Purplesofa,
That game was in '81. At that time Arkansas Razorback basketball was a religion in Arkansas. I worked in a Kroger Store in Little Rock where all the games were aired over the public address system, a practice common then in most Little Rock stores. Before that final shot, all of the customers in that mostly black store were frozen at the checkout counters. The employees were rigid at their stations. When that shot went in the celebration among customers, employees, managers was genuine and spontaneous. When the store phone rang, it was for me; my wife calling to convey the news.
U.S. Reed, who hit that shot, was the one tripped by Larry Bird in the '79 semifinals. Reed was called for traveling on what was an obvious foul, ending Arkansas' chances.
Arkansas' best team was 1978 with the triplets, as the late Al McGuire designated them: Sidney Moncrief, Ron Brewer and Marvin Delph. Sidney, who went on to star in the NBA, could easily have been elected governor of Arkansas in those years. Ron Brewer was actually the best athlete of the trio, but cocaine cut his career short. His son Ronnie now plays for the Utah Jazz. Marvin Delph turned down offers from the NBA to become a preacher. I think he sells insurance now.
tms