Jump to content

East lake bull

Member
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    442

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Posts posted by East lake bull

    Radenko Dobras Day

    in USF South Florida Bulls Athletics

    Posted

    On 2/7/2023 at 2:52 PM, MikeG said:
    Radenko Dobras

    USF Men's Basketball to Honor Radenko Dobras on Wednesday

    Dobras was the final piece of a puzzle that set in motion the finest era in Bulls history (1989-92).

    February 07, 2023

    Joey Johnston Athletics Senior Writer

    Story Links

    Radenko Dobras, one of the best players in USF men's basketball history, arrived sight unseen in 1988.

    "They didn't know me and had never seen me,'' said Dobras, a 6-foot-7 point guard from Banja Luka, Yugoslavia. "I didn't know the University of South Florida. I didn't know Tampa. I didn't know anything. And I could barely speak any English.''

    It was an unlikely beginning, but the signing of Dobras was the final piece of a puzzle that set in motion the finest era in Bulls history (1989-92) — a three-season record of 58-32, a Sun Belt Conference Tournament title, the first two NCAA Tournament bids in program history and an NIT appearance.Radenko Dobras2

    Individually, Dobras finished with 1,935 career points (third all-time), 534 assists (third), 217 made 3-pointers (third), 152 steals (eighth), a 78.6 free-throw percentage (seventh), a 17.0-point scoring average (tied for fourth) and 100 double-figure scoring games (first).

    Dobras, now an investment advisor with Morgan Stanley, had his No. 31 jersey retired. At most USF games, he sits along the baseline under the basket near the home bench, so he has been a visible, supportive fan for more than a decade.

    "I love coming to the games because it's my school and my team,'' Dobras said. "My wish is for USF to get back to the NCAA Tournament and have the fun like our teams had.''

    Dobras, who will be honored during Wednesday night's Memphis-USF game at the Yuengling Center, remains an example of all that can be accomplished as a Bulls basketball player — team success, individual success, academic success (he was a GTE Academic All-American) and a prosperous career built in the Tampa Bay area.

    "We took a chance on Radenko and it turned out to be an outstanding thing for our program,'' former USF coach Bobby Paschal said.

    Dobras, a member of Yugoslavia's Junior National Team and one of 20 finalists for the country's Olympic Team, had agreed to a scholarship with the defending national champion Kansas Jayhawks. But when Coach Larry Brown bolted for the NBA, Dobras kept open his options. Doug Hatch, a USF professor, heard about Dobras from a friend in Europe and immediately alerted Paschal's staff. Dobras was swayed by a warmer climate and the presence of a childhood friend at the cross-state Florida Institute of Technology.

    But once Dobras arrived at USF, there were still adjustments to be made.

    The Language Of Winning

    Dobras, 19 years old as a USF freshman, nodded affirmatively when asked if his leap of faith required courage.

    "But I was never scared,'' Dobras said. "You can't be scared. You have to be confident. The extent of my (English) language was, 'Hi, how are you?' Or 'What's your name?' In all my classes as a freshman, I wouldn't understand one thing the professors were saying.

    "I think the other guys respected my game, but I wasn't sure about what I was hearing at times there, either. So I would just get the ball and do what I knew how to do. I could make shots. I could play basketball. That first year was a total adjustment to everything new.''

    The Bulls knew they had something special. With his ability to see over a defense and consistently make long-range shots — the 3-pointer was still relatively new to NCAA basketball — it was a perfect ingredient added to USF's interior and mid-range strength.

    On the first day of conditioning, each USF player was asked to do as many sit-ups as they could without stopping. Dobras knocked out 818 consecutive sit-ups — managers holding down his ankles changed four times — before coaches told him to stop.

    The biggest barrier — by far — was the language.

    "At first, we did not understand him and he did not understand us,'' said former Bulls team captain Fred Lewis. "He was having to call out plays, so that was a problem. Off the court, as we got to know him, there were a lot of differences. He would always, 'What means?' Like we'd be playing pool and he'd say, 'What means 8-ball?' ''Radenko Dobras 3

    After his freshman season, Dobras said he felt completely comfortable with his surroundings. By then, the Bulls hit their stride. The 1989-90 Bulls were 20-11. Dobras, the tournament Most Valuable Player, and his teammates cut down the nets after defeating Charlotte 81-74 in the Sun Belt final before falling 79-67 against No. 2-seeded Arizona in USF's first NCAA Tournament appearance.

    The Bulls were NCAA-bound again in 1991-92, earning an at-large bid out of the Metro Conference, then finishing 19-10 following a first-round 75-60 defeat against No. 6-seeded Georgetown, led by Alonzo Mourning.

    Dobras was among four seniors on that USF team — along with Gary Alexander, Bobby Russell and Lewis — along with junior-college transfer Derrick Sharp, a deadly long-range shooter. Dobras was USF's scoring leader in each of his four seasons while pacing the Bulls in assists in three years.

    "Radenko was really really talented, but as much as anything, he had a laser focus on working hard and trying to become the best player he could be,'' said former Bulls point guard and assistant coach Tommy Tonelli. "You look around the NBA today and you see a lot of European players dominating. For college basketball, Radenko was ahead of his time.''

    Big-Time Scorer

    Dobras had three career 30-point games and a 29-point effort in a victory at Florida (when he was 5-for-5 from 3-point range).

    But his most memorable moment occurred on Feb. 24, 1992, when the Bulls upset the No. 15-ranked Tulane Green Wave 81-76 in New Orleans. The Green Wave were unbeaten at home. In a hostile environment on Mardi Gras week, the Bulls prevailed.

    Dobras, the target of the crowd's wrath, hit a pair of tack-on free throws in the final seconds. In a departure from his normal expressionless, dour demeanor, Dobras turned and blew kisses to the Tulane crowd.

    "That was a crazy place with a lot of intoxicated people,'' Dobras said. "The court was covered with beads. We had to be escorted by police afterwards.

    "I just wanted to say something to all those fans who were so nice to me. It was my way of saying, 'Thank you!' That was a satisfying moment and that season we had a lot of satisfying moments.''

    Afterward, Tulane coach Perry Clark said Dobras has a value to USF that was comparable to Magic Johnson with the Los Angeles Lakers.Radenko Dobras 4

    "Physically, Radenko was very gifted,'' Paschal said. "He just had a lot of skills you don't often see in one package.''

    This package came special delivery.

    "I came here to play basketball and earn a degree, which you couldn't do in my country because the athletics and academics are usually separated,'' said Dobras, who played professional basketball in Israel before returning to Tampa. "When I grew up, I wasn't allowed to play unless I made straight A's, so the classroom was always important.

    "I picked Tampa to be my home because I love it here. I feel like I belong to two countries. I never feel like I'm a stranger in Tampa.''

    Dobras said he misses the old Yugoslavia, which was broken up into seven republics by civil war greatly affecting his home region (now known as Bosnia and Herzegovina).

    "A lot happened and a lot changed when I was here at USF,'' Dobras said. "We live in a crazy world. I'm grateful that I found USF.

    "It's always a nice feeling to be recognized. When I was a kid, I always wanted to do things better and different than everybody else. To be recognized and distinguished, it's very humbling. It's an honor and I'm grateful that USF considers me worthy of that.''

    Thanks so much for this , Dobras was always one of my favorite USF athletes. Loved watching him and those teams represent USF.

×
×
  • Create New...

It appears you are using ad blocking tools.  This site is supported through ads.  Please disable in order to enjoy full access to The Bulls Pen.  Registration is free and reduces ads.

Got it!
Dismiss