The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has been around for over a century and is one of the most widely recognized organizations in the world. The NCAA is responsible for setting and enforcing standards for college athletics, ensuring that athletes are treated fairly and given an equal opportunity to succeed. When it comes to men’s basketball, the NCAA keeps track of a number of stats, including individual records and team records. One of the most impressive records is the most assists in a single college game.
What is an Assist?
In order to understand the most assists in a college game, it is important to first understand what an assist is. An assist is a statistic that is awarded to a basketball player who passed the ball to a teammate who then makes a successful field goal. It is important to note that a player must both pass the ball and have their teammate make a successful shot in order for an assist to be awarded.
History of Assists
Assists were first tracked in the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the 1950s. Since then, the stat has become an important part of the game. In the NCAA, assists have been tracked since the 1970s. The record for most assists in a single college game is held by Oregon State’s Gary Payton, who recorded an impressive 24 assists in 1990.
The Most Assists in a College Game
The record for most assists in a single college game is held by Oregon State’s Gary Payton, who recorded an impressive 24 assists against the University of California Santa Barbara in 1990. This record still stands today, which is a testament to Payton’s remarkable performance.
Notable Assists
In addition to Payton’s record-breaking performance, there have been several other impressive performances by college players. Some of the most notable performances include:
- Sherman Douglas, Syracuse University: 23 assists in 1989
- Andre Miller, University of Utah: 22 assists in 1997
- Deron Williams, Illinois University: 21 assists in 2005
- Kendall Marshall, University of North Carolina: 20 assists in 2012
The Effect of Assists on Wins
Assists are an important part of the game of basketball, as they can have a major impact on the outcome of a game. The more assists a team has, the more likely they are to win. This is because assists lead to more points and give the team more opportunities to score.
Assists Leaders in the NCAA
In addition to Payton’s record-breaking performance, there have been several other players who have had impressive assist totals over the years. Some of the all-time leaders in assists include:
- Sherman Douglas, Syracuse University: 853 assists
- Andre Miller, University of Utah: 812 assists
- Deron Williams, Illinois University: 745 assists
- Kendall Marshall, University of North Carolina: 731 assists
The Impact of Assists on the NBA
Assists have had a major impact on the NBA as well. Many of the players listed above went on to have successful careers in the NBA and some of them are still active. Players such as Payton, Miller, and Williams are all well-known for their ability to facilitate the offense and help their teams score points.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the record for most assists in a single college game is held by Oregon State’s Gary Payton, who recorded an impressive 24 assists against the University of California Santa Barbara in 1990. This record still stands today, which is a testament to Payton’s remarkable performance. Assists are an important part of the game of basketball, as they can have a major impact on the outcome of a game. There have been several other players who have had impressive assist totals over the years and many of them have gone on to have successful careers in the NBA.