Sports are great because of the characters that take part in the action. Some you love, some you love to root against. Every season has its heroes and villains. College basketball is no exception.
The names on this list have polarized fan opinions since their playing days. Some of them are known for winning. Some of them have changed the game. Still, others rubbed everyone the wrong way but you had to love them because they played for your team.
This list doesn’t stop at just players either. We’ve got coaches and even some media personalities. There’s nothing like yelling at an old man for building a great college program, heckling someone getting paid to say his opinions about your team. Sports are crazy, and so are its fans.
So take a look at this list. Be careful, though; there might be some players on this list who stir up some strong emotions in you. You’ve been warned!
Bill Laimbeer: Notre Dame (1975-1979)
Bill Laimbeer was a bit of a late bloomer. He originally flunked out of Notre Dame and had to go to a technical school for two semesters just to get his grades back up. When he finally made it back to the Fighting Irish, he wasn’t much to talk about. He averaged just 7.3 points and 6.0 rebounds per game.
However, he got his chance at the next level and eventually, he became one of the most frustrating players to play against in his generation. His Pistons’ teammate, Isiah Thomas, once said of Laimbeer, “Tell you the truth, if I didn’t know Bill, I wouldn’t like him either.”
