SI article on MU 1970 NIT victory

[RaleighWarrior]

Here is a nice article from SI about Marquette's NIT title in 1970.

http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1083484/1/index.htm

great quote from McGuire about boycotting the NCAA tourney that year.

"We were unjustly kept out of the Mideast," said McGuire. "I didn't want to go to Texas. I have nothing against longhorns, but that's 1,500 miles away. What could I get down there—maybe two cheerleaders."

[4everwarriors]

I was there for both Warrior wins vs LSU and St. Johns. Remember it now like it was yesterday.

[GGGG]

I didn't realize that they used to play the entire tournament at the Garden.  Only 16 teams, but still...

[sailwi]

One of the supposed greatest quotes came from Al after the LSU game, Press Maravich LSU coash was asked about how well MU played defense and he answered something to the effect he thought watching someone play defense was as exceiting as watching grass grow.  The reporter then asked AL to comment on Press's comment and AL said ...well I guess we just mowed his lawn.

[bilsu]

I was at the LSU game. Held Maravich to 23 points. I still think McGuire was an idiot to turn down the NCAA bid.

[Sir Lawrence]

I still think McGuire was an idiot to turn down the NCAA bid.

I dunno.  It sure became an integral part of his "legend."

[77ncaachamps]

I dunno.  It sure became an integral part of his "legend."

Agreed. It's these types of unconventional decisions which help define persons as "geniuses" or "idiots."

[bilsu]

That is because he had the personality and charisma to sell it. Despite not having a starter taller than 6"6" it was a potential final four team.

[classof70]

One of the supposed greatest quotes came from Al after the LSU game, Press Maravich LSU coash was asked about how well MU played defense and he answered something to the effect he thought watching someone play defense was as exceiting as watching grass grow.  The reporter then asked AL to comment on Press's comment and AL said ...well I guess we just mowed his lawn.

So many of these McGuire stories may be apocryphal, but my recollection is that during an interview of the two coaches before the game, Press said watching defense was like watching the grass grow.  During the game when MU had passed 100 points, Al walked down and yelled to Press, "you better get out the lawn mower".  Who knows, maybe a player that was there.  Either one sound like McGuire. 

[The Lens]

If this happened today; the Internet would explode.

[Mayor McCheese]

If this happened today; the Internet would explode.

If this happened today, ESPN would have a heart attack.  Brett Favre would be surpassed as the big news of the day.  Dickie V would be blue in the face from all of his cliche' quotes.  Digger Phelps would say something poetic and knowledgeable about the game... wait, that was too far... Digger Phelps would still be the idiot he is today.

[ecompt]

Al took the NCAA things personally. He was sure that Adolph Rupp, whom he absolutely despised, convinced the NCAA selection committee that Jacksonville and Notre Dame deserved the two Mideast at-large bids. We might have done damage in the Midwest because the Mideast was always the toughest bracket (Big Ten champ, SEC champ) but as it turns out all we had to do to win the NIT was beat Julius Erving and Pete Maravich in the span of a week.

[GGGG]

Al took the NCAA things personally. He was sure that Adolph Rupp, whom he absolutely despised, convinced the NCAA selection committee that Jacksonville and Notre Dame deserved the two Mideast at-large bids. We might have done damage in the Midwest because the Mideast was always the toughest bracket (Big Ten champ, SEC champ) but as it turns out all we had to do to win the NIT was beat Julius Erving and Pete Maravich in the span of a week.

If Rupp did pull strings, it would be ironic because it bit him in the butt with Jacksonville beating Kentucky in the regional final.  Just from the looks of it, Marquette could have cruised in the Midwest with New Mexico State winning it.  I have no idea how good those team were though.

[bma725]

I dunno.  It sure became an integral part of his "legend."

Al admitted in interviews that it was the biggest mistake of his career and could have caused his downfall.  If MU turned down the NCAA and then lost in the NIT, he would have ended up looking like a complete idiot.

[THEGYMBAR]

The legend indeed grow after this decision. I do think Al thought we had a chance of losing the NIT. If he had things might be different, but his arrogance made him a legend. It really is sad that not every ball fan knows the story of Al. He was beyond one of a kind.

[StillAWarrior]

He was beyond one of a kind.

So, does that make him zero of a kind?  Or would that make him two of a kind?

[THEGYMBAR]

six of a kind

[MARQKC]

Thanks for posting this article. Great memories. I attended the entire tournament as a photographer for the Marquette Tribune. I always felt that the 1970 NIT championship solidified Al in the hearts and minds of East Coast fans and players and set the stage for our 1977 NCAA championship.

This tournament was about the third or fourth NIT played in the current edition of the Garden. We still play there, of course, during the Big East Tournament each year. The Big East Tournament retains the New York college basketball passion that existed at the 1970 NIT and which this article describes. It's just an electric week if you're a college basketball fan. Ya gotta go.