Classic Moments in TU History--Hiring of Nolan Richardson and 1981 NIT Championship

[Bill Lowery]

This brought back the best memories I have of Tulsa basketball. I remember the win over defending national champions Louisville, like it was yesterday.

I was halfway up in the stands behind the bench with 3 of my friends. This was our 1st look at the team and the excitement was unreal. Watching Pressey reminded me of watching the Globetrotters. This was the birth of TU basketball.

http://www.tulsahurricane.com/news/2017/3/31/mens-basketball-classic-moments-in-tulsa-history.aspx

 

[Larry Lewis]

Bill, you are absolutely correct. Pressey had to be seen to be believed. Stats don't do him justice. Best TU player I've seen, without question. That NIT championship was an unbelievable run.

The Louisville game may be my favorite regular season game of all time. I was sitting next to famous BTW coach Nate Harris, then the Edison coach. My good friend on the basketball team had said Nate needed a ticket, and I had an extra ticket, so Nate was using the ticket. Anyway, Nate was going crazy, as was everyone.

No way Louisville or Purdue would have scheduled games at TU knowing that TU was going to be good. After five years of losing, those teams had scheduled it as an easy road win. They would never come back.

 

[old.guy]

If memory serves, there was a span at the end of the first half during which Pressey took control of the game and the defending national champs could not get the ball past the half-court line. He was that dominant.

 

[nevadanatural]

My favorite Nolan era OOC win was actually the Carolina win with Jordan, Worthy, and Perkins.

 

[TU Sepp]

Bruce Vanley had his "one game career" against Perkins in that game!

 

[Larry Lewis]

Beating Jordan and UNC certainly is hard to beat. Dean Smith's comment about Vanley was priceless. Something like We didn't see anything on film to indicate he would have that type of game. Rickey Ross and Steve Harris also had outstanding games, but that obviously wasn't surprising.