The 1971 NIT title went to North Carolina as the Tar Heels defeated Georgia Tech in the championship. Over the years coach Dean Smith remarked on how this title was a springboard to getting to the NCAA Final Four a year later. Back in those years the entire 16-team NIT was contested at Madison Square Garden. The tournament began the morning of March 20 and finished a week to the day later.
Oklahoma, eliminated in the first round by Hawaii, was coached by John McLeod who would later coach in the NBA and at Notre Dame. McLeod’s star player one Clifford Ray, destined for a nice decade or so run in the NBA.
UMass had a tough draw. Not only did they draw the first game in the tournament, an 11 am start on Saturday March 20, they also faced North Carolina. The good doctor, Julius Erving, was in the house. Dr. J had no prescription for the Tar Heels, who romped 90-49.
Lou Carnesecca went to the Nets in ‘70-71. His successor at St. John’s, Frank Mulzoff, led the Redmen back to the NIT. The stay was short as they dropped a first round overtime game against Tennessee.
Another team a year away from the Final Four was Louisville. The Cards, led by guard Jim Price, were defeated by Providence 64-58 in the opening round.
La Salle suffered a 70-67 first round loss to eventual runner-up Georgia Tech. The Explorers’ star Ken Durrett was slowed by a knee injury. La salle was coached by Paul Westhead, in his first year directing the program. Westhead would go on to a long college and NBA career on the sidelines.
Roy Danforth, in the process of reviving fortunes at Syracuse, had the Orange qualify for the field. They dropped an opening round contest to Michigan.
On semifinal night Duke and North Carolina tipped off the 7 o’clock game. It was to be the only time to date that the rivals faced each other outside of ACC regular season or tournament action. The Tar Heels punched the ticket to the championship with a 73-69 victory.
St. Bonaventure had eliminated Purdue and Hawaii to earn a meeting with Georgia Tech in the semis. Bonnies defeated Tech in a nail biter back in December to win the Gator Bowl Classic. Another close contest was in order for this rematch. In overtime Bona guard Paul Hoffman was fouled going to the basket as time expired. Normally very dependable on the charity stripe, Hoffman missed both tries. In the second overtime Tech’s only basket was on a goaltend en route to a 76-71 decision.
Less than 24 hours later the Bonnies captured third place. They trailed Duke by 17 the first half, fought back and forced an extra session. Bona prevailed in OT 92-88.
In the championship was North Carolina-with victories over UMass, Providence and Duke. Georgia Tech advanced defeating LaSalle, Michigan and St. Bonaventure. Tech had a high scoring Senior All American in 6’9” Rich Yunkus. In the end, coach John ‘Whack’ Hyder’s group did not have an answer for Bill Chamberlain. After a relatively competitive first half, Carolina dominated the final twenty minutes. Yunkus, thanks to the Carolina defense, struggled with a sub par ten point outing. On the other side, Chamberlain was outstanding inside. The 6’6” LI Lutheran product scored 22 of his game high 34 points after intermission. North Carolina prevailed 84-66 with Chamberlain earning MVP honors.
Added items of note:
Bucky Waters, also known for his outstanding work as a college basketball commentator, coached Duke. Blue Devils also had an impressive talent from across the Hudson- Richie O’Connor a sophomore guard from Union City, NJ.
Speaking of coaches….Syracuse guard Tom Green was ending his playing career. Green would later go into coaching with a nice run as head man at FDU. Also on Danforth’s staff in ‘71 was one Jim Boeheim.
Dayton, knocked out by Duke in the first round, was led by Ken May. His brother Don (the ‘68 MVP when Dayton captured the NIT) was a first round NY Knick draft choice.
Providence had a sophomore guard of note, Ernie DiGregorio. Also in the Friar backcourt was Jim Larranaga, still active on the sidelines these days.
Another coaching name of note was George Karl, a sophomore in the Carolina backcourt.
The writer was a freshman manager at St.Bonaventure in ‘71. The NIT memories decades later remain vivid and special to this day.
Ray,
Because it was 50 years, I was sharing some of my NIT memories with friends and family. And I found this article for details I forgot. Great article and thanks for all your efforts and memories.