What's the single all-time best LNC game in history?

[Max Power]

For me it was the UNLV game, followed by Hollis Price Coast to Coast to beat Bobby Knight. Mainly for the sticking it to Bobby factor.

 

[NMSooner'80]

I was at that 77 Mizzou game. That was fun.

As I recall, there was no reserved seating for students back then, so everyone had to get there early for a decent seat in what was considered the "student section." That was pretty much the entire west side of the LNC. My group got there at 6 p.m., for a 7:30 p.m. tip, and the student section was over half-full.

Mizzou came out for a very-early shoot-around, and the students let them have it with boos. When OU's players came out a few minutes later, the place went nuts. I think we almost scared our own team with that kind of a crowd, well over an hour before game time.

The OU Daily made that game the lead story on the front page of the newspaper. Whoever wrote it said, "You might want to leave at noon to get in and get a good seat, and that's (leaving) from the Kraettli Apartments...." (which were across the street from the arena).

 

[Hecubus]

I was at both the '87 UNLV game and the OT Missouri game (and all the others in that era). They were amazing, but the Missouri game would be my vote because that quote in that atmosphere was awesome. I'm not sure I've heard the LNC as loud since. The newspapers, the chants, the skeeter meter, full press all game long ... all made for one hell of an entertaining game atmosphere.

 

[DenverSooner]

My vote goes to the 1989 OT win over Missouri. That game, of course, was made a classic by this one sentence: "The referees have asked me to tell you that regardless of how terrible the officiating is (pause for audience cheer), don't throw anything on the court."

Went I went to work the next day, three co-workers who had no true favorite team, all commented on what an exciting game that was to watch.

That was my favorite as a student. I also liked the Loyola Marymount game(s) and when OU almost scored 100 points in the first half against US International (not much of a game but 98 points in a half was incredible). The second UNLV game in Norman was also a really good game.

If I recall correctly (and I may not), OU played Missouri and KU very close together when Tubbs made that comment. OU, KU and Missouri were ranked 1, 2 and 3 (don't recall the order) and OU beat both schools in Norman. (The ranking and wins definitely happened, I am just not positive it was the same season.)

 

[WaymanFan]

If I recall correctly (and I may not), OU played Missouri and KU very close together when Tubbs made that comment. OU, KU and Missouri were ranked 1, 2 and 3 (don't recall the order) and OU beat both schools in Norman. (The ranking and wins definitely happened, I am just not positive it was the same season.)

You're thinking of the 1990 season. We played one team (let's say Kansas) on a Saturday when they were ranked #1, and we beat them. On Monday night (let's say Missouri), we beat the other team when they were ranked #1. It's pretty historic to beat #1 ranked teams in back-to-back games...and both games were home.

 

[OUMonster]

Some of the games during Sampson's first year deserve mentioning here. The Kansas game in particular. KU had earned the #1 ranking only hours prior to that Big Monday game and had future NBA players like Pierce, Lafrentz, Ostertag, Vaughn, and Pollard on their roster. Two big memorable moments were Abercrombie hitting the 3 from the corner in the final minute and KU's Roy Williams getting in the face of an OU student for taunting Jerod Haas.

Box score: Box score

The OSU game from that same year was up there too.

 

[piehole]

My vote would be for the '87 UNLV game also. I remember the terrible weather and the word spreading that students could get into the game for $1 with their student ID. A bunch of us, too many really, hopped in a Jeep and sped over there. Ha, so unsafe. The great thing about that game was the larger than usual student crowd because of the basically free entry. And we were spread all over LNC, not just in one section. With the snow we thought we would get decent seats but I remember still having to sit fairly high up. One of those games that was close all the way and the crowd was raucous the entire time.

For anyone else who was there, wasn't there some kind of controversy at that game? Something having to do with the halftime buzzer? I think someone in the crowd had an air horn or something and they sounded it a few seconds before the real horn and it confused a UNLV player who failed to take a shot that might have tied it. Or maybe we had the ball and the fake horn went off and UNLV stopped defending and we scored. Anyway, something with an air horn. Maybe I'm confusing it with the other UNLV game we had or another game.

 

[CobraKai]

My vote goes to the 1989 OT win over Missouri. That game, of course, was made a classic by this one sentence: "The referees have asked me to tell you that regardless of how terrible the officiating is (pause for audience cheer), don't throw anything on the court."

Went I went to work the next day, three co-workers who had no true favorite team, all commented on what an exciting game that was to watch.

This will always be my favorite since I was at this game.

 

[DenverSooner]

You're thinking of the 1990 season. We played one team (let's say Kansas) on a Saturday when they were ranked #1, and we beat them. On Monday night (let's say Missouri), we beat the other team when they were ranked #1. It's pretty historic to beat #1 ranked teams in back-to-back games...and both games were home.

i could certainly believe that year. That was amazing that the Big 8 was ranked 1,2 and 3 for two weeks in a row if I recall correctly.

 

[NMSooner'80]

Not trying to be a jerk, but I would like to clarify one thing about that '89 OU-Mizzou game. It didn't go to OT. But it was still an incredible game.

 

[WaymanFan]

Not trying to be a jerk, but I would like to clarify one thing about that '89 OU-Mizzou game. It didn't go to OT. But it was still an incredible game.

Thanks for the correction. I had to look it up because I was so convinced that game went to OT. I guess stories really do get better as the years go by .

 

[sanguinetti]

steve francis never played in norman or against OU

we did almost get him to play for OU

he's thinking of juan dixon. another smooth scorer on the perimeter/great player for the Terps.

that UM game was one of my fave games. that was a really good team, the eventual national champs....Lonny Baxter, Chris Wilcox, Dixon, Steve Blake.

i started going to games with my dad in the late 70's. for me, i did like that 90 team beating #1's KU and MU back to back in Norman. for about 6 weeks Skeeter Henry was the best player in America.

i have to say, beating UC-Irvine in the NIT was the most formative. it meant so much.

 

[vbdad]

The North Carolina State game in Wayman's era was fun. They had Chris Washburn and Charles Shackleford and a Greek player who was over seven feet. During early warmups the students were chanting Greek freak. He climbed up the bleachers a few rows before being restrained. The LNC was very loud in those days.

 

[Sooner24]

My vote would be for the '87 UNLV game also. I remember the terrible weather and the word spreading that students could get into the game for $1 with their student ID. A bunch of us, too many really, hopped in a Jeep and sped over there. Ha, so unsafe. The great thing about that game was the larger than usual student crowd because of the basically free entry. And we were spread all over LNC, not just in one section. With the snow we thought we would get decent seats but I remember still having to sit fairly high up. One of those games that was close all the way and the crowd was raucous the entire time.

For anyone else who was there, wasn't there some kind of controversy at that game? Something having to do with the halftime buzzer? I think someone in the crowd had an air horn or something and they sounded it a few seconds before the real horn and it confused a UNLV player who failed to take a shot that might have tied it. Or maybe we had the ball and the fake horn went off and UNLV stopped defending and we scored. Anyway, something with an air horn. Maybe I'm confusing it with the other UNLV game we had or another game.

if memory serves correctly someone blew a whistle and it stopped play.