RE: Sharing some memories...while killing time in NY airport
Recent story from the Pittsburg Tibune-Review:
"I probably remember that game as much or more as any I've ever coached," said Alan LeForce, 74, of Conway, S.C.
East Tennessee State, the Southern Conference champion, had beaten Shawn Bradley-led BYU in the preseason NIT and was ranked in the AP Top 25 during the season.
But the Bucs were prohibitive underdogs against coach Lute Olson's Pac-10 power, which included future All-American guard Damon Stoudamire.
East Tennessee State, powered by its perimeter game, led virtually the entire game, making LeForce a legend of sorts in northeast Tennessee.
"We were out of sight," said LeForce, in his 51st season as a coach and currently the women's basketball coach at Coastal Carolina.
ETSU had lost in the first round each of the previous three years � including a one-point loss to Oklahoma in 1989 and a three-point loss to Iowa in 1991 � before recording its first NCAA Tournament victory since 1968.
"They mention it all the time," LeForce said. "When I go back to Johnson City, that's the first thing they say. 'Oh boy. I remember that game. What a great game.' No question, that Arizona game has been in people's minds ever since."
The Bucs lost to Michigan's Fab Five, 102-90, in the second round. They haven't won an NCAA Tournament game since, losing in 2003 under former coach Ed DeChellis and in 2004 under current coach Murry Bartow.
No. 1 seeds are 96-0 in the first round since the tournament expanded in 1985, but the Panthers aren't taking anyone lightly.
"There are no easy wins," Pitt guard Brad Wanamaker said. "It's one and done."
LeForce, a second-year coach at the time, said the biggest danger for a top seed is convincing the players that the smaller, mid-major school is talented.
"We were a very good basketball team," he said. "In my (first two years), we beat Cincinnati, Xavier, Tennessee, Memphis. We were good. We had great shooters.
"But when a good basketball team at our level plays one of the highest seeds, it's hard for their coach to convince them. Lute (Olson) said, 'I tried to tell our kids.'
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