gophers/ncaa

Marvin “Corky” Taylor, who played basketball for the Gophers from 1970-1973 and was a member of their 1972 Big Ten title team, died Thursday due to complications from lung cancer. He was 60.

"He was as nice of a man that I have met since coming to the University of Minnesota and certainly a Gopher through and through,” Gophers basketball coach Tubby Smith said in a statement. “He had been a mentor to many of our former players and I know that helped tremendously in my transition here at the University of Minnesota. We are grateful to have had the opportunity to know him.”

Taylor finished with career averages of 3.3 points and 3.7 rebounds. He is often remembered for his role in the infamous Gophers/Ohio State brawl in 1972, which started when Taylor kneed Ohio State’s Luke Witte in the groin.

"I've had to come to terms with myself about what happened that night, and I think I've been able to do it," Taylor said in a 1997 interview.