(NCAA BASK) My most memorable Final = 1982

[ChuckyTheGoat]

So many story-lines crossed on this game. I'll focus on John Thompson with this note:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Thompson_(basketball)#Georgetown

He inherited a 3-23 Georgetown team in 1973. Qualified the Hoyas for the NCAAs in 1975.

*In 1980 Gtown got to the Regional finals. They led Iowa by 14 in the 2nd half. But the Hawkeyes rallied back to win by 1.

*In 1982 Gtown makes the NCAA finals. It's the Ewing coming-out party vs North Carolina. Ewing is denying the rim and gets four Goal-tend calls in the first 10min. Goes down to the wire, and Jordan makes the shot.

*Gtown wins the title in 1984. They beat Houston.

*Gtown makes the finals again in 1985. They're heavily favored vs Villanova. Nova plays a perfect game and wins by 2.

*1988: Gtown is the 1-seed. They get upset by Providence in the Regional final.

*1989: Gtown is the 1-seed again (against Duke). A young Laettner plays out of his mind. Gtown is beaten again.

I know Thompson's respected. I'll say that he got a little unlucky in the NCAAs. It could have been more.

Knight was known to stress academics at Indiana. Thompson did the same at Gtown. He wanted his kids to succeed. He built a real culture at Georgetown. He easily could have won more titles.

[Ian]

Growing up a fan of BC Georgetown always seemed like a juggernaut. They always had an elite center: Ewing, Mourning, Mutumbo, and then Othella Harrington. I was at the game when BC finally beat them in '94 and the atmosphere was like when the Sox won the World Series in '04.

I miss those days of Big East basketball. Elite players staying for 4 years under iconic coaches at schools with regional rivalries. I can't imagine we'll ever see anything like that again. Good memories.

[ChuckyTheGoat]

Growing up a fan of BC Georgetown always seemed like a juggernaut. They always had an elite center: Ewing, Mourning, Mutumbo, and then Othella Harrington. I was at the game when BC finally beat them in '94 and the atmosphere was like when the Sox won the World Series in '04.

I miss those days of Big East basketball. Elite players staying for 4 years under iconic coaches at schools with regional rivalries. I can't imagine we'll ever see anything like that again. Good memories.

Good stuff, IAN. Yes, the Big East was good stuff:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfSIyUuhhkI

1987: Providence upsets Gtown in Regional Final.

[ChuckyTheGoat]

*As for BC, I think back to the upset over North Carolina in 1994:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6PJTiW0hFg

O'Brien had them ready to go. Veteran team, Curley was so good in this game. Made the cover of SI.

[Ian]

Good stuff, CtG.

Back before Pitino became a villain.

Curley was the ultimate BC player. A big Irish Catholic kid from Dorchester fighting for every rebound and diving for every loose ball. Even his initials were BC. Great in state rivalry with UMass when Calipari gave out NIL $ before it was legal.

[ChuckyTheGoat]

Good stuff, CtG.

Back before Pitino became a villain.

Curley was the ultimate BC player. A big Irish Catholic kid from Dorchester fighting for every rebound and diving for every loose ball. Even his initials were BC. Great in state rivalry with UMass when Calipari gave out NIL $ before it was legal.

Right on, Ian. Yes, Pitino taking PROV to 1987 Final Four was a real stretch. They weren't all that good...and he was just building the program.

I liked O'Brien as a coach. He said that win over North Carolina was probably BC's best win ever. Curley was up against Montross and more than held his own.

[ChuckyTheGoat]

*Man, Ewing was a monster.

[ChuckyTheGoat]

*Man, Ewing was a monster.

Ewing had five Goal-tends in the first half!
...Worthy kept the Heels in the game. Gtown was better team in 1h.
...North Carol scored a few buckets when Spriggs came in to rest Ewing.
...Other than that, I believe Worthy was the only Heel to put the ball thru the hoop in 1h.

[Josherzz1]

Good stuff Chucky about Georgetown. I'm originally from the DC area so I've been waiting for them to rise from the ashes and be good again. Fun fact bro, my English teacher from high school played basketball for Georgetown in the 60's. Rick Cannon. https://www.hoyabasketball.com/players/r_cannon.htm

[ChuckyTheGoat]

Good stuff Chucky about Georgetown. I'm originally from the DC area so I've been waiting for them to rise from the ashes and be good again. Fun fact bro, my English teacher from high school played basketball for Georgetown in the 60's. Rick Cannon. https://www.hoyabasketball.com/players/r_cannon.htm

Salud, Josh. Georgetown ties out to so many themes from the 80s:
1) Rise of the Big East ties out to the rise of Gtown.
2) If you weren't a Gtown fan, you very much liked to root against them.
3) I liked Pearl WASH. So, I was a Syracuse fan.
4) So fitting that Ewing went to Gtown. Prized recruit, he could have gone anywhere. Apropos that he played for Thompson, who was Russell's backup in Boston.
5) There's the color thing. Long string of time where Gtown roster was 100% black. That's true, but other teams were 60/40 black (or higher). And UNC had Jimmy Black.

[ChuckyTheGoat]

(1:22:00) Bender references an interesting game. Gary mentions UNC 1977, who finished 2nd-place to MARQUETTE.

*Majerus said that he thought the '76 Marquette team was stronger (than the '77 edition). But they ran into Indiana in the Regional final. Hoosiers had the undefeated season.

*In 1977 North Carolina really had a powerhouse team. Filled with future pros:
...Bender commented on the Heels having late-season injuries. LaGarde/Ford/WalterDavis all missed (or were playing banged-up).
...Marq played a perfect 1h in the final and held on to win.

[ChuckyTheGoat]

Worthy has a truly amazing game. Gtown wins by 12 pts, if not for Worthy.

[ChuckyTheGoat]

Finish to this game is something else:
(:40) GTown - Floyd hits a great 14-footer w/ Worthy flying past him.

(:14) Gtown is in a Zone DEF. Really no space in the paint. Black made a really nice cross-court pass to set up Jordan in space. He drills the 16-footer.

(:08) Brown rushes up court. Worthy tries to jump the passing lane, he's WAY out of position. Brown's mind had to be racing, he had to be throwing it to where the Off-Guard would normally be standing. Worthy gets fouled, that's it.

[ChuckyTheGoat]

Worthy was a junior this year. He declared for Draft and was top-pick. Couldn't go out any better. 1st title for Smith.