Final Four Flashbacks

GaryWinklosky
9 min readMar 31, 2022

This weekend the Final Four returns to New Orleans for the sixth time for the men and for a second time to Minneapolis for the women. Looking back at the previous tournaments in those cities and the events at those times brings back memories but also ties to quite a bit on the news of today.

It has been 40 years since New Orleans first hosted.

Men/Women 48/32 teams, UNC/Louisiana Tech winner, James Worthy/Janice Lawrence MOP, Georgetown/Cheyney runner up

Basketball Notes

The women’s tournament was the first ever held by the NCAA. From 1972 through 1981 college played in the AIAW women’s tournament.

Before becoming all everything, freshman Micheal Jordan hit the game winner in the championship game.

Can never show a picture of my 1986 Jordan rookie card too many times

Men’s championship game featured Jordan, James Worthy, and Patrick Ewing all of whom were named in 1996 as part of NBA 50 greatest players. Sports Illustrated created a ranked list of 50 players in 2016 which had just Jordan (1) and Ewing (39).

For the first time, the consolation game between the losing teams from semi finals was not played prior to the championship game.

Duke failed to qualify for the tournament.

--

--

GaryWinklosky

Happily married father of three who happens to also be a nerd and sports fan.