Hall of Fame
The 1953-54 men's basketball team is considered one of the best athletic teams in Norwich history. Coming off the previous year's 8-12 campaign, the Cadets entered the following season knowing that no Norwich University basketball team had posted a winning record since 1943.
Led by seniors Sam Passalacqua (team captain), Jerry Lundberg, and Bruce McLaren; juniors Dale Montgomery, Marty Wasserman, leading scorer Ed Meehan, Dom Passalacqua, Chet Szwejkowski, and Norm Wallace; sophomores Paul Mahoney, Cliff Johnson, and Bob Yeadon; and freshmen John McNamara and Danny Lambertson, the Cadets got off to a fast start that season with wins in their first three games over Massachussetts, Springfield and American International College. The team continued its winning streak with victories in its next four contests (none closer than 10 points) and took a perfect 7-0 record into its first game with its arch-rival, Vermont.
NU bested UVM, 76-74 in Northfield to extend its unbeaten streak to eight games. The streak would reach 14 games by the time the Cadets headed up to Burlington for the rematch with UVM. The Catamounts ended Norwich's streak at 14, coming back from an 11-point third quarter deficit to win, 69-67 in overtime.
The Cadets recovered to defeat Wesleyan, St. Lawrence and Clarkson in their next three contests before falling at Middlebury, 49-41. The loss to Middlebury forced NU into a must-win situation at St. Michael's in its next game. Norwich needed a win in order to force a tie with UVM for the State Conference Championship. Coach Duke Benz' team met that challenge with a 77-72 triumph over the Purple Knights.
Norwich concluded its season with a 97-63 rout of Clarkson in the season finale, setting a single-game scoring record in the process. The Boston sportswirters' final poll of the season had NU ranked fifth in New England. The team's 19-2 record is the best mark ever compiled by an NU basketball squad.
