1974 NCAA Regional in Tucson

This week, I got a wonderful and thoughtful surprise from the 2023-4 Silver Streaks. With a sneaky lie, the players in collaboration with Coach Demott tricked me into going to the GHS lockeroom "to help with some boxes." When I got there, the entire squad was in the lockeroom, and they presented me with tickets for Amy and I to go to the NCAA Regional in Indianapolis. The thoughtfulness of the team and the surprise made it an afternoon that I will always smile when I think about it. 

In retirement, you have a lot of time to reflect. My present this week, made me reflect on the first time that I ever went to an NCAA Regional. Believe it or not, my first NCAA Regional was on March 14 & 16, 1974. Yep, my first NCAA Regional was exactly 50 years ago. My brother, Mark was attending grad school and student teaching in Tucson, Arizona at the University of Arizona. We were on spring break, and four of loaded up in my 1973 Mercury Capri and drove to Arizona. All I remember about the trip was that at 6'1", I was the smallest passenger. When I was not driving, I was put in the back seat. It was a long drive.

My brother had gotten the tickets for us before we arrived. Even though UCLA was playing in this Regional, tickets were not expensive and tickets were not hard to get. If memory serves  me right, the tickets were each $6 and my program was $1. So with a hot dog and drink, I am guessing each game cost about $10. 

The day before the first round, we found out when each team had their shoot around. We went to the UCLA one hour workout, the day before the game. There were probably only about 100 people watching. We sat in the first row, at ft line extended at the end UCLA did most of their work. In 2015, Allen and I went to the Final Four practice in Indianapolis to watch Wisconsin. My guess is that there were about 5,000 people there- times change.

In 1974 there were no cell phones, so no camera or video to take at the UCLA practice. I was a UCLA fan, they had won the previous 7 NCAA titles going into this year. They had there 88 game winning streak ended earlier in the year by Notre Dame. How dominant was UCLA? Going into the 1974 tourney, UCLA's last loss was in the NCAA was in 1963. There was no ESPN in 1974, and there were not many college games on TV. The UCLA vs Houston national TV game at the Astrodome in the late '60's was the beginning of putting college basketball on the big-time national scene. My point is that in 1974, there was not a lot of college basketball on TV, so when you got to see UCLA it was a big deal.

In the Spring of 1974, I knew I wanted to go into teaching and coaching. I had applied for jobs but had not had an interview at this point. I used to take note cards to any game that I went to. I would write down anything that I thought was good and should be remembered. I had note cards with me at the practice. Unfortunately when computers came in, I copied some notes but threw the cards away. I wish I had them today- they would be cool to see.

I would like to say that I remember in the practice John Wooden saying his patented, "Be quick, but don't hurry." But I don't remember any of his specific words. I do remember the outline of their practice. They started out with the posts at our end, and the guards at the other end. Coaches put them thru shooting drills for about 10-15 minutes. They did 20-25 minutes of some 3-2 fastbreak drill, and then went into a 5 on 0 fastbreak drill. I remember being impressed with the detail they had in executing their fastbreak. Coach Wooden would yell out they option he wanted as they went up the floor, and then yell another as they came back down the floor. They finished by doing some 5 on 5 man to man offense- and yes, they ran the famous UCLA cut off the high post. My dominant memory was how fast paced their practice was, and how Wooden's words were short and to the point- not lots of stopping to talk. 

The bracket at Arizona had New Mexico playing San Francisco, and UCLA playing Dayton. The second night they actually had both a Regional Championship game, and a Regional Third Place game. UCLA had Bill Walton, Keith Wilkes, Dave Meyers, Greg Lee, and Tommy Curtis as their nucleus. UCLA won the championship to advance to Greensboro for the Final Four. The win in the Championship was Bill Walton's last win in college, they lost the first game of the Final Four to David Thompson and North Carolina State. 

Some interesting tidbits from the tourney...

New Mexico was coached by Norm Ellenberger. Norm had been Monmouth College coach from 1964-1967. Because of his Illinois background, Bob Toppert from Riverdale was on the New Mexico roster. When in high school at Savanna, I played against Bob Toppert. Ellenberger remained at New Mexico until 1979 when he was fired in what was tabbed "Lobogate." The NCAA found 34 violations.

The first ad in the program was for the hot shoe of the time- Converse All-Stars. You have to realize that in 1974, there was no Michael Jordan yet and no Nike shoe contracts. 

A second ad that I find neat was the ad for the Fred Snowden Basketball Camp. Snowden was the coach at Arizona. The ad shows that boys from 9-18 can attend a 7 days/night session, stay in the dorms, and eat in cafeteria for $125. To put in perspective, Bill Self's boys basketball camp, is 4 days from noon to 3pm, and the cost is $515!

So- 2023-4 Streaks- thanks for giving my wife and I a great date to this year's tourney. It will be something we will always remember and always appreciate your thoughtfulness. And thank you for triggering me to reflect on some great memories from 1974! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!