Really good question. I'm not sure,but the others are spot on. He became a gym rat after the junior campaign and became more of a combo guard.
He averaged almost 19 a game as a junior. I think he took it like if you think you've arrived,that's when you get passed by somebody else. He was the guy that didn't settle for that,the guy passing up somebody else.
Maybe V.J. King ought to sit down with Grif and take some notes.
Your dad is correct. If not for the Williams injury UofL could have very well won it in ‘77.
Jerome Harmon for one. Had he worked on his ball skills and extending his perimeter range he’d have been twice the player. Currently Nwora needs to improve his handle in the worst way. He’d have a better shot someday of making money in basketball but not w/o a lot of off season work!
That may be true, but I don't think Harmon was much for the school side of things. That was a fun team w/ him, Smith, Sullivan, Cornelious (sp). In some respects, not the best team but the most fun to watch imo . . . Pervous senior year was as good as any as well, just had a bad match-up w/ Illinois.
Your Dad was correct. I remember listening to the game against UNLV at their place which was billed as a prelude to the NCAA. We lost, Williams was injured, and so was our tourney hopes.
I remember the word on the street back then was that he had a personal assistant responsible for getting him to class every day...it was for naught.
Of the ridiculous athletes Louisville has had he, LaBradford, and Terrence were probably at the top. Just a shame he quit. I guess Griffith as well, but to be honest, he didn't play as explosively as the others.
Exactly as you described. Somehow, I had seats about 15 rows up foul line extended. Griff looked terrible, got in foul and then the comeback began. Tony Branch came in and lit a spark. A lot of talent on the floor that weekend - Bird, Sidney Moncrief, Griff, Derek and a healthy Scooter McCray. Scooter's injury limited him from becoming one of our all-time greats. He was special.
Pervis senior year was a huge missed opportunity for another title. I’ll always contend that we lost the title that year when Pervis slipped on a wet spot at Freedom Hall on a Sunday against Ohio State.
Many could and would argue that we were on the brink over Crum's first 15 years at UofL of becoming a dynasty. So close,yet so far...
Louisville got taken to OT in both of the first two games of the 80 tournament. Against K State and then Texas A&M in round of 16. Then they clobbered LSU in the regional final. Things could have very easily gone south early in that tournament.
We were fortunate in the early rounds in 1980. No doubt about it.
Absolutely,and we shouldn't forget that the Cards fell 4 points short of Gtown in the 82 FFour. We matched up well with NC.
I don't remember the slip. I do remember Kenny Payne disappearing in the second half after a lights out first half. Illinois guards were just a bad match-up as well. UofL had incredible balance and Illinois just squashed it with guard heavy play and athleticism inside throwing the balance off.
