The1980s was a great decade for the men’s basketball program at Rhodes. Hall of Fame Lynx head coach Herb Hilgeman recruited well and coached numerous elite players at the college, and the program had the most successful seasons in school history. One of Hilgeman’s recruits, Kurt Wyckoff, was the ultimate team player, and during his career he was at the center of some of Rhodes’s most legendary basketball teams.
Kurt was a three-year starter on three nationally ranked, top-20 teams during his career. The Lynx were16-9 his sophomore year and 22-6 his junior year, which included a conference championship and NCAA tournament bid. During Kurt’s senior year the team was 23-3, won back-to-back conference championships, and made a NCAA tournament run to the elite eight.
Hilgeman had this to say about Kurt: “Kurt was a great team player and the best defensive player on this championship team.” According to Hilgeman, there was one weekend during Kurt’s junior year that defined his Hall of Fame career. The team played two games that included back-to-back games on the road against conference rival Millsaps and nationally ranked Division 1 opponent Tulane.
Before the weekend, Hilgeman said they discussed and challenged Kurt to defend two of the best offensive players on back-to-back nights. Kurt rose to the occasion and shut down both players, keeping them well under their season averages. Against Tulane, not only did Kurt shut his opponent down, but he scored 26 points. The Lynx almost pulled out the upset win, losing 87-82.
Kurt shot 58 percent from the field during his career, scoring 865 points and grabbing 817 rebounds. His career rebound totals still rank in the top 10 of men’s basketball records. His outstanding defense led his team to back-to-back conference championships.
Rhodes is honored to induct Kurt Wyckoff into the Rhodes Athletic Hall of Fame on this 2nd day of November, 2024.
