Darrel Griffith ? for the oldenheimers

[lawsonhawk]

He was first team AA his senior year, but I noticed he wasn't even 3rd team the prior year. Why not?

There was a discussion about the '80 final four game on the Iowa board re: Ronnie Lester.

I know he was a huge high school recruit.

 

[nccardfan]

It is pretty common knowledge that DG promised a N.C. and by his junior year it was looking like that prediction wouldn’t come to pass. Also Griff knew he was much more capable and what drove him between his junior and senior year to work his butt off in the gym. He would place the volleyball standards in front of the rim and shoot hundreds of shots practicing that high arching shot.

 

[fredburgcard]

I remember the last game of the 79 season. The Cards played in the round of 16 against Arkansas at what is now US Bank Arena in Cincinnati. I had great seats on the floor behind one of the baskets. Louisville had a great comeback in the second half and Griff spent most of it on the bench looking sullen. UofL lost the game and Arkansas went on to lose to Larry Bird’s Indiana State team in the regional final. Griffith reinvented himself that next summer and the rest is history

 

[Mayoman]

His Male HS mate Bobby Turner dropped out after a year or two....not sure if that had any impact on Griff or not.....but he transformed his ball handling skills and outside shooting so much in that one summer prior to his Sr year...he was pretty much unstoppable and made some of the most amazing dunks you could ever imagine....and made it look so, so effortlessly easy doing it too.

Had he been drafted by the Lakers or Celtics....he would be considered one of the greatest pros of all time IMO. Small market Utah Jazz did not do justice for him at that time.

 

[ShortCreek]

Griff did ball handling chair drills in Crawford Gym religiously the summer before his senior year. I’m thinking he had 32 or 34 in the semi against Iowa, and pretty sure he scored 18 of our first 20 points. One of my favorite players of all time.

My high school team played Griff’s his senior year when I was a sophomore at the old Male gym. That gym was really awesome, it was built during the New Deal under FDR. I remember the brass handrails, just a cool place with a ton of history.

After my JV game I rushed to get dressed to watch Griff and Male warm up. I was sitting with my dad and he tapped me on the leg and pointed to someone entering the gym - it was none other than Oscar Robertson. He was there to show love for the University if Cincinnati. The Big O was not on their staff but back then it was not against NCAA rules for alumni to help recruit. Good memories.

 

[earsky]

I noticed he wasn't even 3rd team the prior year. Why not?

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.
To me,there have been several guys at this level that come to mind,that had they chosen to work just on their ball handling skills,might be making a better living today. Kudos to Griff for having the fortitude to do it.

 

[lawsonhawk]

Thanks.

So in other words, things weren't quite panning out and he re-committed it sounds like.

 

[earsky]

So in other words, things weren't quite panning out and he re-committed it sounds like.

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.

Btw,that team in his junior year was decimated by the late season injury of forward Larry Williams. They were poised to make a big run before that happened.

 

[cardfaninmemphis]

Thanks.

So in other words, things weren't quite panning out and he re-committed it sounds like.

Maybe V.J. King ought to sit down with Grif and take some notes.

 

[KerryRhodes]

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.

Btw,that team in his junior year was decimated by the late season injury of forward Larry Williams. They were poised to make a big run before that happened.

I thought the late Larry Williams broke his foot in 77' ?

Griffs junior year was 78-79.

My Dad said UofL was strong enough to win it all in 77 till Larry broke his foot.

 

[ShortCreek]

I thought the late Larry Williams broke his foot in 77' ?

Griffs junior year was 78-79.

My Dad said UofL was strong enough to win it all in 77 till Larry broke his foot.

Your dad is correct. If not for the Williams injury UofL could have very well won it in ‘77.

 

[ShortCreek]

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.
To me,there have been several guys at this level that come to mind,that had they chosen to work just on their ball handling skills,might be making a better living today. Kudos to Griff for having the fortitude to do it.

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!

 

[earsky]

I thought the late Larry Williams broke his foot in 77' ?

Griffs junior year was 78-79.

My Dad said UofL was strong enough to win it all in 77 till Larry broke his foot.

Yeah,my bad.

 

[glassmanJ]

didn't hurt that rodney mccray showed up on campus and gave us another scoring threat and thus taking a little pressure off griff. as a kid the news story was that griff would jump over trash cans as a kids and that helped him achieve his vertical..

btw, for those who never saw the 1980 title game go back and watch and you will be amazed at how boring the style of play was then. basically, whoever rebounded the ball dribbled it up court, made one pass, then the person who got the ball dribbled until they drove or took a jump shot. basically no passing or ball movement. just isolation ball like in the nba that everyone complains about. but it won us the title so yay! but boring. buy man kiki vandeweghe could play

 

[Cue Card]

Got a autographed bubblehead of Griff. Got one of Denny too. All these stories in this thread brings back some great memories.

Go CARDS!!!

 

[lawsonhawk]

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.

 

[flyercard]

I thought the late Larry Williams broke his foot in 77' ?

Griffs junior year was 78-79.

My Dad said UofL was strong enough to win it all in 77 till Larry broke his foot.

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.

 

[nccardfan]

As another poster mentioned, I do think the impact of Turner dropping out did have some effect. I think the goal to or promise to win a N.C. was a pact made between Bobby and Griff. When it became apparent that Bobby wouldn’t be a part of it, Griff took it upon himself. The rest is history.

 

[fredburgcard]

I always thought the 77 team was Crum's best Louisville team before Williams was injured. I was a junior at UofL residing in Unitas Tower and remember the game against UC at Freedom Hall. UC was ranked something like #2 in the country. Back then students with an ID got in free. I was in line a couple of hours before the game and it was freezing cold. The Cards pummeled UC and I went back to the dorm and made hotel reservations for Atlanta where the Final Four was going to be played. Shortly after Williams got hurt and the Cards went into a tailspin. They lost to UCLA in the tournament.

 

[earsky]

I don't think Harmon was much for the school side of things

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.

 

[lawsonhawk]

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.

 

[KozmasAgain]

Jerome Harmon was really talented but like others mentioned he didn't want to do the class work. Griffith was fun to watch when he would take a jump shot it seemed like he hung in the air forever. I remember we played Rutgers at their place and the game was on TV. Griffith was the first one to do the 360 dunk. You could here one of the Rutgers cheerleaders yelling at the ref. He said " Come on ref he can't do that , is that legal ". He was fun to watch ?

 

[BooneCo_Card]

I remember the last game of the 79 season. The Cards played in the round of 16 against Arkansas at what is now US Bank Arena in Cincinnati. I had great seats on the floor behind one of the baskets. Louisville had a great comeback in the second half and Griff spent most of it on the bench looking sullen. UofL lost the game and Arkansas went on to lose to Larry Bird’s Indiana State team in the regional final. Griffith reinvented himself that next summer and the rest is history

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.

 

[ShortCreek]

If not for Tony Branch’s heroics vs Kansas State early in the tourney (first or second round?) Griff would not be the legend he is. Branch saved us that day.

 

[KozmasAgain]

Was it Kansas St. I thought it was Purdue but you are right. Griffith fouled out and Tony Branch came in and I thought it was over but Branch scored some big baskets. Branch was the one that made it possible for us to move on.

 

[ShortCreek]

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.

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.

Had we won we would have been #1 in all the polls the next day. Pervis and our team were never the same after that day. IMO, I think he played not to get hurt. Illinois had a helluva team, if memory serves me right they played three guards and they were all very versatile.

 

[KerryRhodes]

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.

Had we won we would have been #1 in all the polls the next day. Pervis and our team were never the same after that day. IMO, I think he played not to get hurt. Illinois had a helluva team, if memory serves me right they played three guards and they were all very versatile.

UofL got trucked back to back yrs.

88 by National runner up Oklahoma
89 by Illinois and that potent 3 guard lineup along with 6'6 Kenny Battie who played like he was a 7 footer that game.

So many missed opportunities for Titles for UofL ;

75,77,83,89,94,08,14.

 

[earsky]

Was it Kansas St.

Yes

 

[earsky]

75,77,83,89,94,08,14.

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...

 

[KerryRhodes]

Was it Kansas St. I thought it was Purdue but you are right. Griffith fouled out and Tony Branch came in and I thought it was over but Branch scored some big baskets. Branch was the one that made it possible for us to move on.

Kansas State. The REAL WILDCATS.

 

[KerryRhodes]

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...

75- Terry Howard hadnt missed a FT all season. Hit those two Cards are up 3, win and beat SuCkS for their 1st Title.

77- Larry Williams breaks foot.

83-Played Houston instead of Georgia and NC State.

89- Pervis spooked over injury.
Players didnt play Strong enough against Illinois. Also should have Rex on this team.

94-Despite the late Cliff Rozier's All American season, Cards shot to many threes in the NCAAT.

08-Rondo and Lofton were supposed to be part of this team. Despite not having them, they could have won the Title. To much stubbornness by you know who.

14-chance to repeat. Add anyone of these three players ( Gorgui, Chane, Ware) and the Cards win back to back. That and better refs against SuCkS.

 

[fredburgcard]

Was it Kansas St. I thought it was Purdue but you are right. Griffith fouled out and Tony Branch came in and I thought it was over but Branch scored some big baskets. Branch was the one that made it possible for us to move on.

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.

 

[ShortCreek]

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.

The team that lost to Arkansas on the US Reed shot would have made a deep run. I’ll never forget that day, talk about a gut punch!

 

[earsky]

The team that lost to Arkansas on the US Reed shot would have made a deep run.

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.

 

[lawsonhawk]

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.

Had we won we would have been #1 in all the polls the next day. Pervis and our team were never the same after that day. IMO, I think he played not to get hurt. Illinois had a helluva team, if memory serves me right they played three guards and they were all very versatile.

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.

 

[Cards1261]

I thought the late Larry Williams broke his foot in 77' ?

Griffs junior year was 78-79.

My Dad said UofL was strong enough to win it all in 77 till Larry broke his foot.

It was 77.’

 

[ShortCreek]

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.

Payne disappeared? Bet he went for carryout pizza.