Seasons
1991-92
Record: 42-14, won American Conference Midwest Division of 17-team league, although franchise in Bakersfield, Calif., folded in midseason.
Playoffs: Won first-round best-of-three series with final-game road win at Birmingham, but lost two straight at home to Saunders and new rival La Crosse to lose best-of-five conference final.
Scoring leaders: Anthony Bowie 20.7, Barry Mitchell 20.1, Tony Harris 16.9, Steve Scheffler 14.9.
Rebounding leaders: Mitchell 8.6, Bowie 7.6, Scheffler 7.5.
Assist leaders: Wynder 7.1, Mitchell 4.9.
Year in review: For 13 games, Dan Panaggio was threatening to become the only unbeaten head coach in basketball history. Behind an MVP season from Mitchell, Thunder Dan and his crew kept the hammer down. In addition to the 13-0 start, the Thunder had three six-game win streaks that year en route to the best record in franchise history. They needed it, too. Despite a record that was five games better than any of the three other division champs, the Thunder nipped Saunders and the ’Birds by just 21/2 quarter points for the Midwest Division title. ... Saunders, now the Minnesota Timberwolves head coach, had the last laugh, winning the American Conference final en route to a league title. ... Panaggio shared the first of three Coach of the Year awards with his La Crosse rival and, on Feb. 15, Dan won the first father-vs.-son coaching matchup in pro sports history after an “unretired” Mauro became head coach at Rockford in midseason.