Hall of Fame
Billy Burton was the driving force in EKU’s success from 1969 to 1972, starting all 71 games at point guard while drawing the assignment of guarding the other team’s top player. Freshmen were ineligible his first season at EKU, but Burton was an offensive star averaging 15.1 points and 8.4 rebounds as the frosh went 12-6 and averaged 90.4 points per game. He averaged 9.5 points per game as a sophomore as the Colonels finished tied for third in the conference. During his junior season EKU tied for second in the Ohio Valley Conference and won 10 of the last 12 games of the year. Burton led the team in assists and averaged 10.2 points per game. His playing career culminated in 1972 with an OVC championship. EKU played five teams in the top-25, finishing with a 15-11 record. In the NCAA Tournament game, the Colonels came within a whisker of defeating eventual NCAA runner-up Florida State – losing by just two points, 83-81. Burton finished his career with 928 points and 480 rebounds. He was drafted by the ABA’s Indiana Pacers in the spring of 1972.
