Detroit Mercy Men’s Basketball To Retire Earl “The Twirl” Cureton’s Jersey On Jan. 23

DETROIT (1/3/2020) — One of the greats in Titan history will see his jersey hang from the historic Calihan Hall rafters as the University of Detroit Mercy Department of Athletics has announced that Earl “The Twirl” Cureton’s jersey will be retired on Jan. 23.

The men’s basketball team will face IUPUI that day in a 7 p.m. tip and Cureton’s jersey’s ceremony will take place at halftime.

“This is a long time coming to honor Earl with this great moment of appreciation for everything he has done, as a Titan, as a professional and, more importantly, as a great member of the community,” said Director of Athletics Robert C. Vowels, Jr. “His career speaks for itself, helping get the Titans back to the NCAA Tournament and then as a member of two NBA championship teams, but his work in the community and his commitment to earn his college degree speaks to his high morals.”

A 12-year NBA veteran and a two-time NBA champion, Cureton suited up for the Titans from 1977-80, playing two seasons after sitting out following his transfer from Robert Morris. He helped U-D back to the NCAA Tournament in his first year as the Titans went 22-6, capturing wins over Oregon, Georgetown and Marquette before coming back to lead another winning season with 14 victories in his senior campaign. 

He averaged 11.7 points and a team-high 9.0 rebounds with 1.3 assists, 1.1 blocks and 1.0 steals per game in 1978-79 and then topped the team in scoring (20.0) and rebounding (9.1) to go with 1.6 assists, and 1.7 blocks and steals in 1979-80. He is still 12th all-time in school history in career blocks with 79 – second when he graduated – and was inducted into the Titan Hall of Fame in 2007.

In his first year, as a Titan, he recorded 13 double-figure rebound games and 16 double-digit scoring contests with a magnificent night against St. Bonaventure, where he posted 32 points and 23 rebounds. 

As a senior, he was the Robert Calihan Team MVP award winner and was Honorable Mention All-Midwest by The Midwest Basketball News and The Sporting News and had another monster game on his resume with 32 points and 20 boards against Oral Roberts. 

A Detroit native and graduate of Finney High School, Cureton has served as the analyst for Titan games for over 10 years. In addition to his broadcasting duties, Cureton serves as the Detroit Pistons’ community ambassador, where he works to raise awareness for Come Together programs and NBA League-sponsored programs.

Prior to joining the Pistons community efforts, Cureton spent five seasons as a WNBA assistant coach with the Phoenix Mercury (2012-13), Charlotte Sting (2005-06) and Detroit Shock in 2009 along with coaching in the United States Basketball League and Continental Basketball Association.

Drafted by Philadelphia with the 58th pick in the 1979 NBA Draft, Cureton began his professional career in the 1980-1981 season as the 76ers advanced to the NBA Finals during his rookie season. They would later breakthrough to win the 1983 title and he was also part of the Houston Rockets championship team in 1994.

In his 12 years in the NBA, he played for seven playoff teams, including three years in the mid-1980s with the hometown Pistons, and averaged 5.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game over the course of 674 regular-season contests. He scored a career-high 25 points with 14 rebounds off the bench in a 129-113 Pistons win over the Nuggets on Jan. 17, 1986, and posted a career-best 18 boards as a member of the Clippers against the Rockets on Apr. 7, 1987. 

In 2011, Cureton made national headlines earning his degree from Detroit Mercy as a way to honor his mother as a promise he made to her to graduate college.

P.J. Gradowski

University of Detroit Mercy

Director Of Athletic Communications

Calihan Hall

4001 W. McNichols Rd

Detroit, MI 48221

Office – (313)-993-1700 – ext. 7325

Cell – (313) 585-0982

gradowpj@udmercy.edu

Twitter – @DetroitTitans@gradowpj

Detroit Mercy served as the host institution for the NCAA Men’s Basketball 2008 Regional and 2009 NCAA Final Four held at Ford Field and the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball First & Second Rounds at the brand new Little Caesars Arena.