Education
University of Michigan.
University of Michigan.
He played collegiately for the University of Michigan and in the National Basketball Association. In three seasons playing center for Michigan, the 6" 7" Buntin had 1,037 rebounds, ranking second in school history. He averaged 15.7 rebounds a game in 1963 and recorded 58 double-doubles in 79 games, still a school record. His 1,725 points ranks 9th in school history.
In his senior year, the Wolverines advanced to the 1965 National Collegiate Athletic Association title game, where they lost, 91-80, to John Wooden"s University of California, Los Los Angeles He was named an All-American in both 1964 and 1965.
Buntin was selected by the Detroit Pistons in the 1965 National Basketball Association Draft and played for the Pistons for 42 games in the 1965-1966 season. During a pick-up basketball game on May 9, 1968, Buntin suffered a fatal heart attack.
He was inducted into the University of Michigan Athletic Hall of Honor in 1980 as part of the third induction class. Only two basketball players, Cazzie Russell and Rudy Tomjanovich were inducted into the Hall of Honor before Buntin.
In 2006, Buntin"s jersey (#22) was honored and hung from the rafters at Crisler Arena.
Buntin"s jersey became the fifth to be honored in Crisler Arena. Only Cazzie Russell"s jersey is retired. The award given each year to the best player on the Michigan basketball team is the Bill Buntin Most Valuable Player Award.
Past winners include Lester Abram (2004), Dion Harris (2005), and Daniel Horton (2006).