MEMPHIS, Tenn-(AP)-It’s been 30 years, but the memories are still fresh in the minds of Tiger Nation. And, those memories will be rekindled Saturday when the University of Memphis honors the 1984-85 Tigers basketball squad that advanced to the NCAA Final Four.
The 1984-85 Tigers will be honored at halftime of Saturday’s Memphis-Tulsa game, which is scheduled for a 7 p.m. (CT) start at FedExForum.
For tickets to Saturday’s Memphis-Tulsa game, visit gotigersgotix.com or call the Memphis ticket office at 901-678-2331.
The 1984-85 Tigers, under the guidance of head coach Dana Kirk, posted a 31-4 overall record and a 13-1 Metro Conference mark. Memphis swept the Metro Conference regular-season and tournament titles. The Tigers advanced to the program’s second NCAA Final Four.
The 31 wins were, at the time, a school record, and the 1984-85 squad’s 31-4 record was the first 30-win season in the program’s history. In addition, Memphis was ranked in the top-five of the national polls all but two weeks of that season and climbed as high as No. 3 in the nation. All four setbacks were by seven or fewer points.
Memphis won the Metro Conference Tournament championship with a thrilling 90-86 overtime victory over Florida State and rode that momentum into the NCAA Tournament. After a 12-point victory over Penn in the first round, the Tigers won narrow single-digit decisions over UAB 67-66 in overtime, Boston College 59-57 and Oklahoma 63-61 to advance to the NCAA Final Four.
Keith Lee, a 1985 consensus All-America pick, was the 1985 Metro Conference Player of the Year and an all-league first team selection. William Bedford and Andre Turner, who hit the clutch buzzer-beater jumper to defeat Boston College in the NCAA Sweet Sixteen, were All-Metro second team picks. Vincent Askew was named to the Metro All-Freshman Team.
Lee, Turner and Baskerville Holmes all were selected to the Metro Conference All-Tournament Team.
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