BDP: How is your health?
As far as I know, it is pretty good. I have had for many years, some lower
back problems, & I have some arthritis. But I can manage it if I have the proper amount of rest & take my
medications. For my age I can't ask for much more than that. Right now I am 76 years old & will be 77 in January.
BDP: Have you ever had any regrets about retiring from coaching so early?
Oh no. It was something that I had given lots of thought to. I said this when I left coaching. I
never envisioned myself as someone who would coach until they were 65 years old. I felt that I could function in a lot of
capacities. Although basketball was good to me & I enjoyed my time at North Carolina State as a player & assistant
& my time as a head coach at Duke, I also enjoyed my seven years in the administration at Duke. I also enjoyed my
time in the Sun Belt Conference. We had the enjoyment with the Sun Belt Conference of building a conference from the ground
up. It was a lot of fun & quite a challenge to build it from the ground up. In every instance it has been a rewarding
experience.
BDP: Do you have a chance to watch much of Duke basketball these days & what kind of
relationship do you have with Coach K?
I watch almost every game that they play. I have a satellite dish & I can get most of the games.
Mike & I usually correspond two or three time a year. Ocassionally we will talk on the phone. I have the highest regard
for him, not only as a coach, but for all the other things that he is involved in off the court. I can't imagine any basketball
coach throughout the country doing any better job, both on the court & off the court. I think the things that he does
off the court say as much about him as his record as a basketball coach.
BDP: Do you have much contact with any of your former Duke players?
Oh yea. I get to see them ocassionally. Sometimes they will be down here in the Hilton Head area
& we will visit. Also, I might go to an event in Durham or in North Carolina on ocassion & see them. I can't
travel as much as I used to because it is hard on my back. I always enjoy knowing how my former players are doing & it
is very rewarding to hear how successful they have been.
BDP: How do you stay busy these days?
I am very involved in the community down here. I am on a number of committees & the chamber of
commerce & I am involved with a rotary club. Also, we live in a community that is really a city. There are various clubs
& opportunities to do good work in the community & I am involved with my church. When the end of the week comes I
always wonder where did all of that time go. My wife's health is good. For my age, my health is good. We are enjoying life
right now.
BDP: Can you compare today's college basketball game with how the game was played during
your coaching career & what are your thoughts on the shot clock & the 3-point shot?
When I was the Sun Belt Conference Commissioner we were one of the first ones to experiment with
shot clock & 3-point shot. We had to do about 5 years worth of research for the NCAA. Where were all the shots taken with
the timeclock, etc. In my opinion, the line should be further out & the lane should also be wider. The play in the middle
is almost like a wrestling match, at times. I prefer the international lane to open things up in the middle. The other thing
that concerns me is the carrying of the ball. That part of the game has changed dramatically & in most cases, it is too much
in the favor of the offensive player. I don't blame the players for trying it, if they can get away with it.
BDP: How do you feel about whether scholarship athletes should or should not receive an allowance?
Even if the colleges were to say they will pay X amount of money to help with their expenses, I don't
think it would stand up in court. If a male golfer or a female tennis player says that they want to be paid also, I think
if it went to court it would not stand up. They would either have to pay everybody or pay nobody. Also, I think the rewards
of a college education go far beyond the monetary part. I don't know how the AD's or the presidents feel. But I am looking
at it from a legal standpoint & I don't think it will happen.
BDP: What are your thoughts on the current NCAA tournament format?
I don't think there are any major changes that I would make, if I had a vote on it. I think the tournament
has been refined to the point that they are accommodating the fans & they are accommodating the TV interests. I think
we have to careful not to fool around too much with it because right now college basketball almost owns the month of March.
BDP: What are your thoughts on the recent ACC expansion?
I know that the reason was to improve the football aspect of it. Undoubtedly, the ACC will be better
in football as a result of those additions. It might make scheduling a little more clumsy. But I think in the end it will
be good for the ACC. The other teams may also improve their basketball programs to the ACC level. I don't think it will hurt
the quality of play in basketball. But the scheduling, no doubt, is clumsy.
BDP: During your time at Duke, was there any single event or player that signaled to you
that your program had arrived on the national scene?
I think one of the things that helped us was when, after being beaten soundly by North Carolina &
Wake Forest during the regular season my first year, we were able to win the ACC tournament & then go on to the NCAA tournament.
That gave us a real lift. Then being able to recruit Art Heyman, Jeff Mullins, & all the other good players gave us a
lot of impetus. I tell people all the time that Duke was good in basketball before I ever got there. It's just that we went
to another level.
BDP: Which was your best Duke team?
(Hesitation) I think our team in 1966 was more difficult to beat. But on the other hand, if the 63,
65, & 66 teams played each other, the games would probably be pretty evenly matched. The 66 team, based on every facet
of the game, was maybe a little bit better than the others.
BDP: Which would be your most memorable game?
That is tough. I don't think that I ever allowed myself to think which was most memorable.
It is just so hard to say that any one game was bigger than the other. You go into those games with such intensity & preparation
that it becomes difficult to separate them in your mind.
BDP: Do you believe that you would have won the title in 1966 if Bob Verga had been
healthy?
I think so. Nobody can really answer that question. There is no doubt in my mind that we would have
been a much stronger team with a healthy Bob Verga. But those things happen. I also think that Bob was playing his best basketball
right before he got sick. Also, as a team, we were really jelling. But those thing happen & you have to accept it.
BDP: This was a series of questions concerning Bubas' former players.
Best shooter? "Best long-range shooter was Bob Verga. Best medium-range shooter
was Jeff Mullins."
Best rebounder? "Mike Lewis"
Best ballhandler? "Hard to say. You almost would have to break that down between
backcourt & frontcourt. One thing that people tend to forget about Art Heyman was, yea he scored a lot of points, but
if you were open he would get you the ball. He was a lot better passer than anyone would think."
Best all-around? "Fundamentally, when you take every phase of the game into consideration,
that is shooting, dribbling, rebounding, passing, defending, I think that Jack Marin's fundamentals were probably stronger
than any other player. The proof of that is that I used him in the backcourt, I used him in the frontcourt, & sometimes
I would put him in the pivot."
BDP: Coach Bubas, thanks for your time. It has really been an honor to speak with you.
Your very welcome & good luck.
