Article provided by Mike Whaley

RINDGE, N.H. (2/20/25) - The rich and often-overlooked history of small-college basketball in New England comes to life in Floor Burns: A Wild Journey Across the Forgotten Backroads of NAIA Basketball in New England, a new book by award-winning sportswriter Mike Whaley. This compelling read dives deep into the gritty, passionate world of NAIA basketball, an organization that, while lesser known than the NCAA, has been the battleground for countless unforgettable stories and players.

Spanning decades and all six New England states, Floor Burns kicks off in 1940s New Britain, Connecticut, and winds its way to present-day Boston, where Fisher College keeps the NAIA flame alive. Along the way, Franklin Pierce University takes center stage, with several stories highlighting the program's storied past. Former Raven standout Larry Leach (1978-82) is prominently featured on the book's cover, a testament to his impact on the game.

Whaley interviewed several key figures for the book, including former Franklin Pierce coaches Bruce Kirsh and Art Luptowski—who currently serves as an assistant coach for both the men's and women's basketball programs—along with ex-players Leach and Greg Trotman. Their voices help paint a vivid picture of the NAIA's fiercely competitive and tight-knit basketball community.

New Hampshire's small-college basketball history is well represented, with additional stories featuring Keene State College and New England College, as well as now-defunct programs at Nathaniel Hawthorne and Notre Dame colleges.

Published by Bondcliff Books of Littleton, N.H., Floor Burns is available online at www.shopball603.com and select bookstores across New England.

A veteran sports journalist in Maine and New Hampshire since 1987, Whaley has twice been named New Hampshire Sportswriter of the Year. His passion for small-college hoops runs deep—he played NAIA basketball at Lyndon State College from 1979 to 1983, in an era of short shorts, no three-point line, and no shot clock. This is his second book. Whaley currently resides in Portland, Maine, with his wife, Jill Rosenblum.