FINAL MATCH UP

[Protege1212]

Danny Granger vs Mel Daniels

An Epic Battle Between Players Who Define Lobo Greatness!!!!!

[PHILLY_1982]

Gotta go with DG on this one. I respect the Lobo greats, but I never had the opportunity to see Mel play. I hear he was awesome with Pacers back in the day. And have seen Snoop Dogg wear some old Pacer gear with his name on it!

But DG will always be a great Lobo!

[loborick]

Danny had one great year when he led the Lobos to a conference tourney title. Mel led the Lobos into the fan fave that is Lobo basketball right now. Bob King and Mel Daniels should be mentioned in the same breath. If not for them, we would not have the spectacle we have now. We would be a TCU or a Colorado St.

[Mark]

Gotta go with DG on this one. I respect the Lobo greats, but I never had the opportunity to see Mel play. I hear he was awesome with Pacers back in the day. And have seen Snoop Dogg wear some old Pacer gear with his name on it!

But DG will always be a great Lobo!

Im kinda with Philly here. Its hard for me to vote for someone I never saw play. Its either me going off what you guys tell me or what I saw with my own eyes. My votes for Danny Granger. The greatest Lobo ive ever witnessed.
Protege, is there a way to get the full bracket so we can see who knocked off who? Havent seen you on much so I assume your busy. If your too busy no need to worry bout it!

[Loboexpat]

All great points. I don't think you can vote for a wrong choice in this one.

My vote wasn't just based on time served, or stats, but lots of different things. And the fact that I didn't get to see Mel or witness his impact on the program probably does bias my view.

[Bloo]

I, too, am basing my vote partially on what I saw versus that which I did not witness, but that is not to say I am not fully versed on the history of our program. It's just that when I take things as a whole, like what an ambassador for the program each has been, Danny does so many things residually, I gotta go with my boy!

DG for prez!!!

[Roob]

I don't want to vote. Danny has been such a great ambassador to the program. I've heard so much about Daniels and his contributions to the program and his accomplishments in the pro's. I would favor Danny because I personally watched him play, but I don't want to disrespect Mel Daniels simply because I never watched him play. Can we have a "tie" vote?

[Garishwolf]

Danny's great and gunna be greater,,,how can you seperate Coop, Ira, Mel.........THOSE 4 ARE THEE GREATEST IN UNIQUE TIME FRAMES IN LOBO HISTORY....LOTS OF FUN,,,GREAT POSTS THREADS,THANKS.

[loborick]

I don't want to vote. Danny has been such a great ambassador to the program. I've heard so much about Daniels and his contributions to the program and his accomplishments in the pro's. I would favor Danny because I personally watched him play, but I don't want to disrespect Mel Daniels simply because I never watched him play. Can we have a "tie" vote?

I know how you feel. I think we should call it a tie and make them co-winners. Mel as the top player of the 20th Century and Danny as top player of the 21st Century!

[Loboexpat]

Voting for Danny is no disrespect to Mel.

People vote based on many different factors, I could have easily voted for Mel. But I guess the immediacy of Granger's influence on the program, not just as a player but afterwards and the love he shows was a big factor. If I had known more about Mel firsthand it would probably be the opposite: me justifying why I hit the button for him and not Danny.

Both figures obviously loom large in the Lobo nation and that's why they're in the final.

A "win" by one doesn't mean we respect the other one less, other factors are going to play into the vote.

I wouldn't have a problem with a co-winner...unlike the JR situation this year, they both are legitmately deserving.

[zoom]

i've seen them both....

Melvin Joe Daniels (born July 20, 1944, in Detroit, Michigan) is a retired American professional basketball player.

A 6' 9" center, he played for the University of New Mexico Lobo men's basketball team from 1964-67. He was the ninth pick of the 1967 National Basketball Association (NBA) Draft, selected by the Cincinnati Royals, and was also drafted by the Minnesota Muskies of the American Basketball Association (ABA). He chose to play in the fledgling ABA, and became one of its all-time greatest players.

Daniels was the ABA Rookie of the Year for the 1967-68 season before being traded to the Indiana Pacers, then of the ABA and now in the NBA. Daniels was the ABA Most Valuable Player in both 1969 and 1971 and led the Pacers to three ABA championships. Daniels played in seven ABA All-Star Games, and was named the ABA All-Star Game MVP in 1971. Daniels led the ABA in rebounding average in three different seasons, and is the ABA's all-time leader in total rebounds (9,494) and career rebounding average (15.1 rebounds per game). Daniels played briefly for the NBA's New York Nets in the 1976-77 season.

After his playing days, Daniels joined the coaching staff of his college coach, Bob King, at Indiana State, where he coached future Hall of Famer Larry Bird. Daniels joined the Indiana Pacers front office in 1986 and acts as the team's Director of Player Personnel.

Mel Daniels is one of the few ABA Most Valuable Players not called up to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts, aside from former ABA players already admitted such as: Connie Hawkins (1992), Dan Issel (1993), and David Thompson (1996).

Daniels is one of four players (the others are Roger Brown, Reggie Miller, and George McGinnis) to have his jersey (#34) retired by the Pacers.

[LoboMike]

Danny and Mel work for the same employer currently. There should be a good way for them to settle this!

[zoom]

gotta vote for mel....

Undeniably one of the best players in school history...UNM's first All-American,
earning the honor in 1967...All-WAC in 1966 and '67...the ninth player taken in
the 1967 NBA Draft by the Cincinnati Royals, although he became an All-Star in
the ABA with the Indiana Pacers...played on Lobo teams that went 54-28...led the
WAC in scoring his senior year...scoring high was 39 against Texas Tech as a
junior...career averages of 19.9 ppg and 11.1 rpg.
Year G Avg. Reb.
1964-65 27 17.0 11.2
1965-66 23 21.2 10.3
1966-67 27 21.5 11.6

[ThickLobo]

Danny and Mel work for the same employer currently. There should be a good way for them to settle this!

With Alford coaching the team, we have a lot of ties to the state of Indiana right now.

[pjamj]

With Alford coaching the team, we have a lot of ties to the state of Indiana right now.

Indiana been veddy, veddy, guud 2 me!

[UNM Class of 1972]

I have seen both play at both college and pro level. I actually played in a few games in the old Wells Park League against teams Mel was on. Nope, I vote for Mel.

Mel was an ABA All-Star for many years before there were as many pro teams. He was also a second string college All-American something Danny was not. Many of you guys are young so I understand why you would go with Danny but Mel was the greatest Lobo of All Time! We are indeed blessed to have both men play for the Lobos.

[LoboMike]

I think the guy who has just scored 102 points in his last three NBA games wins this one. I don't think Mel would disagree right now. He's probably lovin' what he's seeing from Danny.

[Remus Lupin]

Mel on shear importance to the program, career, and the legend factor. However, Granger was a total joy the 1.5 years he was with us. He easily did more in 1.5 years than just about anyone else did in 4. A great player and a greater citizen. Without him, McKay is a 3 year coach, not five. Voted for Mel.

[swerve3030]

Mel was a superstar back in his day. If he played today, he would be on commercials and have his own shoe line. The game was young back then. That's probably why there isn't much on Mel. I would have to give my vote to Mel. Even though I'm too young to have had the chance to see him play.

[LasCrucesLobo]

I wonder how many of the voters are old enough to have seen Mel Daniels play? I watched him play in Johnson Gym. I guess you have to vote what you know/have seen. Daniels WAS the best player to play for the LOBOS. Here is another vote for Mel.

[Mark]

Can we name Granger the winner Protege?

[Protege1212]

YES!!!!! Thanks to everyone who voted!