Expectations were high for a turnaround in 1980. The Hoosiers had Mike Woodson and Randy Wittman on the wings, along with a talented 6’5 guard in Butch Carter. Landon Turner was a rising star at center and Ray Tolbert was strong at power forward. And the real buzz came from the best recruit Knight ever […]
In 1992, Michigan’s freshman class took the college basketball world by storm. The quintet of Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Juwan Howard, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson reached the NCAA final before losing to Duke. 1993 Michigan basketball brought all five back to make a run at the program’s second national championship in five years. GREAT […]
Rick Pitino took over the Kentucky Wildcats for the 1991 season, after the program had crashed on the reefs of NCAA probation and had a bad year. Pitino quickly started winning again in ‘91, even if the team was ineligible for postseason play. In 1992 they nearly made the Final Four before losing one of […]
Mike Krzyzewski had already made history in the early 1990s. His Duke teams had made six Final Fours in the seven years from 1986-92. They had won the last two national championships, the first team to repeat since John Wooden’s UCLA dynasty. The 1993 Duke basketball team was hoping to three-peat, in spite of losing […]
After North Carolina won the NCAA title in 1982, they went into what was—at least relatively speaking—a March drought. While Dean Smith continued to churn out national contenders and at least get to the Sweet 16, there were no Final Four appearances for a decade. But in 1991, UNC had broken through to get back […]
Coach K brought Duke to Minneapolis looking for his third ring. Arizona and Lute Olson were here after an emotional season. Michigan State was on the trail for a repeat title and Maryland was on a breakthrough season that set the stage for even bigger things to come. Here’s a look back on the paths […]
The 2000 Final Four was held in the heart of Big Ten Country, at Indianapolis, and two conference teams made it. Here’s a look back at the paths that Michigan State and Wisconsin, along with southern interlopers Florida and North Carolina, took to reach the 2000 Final Four. GREAT 1980s SPORTS MOMENTS Start reading today. MICHIGAN […]
UConn and Duke had been eyeing each other up from the top of the polls all through the regular season. At the 1999 Final Four, they brought a couple Big Ten sparring partners with them, and then got down to business for a Monday night heavyweight fight. Here’s a look back at the road UConn, […]
Kentucky and North Carolina each had new coaches, but the results on the court were awfully familiar. These two bluebloods were joined in San Antonio by new teams from the West, as Stanford and Utah made it. Here’s a look back on the paths all four programs trod to reach the 1998 Final Four. GREAT […]
Arizona came to Indianapolis seeking its first national championship. Kentucky was looking to repeat. It was Dean Smith’s swan song at North Carolina and Minnesota’s high point. Here’s a look back on the road all four teams took to the 1997 Final Four. GREAT 1980s SPORTS MOMENTS Start reading today. ARIZONA Lute Olson’s team played below […]
The 1995 Final Four in Seattle was highlighted by a long-awaited UCLA revival and Arkansas’ bid for a dynasty. Here’s a look at the paths the Bruins & Razorbacks, along with North Carolina and Oklahoma State, took to reach college basketball’s biggest stage at the Kingdome. GREAT 1980s SPORTS MOMENTS Start reading today. UCLA The proud […]
The 1991 Final Four was one of the greatest of all-time. It featured an epic semi-final game between Duke and undefeated UNLV and ended with Mike Krzyzewski winning the breakthrough national championship of his storied career. The 1991 Final Four also marked the arrival of Roy Williams, then the head coach at Kansas, and it […]