Kentucky fan here, I remember this tournament well, when the NIT was a good thing to win, especially when you had players coming back. Lee Rose was a class guy and excellent coach and being a Celtics fan too, Maxwell was awesome.
The clinching basket 1:36:25 by Mike Phillips came from the fact that Cedric Maxwell did not even attempt to block him out on the free throw lane, hence easy offensive rebound.
@@jeffwright1722 -Yeah, I kinda know what you mean. I grew up listening to him and watching him as the WBTV sports anchor (Channel 3 Charlotte). He tried. Was Ok. Somewhat nice fella, and was more professional than some. I guess his best quality was that because he was only about 5'5" tall, he was humble. He lacked arrogance & seemed to appreciate where he was. Comparatively to today's arrogant blowhards, then you're right; Thacker was a refreshingly good chap.
@@johncooper2265 It's hard for me to remember him without Billy Packer, David Thompson, Tom McMillen, Bob McAdoo, .... Packer and Thacker did so many great ACC games throughout the 70's. Feel very fortunate to have had the priviledge to listen to them every Saturday afternoon during my high school years. He was the perfect foil for Packer, who'd get on sidebars like begging David Thompson's mother to plead with her son to stop endangering himself by jumping so high. Thacker would calmly insert himself and get the focus back on the action. Packer would be, "OMG! He caught that ball at the top of the backboard! He's going to hurt himself! Thacker would reply, "David Thompson now has 24 points! Score is 54-44, NC State in the lead!"
