Tulane Points Shaving Scandal

There were dark days at Tulane University back in 1985 when it was discovered that just about the entire Green Wave basketball team was involved in rigging games for bettors. Three Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity brothers coaxed Tulane players with cocaine and cash to shave points in a series of Metro Conference contests. Eventually, the culprits John "Hot Rod" Williams, Jon Johnson, Clyde Eads, David Dominique, and Paul Thompson were not only found out, but arrested. And the ordeal led to Tulane completely shutting down its basketball program for two seasons.

Tulane's 1st NCAA Tourney Victory

Green Wave Coach Perry Clark was named national coach of the year in 1992 for resurrecting the Tulane basketball program which had been shut down completely in 1985 on the heels of a point-shaving scandal. Not only would '92 mark the first time Tulane had made the NCAA basketball tournament, but the Green Wave went on to upset St. John's (RIP Malik Sealy) in the first round...

Perry McDonald and the Georgetown Connection

In 2009, Perry McDonald was inducted into the Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame. Known nationally as a senior team captain at Georgetown, Perry McDonald made a name for himself long before teaming up with legendary Hoyas coach John Thompson. Averaging 23.9 points per game for his career at Carver, McDonald was twice named the Times-Picayune Metro Most Valuable Player (1983 & 1984) and was selected as all-state four times (1981-84).

Perry McDonald wasn’t the first New Orleans blue-chipper to play at Georgetown. That would have been Steve Martin of St. Aug who starred for the Hoyas from 1975-79. But McDonald did begin a three-year run for Georgetown signing players from New Orleans, including Cohen’s Jaren Jackson in.’85 and De La Salle’s Dwayne Bryant in ’86. Decades later, Georgetown would of course win the bidding war for the services of Parade all-American Greg Monroe, who played his high school ball at Helen Cox.

Name, High School, (years at Georgetown):

Steve Martin, St. Augustine (1975-1979)
Perry McDonald, Carver (1984-88)
Jaren Jackson, Cohen (1985-89)
Dwayne Bryant, De La Salle (1986-90)
Greg Monroe, Helen Cox (2008-10)

1977-78 LSU Game Program

1978-79 LSU SEC Championship Team

My good friend Chris recently dug this poster up for me, knowing as soon as he saw it that I would give my left arm for it.



1978-79 was the exact season when I started paying attention to LSU basketball. And for good reason, as the Tigers won their first SEC championship in 25 years. That season, head coach Dale Brown elevated the LSU program to new heights with a Sweet 16 run in the NCAA tournament. With star player Rudy Macklin out injured for most of the year, it was sophomore Dewayne Scales (19.4 points/game) and senior Lionel Green (9.7 points/game and 11.1 rebounds/game) down low and senior transfer Al Green (17.7 points/game) and junior Jordy Hultberg (9.6 points/game) in the backcourt who carried the load. Also, playing key spot roles were rising stars Ethan Martin and Willie Sims at guard and Greg Cook at center. Wow, what a team they were!

Another Final 4

In 1986, coach Dale Brown led LSU to its second Final 4 appearance in 6 years. The star of the team that season was unquestionably John Williams, but it was role players including Ricky Blanton, Don Redden, and Anthony Wilson who ultimately drove the team toward its suprising success. As an 11th seed in their region, the Tigers became the lowest seed to ever make the Final 4. Unfortunately, LSU once again lost to the eventual champion, this time in the form of Pervis Ellison and the Louisville Cardinals. But hey, look how they took out a strong Memphis State squad to reach the Sweet 16...

The Around the World Dunk

Over a 3-year span from 1979-81, the LSU basketball team managed to bow out of the NCAA tournament to the eventual champion each year. In '79, LSU lost in the Sweet 16 Round to Magic Johnson and the Michigan State Spartans. In '80, LSU lost in the Elite 8 Round to Darrell Griffith and the Louisville Cardinals. And in '81, LSU lost in the Final 4 Round to Isiah Thomas and the Indiana Hoosiers.

Point being, if you are going to lose, make sure to lose only to the best in the business. And if you are going to yield a classic highlight reel, make sure it's by the Player of the Tournament that season, like this one courtesy of Dr. Dunkenstein...