UCLA's Sidney Wicks

A short clip about UCLA All-American Sidney Wicks

[@mmcneil777]

All of UCLA’s teams under Wooden has their own unique character. Wooden brought out the best in his players. There is some kind of underlying joy watching the UCLA highlights under Wooden.

[@klicknkreate7077]

Wicks was a great all-around player and won 3 straight NCAA titles, scoreboard. 👏💯

[@jx14aby]

I still remember Wicks and Gilmore going toe-to-toe. It was something to see. Probably the greatest basketball game I ever saw.

[@finemess7118]

My favorite moment from that Jacksonville game? Yes, Sidney plays behind Gilmore and proceeds to swat shot after shot by Artis away. However, with the game in hand, Sidney is out on the break with only Gilmore back. And although the no-dunk rule is in effect in college ball, Sidney puts an exclamation point on the evening by throwing down a vicious dunk over Gilmore. Sidney gets a T but the whole arena erupts. What a moment.

[@vs800rider]

I remember this very well. Single most dominating play in college basketball. The game was over at that point.

[@klicknkreate7077]

Wooden probably helped get the dunk rule passed lol

[@RK-um9tu]

@@klicknkreate7077 Wrong. The Dunk rule was because of Lew Alcinder...

[@klicknkreate7077]

@@RK-um9tu Wrong. I didn't say the no-dunk rule was because of Sydney Wicks or Artis Gilmore. smh

[@mmcneil777]

Syndney Wicks was sort of a ‘happy rebel’...lol Wooden could handle anyone. Wooden found a way to bring out the best in his players, while having them work in a team concept. He was OK with their individualism and not threatened by it, while finding a way to make the most of their talents. Great coach and leader.

[@delwiljr7055]

Sydney's game was so smooth!

[@BRUCE0591]

Back in the day I was a die hard Marquette fan, but loved those Bruins teams.

[@charlesbromberick4247]

The Wicks/Rowe days were fabulous!

[@allensaunders449]

Yes sir

[@pgroove163]

You'll never see teams like UCLA.. ever again

[@tellthetruthg]

One of the best efforts in College Bball history. Coach Wooden what more can be said ? Wicks was a force. People want their hero's to be humble and soft spoken. Personally I think false humility is over rated. Mr. Wicks it was a treat to see you take over that game and all the other times you did too.

[@finemess7118]

Porter took over 20 shots in that game to get his 25 points. He was Villanova's offense. The Bruins were loaded and well-balanced. That game the offense went through Bibby and Patterson. They didn't need Sidney to score. If UCLA needed Sidney to dominate in a game, he did. Porter was a fine player, but not the force Gilmore was and look what happened when Wicks was called upon to dig deep and battle Artis. Sidney destroyed Artis.

[@richardthelionheart5594]

I cry when I see this - he snuffed Gilmore out in the last 30 min of the game. #"Super Sy"

[@brichpmr]

That 1971 UCLA team barely survived Cal State Long Beach in the Western Regional Final, 57-55.

[@Lawomenshoops]

That's what happens when the game is rigged!

[@richardthelionheart5594]

@@Lawomenshoops ouch. Was that the game when the refs fouled Ratcliffe out?

[@Lawomenshoops]

@@richardthelionheart5594 yep!

[@richardthelionheart5594]

@@Lawomenshoops Listen, I once sat next to Tark at a UCLA v Fresno St FB game. I told him I remember seeing JD Morgan chasing down officials to inveigh against Radcliffe till they finally fouled him out. Tark loved the story and called his brother over to hear it. LB St was the toughest foe we ever! faced in any NCAA Tournament.

[@juvserr]

Sidney Wicks famously tried to show up Larry Bird during Bird's rookie season with Boston, where Sid was the established vet.. in their first scrimmage Bird made Sidney look ridiculous and promptly sent him to the bench.. Wicks's could've been a hall of famer, he was too self absorbed.. look at his NBA career, one long trajectory in one direction.. down...

[@klicknkreate7077]

I think you mean Curtis Rowe. Wicks wasn't on the Celtics in Bird's rookie season or pre-season for that matter

[@richardthelionheart5594]

Yeah ???? Sidney did not play for the Celts when Bird was there!! Besides how many X did Bird win a Nattie in college? Sidney won one every year he played varsity. That's THREE NATTIES if you're counting.

[@bertiejr]

@@klicknkreate7077 yes he did and it was 2yrs. sideny's career did a nose dive. i think he was always about him carry a team. he was self absorbed. that doesn't last in the nba. still my top3 bruin. i used to watch him and rowe strut past the student section in their black leather looking cool as can be

[@duanemitchell2804]

lol finemess! I thought I was the only one that remembered that! :)

[@cambigfellarowe]

Wicks and Rowe combined for 15 points! But lets not forget the Late Great Steve Patterson who had almost 30! A great game and a balanced effort indeed for the Mighty Bruins!

[@stever1791]

If your related to Curtis, I say he was the most consistent college player Wooden ever had. Curtis never payed a bad game.But against Howard Porter, he and Sidney were nowhere to be found. They both traveled whenever they had the ball sown low. Porter intimintadated them both

[@cambigfellarowe]

Steve R regardless they won their 3rd NCAA championship....their 2nd without Kareem. Do you how challenging that must have been? Would you rather have a college career like Curtis and Sidney or Howard Porter? I’ll wait. The only living person Who has more rings than them Is coach K from Duke. Let that sink in. That’s how hard it is to accomplish what my dad and God father achieved! God bless both of those living legends! Mr. porter is a good friend of my dads so no disrespect to him at all.

[@stever1791]

@@cambigfellarowe thank you Cameron. I was a fan of your Dad's too. Ill let you in on a little secret, my favorite UCLA player ever was Edgar Lacy. But i always liked you dad and Sidney . I know your Dad and Godfather know him and his legacy . So nice to reach you on this you tube connection, Your Dad was a Great Player and he also played with another Villanova player from the '71 game , Chris Ford, with the Pistons in the early '70's. Good health to you Cameron

[@klicknkreate7077]

Wicks won more NCAA titles than Bill Walton 👏

[@805Bruin]

Too bad it's a team game and UCLA won anyway. RIP Howard Porter.

[@Ariamaluum]

@805Bruin. Villanova was a team. Sidney Wicks started that power forward trend that you saw with Dr. J.

[@theprofessor8589]

Julius Erving was not a 'power forward', there was nothing 'powerful' about him. A power forward was George McGinnis, Dan Issel, Spencer Haywood and Wicks.

[@theprofessorslover6946]

@ davan mani: I would play very close attention to the feedback being given to you by "The Professor" with regards to his overall knowledge and intricacies of the "power forward" position. But if you REALLY want to know where his expertise lies and want to learn more about THIS subject, it is in his proficiency in knowing all about the POWER BOTTOM position (tee hee). Now THAT is something he not only loves talking about on a regular basis, but is also willing to give in-depth coaching and demonstrations of this technique on a regular basis to all of those willing and wanting to learn!

[@paulheaphy4228]

Most people don't know this but, you can kick the ball into the net on offense; not defense.

[@danieloh11]

Google Calvin Murphy and Sidney Wicks together... lol

[@arther1045]

@lowpants94 wicks was injured for the villanova game. He was playing on a badly sprained ankle.

[@stever1791]

The Villanova Game will bother Sidney Wicks because Howard Porter had his way with Sidney and Curtis Rowe. Wicks even tried to snub Geezer at the end of the game with a very quick handshake. You can see it on You Tube. But Sidney did agree that Howard Porter was a Great Player and that he Played Great - That a boy Sidney

[@cambigfellarowe]

Steve R he’s not bothered at all because they won the game. Whatever Howard Porter did wasn’t good enough because Sidney will always have 3 NCAA rings compared to Howard’s 0!

[@stever1791]

@@cambigfellarowe Hello Cameron, Im a big Villanova fan and really thought Howard Porter was the best player in the country in 1971. I liked Sidney and met him early in his pro career with Portland in 1972, his rookie year. He was a real nice guy to me then and was said he thought that Howard played Great. Thanks Sidney. I;d love to sit down with Sidney and Curtis Rowe to talk about their college careers and UCLA basketball

[@fcast22]

If Wicks had been healthy he goes for 20+pts. & 10+rebs.and UCLA wins by double digits.

[@stever1791]

No Way ! Take away the Porter Goalteding call and Villanova Wins . Bad call

[@finemess7118]

Oh, and Sidney only took seven shots to Porters 21.

[@stever1791]

Because Wicks couldn't get off any shots over Porter. Wicks wanted nothing to do with the Geezer

[@richardthelionheart5594]

@@stever1791 Natties? How's many does Porter have. Wicks has 3, one for every year he played.

[@PAULIEB1952]

Anyone have the video of that 1970 championship game: Wicks vs Gilmore? Thanks. A

[@classicsurvivor]

Used the search box on top goofy.

[@jerrypeters2095]

Yes

[@leeantinto3920]

Calvin Murphy was 5ft.9 tall he had a fight with s.wicks an beat him up

[@DrJohnnyJ]

Murphy was a trained boxer. He beat everybody up.

[@MarquisdeSuave]

Wicks goaltended on at least 3 of those "blocks".

[@murphyotoole9014]

Thanks because I thought the same, but your post also verifies it as well . .Thx!

[@theprofessor8589]

That's not the point. The point that he even BLOCKED a big man like Gilmore's shots, who was left-handed, sent a message, and Artis was not the same after. Who cares if he 'goal-tended', the message was sent. Learn sports psychology people.

[@murphyotoole9014]

Didn't realize we struck a nerve you douche' . .

[@murphyotoole9014]

Hey Professor . .See if you cant figure out this Rorschach test? . .I have two fingers on each side of the hand folded down and a middle finger sticking up . .Hopefully you're not too stupid to figure out what my message is to you, but chances are you're still working on your GED, so I don't put too much faith into you figuring it out you POS . .GFY

[@murphyotoole9014]

Game, set, match . .Later douchebag . . . .EOS

[@stever1791]

I ain't buying the Wicks had a bad Toe Bullcrap, Porter showed him up, and you guys are correct, Patterson bailed him out. With the Title on the line Porter did him IN, No shame , Howard Porter had many a Great night against Bob Lanier and Jim McDaniels and Mike Bantom and Dave Robish and Dwight Jones and Dwight Davis , Spencer Haywood and Billy Pultz and Mel Davis ( St Johns),Ken Durrett ( LaSalle ) John Hummer and Mike Malloy and many others. Villanova played one of the toughest schedules in the country during that era. Porter MOP from a team that lost the finale. Only happen 1 time before with Bill Bradley ( also with UCLA in the finale "65 )

[@klicknkreate7077]

Wicks was hurt and UCLA still won another title 👏

[@stever1791]

@@klicknkreate7077 Wicks was not hurt, UCLA won - But we Howard Porter fans know that in 1971 he was the best college forward in the country. Im thinking The UCLA team really was glad that Patterson was on the team. I think he was a redshirt and could have turned pro after their '70 season

[@klicknkreate7077]

@@stever1791 No, Wicks injured his toe against Kansas and had his toe on ice leading up to the final and Wooden is quoted as saying so. Wooden was not a liar and furthermore had no reason to lie about that. I believe if Wicks had been 100% he would have given Porter the business and it would have been a laugher of a game against Villanova because that's how good Wicks was and especially compared to Porter. What you're saying sounds like sour grapes.

[@stever1791]

@@klicknkreate7077 Wicks didn't injured anything but his ego . Howard Porter ate him up and that includes Curtis Rowe 2.UCLA had to freeze the ball in the 2nd half to hold onto the win. Sam Gilbert had more to do with UCLA winning Titles than Wooden. Even Robert Montgomery Knight confirms that. Wooden cheated - if he said Wicks was hurt, Who can believe him , he was in denial about Gilbert for 10 years, And he didn't win any titles until Sam Gilbert showed up on campus. No sour grapes, I just wish that the UCLA Athletic Director wasn't on the NCAA board for Refs and seedings

[@klicknkreate7077]

@@stever1791 It was easy to see Wicks wasn't right against Villanova for a couple reasons. First Wooden didn't lie and second, Wicks would have eaten Porters lunch. Gibert had nothing to do with Wicks' injury. Just shows how much better UCLA was than Villanova even with Wicks' injury.

[@brucito56]

He never learned the team game very selfish player

[@klicknkreate7077]

Sydney was also the best player on 3 consecutive NCAA title teams and played according to how Wooden wanted him to the last 2 years though