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Ryan McHugh shakes hands with David Clifford after the Division 1 final. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

The legend changed the law. He was an All-Star, a scoring champion, a Hall of Famer and a relentless pace-setter. Few figures have exerted as seismic an influence on the rules of basketball as George Mikan.

Mikan was a pioneer. Before he came to the NBA, there was a prevailing view that big men were too awkward for elite basketball. The sport has long since demolished that notion. This towering figure, with round glasses and gadget-like limbs, played with such aggression and force that he compelled several rule changes, including the introduction of goaltending restrictions and the widening of the foul lane.