Just How Exclusive In This Club?

[Wheels Of Steel]

By my reckoning, in well over a century of men's baketball, Purdue has won 2 post-season tournament championships: the 1974 NIT and the 2009 Big Ten tourney. I was at Madison Square Garden for the 1974 final-four and at Conseco Fieldhouse for the 2009 win over Ohio State. (For what's worth, I was also at the United Center for the 1998 final game against Michigan, which subsequently vacated the title).

Other folks have memories of being at these games?

 

[cprh9u]

Ugh

 

[Heller]

By my reckoning, in well over a century of men's baketball, Purdue has won 2 post-season tournament championships: the 1974 NIT and the 2009 Big Ten tourney. I was at Madison Square Garden for the 1974 final-four and at Conseco Fieldhouse for the 2009 win over Ohio State. (For what's worth, I was also at the United Center for the 1998 final game against Michigan, which subsequently vacated the title).

Other folks have memories of being at these games?

I found it interesting that Bob Knight said his goal each year was to win the Big Ten and wasn't a fan of the post season tourney. That 18 game round robin schedule when teams had travel partners was much more difficult a goal than a four day tourney because it took months to accomplish. As to your question I doubt very many are in that club as 1974 was a long time ago now.

 

[woggy718]

I found it interesting that Bob Knight said his goal each year was to win the Big Ten and wasn't a fan of the post season tourney. That 18 game round robin schedule when teams had travel partners was much more difficult a goal than a four day tourney because it took months to accomplish. As to your question I doubt very many are in that club as 1974 was a long time ago now.

In 2009, I went to all 4 days of the B1G tournament. It was such an awesome expierience.

 

[Wheels Of Steel]

You are probably right, Heller. The most likely folks are probably people who played on the 1974 championship team (e.g., John Garrett, Frank Kendrick, etc.), and then attended the '09 tournament.

 

[Heller]

You are probably right, Heller. The most likely folks are probably people who played on the 1974 championship team (e.g., John Garrett, Frank Kendrick, etc.), and then attended the '09 tournament.

The 1974 NIT was on TV so while I wasn't there I did watch. Being young and having a family who had the cash? Plus winning the NIT then was quite an accomplishment since there were only like 24 teams in the NCAA at the time.

 

[tigerchump]

The 1974 NIT was on TV so while I wasn't there I did watch. Being young and having a family who had the cash? Plus winning the NIT then was quite an accomplishment since there were only like 24 teams in the NCAA at the time.

Good posts,Heller.I remember watching the 1974 NIT on Tv and I think there were only 16 teams invited to the NCAA until 1977 or maybe 1978.Yes I couldn't afford tickets to ball games,concerts,movies etc.many different times while raising a family.My wife and I always put our kids first and would do it again in a heartbeat.

 

[Cleanface]

What club are we talking about??

The "I went to the two terrible non-NCAA Tourneys PUR actually won in 100 years" club??

 

[Purdue Grad in Texas]

Bruce Rose and Tom Scheffler as well on that '74 team, coached by Fred "seatbelt" Schaus. The Boilers beat Luther "Ticky" Burden-led Utah in that NIT final. I remember watching it as well.

Heller, 25 teams made the NCAA that year, and the top teams all had byes until the Regional Round of 16. Purdue finished solo third in the Big Ten behind co-champs Michigan and Indiana. Some of the "mature" posters might remember the conference had a one-game playoff to decide the NCAA bid, and they played it in Assembly Hall with Michigan winning.......Assembly Hall in Champaign that is for a neutral site. That's a long ways away from BTT action.

 

[scottm.gjr]

The best games I can remember being at were Purdue vs Kansas (sweet 16) and Purdue vs Duke (elite 8). It was a great atmosphere and very special to watch Glenn Robinson in action. I was only 9 years old at the time but remember it very well. I hope I get the chance to follow this years team deep into the post season!

 

[Wheels Of Steel]

In those days the NIT was still a pretty big deal. No Big Ten team had ever won the tournament up until that point. And to win, we had to beat North Carolina in the first game and Utah, who had steamrolled everybody, in the final. Mike Sojourner, rather than Ticky Burden, was the tournament MVP.

I can remember listening to the North Carolina and Hawaii (round 2) games on the radio in the dorm room. A bunch of us decided that if we made it to the final four, we were going to be there. Took 5 tour buses of Purdue fans (I think we each paid $65 for the trip, game tickets, and hotel). Fifteen hours out there, 18 hours on the return. A bunch of 19-year-old kids in Manhattan for the first time! Great stuff!

 

[nagemj02]

It was before my time but I'm always interested in history. I found the stats for that '73-'74 NIT title team: http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/purdue/1974.html

So it looks like these were the regulars?:

Starters:

PG Bruce Parkinson (So.)
SG Dave Luke (Sr.)
SF Jerry Nichols (Jr.)
PF Frank Kendrick (Sr.) (I know him fairly well because of his coaching history and helping the Boilers get The Big Dog much like how former player Roosevelt Barnes played a role in the Swanigan commitment.)
C John Garrett (Jr.)

Main Reserves:

F Bruce Rose (Sr.)
C Tom Scheffler (Fr.) (He's quite a bit older than Steve, huh?)
PG Mike Steele (So.)
G Dick Satterfield (Jr.) (That name looks familiar: has he been a head coach?)

 

[Wheels Of Steel]

That's the way I remember it, nagemj. That team ended up ranked 11th in the final AP poll that year, but they were probably better than that. They split with Michigan and lost to IU by a single point in Bloomington (they only played IU once that year). Best game of the year was probably against NC State in Mackey. NC State pulled it out in the end to win by 5, and then went on to win the National Championship.