Legendary Sports Figures Square Off
Northwood University Athletics (Florida)

West Palm Beach, FLA – October, 2009 When Northwood University and Florida International University square off in a men's basketball exhibition game on November 4th down in Miami, it won't be your typical college pre-season game. Two of the biggest basketball names in the history of the game will be at the helm of each program. The game will be Wednesday, November 4th at Florida International University's Miami campus at 7pm.

Rollie Massimino, best known for leading Villanova to the 1985 NCAA National Championship, brings with him over 50 years of coaching experience at the high school and collegiate levels to the Seahawk program. In a very short time, Massimino has turned the Northwood Seahawks basketball program into an NAIA powerhouse, with multiple appearances at the national tournament.

Isiah Thomas, whose professional career included stints as a team executive, a television commentator, owner of the Continental Basketball Association, head coach of the Indiana Pacers, and President, General Manager and head coach for the New York Knicks, is best known for an outstanding playing career that ultimately saw him named as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History. Thomas retired with 18,822 points (19.2 ppg), 9,061 assists (9.3 apg), and 1,861 steals over 979 games – all Pistons records.

Thomas, a rookie in the collegiate coaching ranks, and Massimino a veteran, will have an interesting time figuring out each other's game plans. Both have the impressive basketball backgrounds and both come with a high pedigree of basketball knowledge.

College basketball in South Florida has been very exciting over the past few years boasting some highly talented teams. Northwood University and Florida International University know what it takes to have a high quality basketball program, and they each have gone out and found the right person for the job. The matchup November 4th between these two teams should be an exciting one to watch.