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StumblePublished Sunday, March 14, 2010 | 5:23 p.m.
Updated Sunday, March 14, 2010 | 5:46 p.m.
I never got caught up in the seeding part of the NCAA Tournament. No matter where the committee placed you, it was always going to be a tough game and you were always going to have to play your best.
We never got any breaks, and I didn't expect to.
In 1987, we were in a bracket with Princeton and nobody wanted to be with Princeton because they had a great coach, Pete Carril. They never had the talent, but they were so hard to beat because of that system Pete ran.
That year, they took Georgetown to the last shot of the game. They had Georgetown beat, but lost on a questionable goaltending call.
As a coach, you looked bad when you lost to them because you always had better players. I couldn't believe that we drew Princeton.
In 1991, the year after we won the national championship, we drew Georgetown in the second round.
They weren't great that year, but nobody wanted to play them because they had Alonzo Mourning and Dikembe Mutombo in the same starting lineup.
Imagine having to face those two great shot blockers. It was probably the best two shot blockers on the floor at the same time for a college team.
John Thompson didn't start Mutombo until February, but once he was in the lineup, Georgetown was unstoppable. They would be a tough opponent for anyone.
I remember watching the selection show and telling some friends, "Mark my words, we will have to go through Georgetown." Sure enough, when the pairings came out, we had Georgetown.
We had to play them in Tucson, Ariz., and that was tough for us because we had such a heated rivalry with Arizona. It was like a road game because their fans were so rough on us.
Our fans who traveled to the game said they were treated so badly. They would go into restaurants and have a hard time being served.
To this day, John Thompson will tell you that was the only time Georgetown got cheered on the road. They were always considered the villains because they were a pretty rough and physical team. But when they took the court against us in Arizona, they received a standing ovation.
You could say we got the last laugh. We beat Georgetown and advanced to the Final Four. And our players left a gift for Arizona's players.
We were assigned the Arizona locker room, which had this big basketball decoration inside it in with Arizona's logos and colors. Well, our guys shouldn't have done this, but they each autographed the ball after we won.
Hah, I remember it well! Love that to this day, almost 20 years later, UA fans are still seething with rage over the Rebs autographing their basketball!
UA should treasure that basketball forever!
Hilarious!!!
I really treasure these memories, Tark - keep them coming!
Oh Jerry, you're always trying to rewrite history. I see you conveniently omitted some facts.
The real story is that it wasn't just autographs. There was obscenities too. UNLV paid the bill to clean it up.
And Tarks recollection that UNLV fans had a hard time getting served in Tucson restaurants? Just as absurd if the same would happen here to Arizona fans.
Why does Jerry always portray himself and his kids as perfect angels when photographs and arrest records prove otherwise?
logic_should_rule you are an idiot. doubt me? come see me. it's haters like you who ruin the comment section.
true_rebel_fan ..Sorry if the truth upsets you. Hope you're feeling better soon!
logic, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that the players would write something derogatory. Tark himself even noted they shouldn't have done it. He wasn't trying to say they were right, just exposing the rivalry for what it was. And Lute Olsen, was by no means any type of straight down the line, great bunch of guys, recruiter.
Awesome, Coach! It was certainly us against the rest of the basketball world back then, especially the 2-ay.
Logic, Tucson indeed treats outsiders, especially Las Vegans, like that. I experienced it first-hand. It's a joke.
we traveled to tucson fore the sub regionals. two things stand out. we tried to fill up at two gas stations. we were refused service.
Loyd Charles (Grape- former owner of the Mopy Grape) Bob Kessler and Dave Slade and i WENT TO THE lA Mariachi Restraunt. It snowed 4 ' that night. They closed and allowed us Gringos to stay and listed to the band play christmas music.
A fun winning weekend
What does defacing the UA locker room have to do with silencing Arizona when you're talking about playing Georgetown? This is the most bizarre posting I've ever seen. Maybe UNLV fans didn't get served at the restaurant because they were being disrespectful like their team.
BTW, Lute Olson has more class in his little finger than UNLV could ever dream of having in 50 years.
Hey guys, I lived in Tucson most of my life. The idea that they treat Las Vegans badly because of UNLV is ridiculous. If anything they really hate ASU so you're not that important. And I know of no one from Tempe with the same BS regarding service. Yes, refuse service service because of your Nevada plate of t-shirt? Dream something else up.
Refused service(at two different locations yet!!!!Maybe they called each other? HA!) because you're outsiders? That's either delusional or an outright lie.
That lack of institutional control eventually got UNLV into (pun alert)...hot water.
If you don't like reading Tark's stories, don't read them, and don't comment.
I am perfectly fine with Tark giving his side. Maybe Lute Olson should have his own column in Arizona, and both Logic and behappy can sit around with their pants down panting like loyal servants.
Finally, none of us were in that locker room, and didn't have the experiences Tark and his time may have had - your info comes from other stories that may paint it differently - maybe even from your fellow Arizona citizens. Regardless, it isn't in your place to call someone a flat out liar from a story made from HIS perspective.
It's likely the same with a BYU-UNLV rivalry. BYU fans will say they were treated like crap here possibly, but who are we to say that is true or not. Point is - who cares?!
Enjoy the stories from a loyal UNLV legend/contributor, or find another newspaper forum to whine on.
How dare you post such trash about classy lute olsen. He was a joke, he was so scared of the Thomas & Mack Center (shark tank), he would never step foot in the tank with his cry baby teams. Vegas would have crushed them like bugs. Lute Olsen is nothing. Tark has the greatest basketball team ever. If the NCAA and the unlv president would not have violated his due process rights, UNLV would be sitting on 10 titles.
I was in Tucson for those games and we did get served at the resturant and some Arizona fan picked up our check and said he was sorry Arizona fans had been so nasty to Las Vegas fans
Very nice gesture by that gentleman
Tucson Bashing !!!??? Count me in ! I also attended that game, went there w/o a ticket and the late great Herb Tobman gave me 2 extra tix he had. Enjoyed the heck out of the game at their 1950s style gym, recall the UA players coming out and sitting front row after half time and all the Uof A chanting. It was soooo sweet to silence them. As far at them( UA types) being rude... so what !! Its what I would expect being in a hostile territory. Just like I treated BYU fans this past week end at the Mack ! Any way, back to Tucson, any one ever notice the entire city looks like Boulder Highway if it was dropped on Juarez !!!! ??
figsybigsy- Greatest team ever? Hardly and oh, I guess that recruiting kids from institutions instead of high schools was ok too? Sorry but Tark is a coach who's legacy looks like a rap sheet--probation at every stop. There's a reason he isn't in the Hall Of Fame. Ever wonder why?
I've met him and he's very personable but you guys have lots of trouble being objective about his career. No doubt a great coach but it's disappointing that Tark now resorts re-writing history in his latter years to try to prop up his image.
Logic has already exposed as a Arizona fan. Get lost, dbag.
LOL, first time I have heard this story. GREAT stuff.
George Town Montana Rebels and Vanderbilt were the four schools there.
Oh yes Grape of The Moby Grape bar.
Back in those days Moby Grape had chartered busses to The Silver Bowl for Rebel football.
You bought your football ticket at the Moby Grape and they served beer and wine to and from the game very inexpensive I might add
Stay healthy Tark ! I shook your hand on win 750 out in Fresno. I snuck down to courtside, just so I could take a picture of you and shake your hand. Then I tried to take a picutre with you and was wisked away. I still hope to take that picture with you. Anyhow, I mailed the pics I took of you and you autographed them for me. Thank you for being who you are Tark. God Bless and LOVE !