NASHVILLE -- All-time Bona great and NBA Hall of Famer Bob Lanier has told school officials he won't be in attendance today when the Bonnies play an NCAA game for the first time since 2000. Apparently commercial air travel doesn't sit well with his aging, 6-foot-11 body. But Lanier said he'll make the journey nonetheless if the Bonnies advance to the Sweet 16.
Lanier led Bona to the 1970 Final Four but suffered a season-ending knee injury against Villanova in the regional finals. Bona then lost to Jacksonville -- which had two 7-footer in Artis Gilmore and Pembroke Burroughs -- in the semifinals.
Many basketball fans -- and certainly those in WNY -- believe Lanier's injury cost Bona the national title. UCLA, which went on to win the championship, was between dominant centers at the time. Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul Jabbar) had just left and Bill Walton was on his way.
-- Bob DiCesare
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College basketball | NCAA Tournament | St. Bonaventure
