Imagine the Cabrini men’s basketball record book with a different look – a different all-time leading scorer, a different career rebounding list, and so-on and so-forth. Well, had it not been for one brother’s sister, that’s certainly the scenario we could be looking at today.
“What made the final decision for me was that I could go to college with my sister,” said Billy Carr '96, the Cabrini men’s basketball program’s all-time leading scorer. “It was great for my family. Experiencing college with my twin sister was something I’ll never forget.”
During Carr’s senior season in the prestigious Catholic League at Monsignor Bonner High School, he was getting a lot of Division III recruiting interest and even some Division II looks – but Cabrini wasn’t on the list.
It wasn’t until the Cabrini women’s basketball program began recruiting Carr’s twin sister – Patty – that his interest in the school peaked. And, lucky for the Cavaliers because the rest is history.
All Carr did was have a hand in 88 wins in four seasons, score 1,604 career points and guide Cabrini to four Pennsylvania Athletic Conference (now the Colonial States Athletic Conference) championships. He was a four-time first-team all-conference selection.
The Cavaliers have made nine appearances in the NCAA Tournament, beginning with the program’s first trip in 1988. Carr’s freshman year triggered a run of six consecutive years (1993-1998) that Cabrini played for the national title.
“Getting to the NCAA Tournament was such a big step for any program,” Carr said. “Those were our expectations heading into every season – win the conference and play in the NCAA Tournament.”
In addition to Cabrini’s play as a team receiving recognition on a national level, Carr’s performance was earning its own respect among the country’s top players. As a junior and senior, he twice received honorable mention All-America honors.
Carr’s senior season with the Cavaliers resulted in a program-record 24 victories – something the men’s basketball program has accomplished just three times in its 35-year history.
As a freshman, Carr remembers players such as Brad Dever and Joe McGowan teaching him to understand the program’s tradition at Cabrini. As a veteran, it was Nate Bowles and Eric Tidwell helping him relay the same message – a message that the men’s team at Cabrini was on another level.
“Every team was out to get us,” Carr said. “Cabrini was the team to beat year-in and year-out. We were always deep. Practices were sometimes harder than our games.”
