In December 1961, Ohio State -- which had one of the all-time great college basketball teams at the time -- traveled to Los Angeles for a holiday tournament in which they crushed UCLA 105-84. This report from Sports Illustrated (Jan. 8, 1962) gives a revealing look at two basketball legends. I think the last sentence is particularly telling:
"{Jerry} Lucas made it a one-man show. Tearing the ball of the backboards as if he were ripping down walls, he got 30 rebounds, equaling his own career high. That was more than the entire UCLA team could get. He made eight of eight free throws and 11 of 13 shots. Only four of his shots came following passes from teammates. He chose instead to set them up with return passes virtually every time they threw him the ball. Lucas received a standing ovation as he left the game. Minutes later, UCLA's John Wooden, a coach for 15 years, appeared in the Ohio State dressing room and introduced himself to Lucas. 'I want to tell you that you are the most unselfish athlete I have ever seen,' he said. 'Our team played its very finest,' he continued as he walked away, 'but Lucas was magnificent. It was a pleasure to lose to such a man. I have never said such a thing before. I never expect to again.'"
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