It was the billed as the game of the century a showdown between Elvin Hayes and the Houston Cougars, coached by Guy Lewis, vs. John Wooden’s UCLA Bruins, The Bruins led by Lew Alcindor had a 47 game winning streak. Houston was undefeated and UCLA had come off a National Championship in 1967 and were on their way to winning a second championship in 1968. Houston was an upstart of sorts. They played an aggressive style of play and played above the rim with the 6’10 Hayes inside and the great Guard play by Don Chaney in side.
UCLA was loaded Lew Alcindor (Kareen Abdul Jabbar), Lucious Allen, Lynn Shackleford, Mike Warren ( Hill Street Blues) led the Bruins and at the time a dynasty was formed. The freshman rule was in effect in 1968, where freshman were ineligible to play in the on college varsity teams. So Alcindor sat out and made his collegiate debut in 1967-68 season. In the spring of 1965, soon after UCLA had won its second consecutive title, led by Walt Hazzard and Gail Goodrich, John Wooden carried out the recruiting coup of the decade: Lew Alcindor a senior at New York Power Memorial High School and the most heralded big man since Wilt Chamberlain, decided to attend UCLA the following fall. UCLA would break nearly every single record ever before set. They had the makings of a dynasty.
So the game of the century was no small event. It was huge, given the impact of Lew Alcindor on the UCLA program. Most college programs felt that once Alcindor was eligible to play, no other college program would have any chance of beating the UCLA. In fact Alcindor’s freshman team would give the varsity all it could handle. The varsity was rated No. 1 in the country in pre-season ranking. The varsity was blown off the court when the UCLA held its annual Freshman/Varsity Game. The 1967 UCLA Bruins team consisted of four sophomores and a junior.
As sophomore, Alcindor was already being described as a cross between, Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell. Alcindor was the ultimate team player. The backcourt was exceptionally talented led by Lucious Allen and Mike Warren., The forwards were Kenny Heintz and Lyn Shackelford. Someone once wrote the letters NCAA really meant “No Chance Against Alcindor”
Houston coach Guy Lewis would not get on this band wagon, like a circus huckster, he was convinced that UCLA was not invincible. Houston’s Lewis said all year the UCLA would lose at some point during the season. Other felt the Bruins were inexperienced and that this would be their downfall. But to lose, UCLA had to have a bad game and a perfect game would need to be played by their opponent.
This was the backdrop that setup the January showdown between the UCLA and Houston at the Astrodome in Houston, A record 54,000 fans attended the first indoor game in a domed arena. Many more would follow in the years to come in domed arena over the year. Houston would prevail this time over UCLA 71-69. Elvin Hayes scored a game high 39 pints and pulled down 15 rebounds. However an asterisk should have been added to this game. Lew Alcindor played with a scratched cornea, which bothered him throughout the game.
UCLA met Houston is the Final Four winning the game 101-69. The rest is history with Alcindor later changing his name to Kareem Abdul Jabbar having a sensational NBA Career well into the Eighties. Elvin Hayes had a solid career in the NBA as well.
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Jerry Roberts // March 19, 2009 at 4:25 am |
Couple of things. UCLA met Houston in the semi-finals in L.A. The game was blacked out so many of us paid to see it via closed circuit. I was one of them. The score was 101-69 and Elvin Hayes was completely throttled by a defense later identified as the “Diamond Plus One.” I think he got 10 points in that game.
In the second half the Bruins lead exceeded 40 points, with the final margin 32.
For Bruins fans it was sweet, as we felt the combination of Alcindor’s eye injury plus questionable officiating, had led to the UCLA loss at the Astrodome.
That UCLA team was probably the best in the history of college basketball.