Quote:
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Bucky Katt 
Does it involve Dave Winfield?
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It also involved Corky Taylor, Ron Behagen, and Bill Musselman (coach).
For anyone that does not remember 1972:
Another doozy took place in January 1972 in the Big 10 Conference between the Buckeyes and Gophers (that’s Ohio State and Minnesota for the nickname-challenged). And you thought the Pacers-Pistons was fun and exciting. Some of the following info is lifted from my February 5, 1972 copy of “Sports Illustrated”, which every big sports fan read in the days before cable and the Internet.
To first give you some background, seven-foot Luke Witte was a standout high school player at Marlington High School in Alliance, OH. He went on to Ohio State University, where as a sophomore in 1970-71, he led the team in rebounds and was all-Big Ten. The Ohio State team were Big Ten co-champions, and Luke teamed with fellow Buckeye standouts Allen Hornyak and Jim Cleamons. His college future looked bright - until the incident descibed next.
In the Ohio State-Minnesota game in question, OSU led 50-44 with 36 seconds to go. As the Buckeyes’ star center, Witte was the focus of Minnesota Coach Bill Musselman’s reported game plan to take out the Buckeyes' key weapon. With Ohio State's victory assured, Minnesota fouled Witte hard as he drove to the basket. The foul sparked angry words, then chaos erupted as Witte was punched in the face and kicked by one of the Gophers.
Witte ended up on the floor. Minnesota's Corky Taylor extended a hand as if to help up Witte. When Witte took the hand and began to rise, Taylor kneed him in the balls. While on the floor, Witte was kicked and stomped by Minnesota player Ron Behagen.
The game was halted, the Buckeyes awarded the win, and Minnesota fans booed as Witte was carried from the floor. He was hospitalized for several days. The Minnesota players were not disciplined, in spite of complaints from Ohio State coach, Fred Taylor.
Many believe the injuries permanently affected Witte's career. Taylor said that he lost his enthusiasm for the game as a result of the incident. Musselman was dumped from the Minnesota coaching job as a result of the incident. The Minnesota basketball program fell on several years of hard times afterwards. Minnesota player, Dave Winfield, was on the court at the time but had no part in the incident.
Witte was selected in the fourth round of the 1973 NBA draft by the Cavaliers, who also drafted fellow Buckeyes’ Cleamons and Hornyak. Witte saw part-time action over three seasons; his 235-pound body spread over 7 feet was not durable or strong enough for the pro game.
Witte was the victim in probably college basketball's ugliest incident. In the issue of SI, there is a photograph of Witte, his face bloodied and bruised, a dazed expression on his face as he sat on the court.
Forgiveness did come 30 years after the incident. A few years ago, Witte now a Presbyterian minister in North Carolina travelled to Minneapolis to meet with Taylor and other members of that Minnesota team.
http://www.sportspages.com/content/blog.php?p=4320&more=1
