Indiana vs UAB - 3/20/81 - NCAA Tournament Sweet 16

It was a big disappointment to all the Nero Wolfe viewers out there, but IU was on NBC on Friday March 20th for the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament. After throttling Maryland in the second round in Dayton, IU returned to Assembly Hall where they were the host of the Mideast Regional. It was supposed to be a matchup of IU vs Kentucky, but surprise surprise, Kentucky lost to Gene Bartow's UAB Blazers in the previous round.
This one was within spitting distance for a bit, but IU had too much of everything for UAB. This one's worth watching for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is the somewhat un-Knightlike offensive sets at various points in the game. Oh, and the tremendous early ESPN video intro. And Jim Thacker and Steve Grote on the call!

[@msa4998]

Proof there is no need for a 3 point line or shot clock.

[@tperk]

Fantastic get. I actually sneaked into this game as a college student 39 years ago and sat on press row.

[@CapeFear1]

Love it. I once snuck into a North Carolina State vs North Carolina football game. I did it out of desperation. It was sold out and not even scalpers were selling tickets. I was outside trying to get a ticket and there was a brief second the ticket taker stepped away. I thought about it for 2 seconds and just went on through without sevond guessing myself.

[@tperk]

@@CapeFear1 A friend and I used fake videotape cartridges and a panicked demeanor to fool a network TV gatekeeper into handing us credentials at the door. We kept the credentials and got in again for the regional championship two day later, and made sure to leave early before someone made us help break down equipment post-game.

[@rawn4203]

Getting go play sweet16 games on your own home court.....wow that must of been nice.

[@chrisuncleahmad]

One year later UAB almost made the Final Four

[@deputay]

Oh man that opening is gold. And how could the NCAA have known Indiana would make the tournament when they set the locations 🙄

[@jkobewashington593]

That intro man

[@hermanblume275]

Announcer Steve Grote, brother of Wright State's Bob... Elder's 1972 Ohip's Big School Champions.

[@123slasher.16]

1976 Michigan Wolverines NCAA finalist.

[@paulsonj72]

NCAA productions with the broadcast as NBC didn't do sweet 16 games NBC graphics are used on the broadcast

[@KabarkadaTV681]

COMMENTATORS:
JIM THACKER
STEVE GROTE
TV NETWORK:
NCAA PRODUCTIONS
DATE:
20 MARCH 1981

[@paulsonj72]

Jim Thacker was the long time voice of ACC Basketball for the old Jefferson Pilot syndicated network(As well as C.D. Chelsey)

[@paulsonj72]

@Christopher Hagee Can’t remember where I saw it but he did Big Ten games in 1983 as well

[@joseyeastwood]

How tf did Indiana play a tournament game on their home court.

[@stevenmandl4920]

this was an NBC broadcast ? didn't seem like it. what the heck was Nero Wolfe anyway

[@vanceporter8689]

UAB was 14 and 0 at home 4 and 8 on the road and 23 and 9 overall but they lost to the national champions and it was the refs fault?

[@deepn63]

As a UAB alum, Oliver and Chris Giles have been my friends since college. If not for all of the homecooking, by the refs. Uab might have won. The next year in the second round we beat the breaks off Indiana at Vanderbilt! In its first 3 seasons as a program, they went to the Nit, the sweet 16 and the final 8 in year four... never been done before or since!

[@vanceporter8689]

Or since I guess?

[@vanceporter8689]

U do know indiana was pretty good that year!? Look at what they did not only in big10 but how they dominated the tournament. A strong arguement can b made it's the best team they ever had but apparently not as good as UAB that year