LSU's 1985-1986 Final Four team ran out of gas in Dallas, losing to eventual champion Louisville, 88-77. While a Final Four team and run to get there is exciting enough, this team was one of LSU's most colorful teams of any sport.

Practice started with some of the more talented players LSU ever had.The team was coming off an SEC Title which culminated in a first round SEC tournament loss and blowout loss to 13 seed Navy and David Robinson, 78-55. Rumors were abound that Bob Brodhead came "that" close to showing Dale Brown the door.The Auburn and Navy losses were LSU's 9th and 10th straight post season losses --SEC,NCAA and NIT going back to the 1981 Final Four.

Still,LSU started off as pre-season #14 with only Kentucky ranked higher.However before the season started, Tito Hortford one of the nation's highest ranked recruits left LSU. Hortford supposedly had grade issues and other matters and transferred to Miami, who was reviving its program after going dormant for 14 yrs. This incident and Brown's disagreements with Brodhead and Bill Arnsparger were documented in the SI article.

LSU handled Hortford's departure and came to Tuscaloosa 14-0 ranked #8. LSU lost on the road to Alabama and Tennessee but easily beat Ole Miss and Vandy at home. However,after the Vanderbilt game LSU ruled Nikita Wilson academically ineligible for the remainder of the season.After a midweek loss at Florida, two Tigers, Bernard Woodside and John Williams came down with Chicken Pox. Dr. Marty Broussard recommended LSU postpone its upcoming game with Auburn as only 4 players could provide information that they had had the disease. Auburn wasn't too moved as ABC was coming to town to show the game.The SEC stepped in and postponed the game for two weeks.

The next game was a heartbreaking buzzer beater loss to Kentucky,54-52 in Baton Rouge, followed by a blowout loss in Athens before a nationally televised game in Washington against #12 Georgetown. Williams and Woodside were back for this one and LSU played valiantly losing 74-72.

While a valiant loss, the game did provide an outrageous "Dale Brownish" moment near the end.Tied at 72, LSU called timeout. Dale allowed CBS' cameracrew in the huddle and Dale preached emphatically "Jose (Vargas) do NOT shoot the ball."Vargas gets the ball and shoots an airball. Don Redden fouled Michael Jackson --not him, who made two free throws to win.

After starting out 14-0, LSU stumbled to finish line 21-10.The first round SEC-T game was with Florida in what many considered an NCAA "play in game." The Tigers won, 72-66 and Florida would have to wait another season to become the last SEC team to make the NCAA tournament.

Next up was #4 Kentucky with the tourney being played at Rupp Arena. Kentucky had beaten LSU 54-52 in Baton Rouge and 68-57 on Senior Day. Before 19,000 in blue and about 65 in Purple and Gold (including me) LSU led 54-49 with about 4:00 left.But Kentucky continued to feed Kenny 'Sky' Walker who would catch the ball in the post and bump and grind to the goal for a layup. Now down 59-58 with time running out, LSU elected to not foul Kentucky and hope for a turnover or missed shot (the year BEFORE the 3 pt shot.)As the shot clock was about to expire, Roger Harden who had beaten LSU in Baton Rouge,nailed a shot to go up 61-58 as LSU couldn't score on the final possession.John Williams had 28 points and 14 rebounds

The next day UK won the tourney over Alabama, 83-72 for their third win over the Tide as well.As the game ended the 'All Tourney Team' was named. Two Alabama players, a Mississippi State player and UK's Harden. Now it was time for the MVP.It was assuredly was going to be Kentucky's Kenny Walker.Nope,LSU's John Williams who was greeted to howls of boos. While not out of the ordinary for Kentucky basketball fans to behave badly and act poorly, the KY media quickly pointed out the fans were just frustrated that "Kenny" didn't win the award.

Now it was on to the selection show.LSU had been in a similar position 3 yrs earlier and was snubbed. But with the tourney now at 64 teams, a 21-11 mark looked promising.Fortunately LSU was one of the first teams announced and not only was LSU in (at an 11 seed) they were in the first round in Baton Rouge.LSU would play Purdue, whom had played Memphis State in the tourney two years earlier in Memphis.

LSU led 39-35 at halftime. Purdue kept coming back and tied it at 69 as Williams and Anthony Wilson missed close shots to win. It was 73-73 after one OT and in the second it was all LSU as Wilson scored 11 points in the final :16 as LSU won, 94-87.

Third seed and 12th ranked Memphis was up next.The Memphis Tigers had played in the Final four the prior year and started this season out 20-0 and #2 in the nation.Before losing the Metro tournament title game to Louisville in Freedom Hall, Memphis had lost 4 games by a combined 8 points.

LSU had not beaten a ranked team since 1982. Memphis led 47-41 and led by 12 with 15:32 left.But the LSU Tigers chipped away getting William Bradford in foul trouble to take the lead 81-79 with 1:00 left.Bradford tied it at 81 with :32 and LSU played for one.Don Redden's shot with :06 bounced off the rim and in a mad dash, Anthony Wilson picked it up turned and scored at the buzzer as LSU won, 83-81.(It would be Memphis' coach Dana Kirk's last game. He was convicted of tax evasion and mail fraud and spent 4 months in prison.Memphis had to vacate its NCAA tourney record from '82-'85 over paying players and other benefits.)

Now it was on to Atlanta.Along with LSU were SEC foes Kentucky and Alabama along with home town Georgia Tech.Much was made of the Big East placing 3 teams in the 1985 Final Four. But it was hard for the SEC to do that with teams bunched up in one region.(changes came the next year where conference teams couldn't face one another until the regional final.)Kentucky defeated Alabama, 68-63 for their 4th win over the Tide that year.LSU would face Georgia Tech, the two seed and Sports Illustrated's preseason #1.

All five Tech starters would go on to play in the NBA. But LSU led 36-30 at halftime. Mark Price got hot and Tech led 56-52 after Craig Neal stripped Derrick Taylor and went in for a layup.It was there were LSU's freak defense may not have been born,but named. LSU went to what looked like a box and one to stifle Price and it worked.LSU went up for good at 60-58 and won 70-64. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution was so sure Tech would win the night cap they had set the mast to have Georgia Tech's score on top of the headlines ,instead of LSU--the winning team.

Now up was Kentucky looking to win a fourth time over a conference foe for the second time in two days.LSU won this one, 59-57 as Ricky Blanton made a clinching layup to go ahead 59-55.After cutting it to 59-57,UK fouled John Williams --who missed both with :03 and then James Blackmon missed at the buzzer. On to Dallas.

Somehow LSU led Louisville 44-36 at halftime. But they were about worn out. Louisville shot 64% in the second half to LSU's 35% and won, 88-77.

Great team and great memories.