Shane Battier was cut by coach Rick Majerus’ Goodwill USA Team. On Sunday, both were inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. Battier was cut right after the Duke standout’s freshman season, and he used that as motivation throughout the rest of his college career. Following that, Battier won three NABC Defensive Player of the Year honors, National Player of the Year, Final Four Outstanding Player and a national title in the final three years of college.
Majerus passed away in 2012, but his coaching career stretched 25 years and he won 517 games with four teams. With Utah, he won 10 conference titles in 13 years and led the Utes to two Sweet 16s and an Elite Eight.
Lute Olson, who helped the Wildcats win their first national title in 1997, was unable to attend the Hall of Fame weekend due to a stroke he had in February.
Homer Drew, Calbert Cheaney, Larry Johnson, Terry Dischinger, Ernie DiGregorio and Todd Lichti were also inducted on Sunday.