Kaufman, Artie

Arthur Kaufman

Kaufman played guard at CCNY (City College of New York) in the early 1930s and was a member of back-to-back Eastern championship teams.

Birth and Death Dates:
unknown

Career Highlights:
Kaufman, a play-making guard whose ability to cut to the basket was a key component of CCNY's attack, began his varsity career at City College as a sophomore in 1932. That year, the Beavers had a record of 16-1 and were considered the New York Metropolitan and Eastern champions (both titles were mythical). Their only loss of the season came to Temple by a score of 33-29. On the year, City outscored their opponents, 573-327.

The following season, City had another strong team with Kaufman and senior captain Moe Spahn in the backcourt and junior Moe Goldman at center. Under the tutelage of legendary head coach Nat Holman, the Beavers began the season with seven consecutive victories. A mid-season loss to rival St. John's did nothing to undermine the Beavers' morale. CCNY proceeded to win their next six games, including victories over George Washington and arch-rival NYU to complete the season. Kaufman was fourth on the team in scoring with 45 points (32nd in the New York Metropolitan area) and City again captured both the Metropolitan and Eastern championships with a record of 13-1.

The Beavers began the 1934 season as perhaps the strongest squad in the country. A senior-heavy team led by Kaufman, forward Pete Berenson and All-America center Moe Goldman, CCNY was expected to win their third consecutive Eastern title. They began the season with a rousing 39-17 victory over St. Francis. City then won their next six games by comfortable margins (only Scranton came within 10 points of the Beavers) before a mid-season match-up with St. John's.

Prior to the City College-St. John's showdown, people began talking of an undefeated season for the Beavers if they could manage to avenge the previous year's defeat at the hands of the Redmen. City came in to the game as heavy favorites with their experienced senior, while St. John's lost three starters from the 1933 season and had to rely on sophomores. In the end, City's class, poise, and experience were too much for St. John's and the Beavers won the match, 30-25 to extend their winning streak to 14 games, going back to the 1933 season.

Following the St. John's game, Kaufman and City crushed Manhattan, 32-15, defeated Temple, 33-29, (Kaufman scored two points against the Owls), and then won its next four games. CCNY had a perfect 14-0 record as they entered the season finale against rival NYU, who were also undefeated on the year. The hype surrounding the CCNY-NYU game was unprecedented in New York City history. Although only 5,000 people could attend, more than 15,000 fans clamored for tickets to the faceoff. The game itself, proved to be a bit of letdown. NYU upset City, 24-18 (Kaufman scored two points), and took over the top spot in the East. Kaufman, who finished fourth on the team with 59 points (34th in the Met area) lost only the third game of his career and City finished 14-1 on the season.

Although the game did not live up to the hype, it nevertheless proved to be a turning point in college basketball history. Talk of moving the game to a Madison Square Garden in order to accommodate the ticket demand was quelled by a scheduling conflict, but promoters and colleges alike saw that the game had a bright future in New York City. The following year, the famed doubleheaders began at the Garden. These events brought top teams from around the country to New York. The games became popular and successful and within a few years, two post-season competitions, the NIT (National Invitational Tournament) and NCAA tournament, had been inaugurated. The national post-season showdowns took college basketball from a strictly regional game to nationwide recognition.

Origin:
New York

Career Dates:
Kaufman played guard at CCNY from 1932-1934.

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