The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Vuyancihs share Sweet 16 experiences
Pat was on 1986 Cleveland State squad, son Tony suits up for John Carroll
It has come full circle for Pat Vuyancih and the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16.
Vuyancih was a player on the Kevin Mackey-coached Cleveland State University team that in March 1986 secured the program’s first bid to the NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament.
The “run and stun” Vikings opened with an upset victory over the heavily favored Indiana Hoosiers in the first round. They followed with a victory
over St. Joseph in the second round before dropping a 71-70 heartbreaker to Navy and future NBA star David Robinson in the round of 16.
Now, the 54-year-old Euclid resident will make the drive to Rock Island, Ill., on March 9 to watch son Tony Vuyanich play for John Carroll University against host Augustana (24-5) in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Division III tournament.
The younger Vuyancih starts at shooting guard and averages 13.9 points for the Blue Streaks (25-5), who got this far by winning NCAA tournament games against Thomas More and Wooster at home after capturing the Ohio Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles.
Based on what he regards as life-shaping experiences of playing at CSU during the 1985-86 and 1986-87 seasons, Pat Vuyancih has advised his son to savor every moment of JCU’s journey in the NCAA tournament.
“The most special thing about our Sweet 16 run is that the guys from that team are still very close as former teammates and friends,” Vuyancih said. “When you get to that level, there’s a bond formed that doesn’t break. No matter what happens in life, you’re always going to have those guys behind you. And you’ll be behind them. These are relationships for life.”.
Tony Vuyancih said he already feels that way about his JCU teammates. He’s especially close to fellow seniors Matt Csuhran, Brian Papich and Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin product John Cirillo.
“There’s something about playing college basketball and having your best friends on the court with you or on the bench next to you that is unreal,” he said.
Both laughed when asked if in recent days there had been any goodnatured dialogue about the son’s team now matching the father’s team in getting to the round of 16.
“He hasn’t talked any trash, but I am trying to beat his team’s Sweet 16 and help my team get to the Elite 8,” Tony Vuyancih said, smiling.
“If you guys win (on March 9), I’ll be happy to concede that point,” Pat Vuyancih added.
Since August 2017, Pat Vuyancih has worked at CSU as clinical internship program coordinator. Prior to returning to is alma mater, he was a teacher, coach and administrator in various public school systems and at Lake Erie College.
Pat Vuyancih’s playing career in basketball had its share of ups and downs. He was cut from the basketball team at St. Joseph High School (now Villa Angela St. Joseph) as a sophomore, transferred to Euclid and didn’t make the team there as a junior. It wasn’t until his senior year at Euclid, under the guidance of legendary coach Harold “Doc” Daugherty, that he found his stride while averaging 14 points and nine rebounds.
“I was a late bloomer,” he said, laughing.
He spent one year at Allegheny (Pa.) College, came home to attend Lakeland Community College and then enrolled at CSU. He walked onto that talented CSU team during the 198586 season and played sparingly while earning respect from Mackey and his teammates.
The next season, Vuyancih earned a scholarship and a spot in Mackey’s rotation. He averaged 6.8 points and 4.3 rebounds, starting 14 of 32 games, on a team that finished 25-8 and played into the second round of the National Invitation Tournament,
“Growing up, from a lot people I didn’t even know, I heard all about what a tough player my dad was and he fought his way onto those teams at Euclid and Cleveland State,” Tony Vuyancih said.
The younger Vuyancih played on a high school Division I state championship team at St. Edward before attending John Carroll. He said his father’s experiences as a player inform his approach to the game.
“He’d never let me walk around like I was top dog on the court,” Tony Vuyancih said.
In addition to Tony, Pat Vuyancih and his wife, Aurea, have two daughters, Tiana and Celina, and another son, Joe. All of the Vuyancih kids gravitated to basketball and excelled at the high-school level. Tiana also was an outstanding volleyball player at VASJ. Joe played at Lake Catholic and for one season at JCU. Celina played at Euclid and just finished her freshman season at JCU.
Pat Vuyancih admits to being an avid and mostly good basketball dad to all of his children.
“I’ve gotten better at it as I’ve gone along,” he said. “In the stands, I try to sit in places where I won’t be seen or heard. I really tried hard not to talk to them right after games. Most of the time, I was successful. But there were times where I would get a little bit upset. Usually it was about the effort things. I never got on them about missing a shot. “
Tony Vuyancih smiled as he listened to his father talk about the high-wire act of being an engaged basketball dad.
“When you’re younger, it’s hard to take those car rides home after a bad game,” Tony Vuyancih said. “I got it pretty good sometimes. As you get older and reflect on it, you realize it made you stronger. It made you a better basketball player.”
On the trip to Illinois, Pat Vuyancih will be accompanied Aurea and their daughters.
“Of course, we’re going,” he said. “This is a basketball family.”