This day in Big East History

[billyjack]

It's funny already in the few games posted how many were at the games.

I have another one for today. Providence this time again. 35 years ago today-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGcMDj1l9bI&t=153s

Wow, this was s great game. This game put us back on the map after 9 years of suckitude. I love that Gavitt did the game; i don't remember Howard David at all.

Love the PA introductions at the 7 minute mark of the video... "at faw-wid, from New Aw-leans Louisian-er"...

When i have time i'll bore you with details, but after a late run in 86, we had a decent start in 87. This Hoya game had them up 1 with just seconds left, but the late Ernie "Pop" Lewis drilled a corner 3 for the win.

Pitino and JT Jr got into a shouting match during the game, and had to be restrained at the scorer's table.

Following this game we beat St John's at home, and got ranked for the first time since 1978...

Thanks again.

[billyjack]

Oh yeah, the video includes some commercials, including the local Carpet Giant stores, lol. I think those have been closed for 30 years.

[billyjack]

February 2nd (1981) has got to be Ewing committing to play at Georgetown

Also, today 1983, a Syracuse fan hurled an orange at Ewing while shooting free throws. The orange slammed into the backboard. I think Boeheim had to take over the PA mike and tell the fans to cut the crap or he'd pull the team off the floor for a forfeit.

[stever20]

some days don't have many videos. Think this is one of those days. Found this... At least has a good name in it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZB85Td5Doc

[stever20]

so honest question, was this the high point for Georgetown after the Final 4 trip for the Hoyas in 2007? 12 years ago today(Sunday). seems like far longer than 12 years.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMKGqd-3_rM&t=39s

[stever20]

Also saw this article from 40 years ago today....
https://www.nytimes.com/1982/01/31/spor ... 92-87.html

[billyjack]

Also saw this article from 40 years ago today....
https://www.nytimes.com/1982/01/31/spor ... 92-87.html

TL:DR:
1982 Syracuse had no big men, so they struggled. 81 and 82 were NIT years, post Louie-Bouie.
Also remember: 1980 thru 1982 as a whole were still uncertain times for the BE... similarities with 2014 thru 16.

Long Version:
I can't read the article unfortunately, but for Syracuse 1981 and 82 were transitional years, a little weaker than typical.

Thru 80 the had seniors Louie and Bouie and PG Marty Headd and were Top-10.

81 they had one excellent returning guy, center and future Denver Nugget Danny Schayes. SU hosted and won the BET behind 3 up-and-coming soph guards--- Erich Santifer, Leo Rautins, and Tony "Red" Bruin. They almost always called Bruin "Tony Red Bruin" for some reason. The BET Final had Syracuse beating Villanova in multiple OT's. In the 8/1 game, PC upset BC on a last second shot by our PG Rickey Tucker.

81 cont'd: Anyway, the BE didn't have an auto-bid for the tourney champ, so the 81 Orangemen got snubbed but made the NIT final, losing to HOF legend Nolan Richardson and star Mike Anderson of Tulsa.

81 cont'd: Gavitt, a low-key patient gentleman, was ripped that the BET champ was snubbed, and the next year placed himself on the selection committee.

82 Syracuse, with Schayes gone, had no reliable center (skinny soph kid named Sean Kerins, and a bulkier stockier PF young guy Andre Hawkins) and really just those three now-juniors, so they struggled and made another NIT. The BET in Hartford was a disaster for them... no shot clock, no 3-point shot, but SU blew an 8-point lead with 2 minutes left vs Boston College. BC was great actually in 82, a lot of depth led by John Bagley and freshman dynamo Michael Adams and an English guy Martin Clark and Jay Murphy (whose son played at Northeastern but just transfered somewhere). BC nade the Elite-8 with wins over Quintin Dailey led San Francisco (their last game in 4 years due to booster and assault controversies voluntarily shutting their program down), then DePaul, then K-State... they then lost vs unknown Houston with unknown Drexler and Olajuwon... figured after beating DePaul etc that Houston would be easy.

83 Syracuse had a turnaround... everyone returned, and 2 freshman arrived who have been very underappreciated in Orange history-- future Nets SF Rafael Addison and a NYC kid named Wendell Alexis. Both had an immediate impact, and got SU back in the NCAA-- beat off-year Georgetown in the BET 4/5 game at the first MSG tourney, which locked them in with Gavitt's committee getting them a bid.

84 Pearl Washington arrived and SU went to a higher level.

84-86 NCAA's was choke city though.

87 was their breakthrough.

Wait, what was the question?

[admin]

so honest question, was this the high point for Georgetown after the Final 4 trip for the Hoyas in 2007? 12 years ago today(Sunday). seems like far longer than 12 years.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMKGqd-3_rM&t=39s

That seems like a million years ago. Obama was there as I recall.

[stever20]

It's funny already in the few games posted how many were at the games.

I have another one for today. Providence this time again. 35 years ago today-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGcMDj1l9bI&t=153s

Wow, this was s great game. This game put us back on the map after 9 years of suckitude. I love that Gavitt did the game; i don't remember Howard David at all.

Love the PA introductions at the 7 minute mark of the video... "at faw-wid, from New Aw-leans Louisian-er"...

When i have time i'll bore you with details, but after a late run in 86, we had a decent start in 87. This Hoya game had them up 1 with just seconds left, but the late Ernie "Pop" Lewis drilled a corner 3 for the win.

Pitino and JT Jr got into a shouting match during the game, and had to be restrained at the scorer's table.

Following this game we beat St John's at home, and got ranked for the first time since 1978...

Thanks again.

And here is that game- 35 years ago tomorrow 1/31/87-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12Y0e2g6dnw

[billyjack]

Also, for those still following...

Pitino's starting lineup included senior center Jacek Duda. The PA guy says he's from Central Falls, RI. From what i remember, he committed to coach Joe Mullaney (second stint) and arrived highly-touted at PC from the "Polish National Team". He wasn't exactly what we expected-- good size, but not very mobile, not a scorer... but Pitino would start him, then sub-in junior Steven Wright, who was much much more effective.

Fast forward to NCAA Round 2 vs Austin Peay in overtime. With guys having fouled out, Duda provided extremely valuable minutes (hit free throws, grabbed boards, nothing special, just generally competent) to secure the PC win.