Remember When: The Case of the Missing Basketball Shorts

By Avery DePaola on April 20, 2020 at 1:05 pm
Remembering when Benton Dempsey arrived in Iowa City missing part of his uniform.
Lantern Digital Archives
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Welcome back to Remember When, where we delve into some interesting moments in Ohio State sports history.

During the 1923-1924 season, the Ohio State basketball team was set to travel for a two-game stretch against Iowa and Illinois. Unfortunately, forward Benton Dempsey was sidelined for both games as half of his uniform didn't make the trip with him from Columbus. 

The rest of the team proceeded to have some fun with the situation and staged a mock trial to punish Dempsey for his crimes.

From the February 13, 1924 issue of The Lantern:

From The Lantern, 1924.

Looks like the case of Dempsey’s missing shorts remains unsolved.

But nonetheless, the team finished the season 12-5, marking the beginning of Harold Olsen's storied career as head coach, and giving Ohio State sports fans a sliver of hope after a disappointing football season.

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