which team would win?
I think 80-81 would win in a squeaker with Pressey being the difference maker.
I think 80-81 would win in a squeaker with Pressey being the difference maker.
80-81 NIT Champs v. 99-00 Elite Eight
- Thread starter barrister1602
- Start date
If David Brown doesn't get hurt, 81/82 is better than both of those teams and could have competed for a national title.
I would probably go with 99/00. The 80/81 team had the best player (Pressey) and maybe the second best player (Brown) but they weren't as dominant as we probably remember. They played a pretty tough schedule and the Valley was very good but their scoring margin for the season was only 4.9 and only 1.6 in conference. In conference play, opponents shot better from the field than TU, made more baskets than TU, out rebounded TU and only turned it over 11 more times total than TU. TU was great at drawing fouls and getting to the line, even though they were not a great free throw shooting team. What I do not think the stats show is how tough that team was and how they ultimately wore teams down by the end of the game. However, in my opinion, that team was a year away.
The 99/00 team outscored opponents by 17.5 and was a very deep team and a more experienced team. They were a good shooting team, got to the foul line a lot and caused a huge number of turnovers and steals. That team was 11 total points away from being 37-0 heading into the final four. A few breaks again UNC and that team could have won the title. That team had the speed and ball handling to handle anything the 80/81 team thew at them defensively and to disrupt 80/81's offense. I think 99/00 would usually win a hard fought game by 5 to 8 points.
I would probably go with 99/00. The 80/81 team had the best player (Pressey) and maybe the second best player (Brown) but they weren't as dominant as we probably remember. They played a pretty tough schedule and the Valley was very good but their scoring margin for the season was only 4.9 and only 1.6 in conference. In conference play, opponents shot better from the field than TU, made more baskets than TU, out rebounded TU and only turned it over 11 more times total than TU. TU was great at drawing fouls and getting to the line, even though they were not a great free throw shooting team. What I do not think the stats show is how tough that team was and how they ultimately wore teams down by the end of the game. However, in my opinion, that team was a year away.
The 99/00 team outscored opponents by 17.5 and was a very deep team and a more experienced team. They were a good shooting team, got to the foul line a lot and caused a huge number of turnovers and steals. That team was 11 total points away from being 37-0 heading into the final four. A few breaks again UNC and that team could have won the title. That team had the speed and ball handling to handle anything the 80/81 team thew at them defensively and to disrupt 80/81's offense. I think 99/00 would usually win a hard fought game by 5 to 8 points.
For me, Paul Pressey delivered the most electrifying and memorable play in TU BB history.
Against UTEP, in the NIT second round at a packed Mabee Center in a close game near the end,
Pressey made a great steal, headed unguarded down court and made a fantastic reverse slam dunk
to seal the win! The place went nuts and they fired up Sinatra's New York, New York on the PA.
TU fans were crying tears of joy as we left the arena. It was a moment of a lifetime for TU fans that
I will never forget and hope to experience again someday.
David Brown was the player the scouts were comping at the bits over until he got hurt. A 6'8" small forward with great ball handling skills that could run the court with a point guard and a very nice outside shot. Although Pressey might have been the better college player, Brown had the greater upside for going pro. Their styles complimented each other on the court. That was the key to Nolan Teams... they just shared the ball and played as a team. Everybody got their 15 minutes of fame and the whole team celebrated it with them!!!
My recollection was that everyone knew Pressey was going to be the best pro on the team even if he did not have the best traditional stats in college.
Fun to talk about these teams. Something many forget is that Pressey only shot 58% from the FT line that year and led the team in turnovers with 111. I try to remember all the steals.
Some mention that with Brown we could have beaten anyone the 81-82 season.. Well Brown was at full strength early before the terrible injury that year (for 8 games) and North Carolina beat us in a game where we had Brown and could have gained a lot more national respect had we won.
I still have the video of that UNC game as well as when we got them back at the Mabee Center.
PS The 99-00 team was better. The 80-81 team had a lot of trouble winning conference road games.
Some mention that with Brown we could have beaten anyone the 81-82 season.. Well Brown was at full strength early before the terrible injury that year (for 8 games) and North Carolina beat us in a game where we had Brown and could have gained a lot more national respect had we won.
I still have the video of that UNC game as well as when we got them back at the Mabee Center.
PS The 99-00 team was better. The 80-81 team had a lot of trouble winning conference road games.
I think that proves the point. TU lost by 8 on the road to the eventual 32-2 national champions with Michael Jordan, Sam Perkins and James Worthy. I stand by my statement that they could have beaten anyone on any given day with a healthy David Brown.
I do not understand your point. So the fact that they lost a game on the road by 8 proves that there was no chance that TU could beat UNC on a neutral court later in the year?
I normally think this type of nostalgia is counterproductive.
But I will say that the strength and athleticism of the '00 team would have dominated and it would not have been close. They could press, run, and jump out of the gym. As pointed out above, the 81 team had some good players who were great at certain things .... and had glaring weaknesses in others.
David Ballard v. David Shelton would be an interesting slug fest though.
But I will say that the strength and athleticism of the '00 team would have dominated and it would not have been close. They could press, run, and jump out of the gym. As pointed out above, the 81 team had some good players who were great at certain things .... and had glaring weaknesses in others.
David Ballard v. David Shelton would be an interesting slug fest though.
Steve Harris didn't play in the UNC loss. He had a brojen jaw. Nolan joked about Harris not talking much because of it. TU probably still loses, as Harris was a freshman, and the game was at UNC.
However, on a neutral floor at the end of the year, it would have been very interesting. UNC won its first NCAA game after a bye by one point that year. Against James Madison, if I remember correctly.
However, on a neutral floor at the end of the year, it would have been very interesting. UNC won its first NCAA game after a bye by one point that year. Against James Madison, if I remember correctly.
That was a great game. Dominique was incredible. Tough loss. Tulsa was 5-1 at the Mabee Center that season.
We definitely had talent on the 80-81 team and more on the 81-82 team. 3 All-Americans in 1st team Steve Harris, 2nd team Paul Pressey and HM in Greg Stewart
We also had 5 NBA draft picks on the 81-82 team in Pressey, Stewart, Harris, Bruce Vanley and Herb Johnson.
I don't believe any other Tulsa team can claim 3 All-Americans and 5 NBA draft picks. And it could have been 1 more NBA draft pick if not for David Brown's injury.
We also had 5 NBA draft picks on the 81-82 team in Pressey, Stewart, Harris, Bruce Vanley and Herb Johnson.
I don't believe any other Tulsa team can claim 3 All-Americans and 5 NBA draft picks. And it could have been 1 more NBA draft pick if not for David Brown's injury.
Those are all great points, Bill. That was an exciting time to be a TU fan. The football team always was good and had future pro players as well.
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