The History of the University of Memphis at the NCAA Tournament

Any team is only as good as its stars, and in 1973, the Memphis State Tigers had plenty of star power.

Head coach Gene Bartow (left) centered his title hopes around Larry Finch (No. 21), Ronnie Robinson (No. 33) and Larry "Special K" Kenon (No. 35). Finch and Robinson were childhood friends; Kenon was the Texas gunslinger brought in to make the team complete.

All three men would have professional careers.

Finch and Robinson each played for two years in the ABA.

Kenon, who left Memphis State with one year of eligibility left, had a highly decorated career. He won an ABA title alongside Julius "Dr. J" Erving in 1974, made the ABA All-Star team all three years in the ABA, competed in the first ever ABA Dunk Contest in 1976, and was an NBA All-Star in 1978 and 1979.

Once in the NBA with the San Antonio Spurs, Kenon formed an explosive scoring duo along with George Gervin, and to this day, "Special K" is tabbed by many as one of the greatest players never inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame.

After running past Providence, 98-85, in the National Semifinals, and watching UCLA nearly blow a big lead versus Indiana in the other semi, the Tigers approached the title contest optimistically.

“We thought they were in a league of their own until we watched them play Indiana,” said Doug McKinney, one of MSU’s four seniors and a key bench player. “We know now that if we play great ball, we can beat them.”

Larry Finch, drawing the attention of four Bruins in this photo, was at his big game best, finishing the night with 29 points.

Memphis actually led by two points on three separate occasions in the second half, beginning with the first bucket of the final 20 minutes (41-39) and for the last time at 45-43. Then, Walton scored to tie the ballgame at 45.

After tying the contest at 45, Bill Walton took complete control of the proceedings.

Possession after possession, shot after shot, UCLA pounded the ball in to Walton (left), often with the Tigers in a 1-2-2 zone, and he responded every time with unerring accuracy. The early foul trouble on Kenon and Robinson, who had been trying to keep the Bruin star in check, was slowly taking its toll.

“We mixed our defenses, but we had people in foul trouble early in the second half,” Bartow analyzed later. “Our big men had three, four fouls on them very early, and we had to be very soft with our defense. Bill was very active and had high energy.”

The Bruins pulled away to an 87-61 victory.

As the game was drawing to a close, Walton twisted his ankle and began to hobble off the floor. None other than Larry Finch came to his aid, wrapping his arm around Walton and allowing his tormentor to lean on his shoulder as Finch led the way to the sideline. At that moment, he displayed the courage and humanity that had become his hallmarks.

It is only fitting that Coach Bartow would be seen comforting Finch after the game. Finch had forever cemented his legend in Memphis lore, both as a basketball star and also (more importantly) as a human being.

Dana Kirk, seen at left with his greatest player, Keith Lee, was hired in 1979 to restore order in the Tiger program.

After stumbling to consecutive 13-14 records, Kirk embarked on the finest five-year run in Tiger history up to that point, ringing up 24, 23, 26, 31, and 28 wins against a mere 30 losses, for a .815 winning percentage.

Kirk led the team to the Final Four in 1985. However, due to a recruiting scandal and improper perks given to his athletes—not to mention a plummeting graduation rate—Kirk was forced out in disgrace after the 1986 season.

Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway awakened the Memphis fan base, signing on in 1991 to play for Larry Finch, the hometown legend who was now the head coach.

Hardaway was one of the most coveted basketball players of his era. There was nothing he couldn't do with a basketball in his hands. He reminded many of Magic Johnson, in that he was 6'8" tall, yet played point guard.

The difference, however, was that Hardaway was an explosive athlete who could do things that even Magic only dreamed of.

Penny was only on campus for two seasons, almost single-handedly taking the Tigers to an Elite Eight appearance in 1992. He went on to a scintillating career in the NBA, though his shooting star faded, sadly, due to injuries.

During the 2005-'06 season, behind Memphis native Shawne Williams (No. 4, left) and the electrifying Rodney Carney (No. 10, right), the Tigers stormed to a thoroughly unexpected 33-4 final record, losing in the Elite Eight to UCLA, 50-45.

Williams was a 2006 NBA Lottery Pick after his freshman season, drafted by the Indiana Pacers.

Carney was selected by the Chicago Bulls with the 16th pick of the same draft and traded to the Philadelphia 76ers for the 13th pick, Thabo Sefalosha.

Carney remains the third-leading scorer and career leader in three-pointers made (287) in Memphis history.

Despite losing Carney and Williams to the NBA, Memphis was back Dancing in 2007. Senior Jeremy Hunt (No. 5, center) combined with a talented group of sophomores, led by Antonio Anderson (No. 12, right), Joey Dorsey (No. 3, left), and Chris Douglas-Roberts.

Once again, Memphis went 33-4. In the Sweet Sixteen round, the gritty young Tigers proved their legitimacy, beating Texas A&M 65-64 on two free throws by Anderson with 3.1 seconds left.

The game was nearly a home game for A&M, played barely 200 miles from their campus.

When senior Jeremy Hunt graduated, the Tigers lost grit, toughness and almost 15 PPG. They had a fawning hole at the point guard position. Derrick Rose, from Simeon High in Chicago, IL, was recruited to plug the hole and get the Tigers over the Elite Eight hump.

The Tigers began the 2008 NCAA Tournament in less than spectacular fashion, defeating No. 16 Texas-Arlington 87-63 in the first round in a game that was closer than the final score indicates.

Next came a heart-stopping 77-74 victory over No. 8 seed Mississippi State, surviving a three-point attempt just before the buzzer by the Bulldogs' Jamont Gordon.

Their next display was breathtaking. The Tigers defended, ran, and dunked a shell-shocked Michigan State team into submission in the Sweet Sixteen round. Derrick Rose (No. 23, left) and Joey Dorsey (No. 3, right) performed two of the most breathtaking dunks of the entire tournament.

Memphis ran out to a 50-20 halftime lead on the way to a 92-74 triumph that almost felt like a coronation.

Rose was the high scorer on the night with 27 points, while Douglas-Roberts contributed 25.

Texas was favored by many to defeat the Tigers in Houston, which was just over 200 miles from the lower seed's campus.

The Longhorns were simply unprepared for Memphis' athleticism, length, and defensive tenacity. When D. J. Augustin wasn't being harassed by Robert Dozier (No. 2, left), he was being stuffed by Derrick Rose (No. 23, right).

Douglas-Roberts scored 25, Rose added 21.

Though the game was close with 15 minutes remaining, the Tigers sprinted away and easily defeated the 'Horns 85-67. Memphis had made their first Final Four since 1985.

The high-flying Tigers put on yet another awe-inspiring performance against their old nemesis, UCLA.

Redeeming themselves from an abysmal performance two years prior, Memphis ground UCLA into submission during a 78-63 triumph.

Rose (left) continued his march toward being the first pick in the NBA Draft with an absolutely astounding display and 25 points, while Douglas-Roberts (right) led the charge with 28 points and a highlight-reel dunk late in the game over the Bruins' Kevin Love.

The Tigers' run ended in a 75-68 overtime loss to Kansas. There was some solace, however, in winning more games in a single season (38) than any other mens' team in NCAA Division I history.

John Calipari and his Tigers will attempt to eclipse last year's performance beginning Thursday night in Kansas City, MO.