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DePaul's Meyer, Aguirre To Be Honored at Illinois-NU Doubleheader

By Ted Cox | November 17, 2016 4:22pm
 DePaul coach Ray Meyer will be declared a Chicago Legend along with his great star player Mark Aguirre.
DePaul coach Ray Meyer will be declared a Chicago Legend along with his great star player Mark Aguirre.
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DePaul University

LINCOLN PARK — DePaul's top coach and one of his top players will be honored as Chicago Legends as part of an upcoming Illinois-Northwestern basketball doubleheader at the United Center.

Coach Ray Meyer and Mark Aguirre, the former Westinghouse High School star who took him to his only NCAA Final Four appearance in 1979, will both be declared Chicago Legends Dec. 17.

"I love Chicago," Aguirre said. "Thank you, Chicago, for the best basketball moments of my life."

"I am very proud and honored to see Coach being recognized," said Joey Meyer, Ray's son, who succeeded him as DePaul basketball coach in 1984.

Meyer coached DePaul from 1942-84, amassing a 724-354 record. He won the 1945 National Invitation Tournament with center George Mikan, his other great star. He died in 2006.

Aguirre returned the program to national prominence with the 1979 Final Four appearance, although the team would fail to return there in his final two seasons at the university. He went on to be the top pick in the NBA draft with the Dallas Mavericks, and won two championships with the Detroit Pistons before retiring in 1994.

State Farm is using the two to help promote its attempt to launch an annual Chicago Legends college basketball doubleheader in the city. This year's doubleheader starts with Northwestern playing Dayton at 6 p.m. at the United Center, 1901 W. Madison St., followed by Illinois playing Brigham Young University at 8:30. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.

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