Final Four in Houston

[HouWarrior]

Welcome to Htown, y'all.

I will update this thread with local stories on the Final Four

Well....The Court has been shipped in from Michigan and is installed:

http://www.chron.com/sports/college/marchmadness/article/Video-Final-Four-court-installed-at-NRG-Stadium-7086580.php

NRG Stadium hosted NCCA finals here before (2011)...but last time there were rumors/concerns over a breeze/drafts affecting shots. I dont know whether that is fixed or not

Historical notes:
Houston hosted the first ever stadium played game..it proved to be the precursor to the NCAA tourney shift to the big stadiums of today...it was....
The Game of the Century..1968 No 1 HOF er Alcindor led UCLA vs. No 2 HOF er Elvin Hayes UH , in the Astrodome....HOFer John Wooden vs HOF er Guy V Lewis....the first ever nationwide telecast of a regular season game...and largest crowd in history (to that point) to ever witness a BB game...Dick Enberg was on the call....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9e31mA5clAg

The NCAA "big stadium" concept traces to ....Eddie Einhorn ....who had produced the first nationally syndicated radio broadcast of the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship in 1958, and in 1960, he founded the TVS Television Network to telecast college basketball games to regional networks at a time that the sport was of no interest to the national networks.

TVS and  Einhorn helped put together the first national broadcast of college basketball for the Game of the Century between the Houston Cougars and UCLA Bruins in 1968. He later sold his interest in the network and became the head of CBS Sports. NCAA held tourney rights --so at CBS.... Einhorn encouraged CBS' national tv contract and big stadium move.   The jump to the natl stage, natl tv and the use of big domes is traced back to to Einhorn's 1968 Astrodome UH game as launching point . Read Einhorn's book "How March Became Madness"-- for all these details.

BTW, UH won that game, but UCLA totally avenged the loss in the NCAA blowout of UH...UCLA was the titan of its time...no question.

http://www.chron.com/sports/college/marchmadness/article/UH-UCLA-put-college-basketball-on-the-map-in-7044509.php

This you tube video covers UH game for what it was--- kind of the natl coming of age of college BB--good video for a BB fan--enjoy.

I am a UH alum, and my former client was Guy V Lewis, one of my favorite persons to have ever known...the father of Texas BB, and why Houston is a BB hotbed today:

http://www.chron.com/sports/college-basketball-men/article/UH-s-Guy-Lewis-turned-out-winners-year-after-year-1688238.php

[monkeyman34]

houwarrior,

Have you attended the National Marquette Day viewing parties the past three years?  I've been in Houston since Jan '14.

[HouWarrior]

houwarrior,

Have you attended the National Marquette Day viewing parties the past three years?  I've been in Houston since Jan '14.

The last one I went to was either in  '12 or '13...we won and the place was in the City Centre

..I enjoyed a nice visit with Jim Foley and his wife (Rockets, former radio color announcer and also the former SID at MU, during McGuire days).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIImIdDNqgo

Houston fans have always enjoyed Foleys Fun Facts...BB trivia, as sampled here (He has a MU story in there, too):

http://www.nba.com/rockets/news/Foley_Fun_Facts_102308-286217-34.html

Havent been to once since Wojo, sorry

[rocky_warrior]

Sadly, I doubt there will be many Marquette fans at the FF this year.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Sadly, I doubt there will be many Marquette fans at the FF this year.

I'll be there. Just too close to me not to go.

[HouWarrior]

This year marks the 50th anniversary of "Glory Road"...the all african american lineup of UTEP (then Texas Western) beating Adolf Rupp's all white UK team for an NCAA championship.

UTEP was led by a big man from Houston Worthing HS, David "Big Daddy" Lattin. Guy V Lewis tried to line him up as the first black UH player...but instead of going to a JC and transferring back into UH (David didnt want to do that)....Lewis instead referred him along to his friend, Don Haskins, at Texas Western...where this history was made. (Elvin Hayes, instead, would be the first african American BB player at UH in the fall of '66)

http://www.chron.com/sports/cougars/article/Trailblazer-Guy-V-Lewis-played-key-role-in-6658985.php

quoting:..."Fittingly because of Lattin's role, the 50th anniversary of that historic game will be celebrated during the 2016 Final Four in Houston...."

Also....Relates to this Final Four...how?

Khadeem Lattin, Big Daddy's grandson, is a soph at OU...heading into grandpa's hometown for his Final Four spotlight. 50 years after grandpa. Cool historical symetry.. if you speak " Lattin" its been...."quinquaginta annis".

http://newsok.com/article/5487093

[4everwarriors]

Always reppin', hey?

[GooooMarquette]

I'll be at the 2019 Final Four in MPLS since it's just over an hour away.

Hopefully, the Warriors give me a chance to get to one before that....

[real chili 83]

I'll be at the 2019 Final Four in MPLS since it's just over an hour away.

Hopefully, the Warriors give me a chance to get to one before that....

Rochester?

[GooooMarquette]

Rochester?

Yep.

[MUWarrior4Life]

Bet Tokoto wishes he would have stayed 1 more year

[Litehouse]

I'll be at the 2019 Final Four in MPLS since it's just over an hour away.

Hopefully, the Warriors give me a chance to get to one before that....

Perfect timing for Henry's senior season and close to Rice Lake.

[forgetful]

I plan to watch Marquette cut down the nets in San Antonio in 2018.

[GooooMarquette]

Perfect timing for Henry's senior season and close to Rice Lake.

That's the plan until I hear otherwise....

[HouWarrior]

Both must have been scrambling today.

With UNC and Cuse coming here .....they have been looking for hotels for cheaters.

Too bad ...I think the old Big Chief motel, on OST, known for renting rooms by the hour , has been shuttered.

The cheaters could get a drink at Marfreles, the unmarked blue door known to RO cheaters for the discretion.

http://www.marfrelesshouston.com/

[LloydsLegs]

I'll be there with Ms. Legs Jr. on Monday if Nova wins Saturday.  Have an 80th/75th bday for parents Saturday, so can't make it for the whole weekend. 

Very happy for her--she is bball crazy and having a blast with this. 

[Earl Tatum]

Marquette at San Antonio in 2018, hope so. But, Dream on.

[HouWarrior]

The First Big stadium Final Four: 1971 Houston Astrodome
UCLA beats Nova in the final:
http://www.chron.com/sports/college/marchmadness/article/A-piece-of-Astrodome-history-on-display-at-7217393.php

[HouWarrior]

Local coverage of Final Four:

http://www.chron.com/sports/college/marchmadness/slideshow/Final-Four-practices-April-1-127473/photo-9738859.php

http://www.chron.com/entertainment/celebrities/article/Where-to-see-celebrities-in-Houston-during-Final-7218129.php#photo-5233960

http://www.chron.com/entertainment/slideshow/March-Madness-Music-Festival-in-Houston-127492.php

http://www.chron.com/sports/college/marchmadness/article/UH-s-Kelvin-Sampson-gives-Sooners-a-pep-talk-7223114.php

http://www.chron.com/sports/college/marchmadness/article/North-Carolina-s-Roy-Williams-Diehard-Houston-7223276.php

http://www.chron.com/sports/college/marchmadness/article/Syracuse-playing-for-Pearl-Washington-7223287.php

http://www.chron.com/sports/college/marchmadness/article/One-Shining-Moment-to-get-new-twist-while-7222533.php

http://www.chron.com/sports/college/marchmadness/article/Former-Tar-Heels-greats-hanging-with-the-team-at-7223077.php

http://www.chron.com/sports/college/marchmadness/article/Big-names-come-out-for-Coaches-vs-Cancer-Heroes-7222765.php

http://www.chron.com/sports/college/marchmadness/article/Carolina-s-Marcus-Paige-hoping-to-add-to-7223269.php

http://www.chron.com/sports/college/marchmadness/article/Final-Four-April-1-Villanova-quotes-of-the-day-7223574.php

http://www.chron.com/sports/college/marchmadness/article/Final-Four-broadcast-will-be-in-good-hands-with-7223589.php

[Jay Bee]

http://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=39047.msg500946#msg500946

MUScoop is no stranger to Lattin... for those who looked

[Jay Bee]

http://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=39047.msg500946#msg500946

MUScoop is no stranger to Lattin... for those who looked

...

2013..

I've watched a lot of Lattin for a few years now - have always liked him (even though I LOVE** his Houston Hoops teammate Justise).

Anyway, Lattin's an impressive shotblocker, always has been. Offense hasn't gotten to where you might want to see it, but I really like watching him play.

With Houston Hoops, he's got Winslow, Oubre and Jackson all on the floor with him.. all those guys with good size as well.. so he doesn't have to do as much.. but, he's a nice looking player. Think he'd fit in quite well at MU.

ahh, yes.. seems like Winslow did OK.. Ourbre and Jackson as well, a''inal?

Lattin's block % is at 9.7%.. 28th best in the nation.. shocker? Of course not, if you pay attention to Scoop.

Only a 13.5% usage guy, but that's fine. He's can elevate substantially.

[HouWarrior]

...

2013..

ahh, yes.. seems like Winslow did OK.. Ourbre and Jackson as well, a''inal?

Lattin's block % is at 9.7%.. 28th best in the nation.. shocker? Of course not, if you pay attention to Scoop.

Only a 13.5% usage guy, but that's fine. He's can elevate substantially.

Cant you afford to hire a PR person to bang your own drum this much?

Do you really want us to pay attention to Scoop, or just pay more attention to you? lol

(Its just that I havent seen someone post successively to themselves, and then simply quote themselves (thrice)  from almost 3 years ago. Are folks supposed to research your body of work before posting here?: ..."MUScoop is no stranger to Lattin... for those who looked.." )

[We R Final Four]

...

2013..

ahh, yes.. seems like Winslow did OK.. Ourbre and Jackson as well, a''inal?

Lattin's block % is at 9.7%.. 28th best in the nation.. shocker? Of course not, if you pay attention to Scoop.

Only a 13.5% usage guy, but that's fine. He's can elevate substantially.

But how is his FG %????????????

[4everwarriors]

Haven't seen a beat down this bad in da Final Four since Roy spanked T-Cube in Norlins, hey?

[real chili 83]

Cant you afford to hire a PR person to bang your own drum this much?

Do you really want us to pay attention to Scoop, or just pay more attention to you? lol

(Its just that I havent seen someone post successively to themselves, and then simply quote themselves (thrice)  from almost 3 years ago. Are folks supposed to research your body of work before posting here?: ..."MUScoop is no stranger to Lattin... for those who looked.." )

Jeez Houa, chill.  Apparently you haven't followed Chicos. 

On Monday, be sure to by Legs a beer before the game.