Kit Mueller

Mueller attended Downers Grove South High School. As a freshman, he led the sophomore team with 18 points per game. He came off the bench for the varsity team as a sophomore to average 10 points per game as a {{convert|6|ft|3|in|m|adj=on}} {{convert|185|lbs|kg|adj=on}} forward. He grew {{convert|2|in|cm}} and {{convert|20|lbs|kg}} prior to his junior season and became a center. As a junior, his outside shot was still undeveloped,{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1986/02/03/a-junior-grows-into-center-stage/|title=A Junior Grows Into Center Stage|access-date=November 5, 2011|date=February 3, 1986|work=Chicago Tribune|author=Leptich, John}} but he averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds, leading his team to the 1986 Des Plaines Valley League championship and a second straight trip to the sectional finals.{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1986/12/22/the-superman-of-downers-grove-s/|title=The Superman Of Downers Grove S.|access-date=November 5, 2011|date=December 22, 1986|work=Chicago Tribune|author=Young, Linda}} The team was ranked in the Chicago Sun-Times Super 25 for a couple of weeks during the season.{{cite news|title=Sun-Times Super 25|date=January 14, 1986|page=85|work=Chicago Sun-Times|author=Bell, Taylor}}{{cite news|title=Sun-Times Super 25|date=February 25, 1986|page=89|work=Chicago Sun-Times|author=Bell, Taylor}} He was benched for one game in early March of his junior year for disciplinary reasons by coach Dick Flaiz.{{cite web|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB36CF4E7AC6672&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|title=Wheaton N. profits from Downers S.|access-date=November 5, 2011|date=March 8, 1986|work=Chicago Sun-Times|page=97|author=Bell, Taylor}} The Chicago Sun-Times named him the MVP of the league.{{cite news|title=Chicago Area All-Conference Selections|date=February 28, 1986|page=99|work=Chicago Sun-Times}} Mueller also played varsity tennis as a junior.{{cite web|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/24901655.html?dids=24901655:24901655&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=May+11%2C+1986&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=OAK+PARK+LEAGUE+CHAMP&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130131140135/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/24901655.html?dids=24901655:24901655&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=May+11,+1986&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=OAK+PARK+LEAGUE+CHAMP&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 31, 2013|title=Oak Park League Champ|access-date=November 5, 2011|date=May 11, 1986|work=Chicago Tribune|page=8}} Following the school year, he played in the suburban summer basketball league at Triton College in River Grove, Illinois.{{cite news|title=Liberty hints his choice may be Georgetown|date=July 6, 1986|page=82|work=Chicago Sun-Times|author=Bell, Taylor}}

As a senior, he was his team's only returning varsity letterman, and was ranked by the Chicago Sun-Times among the preseason top 50 Metro Chicago basketball players.{{cite news|title=Chicago Area's Top 50 Prospects|date=November 17, 1986|page=117|work=Chicago Sun-Times}} Off The Glass, a national basketball magazine, ranked him among the 19 best basketball players in the state of Illinois, along with Walter Bond, Marcus Liberty, Brian Banks and Rodell Davis.{{cite news|title=Fenger's McConnell shifts gears|author=Bell, Taylor|date=September 13, 1986|page=93|work=Chicago Sun-Times}} At the beginning of December of his senior season, the team was ranked 23rd in the Chicago Sun-Times' Metro Chicago top 25,{{cite news|title=Sun-Times Super 25|author=Bell, Taylor|date=December 2, 1986|page=90|work=Chicago Sun-Times}} and there was talk of the team improving on the 23–6 record of the prior year.{{cite news|title=Here's a 20-20 look at area's high school basketball|author=Bell, Taylor|date=December 1, 1986|page=114|work=Chicago Sun-Times}} He led the West Suburban Conference in scoring and rebounding most of the season and was an All-Conference selection.{{cite news|title=All-Conference Selections|date=March 6, 1987|page=89|work=Chicago Sun-Times}}{{cite news|title=Class A Venice has a standout in 6-4 Jesse Hall|date=February 7, 1987|page=81|work=Chicago Sun-Times|author=Bell, Taylor}}{{cite news|title=9 from area among All-State nominees|date=February 14, 1987|page=93|work=Chicago Sun-Times|author=Bell, Taylor}} Mueller posted his career-high 45 points on March 3, 1987 in an 83–47 victory against Montini High School.{{cite news|title=Top seeds knocked out in three regionals|date=March 4, 1987|page=112|work=Chicago Sun-Times|author=Bell, Taylor}} By the end of his senior season, he was one of the 20 All-Chicago Area selections by the Chicago Sun-Times, in a class that included Eric Anderson, Bond, Liberty and Sam Mack, after averaging 23 points and 14 rebounds.{{cite news|title=All Chicago Area Basketball Profiles|date=March 6, 1987|page=88|work=Chicago Sun-Times|author=Bell, Taylor}} However, unlike Anderson, Liberty and Bond, he was not one of the nine area All-State nominees.

Mueller, who scored 1290 out of 1600 on his SAT and a 31 on his ACT, was a highly recruited high-school basketball player. However, by early March 1987, he had not signed a National Letter of Intent as a commitment to any school.{{cite news|title=Star team exemplifies a winning tradition|date=March 6, 1987|page=88|work=Chicago Sun-Times|author=Bell, Taylor}} At that time, he was keeping a pair of piranhas at home in an aquarium and accidentally injured his left foot by breaking the aquarium's glass.{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1990/01/28/downers-mueller-is-high-on-princeton/|title=Downers' Mueller Is High On Princeton|access-date=November 5, 2011|date=December 22, 1986|work=Chicago Tribune|author=Young, Linda}} The resulting injury caused severe damage to his leg including a severed achilles tendon; he had surgery to repair the damage in late March.{{cite news|title=Bits|date=March 22, 1987|page=76|work=Chicago Sun-Times|author=Bell, Taylor}} Division I schools like Northwestern University withdrew their scholarship offers; however, Princeton maintained an interest, with supporters like John Rogers behind him. As most of his scholarship offers were withdrawn, he began to focus on schools that could provide him an academic opportunity in the event that his basketball career was over. He eventually matriculated at Princeton, unsure of whether he would ever play competitive basketball again.{{cite web|url=http://www.princetonvarsityclub.org/polTestimonials.cfm?doctype_code=Testimonial&doc_id=288&Keyword_Desc=basketball |title=Testimonials: Kit Mueller '91 - Basketball |access-date=November 4, 2011 |date=January 30, 2009 |publisher=Princeton Varsity Club |author=Mueller, Kit |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120508050517/http://www.princetonvarsityclub.org/polTestimonials.cfm?doctype_code=Testimonial&doc_id=288&Keyword_Desc=basketball |archive-date=May 8, 2012 }}

As a freshman, Mueller helped the 1987–88 Tigers win their final three games in March to finish the season with a 17–9 (9–5 Ivy League) record.{{cite web|url=http://www.goprincetontigers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=10600&ATCLID=3749695|title=Men's Basketball Record Book • All-Time Results|access-date=November 4, 2011|date=June 12, 2009|publisher=Princeton University|website=GoPrincetonTigers.com}} He posted 25 points in the March 1, 1988 67–65 victory against {{cbb link|1987|sex=men|team=Penn Quakers|school=University of Pennsylvania|title=Penn}}.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/03/02/sports/college-basketball-syracuse-sets-back-villanova-by-71-69.html?|title=College Basketball; Syracuse Sets Back Villanova by 71-69|access-date=November 4, 2011|date=March 2, 1988|work=The New York Times}} Two games later, in the final game of the season on March 5, he added 22 points in 79–58 victory over league champion Cornell.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/03/06/sports/college-basketball-st-john-s-loses-fight-marred-game.html|title=College Basketball; St. John's Loses Fight-Marred Game|access-date=November 4, 2011|date=March 6, 1988|work=The New York Times}} He finished the season as the Ivy League statistical champion in field-goal percentage for the first of three times.{{cite book|title=2009–10 Ivy League Basketball Media Guide|page=49|website=IvyLeagueSports.com}} He led the team in rebounds and blocked shots.

Mueller began his career wearing the number 55, but switched to 00 by his sophomore year.{{cite web|url=http://www.princetonbasketball.com/?cat=73|title=Assorted Programs: 1988-89 Princeton Basketball: Tigers vs. Colgate University, November 30, 1988|access-date=November 4, 2011|publisher=Princeton University}} During his sophomore season, the 1988–89 team earned a #1 vs. #16 matchup in the first round of the 1989 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament with their Pete Carril-coached princeton offense. The New York Times reported that the matchup seemed comical to some, even though Carill had a system that frustrated many offensive systems and had already produced upsets.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/03/15/sports/ncaa-tournament-tigers-stay-in-a-steady-state.html|title=N.C.A.A. Tournament; Tigers Stay in a Steady State|access-date=November 4, 2011|date=March 15, 1989|work=The New York Times}} In the St. Patrick's Day 1989 Georgetown vs. Princeton men's basketball game, the 16th-seeded Tigers were 23-point underdogs according to the Las Vegas bookmakers, and Dick Vitale had promised to serve as a Tiger ballboy if they won. Entering the game, the last four Ivy League representatives in the tournament had lost in the first round by an average of 35 points.{{cite web|url=http://www.princeton.edu/~paw/archive_old/hoops/g040589.html|title=April 5, 1989: Georgetown 50, Princeton 49|access-date=November 4, 2011|date=April 5, 1989|author=Williamson, David|work=Princeton Alumni Weekly|publisher=Princeton University}} During the game, Mueller's defensive assignment was Mourning, and he contributed nine points and eight assists to Princeton's 49-point effort. During the game, Mueller played beyond the foul line on the offensive end, forcing Mourning to leave passing lanes open for back-door attacks.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/03/18/sports/ncaa-tournament-east-georgetown-survives-princeton-scare.html|title=N.C.A.A. Tournament: East; Georgetown Survives Princeton Scare|access-date=November 5, 2011|date=March 18, 1989|work=The New York Times|author=Moran, Malcolm}} Although the strategy enabled Princeton to stay in the game, Mourning had seven blocked shots, including two in the final fifteen seconds. Mueller's final shot was deflected by Mourning, which is remembered by Princeton fans as an uncalled foul.{{cite book|title=ESPN College Basketball Encyclopedia: The Complete History of the Men's Game|publisher=ESPN|year=2009|pages=368–9|isbn=978-0-345-51392-2}} The team finished with a 19–8 (11–3) record. Later in the same tournament, Duke would use Christian Laettner at the top of the key, like Princeton had used Mueller, and eliminate Georgetown by shutting down Mourning.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/03/27/sports/the-other-freshman-earns-acclaim.html|title=The 'Other' Freshman Earns Acclaim|access-date=November 6, 2011|date=March 27, 1989|work=The New York Times}} The Princeton-Georgetown game is regarded as one of only a handful of close #1 vs. #16 matchups in NCAA tournament history.{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/lopresti/2005-03-15-lopresti_x.htm|title=No shining moments yet for No. 16 seeds|access-date=November 5, 2011|date=March 15, 2005|work=USA Today|author=Lopresti, Mike}} For the season, he repeated as Ivy League field goal percentage champion. He was a first-team All-Ivy honoree.{{cite web|url=http://archives.ivyleaguesports.com/sports/alltime.asp?intSID=6|title=Men's Ivy League Outstanding Performers|access-date=November 4, 2011|website=IvyLeagueSports.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305035433/http://archives.ivyleaguesports.com/sports/alltime.asp?intSID=6|archive-date=March 5, 2016|url-status=dead}} He led the team in points, rebounds, assists and blocked shots.

As a junior, Mueller led the 1989–90 Tigers to a repeat Ivy League championship as the Ivy League Player of the Year. The team earned a 13 seed for the 1990 NCAA tournament.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/03/15/sports/princeton-still-confident.html|title=Princeton Still Confident|access-date=November 6, 2011|date=March 15, 1990|work=The New York Times}} The team finished with a 20–7 (11–3) record after losing to the Arkansas Razorbacks by a 68–64 margin. Mueller was one of only six Tigers to appear in the game and led the team with 19 points.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/03/16/sports/midwest-regional-razorbacks-deal-tigers-a-heartbreaker.html|title=Midwest Regional; Razorbacks Deal Tigers a Heartbreaker|access-date=November 6, 2011|date=March 16, 1990|work=The New York Times|author=Brown, Clifton}} As a junior, Mueller earned a third team Academic All-America recognition from College Sports Information Directors of America.{{cite book|title=2009–10 Ivy League Basketball Media Guide|page=38|website=IvyLeagueSports.com}} He was a first-team All-Ivy performer as well as Ivy League Player of the Year. He led the team in points, rebounds, and assists.

In a February 23, 1991, game against {{cbb link|1990|sex=men|team=Cornell Big Red|school=Cornell University|title=Cornell}}, Mueller earned his current position as Princeton's second all-time leading scorer one night after the 1990–91 Princeton Tigers men's basketball team had clinched its third consecutive Ivy League championship with a victory over {{cbb link|1990|sex=men|team=Columbia Lions|school=Columbia University|title=Columbia}}.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/02/24/sports/college-basketball-hoyas-run-away-from-the-huskies.html|title=College Basketball; Hoyas Run Away From the Huskies|access-date=November 6, 2011|date=February 24, 1991|work=The New York Times}} The team went undefeated in the Ivy League and earned a berth in the 1991 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. After its strong tournament performances in the prior two seasons and strong regular season, the team earned a number 8 seed,{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1991/03/14/some-abcs-before-the-ncaa-field/|title=- Some ABCs: Before the NCAA field of 64 begins...|access-date=November 6, 2011|date=March 14, 1991|work=Chicago Tribune|author=Conklin, Mike}} which was a record for the highest seed by an Ivy League school at the time.{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1991/03/11/buckeyes-have-it-a-top-seed/|title=Buckeyes Have It-a Top Seed: Ohio St. Gets Midwest Nod Over Indiana|access-date=November 6, 2011|date=March 11, 1991|work=Chicago Tribune|author=Myslenski, Skip}} The team had another close but disappointing loss, this time by a 50–48 margin to Villanova,{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/03/17/sports/sports-of-the-times-these-tigers-were-definitely-burning-bright.html|title=Sports of the Times; These Tigers Were Definitely Burning Bright|access-date=November 6, 2011|date=March 17, 1991|work=The New York Times|author=Vecsey, George}} finishing with a 24–3 (14–0) record. That year, senior Mueller served as team captain,{{cite web|url=http://www.goprincetontigers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=10600&ATCLID=3749695|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180419123137/http://goprincetontigers.com/news/2009/6/12/3749695.aspx|archivedate=April 19, 2018|title=Men's Basketball Record Book • All-Time Results|accessdate=February 4, 2024|date=June 12, 2009|author=Princeton Athletic Communications|website=GoPrincetonTigers.com|publisher=Princeton University}} and earned first team Academic All-America honors.{{cite news|title=Howard, Mueller Academic All-U.S.|work=Chicago Sun-Times|page=91|author=Ginnetti, Toni|date=March 8, 1991}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/03/10/sports/sports-people-academic-honors.html|title=Sports People; Academic Honors|access-date=November 6, 2011|date=March 10, 1991|work=The New York Times}} That season marked the third year that Mueller led the team in points, assists and blocked shots and the fourth time that he led the team in rebounds.{{cite web|url=https://admin.xosn.com/attachments1/83824.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=10600|title=Individual Rebounds Per Game (1954-55 to 1996-97)|access-date=November 6, 2011|publisher=Princeton University}}{{cite web|url=https://admin.xosn.com/attachments1/83825.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=10600|title=Individual Steals and Blocks Per Game (1974-75 to 1996-97)|access-date=November 6, 2011|publisher=Princeton University}}{{cite web|url=https://admin.xosn.com/attachments1/83823.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=10600|title=Individual Assists Per Game (1974–75 to 1996–97)|access-date=November 6, 2011|publisher=Princeton University}}{{cite web|url=https://admin.xosn.com/attachments1/84022.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=10600|title=Individual Points Per Game (1900-01 to 1996-97)|access-date=November 6, 2011|publisher=Princeton University}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/02/25/sports/carril-demands-versatility.html|title=Carril Demands Versatility|access-date=November 6, 2011|date=February 25, 1991|work=The New York Times|author=Wallace, William N.}} For the season, he earned his third Ivy League field-goal percentage championship. He repeated as Ivy League Player of the Year and was a first-team All-Ivy performer for the third consecutive season.

He remains prominent in the Princeton basketball record books. When Mueller ended his career, his 1,546 career points trailed only Bill Bradley and his 381 career assists were also second in school history. His single-season assist totals of 140 in 1989-90 and 128 in 1990-91 remain second and fourth in school history. Only one other Tiger has totaled 11 assists in a game (a feat Mueller achieved three times). His career 59.5 field goal percentage is third in school history, as is his sophomore single-season rate of 64.9%.{{cite web|url=http://www.goprincetontigers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=10600&ATCLID=3749717|title=Men's Basketball Record Book • Individual & Team Records|access-date=November 4, 2011|date=March 2011|publisher=Princeton University|website=GoPrincetonTigers.com}} A 2009 publication by ESPN ranked him among the five greatest basketball players in Princeton history. On March 19, 2012, Doug Davis surpassed Mueller for second place on the Princeton scoring list.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/boxscore?gameId=320790221|title=Princeton 61 (20-12, 10-4 Ivy); Pittsburgh 82 (19-16, 5-13 Big East)|access-date=March 20, 2012|date=March 19, 2012|publisher=ESPN}}{{cite web|url=http://www.goprincetontigers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=46548&SPID=4231&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=10600&ATCLID=205400657|title=Davis Becomes School's Second-Leading Scorer, but Tigers Lose to Pitt|access-date=March 20, 2012|date=March 19, 2012|publisher=Princeton University}} On March 1, 2013, Ian Hummer passed him as well.{{cite web|url=http://www.goprincetontigers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPID=4231&DB_OEM_ID=10600&ATCLID=206574368|title=In Must-Win Game, @Princeton_Hoops Outlasts Harvard 58-53|access-date=March 2, 2013|date=March 1, 2013}}

After graduation, Mueller played professional basketball in Switzerland.{{Citation needed|reason=First link to Princeton web site does not mention Mueller, second link was dead.|date=May 2022}} He then became a professional hedge-fund trader, and has played in competitive 3-on-3 basketball leagues with various combinations of Ivy League athletes including Arne Duncan, Craig Robinson, Mitch Henderson and Rogers in the mid-to-late 1990s and early 2000s. The mid-1990s versions of the team were Chicago-area champions.{{cite news|title=Kids, Corporate Teams Score Repeat Crowns|work=Chicago Sun-Times|date=August 2, 1993|page=86|author=Alexander, Rachel}}{{cite news|title=Going Once, Going Twice, Go to Jail|work=Chicago Sun-Times|date=July 29, 1994|page=16|author=Zwecker, Bill}} In 1998, he won a 3-on-3 tournament in Dallas with Rogers and Robinson.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/03/15/sports/sports-of-the-times-the-30-second-weave-is-not-for-everybody.html|title=Sports of The Times; The 30-Second Weave Is Not for Everybody|access-date=November 6, 2011|date=March 15, 1998|work=The New York Times|author=Vecsey, George}} Both the 2001 and 2003 versions of the team, named "Slow and Steady", qualified for national competition. The 2003 team with Duncan, Robinson, Henderson and Brian Earl made the national championship.{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2003/02/08/schools-chief-aims-to-teach-a-lesson-on-the-court/|access-date=November 5, 2011|date=February 8, 2003|title=Schools chief aims to teach a lesson-- on the court|work=Chicago Tribune|author=DeSimone, Bonnie}}{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2001/07/11/city-school-chief-stays-on-the-ball/|access-date=November 5, 2011|date=July 11, 2001|title=City school chief stays on the ball: Whether it's a Chicago playground or national tournament, Arne Duncan --is a hoops junkie.|work=Chicago Tribune|author=Conklin, Mike}} Mueller's daughter, Ellie, followed in her father's footsteps and now plays lacrosse for the Tigers.

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Category:1970s births

Category:Living people

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Switzerland

Category:American men's basketball players

Category:Centers (basketball)

Category:Sportspeople from Downers Grove, Illinois

Category:Princeton Tigers men's basketball players

Category:Basketball players from DuPage County, Illinois

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)