are not always regarded as...
. The team finished with a 19–8 (11–3) record. Later in the same tournament, Duke would use Christian Laettner
Christian Laettner
Christian Donald Laettner is a retired American professional basketball player and entrepreneur. He had a distinguished college and national career, and played in the National Basketball Association for thirteen seasons, from 1992–2005. He is presently a minority holder for the Major League...
at the top of the key, like Princeton had used Mueller, and eliminate Georgetown by shutting down Mourning. The Princeton-Georgetown game is regarded as one of only a handful of close #1 vs. #16 matchups in NCAA tournament history. For the season, he repeated as Ivy League field goal percentage champion. He was a first-team All-Ivy honoree. He led the team in points, rebounds, assists and blocked shots.
As a junior, Mueller led the 1989–90 Tigers
1989–90 Princeton Tigers men's basketball team
The 1989–90 Princeton Tigers men's basketball team represented Princeton University in intercollegiate college basketball during the 1989–90 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The head coach was Pete Carril and the team captains was Matt Lapin. The team played its home games in the Jadwin...
to a repeat Ivy League championship as the Ivy League Player of the Year. The team earned a 13 seed for the 1990 NCAA Tournament
1990 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1990 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 15, 1990, and ended with the championship game on April 2 in Denver, Colorado...
. The team finished with a 20–7 (11–3) record after losing to the by a 68–64 margin. Mueller was one of only six Tigers to appear in the game and led the team with 19 points. As a junior, Mueller earned a third team Academic All-America
Academic All-America
Academic All-America program is a student-athlete recognition program...
recognition from College Sports Information Directors of America
College Sports Information Directors of America
College Sports Information Directors of Americaor CoSIDA is the organization that has since 1952 bestowed Academic All-American recognition on male and female athletes in Divisions I, II, and III of the National Collegiate Athletic Association —covering all NCAA championship sports—and NAIA...
. He was a first-team All-Ivy performer as well as Ivy League Player of the Year. He led the team in points, rebounds, and assists.
In a February 23, 1991, game against , Mueller earned his current position as Princeton's second all-time leading scorer one night after the 1990–91 Princeton Tigers men's basketball team
1990–91 Princeton Tigers men's basketball team
The 1990–91 Princeton Tigers men's basketball team represented Princeton University in intercollegiate college basketball during the 1990–91 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The head coach was Pete Carril and the team captain was Kit Mueller. The team played its home games in the Jadwin...
had clinched its third consecutive Ivy League championship with a victory over . The team went undefeated in the Ivy League and earned a birth in the 1991 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
1991 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1991 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 14, 1991, and ended with the championship game on April 1 in Indianapolis, Indiana...
. After its strong tournament performances in the prior two seasons and strong regular season, the team earned a number 8 seed, which was a record for the highest seed by an Ivy League school at the time. The team had another close but disappointing loss, this time by a 50–48 margin to , finishing with a 24–3 (14–0) record. That year, senior Mueller served as team captain
Captain (sports)
In team sports, a captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field...
, and earned first team Academic All-America honors. That season marked the third year that Mueller led the team in points, assists and blocked shots and fourth time he led the team in rebounds. For the season, he earned his third Ivy League field goal percentage championship. He repeated as Ivy League Player of the Year and was a first-team All-Ivy performer for the third consecutive seaason.
He continues to remain prominent in the Princeton basketball record books. His 1546 career points trail only Bill Bradley
Bill Bradley
William Warren "Bill" Bradley is an American hall of fame basketball player, Rhodes scholar, and former three-term Democratic U.S. Senator from New Jersey. He ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic Party's nomination for President in the 2000 election.Bradley was born and raised in a suburb of St....
and 381 career assists are also second in school history. His single-season assist totals of 140 in 1989-90 and 128 in 1990-91 remain second and fourth in school history. Only one other Tiger has totalled 11 assists in a game (a feat Mueller achieved three times). His career 59.5 field goal percentage is third in school history, as is his sophomore single-season rate of 64.9%. A 2009 publication by ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
ranked him among the five greatest basketball players in Princeton history.
Post graduate
After graduation, Mueller played professional basketball in SwitzerlandSwitzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. He then became a professional hedge fund
Hedge fund
A hedge fund is a private pool of capital actively managed by an investment adviser. Hedge funds are only open for investment to a limited number of accredited or qualified investors who meet criteria set by regulators. These investors can be institutions, such as pension funds, university...
trader, and has played in competitive 3-on-3 basketball leagues with various combinations of Ivy League athletes including Arne Duncan
Arne Duncan
Arne Duncan is an American education administrator and currently United States Secretary of Education. Duncan previously served as CEO of the Chicago Public Schools.-Early years and personal:...
, Craig Robinson, Mitch Henderson
Mitch Henderson
Mitchell G. "Mitch" Henderson is an American college basketball coach and the incoming head coach for the Princeton Tigers men's basketball team. He previously served as an assistant for the Northwestern Wildcats men's basketball team for eleven seasons under Bill Carmody...
and Rogers in the mid to late 1990s and early 2000s. The mid 1990s versions of the team were Chicago area champions. In 1998, he won a 3-on-3 tournament in Dallas with Rogers and Robinson. Both the 2001 and 2003 versions of the team, named "Slow and Steady", qualified for national competition. The 2003 team with Duncan, Robinson, Henderson and Brian Earl made the national championship.