♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> WELCOME TO ANOTHER EDITION OF CONVERSATIONS WITH CHAMPIONS.

I'M BILLY REED.

MY GUEST TODAY DID MORE TO CHANGE THE CULTURE OF KENTUCKY BASKETBALL THAN ANY OTHER SINGLE INDIVIDUAL.

HE LEFT COACH JOHN WOOD AT UCLA IN 1971 TO TAKE THE LOUISVILLE JOB AND PROCEEDED TO WIN TWO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS AND PARTICIPATE IN FOUR MORE FINAL FOURS.

HE COACHED GREAT PLAYERS SUCH AS JUNIOR BRIDGEMAN, GRIEF IDZ AND ELLISON AND HE IS A MEMBER OF THE NAISMITH BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME.

COACH DENNY CRUM, WELCOME AND GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> A PLEASURE TO SEE YOU.

WE GO BACK 45 YEARS I GUESS.

>> THAT'S HARD TO BELIEVE, 45 YEARS.

>> IT SURE IS.

>> BUT THEY WERE FUN YEARS.

>> THEY REALLY WERE AND WE CERTAINLY, I THINK IN THE MEDIA, EVERYBODY ALWAYS ENJOYED YOU AND I THINK YOU ENJOYED US MOST OF THE TIME.

>> WE HAD GREAT TIMES AND GOOD RELATIONSHIPS.

>> WE DID.

COACH, I DON'T THINK I EVER SAW ANYBODY ENJOY THEIR RETIREMENT AS MUCH AS YOU.

IT IS GREAT TO SEE YOU GOING ALL THESE PLACES AND DOING ALL THESE THINGS.

>> I LOVE DOING THINGS, I LOVE KEEPING BUSY WHICH IS NOT TOO HARD TO DO.

I LIKE TO HAVE MY...

I HAVE MY PLACE IN IDAHO THAT I HAVE SOME GREAT TROUT FISHING, A LOT OF FRIENDS COME UP AND VISIT WITH US AND I TRY TO DO MY BEST TO TEACH SOME OF THEM HOW TO FLY FISH, AND WE JUST CATCH TROUT AND SIGHTSEE AND WE'RE RIGHT BY WEST YELLOW STONE AND THEN JACKSON HOLE IS JUST OVER THE WAY-- OVER THE HILL A WAYS.

WE GO TO ALASKA EVERY YEAR FISHING.

A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND IT'S JUST...

IT'S A FUN WAY TO LIVE.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANYTHING ABOUT IT THAT I WOULD CHANGE OR EVEN IF I COULD, I MEAN ONCE I GOT TO THE POINT WHERE BASKETBALL WAS PART OF IT WASN'T MUCH FUN AND IF IT'S NOT ANY FUN, I'M GOING TO HAVE A HARD TIME DOING IT.

>> YOU, OF COURSE, HAVE WESTERN ROOTS.

YOU GREW UP IN CALIFORNIA.

OVER THE YEARS I HEARD YOU MENTION YOUR DAD MANY TIMES.

HE WAS A GREAT POSITIVE INFLUENCE ON YOU.

WHAT WERE THE THINGS YOU THINK YOU LEARNED THE MOST FROM HIM?

>> MY DAD TOLD ME DON'T MAJOR M MINORS AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE EFFECT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT FOR YEARS.

BUT I FINALLY GOT IT FIGURED OUT.

HE SAID DON'T SPEND YOUR TIME FIGHTING ISSUES AND THINGS THAT YOU CANNOT CONTROL GO WORK AND GET BETTER AT SOMETHING ELSE THAT YOU CAN CONTROL.

AND THAT'S... THAT WAS HIS BASIC PREMISE.

IF I WANTED SOMEBODY TO BUILD SOMETHING, MY DAD COULD BUILD ANYTHING AND DID.

I MEAN HE PUT ADDITIONS ON OUR HOUSE, HE DID THE ELECTRIC AND THE PLUMBING AND THE WHOLE THING.

HE BUILT TEAR DROP TRAILERS FROM AN AXLE AND TWO WHEELS, SCRATCH AND, TO SELL, SO THAT WE WOULD HAVE MORE MONEY.

AND HE WORKED IN AIRCRAFT AND SHEET METAL STUFF AND HE COULD BUILD ANYTHING AND I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO SPEND A COUPLE SUMMERS WORKING WITH HIM.

>> YOU WENT TO UCLA OUT OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE, I GUESS, FOR A JUNIOR COLLEGE.

PLAYED TWO YEARS FOR COACH WOODEN AND THEN ENDED UP BACK ON COACH WOODEN'S STAFF AND REALLY THE GREATEST ERA ANY SCHOOL HAS HAD IN COLLEGE BASKETBALL HISTORY.

ARE THERE ANY COMPARISONS BETWEEN YOUR DAD AND COACH WOODEN?

ARE THEY TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE?

>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW HOW COACH WOODEN WOULD REACT TO THIS, BUT MY GUESS IS HE WOULD SAY HE REALLY ADMIRED MY DAD.

>> REALLY?

>> WELL, WE DIDN'T HAVE MUCH, BUT BUT WE WOULD COME TO THE GAMES AND HE WOULD ALWAYS BE THERE WATCHING, NEVER COMPLAINING OR SAYING ANYTHING AND JUST HAPPY TO BE THERE AND WATCH ME PARTICIPATE AND THE SAME THING WAS TRUE WHEN I GOT INTO COACHING.

HE WOULD COME TO EVERY SINGLE GAME THAT HE COULD COME TO.

AND HE HAD CANCER.

IT DIDN'T STOP HIM FROM COMING.

HE HAD COLONOSCOPY AND HE WAS ONE OF THE, I MEAN HE HANDLED HIS DISCOMFORT AND STUFF AND ENDED UP PASSING OF LUNG CANCER.

SO HE HAD A TOUGH FEW YEARS AT THE END.

HE DEALT WITH THEM AND IN THOSE DAYS THEY DIDN'T HAVE ALL THE THINGS THEY HAVE TODAY.

I WONDER HOW MUCH LONGER HE WOULD HAVE LIVED IF THEY HAD ALL THE MEDICAL THINGS, BUT GREAT MAN.

>> IT MUST HAVE BEEN AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE FROM COACH WOODEN WON HIS FIRST NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP IN '64, REPEATED IN '6 5RBGS WASN'T THERE IN '66 AND THEN I THINK HE WON THE NEXT WHAT EIGHT OR 10?

>> SEVEN IN A ROW, MISSED AGAIN AND THEN WON THE LAST AND YOU WERE CERTAINLY INSTRUMENTAL IN THAT.

YOU WERE RECRUITING, I KNOW YOU HELPED RECRUIT BILL WALTON AND WHO WERE SOME OF THE OTHER PLAYERS YOU REMEMBER RECRUITING?

>> RECRUITING BACK THEN FOR LOUISVILLE OR FOR UCLA WAS IT TRULY IS DIFFERENT THE WAY IT WAS FROM TODAY.

THERE ARE 40 MILLION PEOPLE IN CALIFORNIA WE SPENT A BIG MAJORITY OF OUR TIME RECRUITING PEOPLE LIKE BILL WALTON AND GREG LEE AND JAMAL WILKES AND SYDNEY WICKS AND JOHN VALLEY AND, I MEAN YOU CAN GO ON AND ON AND ON.

THERE WAS...

THEY HAD SOME GOOD PLAYERS LIKE KAREEM AND LUCIUS ALLEN AND MIKE WAN, I MEAN GUYS FROM OUT OF STATE BUT MOST OF THEM, WE DIDN'T GO OUT SEEKING THEM.

THEY CAME SEEKING US.

THAT WAS GREAT.

THERE WERE A LOT OF TEAMS WITH OTHER GREAT PLAYERS BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE COACH WOODEN TEACHING THEM THE FUNDAMENTALS AND THE DISCIPLINES IT TAKES TO BE A WINNER.

>> I THINK WHEN COACH WOODEN RECRUITED LOU AL CINDER TO COME FROM NEW YORK CITY TO LOS ANGELES, THAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF MORE NATIONAL RECRUITING.

HERE THE TEAMS, WHETHER IT WAS U.K. OR U OF L, THE RECRUITING BASE WAS CONFINED GEOGRAPHICALLY TO A SMALL AREA BUT THAT WAS A REALLY HISTORIC THING WHEN KAREEM WENT TO L.A. >> AND HE CALLED COACH WOODEN INITIALLY.

HE SAID HE HAD AN INTEREST IN COMING TO UCLA TO GET HIS EDUCATION AND PLAY BASKETBALL AND COACH WOODEN AND JERRY NORMAN, WHO WAS COACH WOODEN'S ASSISTANT THEN, THEY, I KNOW THEY WENT BACK TO WATCH HIM PLAY, WHICH COACH IT WAS RARE THAT HE WOULD DO THAT BUT HE DID WITH KAREEM AND WENT TO SAN DIEGO TO RECRUIT BILL WALTON BUT THERE WERE SO MANY GREAT PLAYERS BACK THEN WHEN YOU GO BACK THROUGH THEIR HISTORY, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY HOWEVER MANY THERE WAS, THEY HAD THEIR BIG SHARE OF THEM.

THEY JUST LOST DAVID MYERS HERE RECENTLY.

HE WAS A GREAT PLAYER.

AND HIS SISTER ANNIE MYERS WAS BIG AT UCLA BUT IN THE WORLDWIDE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL.

>> Y'ALL HAVE WON THE CHAMPIONSHIP AGAIN IN 171.

I THINK IT'S-- IN 1971.

I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT IF YOU ARE NOT THE HOTTEST YOUNG COACHING PROPERTY IN THE COUNTRY, YOU ARE CERTAINLY ONE OF THEM.

TELL US HOW THE THING WITH LOUISVILLE WORKED OUT.

WE WERE PLAYING IN THE CHAMPIONSHIPS I THINK THE ASTRO DOME AND WE HAD TO PLAY KANSAS STATE AND THEN I THINK VILLANOVA HAD BEAT EARN WESTERN KENTUCKY IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN.

ANYWAY WE PLAYED VILLANOVA IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP.

WE WERE DOWN THERE AND I GOT A PHONE CALL FROM A FRIEND OF MINE WHO WAS FROM SAN DIEGO, WHO ACTUALLY CALLED AND TOLD ME ABOUT BILL WALTON.

AND HE WAS A RETIRED COLONEL IN THE AIR FORCE, AND HE, WHEN IT WAS HIS FREE TIME HEERKS WOULD GO TO HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL GAMES.

THERE HADN'T BEEN ANY GREAT PLAYERS OUT OF SAN DIEGO.

BUT HE HELPED THE FOOTBALL COACHES RECRUIT HIS BROTHER TO PLAY OFFENSIVE TACKLE.

HE WAS ABOUT 6'5".

>> BRUCE WALTON.

>> RIGHT.

AND SO HE TOLD ME ABOUT BILL AND I WENT DOWN AND WATCHED HIM AND I CAME BACK.

I TOLD COACH WOODEN THAT HE WAS THE BEST HIGH SCHOOL PLAYER I EVER SAW PLAY AND COACH GETS UP AROUND IT, WALKS AROUND HIS DESK, GETS UP, CLOSES HIS DOOR TO THE HALLWAY AND SAYS NOW DENNY, DON'T MAKE ANY STUPID STATEMENTS LIKE THAT BECAUSE HE SAYS IT WILL MAKE YOU LOOK FOOLISH.

I SAID COACH YOU DIDN'T QUESTION ME ON THESE GUYS WE ARE DOING FAIRLY WELL.

WHY WOULD YOU QUESTION.

>> HE SAID IT'S NOT LOGICAL.

>> I SAID EVERYTHING IS NOT LOGICAL.

BUT HE WAS UNBELIEVABLE PLAYER.

>> I STILL THINK DISENY WHEN BILL WAS 100%, I THINK HE IS THE BEST PLAYER EVER SEEN.

>> I CAN'T ARGUE THAT.

>> JUMPING, THROWING THE OUTLOOK PASS, REBOUNDING, JUST UNSELFISH.

I MEAN HE AND KAREEM, ANY TIME YOU TALK ABOUT THE GREAT BIG MEN, YOU HAVE TO START WITH THOSE TWO.

>> I SWORE I WOULD BE AND I KNOW I'M PREJUDICE BUT I TOLD COACH WOODEN.

HE FINALLY WENT DOWN WITH ME TO WATCH HIM PLAY.

WE GOT BACK TO UCLA THAT SAME NIGHT, ONLY 20-MINUTE FLIGHT FROM L.A. TO SAN DIEGO, AND HE, I HAD TAKEN HIM TO HIS CAR AND HE SAID WELL, HE IS PRETTY GOOD, ISN'T HE.

THAT WAS AN ACCOLADE FROM COACH WOODEN BECAUSE HE LIKED TO TALK ABOUT TEAMS, NOT ABOUT INDIVIDUALS.

BUT I TOLD HIM IF WE DIDN'T...

IF HE DIDN'T COME WITH ME TO WATCH HIM, THEY WOULD THINK HE WASN'T INTERESTED AND HIS FOLKS WERE BOTH BERKELEY GRADS AND I SAID IF WE DON'T GET HIM, WE ARE GOING TO BE PLAYING AGAINST HIM.

AND I SAID YOU DON'T WANT TO BE PLAYING AGAINST HIM.

>> I REMEMBER I WAS WORKING AT SPORTS ILLUSTRATED AT THE TIME, FRESHMEN COULDN'T PLAY THEN BUT THIS WAS BEFORE BILL'S SOPHOMORE YEAR AND SOMEBODY TOLD US THAT UCLA HAD THIS GREAT TEAM AND A PLAYER THAT MIGHT BE BETTER THAN AL CINDER AND I'M SAYING PLEASE COME ON.

SO I WENT OUT AND I SWEAR, THEY CALLED HIM THE WALTON GANG, GREG LEE, WILKES, BILL, A COUPLE OTHER GUYS WHOSE NAMES I CAN'T RECALL BUT THEY WERE JUST, THEY WERE SO MUCH PUN TO WATCH.

>> THEY BEAT THE VARSITY EVERY SINGLE WEEK WHEN THEY SCRIMMAGED THE VARSITY WON THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP BUT THAT FRESHMAN BUNCH BEAT THEM EVERY WEEK.

I MEAN IT WAS...

IT WASN'T SOMETHING YOU TALKED ABOUT IN THE PUBLIC, BUT WE, THEY WERE REALLY GOOD.

>> SO HOW COULD YOU LEAVE CAM LOT TO COME TO U OF L?

>> I WANTED TO MOVE I COULD BE A SUCCESSFUL COLLEGE HEAD COACH.

I HAD ALREADY DONE IT IN JUNIOR COLLEGE AND HAD DONE WELL.

AND NOW I HAVE A CHANCE TO LEARN NOT JUST AS A PLAYER UNDER COACH WOODEN BUT AS AN ASSISTANT UNDER HIM, AND I TOOK THOSE EXPERIENCES AND I REALLY WANTED TO BE A UCLA HEAD COACH, AND I THOUGHT, WELL, WHEN COACH RETIRES, I COULD COME BACK IF I CAN PROVE THAT I CAN BE SUCCESSFUL.

SO WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY CAME, I THOUGHT LIKE LOUISVILLE WAS A CENTRAL SPOT YOU COULD GO NORTHEAST, WEST OR SOUTH AND FIND ENOUGH GOOD PLAYERS THAT WE COULD HAVE SOME REALLY GOOD TEAMS.

AND LIKE I SAID EARLIER, WE MADE A LIVING CRUISING GOOD ATHLETES.

BROWN AND PAYNE, BRADFORDS.

I MEAN... >> BUT HAD YOU THAT PIPELINE IN LOUISVILLE.

I MEAN BASICALLY EVERY GOOD PLAYER THAT CAME TO LOUISVILLE WANTED TO PLAY FOR U OF L. THERE WAS JUST A COUPLE THAT WE DIDN'T GET.

DURAN MACKLIN.

THEY HIRED HIS COACH AT LSU AND HE WENT DOWN WITH THEM.

LET'S SEE WHO ELSE.

>> WINSTON.

>> AND PAGET.

SO THEY, KENTUCKY WAS ACTIVE IN RECRUITING HERE.

I MEAN THEY RECRUITED DARRYL GRIFFITH AND ALL THE OTHERS THE SAME AS WE DID, YOU KNOW.

WE KEPT BIG MAJORITY OF THEM HERE.

>> WHEN THEY BROUGHT █YOU IN, DI THEY SHOW YOU ALL CRAWFORD GYM.

>> THEY DID.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S STILL THERE THEY USE IT FOR INTERMURALS AND IT HAS A SWIMMING POOL UNDERNEATH IT IN THE BASEMENT AND IT WAS NOT THE MOST ATTRACTIVE PLACE AND IT DIDN'T HAVE ANY SEATING, SO IT WAS A PRACTICE FACILITY.

THAT'S WHAT IT WAS.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, IN THOSE DAYS WE PLAYED IN FREEDOM HALL.

>> WELL, YOU TOOK THE JOB.

I DON'T THINK YOU WERE ACTUALLY TRYING TO START ANYTHING BUT WHEN THE MEDIA ASKED YOU ABOUT YOUR TEAM AND YOUR PROGRAM, I BASICALLY SAID YOU DIDN'T SEE WHY THEY DIDN'T PLAY KENTUCKY AND THAT YOU HAD SOME FRESHMEN, JUNIOR BRIDGEMAN AND MURPHY AND THOSE GUYS THAT YOU THOUGHT WERE AS FABULOUS AS KENTUCKY'S FABULOUS FRESHMEN.

KNOWING YOU, YOU PROBABLY WERE SAYING WHAT YOU THOUGHT BUT DID THAT TOUCH OFF A THUNDERSTORM HERE IN KENTUCKY.

>> I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT BUT IT'S HOW I FELT AND I THINK WE PROVED OVER THE YEARS THAT WE COULD COMPETE WITH THEM.

KENTUCKY GOT A GREAT PROGRAM.

I MEAN THEY HAVE HAD SINCE DAY ONE, AND THEY'RE ALWAYS ONE OF THE REASONS I LIKE TO PLAY THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE REALLY GOOD AND THEY MAKE YOU FIGURE OUT YOUR WEAKNESSES AND YOUR STRENGTHS PRETTY FAST WHEN YOU PLAY COMPETITION LIKE THAT.

AND THEN JOE V AND I WERE ALWAYS FRIENDS.

WE COMPETED AGAINST EACH OTHER AND WE BOTH WANTED TO BEAT EACH OTHER, BUT THERE WAS NEVER ANY AN MOSS AT THIS BETWEEN US-- AN MOSS AT THIS NEVER ANY AN ANIMOY TOWARD EACH OTHER MUCH WE PLAYED THEM ALL N. FACT WE PLAYED, WE WOULD PLAY ANYBODY ANYWHERE.

SOME OF THEM WE WANTED A RETURN GAME AND SOME OF THEM DIDN'T WANT A RETURN GAME BUT WE PLAYED AS MANY TOUGH ONES AS WE COULD.

>> I'M GLAD YOU AND JOE GOT ALONG BECAUSE I WAS SPORTS EDITOR OF THE COURIER JOURNAL AND WHEN I TOOK UP THE CAUSE FOR THE SERIES IN 1980, I THINK I'VE STILL GOT SOME SCARS.

BUT YOU KNOW, THE TIME HAD COME.

YOU ALL HAD WON A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP IN 1980.

WHAT MORE DID HAVE YOU TO PROVE?

THE PUBLIC WANTED IT, THE MEDIA WANTED IT BUT THE PEOPLE AT U.K.

KEPT DIGGING IN THEIR HEELS AND DR.

SING IS WILL TEAR, I THINK WAS PRESIDENT OF U.K., HE FINALLY SAW WHAT A BEATING THEY WERE TAKING IN THE MEDIA AFTER E GAME IN '38 HE FINALLY DECIDED TO DO.

>> JOHN Y.

BROWN WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN HELP MANAGE THOSE DAYS.

I KNOW HE WAS A KENTUCKY GRADUATE BUT WE ALWAYS WERE GOOD FRIENDS.

PLAYED GOLF TOGETHER.

DID A LOT OF THINGS AND HE KIND OF PUT A LITTLE PRESSURE, I THINK, ON KENTUCKY AT THAT TIME.

BECAUSE HE WAS THE GOVERNOR.

AND I THINK NOBODY ELSE COULD PROBABLY DO IT.

THE MEDIA HAD BEEN TRYING BUT NOT SUCCESSFULLY, BUT I THINK IT WAS A GREAT DAY FOR COLLEGE BASKETBALL IN THIS STATE BECAUSE WHEN YOU HAVE GOOD PROGRAMS AND THEY PLAY EACH OTHER IT'S NOT AS IMPORTANT WHETHER YOU WIN EVERY GAME OR NOT, BUT WHEN YOU GET TO PLAY GOOD COMPETITION, THAT REALLY DOES HELP YOUR TEAM GET BETTER.

>> AND IT REALLY IT HAS BEEN SUCH A GREAT SUCCESS.

I MEAN NOW IT'S THE GAME THAT I THINK EVERYBODY U.K. U OF L CIRCLES ON THEIR CALENDAR.

THAT'S THE ONE GAME YOU DEFINITELY WANT TO SEE IF YOU CAN.

>> YES.

>> DENNY, TO GO BACK JUST A MINUTE, THIS, YOU KIND OF STIRRED UP THE NEST A LITTLE BIT BUT THEN RIGHT OFF YOUR VERY FIRST TEAM GOES TO THE FINAL FOUR AND WHO ARE YOU FACING BUT UCLA?

WHAT WAS THAT LIKE FOR YOU?

>> WELL, I DIDN'T REALLY THINK THAT WE COULD BEAT UCLA, BUT I FELT LIKE WE COULD GIVE THEM A GOOD GAME IF WE COULD ACCOMPLISH CERTAIN THINGS.

I KNEW HOW TO BREAK THEIR PRESS AND I GOT OPEN SHOTS FOR ONE OF MY PLAYERS TO... BILL WALTON WOULDN'T COME OUT AND LEAVE THE BASKET BUT WE, I THINK WE SHOT ONE OUT OF NINE FROM OPEN SHOTS IN A CERTAIN SPOT THAT WE PRACTICED EVERY DAY.

THEY JUST, I THINK IT WAS THE PRESSURE OF HIM STANDING THERE BECAUSE YOU GET ANYWHERE NEAR THE BASKET, HE COULD BLOCK IT AND WOULD OR MAKE YOU ALTER IT.

AND SO THAT WAS THE BIG DIFFERENCE IN THE GAME.

IF WE MAKE THOSE SHOTS, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN COMPETITIVE.

BUT I THINK NOBODY ELSE COULD BEAT THEM EITHER.

IF I WAS GOING TO LOSE I'M GLAD IT WAS TO COACH WOODEN.

>> THEN THE NEXT FINAL FOUR AND COACH, I THINK THIS MAY HAVE BEEN THE BEST FINAL FOUR EVER, THE BEST INDIANA RANKED NUMBER ONE THE WHOLE REASON, THEY LOSE SCOTT BEY AND THEN THEY LOSE TO U.K.

IN A REAL DONNY BROOK UP IN DAYTON, OHIO, BUT THEN THAT LEFT KENTUCKY, LOUISVILLE, SYRACUSE AND UCLA.

COACH KNIGHT TOLD ME SOMETHING, THAT HE CAME TOWN TO FREEDOM HALL A COUPLE TIMES DURING THE SEASON AND PAID HIS OWN WAY IN.

HE DIDN'T WANT PEOPLE TO WATCH LOUISVILLE PLAY BECAUSE HE WAS CONVINCED THAT WAS THE ONE TEAM HE HAD TO BEAT TO WIN THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.

>> COACH KNIGHT AND I ALWAYS HAD A GOOD RELATIONSHIP.

I THINK THE WORLD OF HIM.

I MEAN HE'S ONE OF THE BEST COACHES EVER.

AND HE DOES A LOT OF THINGS THAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT.

I MEAN YEAH, HE IS A LITTLE BRASH AT TIMES MAYBE BUT WHEN IT COMES TO COACHING, HE'S RIGHT UP THERE AT THE TOP AND HE'S EARNED THAT RIGHT.

I TOLD HIM, YOU KNOW, WE PLAYED, I THINK SIX TIMES AND I THINK WE WON FOUR OF THE SIX.

BUT WE COULD HAVE JUST AS EASILY LOST THOSE FOUR.

>> SURE.

>> I MEAN HE WAS GOOD ENOUGH TO BEAT YOU.

I KNOW HE TOLD ME ONE TIME THAT HE LIKED TO TAKE THREE OR FOUR THINGS THAT A TEAM DOES BEST AND TRY TO TAKE THOSE AWAY FROM THEM.

AND THAT WAS HIS PHILOSOPHY.

IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE GOOD ATHLETES AND IF YOU WEREN'T IN SHAPE, AND HAD A LOT OF DISCIPLINE ON OFFENSE, YOU WOULD HAVE A TOUGH TIME WITH HIS TEAMS.

THEY COULD BEAT YOU.

AND WE HAD... WE BOTH LOVED TO HUNT AND FISH.

WE HAD A LOT IN COMMON AND SO I ALWAYS GOT ALONG GREAT WITH HIM.

>> YOU PLAYED ONCE MORE IN THE FINAL FOUR.

YOU PLAY UCLA.

THEY WENT ON A BASKET BY RICHARD WASHINGTON JUMP SHOT AT THE END OF THE GAME.

>> OH YEAH, THEY BEAT US IN OVERTIME.

>> OVERTIME, RIGHT.

WAS THAT ABOUT AS TOUGH A LOSS AS YOU'VE EVER HAD?

>> YOU KNOW, I FELT REALLY BAD BECAUSE WE HAD A BUNCH OF SENIORS ON THAT TEAM AND I FELT LIKE THAT TEAM WAS GOOD ENOUGH TO BEAT UCLA, AND THEY WERE.

NOW I GUESS ONE OF THE THINGS I HAD ALWAYS WANTED TO SEE WAS TO GO THROUGH THE WHOLE TOURNAMENT AND THEN WHEN IT'S ALL OVER, START AGAIN AND PLAY IT AGAIN AND I GUARANTEE YOU THERE WILL BE A WHOLE BUNCH OF DIFFERENT OUTCOMES.

AND THAT'S, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GET BEAT BY SOMEONE THAT YOU LOVE AND CARE A LOT ABOUT, AND I FELT REALLY BAD FOR MY KIDS, BUT PERSONALLY, IF I FELT LIKE IF WE WERE GOING TO LOSE, I'M GLAD IT WAS TO HIM.

>> ON THE SUNDAY PRESS CONFERENCES, COACH WOODEN SHOCKED EVERYBODY BY ANNOUNCING THAT THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME AGAINST KENTUCKY WOULD BE HIS LAST GAME.

AND I KNOW YOU U OF L FANS WERE CRAZY BECAUSE THEY ASSUMED THAT WAS THE JOB YOU WANTED AND YOU WOULD TAKE THAT JOB AND I'M SURE IT WAS OFFERED TO YOU.

WHAT WAS YOUR THOUGHT PROCESS THERE?

>> WELL, THEY ASKED ME DURING MY INTERVIEW AT LOUISVILLE IF I THOUGHT THAT LOUISVILLE COULD WIN A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AND I SAID ABSOLUTELY.

AND I HADN'T DONE THAT YET.

I GOT CLOSE, BUT WE JUST HADN'T QUITE GOT OVER THAT LAST LITTLE HUMP.

SO I TOLD OUR ADMINISTRATION AND STUFF TO NOT WORRY, THAT I WASN'T GOING ANYWHERE.

AND I KNOW THEY WANTED ME TO STAY.

AND I LOVE LOUISVILLE.

I GREW TO LOVE IT HERE, THE WHOLE KENTUCKY, RUNNING AROUND WITH JOE B WAS FUN, YOU KNOW, AFTER WE GOT THROUGH WITH OUR COACHING CAREERS.

I MEAN HE KNEW EVERYBODY THAT I DIDN'T KNOW AND I WAS TICKLED TO DEATH TO MEET THEM ALL.

AND I'M GLAD COACH WOODEN WON SINCE HE WAS, YOU KNOW, I WOULD HAVE SOME OTHER CHANCES.

AND HE... >> YOU KNOW, COACH, EVEN AT THAT TIME, RECRUITING WASN'T THE INDUSTRY THAT IT IS NOW, BUT IT WAS PRETTY CLEAR TO EVERYONE THAT THE HIGH SCHOOL HAD TWO PLAYERS THAT BASICALLY I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WOULD CONSIDER THEM AS MUST RECRUITS, BUT IT WAS REALLY NOT A GOOD THING IF YOU HAD LOST THEM BUT WE ARE TALKING, OF COURSE OF DARRYL GRIFFITH AND BOBBY TURNER.

HOW DID YOU RECRUIT THEM?

>> YOU KNOW, WE DID IT AS LOW KEY AS WE COULD BE BECAUSE THEY GREW UP IN THE CITY PLAYING IN THE DIRT BOWL.

THEY PLAYED IN COUGH LIN GYM WHEN THEY WERE A LOT YOUNGER.

THERE WERE PEOPLE IN THERE EVERY DAY.

AND YOU COULD JUST SEE DISAIRL AND BOBBY.

THEY COME IN THERE AND THEY COULD HOLD THEIR OWN AGAINST ALL THOSE GUYS.

AND WHILE WE WOULD HAVE...

IT WASN'T THAT WE DIDN'T TRY TO RECRUIT THEM HARD.

WE JUST FELT LIKE THE HOMETOWN APPROACH WOULD BE BIGGER AND BETTER FOR GUYS LIKE THAT.

THEY HAD FAMILIES...

I MEAN I REMEMBER DARRYL'S MOM AND DAD IN PARTICULAR, THAT THEY WANTED DARRYL TO STAY HERE AND I WOULD HAVE BEEN SHOCKED IF HE HADN'T BECAUSE HIS PARENTS WANTED TO WATCH HIM PLAY.

AND COACH HOUSTON WHO WAS, HAD PLAYED AT LOUISVILLE, WAS HIS HIGH SCHOOL COACH.

>> YES.

>> NOW... AND WE NEVER ASKED WADE TO HELP US, BUT I'M SURE IN THOSE DAYS WADE, I MEAN HE WOULD NEVER DO ANYTHING TO HURT US.

AND HE WANTED TO SEE DARRYL AND BOBBY PLAY, TOO.

AND THEN AFTER THEY CAME THERE, AND THEN WE WERE LOOKING FOR ANOTHER ASSISTANT, I WENT RIGHT STRAIGHT TO WADE BECAUSE I FELT LIKE HE HAD THE EXPERIENCE.

HE WAS KNOWN.

AND HE REALLY WAS GOOD...

HE AND ALICE, THEY WERE GREAT AT MEETING PEOPLE AND ENTERTAINING AND I MEAN THEY...

THEY CREATED A REAL FAMILY AFFAIR.

THEY WOULD COME OUT SUNDAYS AT MY PLACE AND I'D HAVE PANCAKES AND WAFFLES AND BACON AND EVERYTHING FOR THEM AND WHEN A RECRUIT WOULD COME IN TOWN, WE'D HAVE A WHOLE BUNCH OF GUYS OUT THERE AND JUST DOWN HOME, YOU KNOW, JUST WHATEVER.

BEING THERE WAS FUN.

THOSE TWO GUYS, IN FACT, THE YEAR THAT '77 I THINK IT WAS ALMA GRIER WON HIS CHAMPIONSHIP, WE HAD BEATEN THEM AT MARQUETTE THAT YEAR.

Y FELT WE WERE THE BEST TEAM AND WE HAD GONE OUT AND PLAYED ATLAS LAS AND ON THE WAY BACK WE PLAYED TULSA AND HE BROKE HIS FOOT IN THAT GAME.

WE WERE GOOD ENOUGH I HAD DARRYL AND BOBBY COMING OFF THE BENCH AND WHEN YOU GOT TALENT LIKE THAT, YOU ARE GOING TO BE HARD TO BEAT.

AND ONCE WE LOST LARRY HE WAS OUR SECOND LEADING SCORER AND REBOUNDER AND DEFENSIVE FORWARD.

WE PLAYED ALL RIGHT BUT NOT LIKE WE HAD BEFORE.

THAT WAS A TOUGH YEAR TO LOSE THAT ONE.

>> DARRYL'S FIRST THREE YEARS, VERY GOOD BASKETBALL TEAMS, BUT I THINK DARRYL WAS A BIT DISAPPOINTED IN HIMSELF, AND THAT SUMMER BEFORE HIS SENIOR YEAR, HE JUST REALLY, REALLY WORKED HARD AT CRAWFORD GYM, ON HIS BALL HANDLING AND ON HIS WEAKNESSES AND HE WAS A DIFFERENT GUY AS A SENIOR.

IS THAT FAIR TO SAY?

>> OH ABSOLUTELY.

I GET A CALL ONE NIGHT FROM CAMPUS SECURITY AND THE GUY SAYS COACH, HE SAID I'M NOT SURE WHAT TO DO.

HE SAID DARRYL GRIFFITH AND SOME YOUNG KIDS ARE IN THERE.

THEY'RE SHOOTING AROUND PLAYING BASKETBALL IN THE GYM.

IT WAS ABOUT 1:00 IN THE MORNING.

AND I SAID YEAH HE SAID WELL, WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO?

I SAID HOW DO YOU THINK HE GOT IN THERE?

I GAVE HIM A KEY.

CLOSE THE DOOR AND LEAVE THEM ALONE.

I MEAN THAT WAS DARRYL.

HE CAME DOWN, HE PUT CHAIRS OUT AND WOULD WORK ON HIS DRIBBLING AND BALL HANDLING, SHOOTING WITH THE HIGH ARCH OVER VOLLEY BALL STANDARDS.

DARRYL HAD SMALL HANDS.

HE DIDN'T HAVE REAL LONG FINGERS EITHER, SO HE WAS STRONG, BUT HE HAD TO DUNK IT, HE WOULD CUFF IT AGAINST HIS ARM LIKE THAT AND THE DUNKS THAT HE COULD MAKE WITH THE SMALL HANDS AS HE HAD WERE AMAZING.

AND OF COURSE WHEN WE...

THE YEAR IN '80 WHEN WE DID WIN, WE HAD WILEY AND DERRICK AND, YOU KNOW WHAT, WHEN YOU GO BACK AND YOU LOOK AT THE PLAYERS WE HAD AND YOU SAY NOW, I HAD THIS GUY BUT ON THIS YEAR, I KEEP THINKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN EVERYBODY ASK, THEY ASK ME, HEY, COACH, GIVE ME YOUR FIVE BEST PLAYERS OR 10 BEST PLAYERS.

I SAID YOU'RE KIDDING.

HOW CAN I SEPARATE, YOU KNOW, MILT WAGNER FROM LANCASTER OR, YOU KNOW I MEAN IT DIDN'T WESLEY COX, FOR HIS SIZE, HE WAS STRONGEST HUMAN BEING I'VE EVER MET.

GET A GRIP, SHAKE HANDS WITH HIM, YOU BETTER GET A GRIP BECAUSE... >> THAT YEAR THOUGH, DENNY, IT LOOKED LIKE EXPECTATIONS WERE HIGH AND GONE DARN IT IF YOU DON'T LOSE SCOOTER McGRAY DOWN AT KNOXVILLE.

YOU WERE COUNTING ON HIM TO DO SO MUCH FOR YOU AND DOG DARN IT.

>> AND HE WAS JUST GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS.

I SAW HIM PLAY IN HIGH SCHOOL AND I'LL NEVER FORGET THE DAPPER DAN THAT TOURNAMENT, IN PITTSBURGH.

AND RODNEY WAS PLAYING IN IT AND WE WERE THERE AND GEORGE RALPHING AND A BUNCH OF THE OLDER GUYS, WE WENT OUT AND HAD DINNER AFTER AND WHAT WAS GOING THROUGH MY MIND WAS RODNEY'S TEAM KEPT WINNING EVERY TIME THE OTHER TEAM CAME DOWN AND MISSED A SHOT, RODNEY GOT THE REBOUND.

I MEANY DON'T CARE WHO WAS THERE.

HE GOT THE REBOUND AND I SAID I HAD NEVER SEEN A GUY BUILT LIKE HIM THAT HAD SUCH AGILITY AND ATHLETIC ABILITY TO, I MEAN HE JUST DID.

AND HE WOULD GO GET THE BALL.

AND SO HE WAS ONLY 6'A," 6'6" MAYBE.

SCOOTER WAS 6'9" AND WE THOUGHT WE WOULD MISS HIM AND WE DID BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, RODNEY STEPPED UP AND I'LL NEVER FORGET ONE TIME WE WERE PLAYING IN THE SEMIFINALS AND RODNEY... OUR DRESSING ROOM WAS HERE AND THERE WAS A RESTROOM OVER HERE SO RODNEY HAD GONE INTO THE RESTROOM AND COACH JONES AND I WERE STANDING THERE AND HE COME OUT AND COACH JONES WAS REALLY NERVOUS AND RODNEY PUTS HIS HAND ON COACH JONES' SHOULDER AND HE SAYS, "DON'T WORRY, COACH," HE SAYS, "WE'VE GOT THIS."

SHOWING, YOU KNOW, THE... HIS ABILITY TO HAVE CONFIDENCE IN HIMSELF.

AND THEN WITH THE GUYS WE HAD AROUND HIM, WHY WE DID HAVE A REALLY GOOD TEAM AND AT THE END OF THE YEAR, I MEAN, WE WERE ABOUT TO GET BEAT.

>> THAT TEAM I THINK AS I LOOK BACK, MAY BE THE MOST FUN TEAM I'VE EVER BEEN AROUND.

BESIDE GRIEF, YOU HAD THE FRESHMEN WILEY AND DARRYL WITH THEIR PIG LATIN AND JERRY EAVES AND PANCHO WRIGHT AND BERKMAN AND TONY BRANCH AND THEY JUST A BUNCH OF REALLY FUN CHARACTERS TO BE AROUND.

>> THEY WERE.

THEY WERE ALWAYS PULLING PRANKS AGAINST EACH OTHER AND AGAINST THE COACHES.

COACH HOUSTON AND COACH OLSON WERE DOING THEM BACK TO THEM.

I MEAN WE JUST WE HAD A GREAT RELATIONSHIP, ALL OF US, AND WE ALL HAD THE SAME COMMON GOAL AND USUALLY WHENEVER WE NEEDED SOMETHING, WE WOULD GO TO GRIFF.

BUT THERE WERE TIMES WHEN I REMEMBER THE LSU GAME, GRIFF ONLY PLAYED 14 MINUTES IN THAT GAME, HAD GOT N IN FOUL TROUBLE AND WE STILL BEAT THEM 86- 66.

THE OTHER GUYS STEPPED UP.

THEY DIDN'T ASK FOR ANYTHING.

THEY JUST WENT OUT AND PLAYED AS HARD AS THEY COULD PLAY AND WHEN THEY PLAYED HARD, THEY WERE REALLY HARD TO BEAT, TOUGH KIDS.

>> AND THAT STARTED OFF QUITE A RUN.

81 NCAA YOU YOU WILL GET BEAT ON THE LAST SECOND MIRACLE SHOT BY REED OF ARKANSAS, NO RELATION BY THE WAY.

'82 YOU GO TO THE FINAL FOUR IN NEW ORLEANS AND GET BEAT BY A REALLY, REALLY TOUGH GEORGETOWN TEAM WITH PATRICK EWING.

'83, THE DREAM GAME WHICH I DON'T KNOW...

I THINK THERE IS MORE EMOTION SURROUNDING THAT GAME THAN ANY GAME I'VE EVER COVERED.

I MEAN IT WAS JUST OVER THE MOON PEOPLE.

AND THEN TO GO TO THE FINAL FOUR AND PLAY HOUSTON OUT THERE IN ALBUQUERQUE, WITH THE ALTITUDE, THE THIN AIR, THAT STILL IS CONSIDERED TO BE ONE OF THE GREATEST NCAA SEMIFINAL GAMES OF ALL TIME.

>> A FRIEND OF MINE TOLD ME, HE SAID I LEARNED SOMETHING ABOUT BASKETBALL TONIGHT AND I SAID WHAT'S THAT?

HE SAID THAT HAKEEM OLAJUWON WAS STILL SEVEN FOOT TALL AT THE END OF THE GAME.

HE HAD A GREAT SENSE OF HUMOR BUT HE WOULD TALK...

HE WOULD SAY THINGS THAT WOULD JUST MAKE YOU THINK THAT YOU WOULDN'T SAY THEM, BOY, THAT HAKEEM OLAJUWON WAS REALLY GOOD.

HE JUST SAID HE WAS STILL SEVEN FOOT TALL AT THE END OF THE GAME, AND HE WAS.

THEY HAD A GREAT TEAM AND IT WAS A FUN THING.

DOCTORS THAT DUNK.

>> THE FIVE SLAMMA-JAMMA.

>> WAS THAT THE MOST TALENTED TEAM YOU EVER COACHED?

>> IF IT WASN'T, I CAN'T REMEMBER...

UNLESS IT WAS MAYBE A UCLA TEAM.

BUT THEY WERE REALLY TALENTED.

DREXLER AND THOSE GUYS, YOU KNOW, IT WAS FUNNY BECAUSE I CAN REMEMBER SEEING OUR TEAM GOING BY AND SCOOTER WAS GOING BY DOWN THE LEFT SIDE AND WAS GOING RIGHT IN FRONT OF HOUSTON COACH, GUY LEWIS AND GUY LEWIS THREW THE LITTLE RED TOWEL HE HAD AND HIT SCOOTER RIGHT HERE AND I THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING TO CALL A TECHNICAL BUT THEY DIDN'T.

AND I DON'T THINK HE MEANT TO... WE JUST HAD LIKE A TWO ON ONE AND SCHOOL COMMITTEE SCOOTER WAS JUST JUST TOO CLOSE TO HIM.

BUT I'LL NEVER FORGET THAT ONE.

>> AS YOU WELL KNOW IT'S KIND OF ODD HOW FATE WORKS OUT SOMETIMES.

RIGHT EARLY IN THE '84-'85 SEASON MILT WAGNER GETS HURT AND IS OUT FOR THE SEASON.

THAT OBVIOUSLY HURT YOU TREMENDOUSLY BUT YET AS IT TURNED OUT IT WAS REALLY A GREAT THING THAT HE WAS BACK FOR THE NEXT YEAR.

>> HE GOT TO PLAY WITH BILLY AND THE GUYS AFTER HE GOT WELL AND HE HAD A FRACTURE IN THE FIFTH META TAR SAL AND THOSE ARE HARD TO HEEL.

THEY GO IN AND PUT A SCREW IN AND PUT THE BONE TOGETHER.

IT GETS VERY POOR CIRCULATION SO I THOUGHT OH MY GOSH, NOW WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO AND BUT HE CAME BACK AND WE HAD HERBERT CROOK WAS THERE AND PERVIS WAS A FRESHMAN AND YOU LOOK AT THAT TEAM, I MEAN JEFF HALL, I TOLD MY, BOB DODDSON I NEEDED A THREE-POINT SHOOTER AND HE... >> FROM EASTERN KENTUCKY OF ALL PLACES.

>> HE PROCEEDED TO FIND HIM AT THE ALL STAR CAMP.

HE SAID I FOUND YOU A THREE-POINT SHOOTER.

WELL, AND THEN OF COURSE MILT COULD SHOOT THE THREES BUT YOU KNOW, AND IN THOSE DAYS.

>> THERE WEREN'T THREES.

>> TO THE NEXT YEAR BEFORE THEY PUT THAT RULE IN AND WE RECRUITED ALAN HOUSTON BUT HIS DAD GOT THE TENNESSEE JOB SO HE WENT WITH HIM AND SO WE DIDN'T HAVE... EVERYBODY THOUGHT I DIDN'T LIKE THE THREE-POINT SHOT, BUT I DID.

I JUST DIDN'T LIKE IT WHEN I DIDN'T HAVE ANY THREE-POINT SHOOTERS.

>> THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME IN DALLAS, DUKE VS. U OF L, KRYZEWESKI'S FIRST FINAL FOUR TEAM AND EVERYBODY HAD FALL ENIN LOVE WITH THE DUKEYS AND THEY WERE, THE EPITOME OF EVERYTHING THAT COLLEGE BASKETBALL IS AND BLAH BLAH BLAH, AND I MEAN I DON'T MEAN TO DISMISS THAT BECAUSE THEY HAD DONE A GREAT JOB THERE BUT SOMEHOW LOUISVILLE KIND OF BECAME NOT EXACTLY THE VILLAIN BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE MEDIA WANTED DUKE TO WIN THAT THING.

>> I LOOK BACK ON THAT GAME AND IT WAS INTERESTING THE WAY IT TURNED OUT BECAUSE OVER THE PAST MONTH OF THAT SEASON, WE HAD...

I DEVISED A DEFENSE WHICH WAS A 1-3 ZONE AND WITH THE MAN TO MAN ON ACTUALLY AT THE TIME IT WAS ON DAWKINS BECAUSE HE WAS THE ONE WHO TOOK ALL THEIR LAST SECOND SHOTS.

AND WHEN HE COME DOWN THE STRETCH, THEY JUST THREW HIM THE BALL AND CLEARED THE SIDE AND BEAT YOU ONE ON ONE AND WOULD SCORE.

SO WHAT WE DID WAS WE PLAYED A 1-3 ZONE AND THEN WE TOOK JEFF HALL AND TOLD JEFF JUST DO YOUR BEST TO NOT LET HIM GET THE BASKETBALL.

JUST STAY BETWEEN HIM AND THE BALL.

AND HE HAD ALREADY SCORED LIKE 26 AGAINST US.

BUT THE LAST EIGHT MINUTES THAT WE DID THAT, HE NEVER SCORED A SINGLE POINT AND IT MADE THOSE OTHER GUYS SHOOT THE BALL AND THEY WERE NOT...

THEY WERE NERVOUS ABOUT SHOOTING IT BECAUSE IT WAS ALWAYS DAWKINS THAT TOOK ALL THEIR SHOTS.

SO THEY NEVER MADE THE SHOTS AND WE CAME BACK AND ENDED UP BEATING THEM AND THEN WE PUT THE BALL, WHEN WE GOT UP EVEN WITH THEM, WE PUT THE PAUL IN MILT WAGNER'S HAND BECAUSE THEY HAD TO FOUL TO STOP THE CLOCK AND WE SET UP A LITTLE PICKETT AND THEN HAD HIM RUN BETWEEN THEM AND GET THE INBOUND PASS SO THEY COULDN'T DENY HIM THE PASS AND THEY FOULED HIM, OF COURSE, AND MILT WAS MONEY WHEN IT CAME TO MAKING FREE-THROWS, ESPECIALLY AT THE END OF THE GAME.

HE KNEW DARN GOOD AND WELL, HE WOULD STICK HIS TONGUE OUT AND JUST SHOOT, SWISH.

NOTHING BUT NET.

WE TALKED ABOUT THAT AT THE THING WE HAD HONORING THE 30-YEAR REUNION OF THAT TEAM YESTERDAY OR SATURDAY.

>> YOU MENTION ALAN HOUSTON.

I COULD REMEMBER ALAN BEING ON THE TEAM PLANE GOING TO THE '82 FINAL FOUR.

HE WAS ALWAYS AROUND THERE.

HE WAS A FANTASTIC PLAYER.

HE ENDED UP BEING THE NUMBER TWO SCORER IN THE SEC BEHIND PETE MERAVIC.

THAT WAS A REALLY TOUGH THING WHEN WADE WAS OFFERED THE TENNESSEE JOB AND I THOUGHT YOU HANDLED THAT IN A VERY CLASSY WAY EVEN THOUGH, MY GOODNESS, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE BEEN LIKE WITH ALAN HOUSTON IN.

>> WE WOULD HAVE BEEN A LOT BETTER, NO QUESTION.

BUT YOU KNOW, WADE, I LOVE WADE.

I MEAN HE JUST WAS...

HE IS STILL JUST A SUPER NICE PERSON.

THEY HAVE A GREAT FAMILY AND ALAN WANTED TO COME TO LOUISVILLE BUT WHEN HIS DAD TOOK THE TENNESSEE JOB THERE, WAS NO WAY I WOULD SAY NO, YOU CAN'T GO TO TENNESSEE.

GO AND HELP YOUR DAD AND BECAUSE WE'LL STILL LOVE YOU AND THEN HE ENDED UP BEING THE THREE-POINT LEADER IN THE SEC ALSO.

>> YEAH.

>> JUST A GREAT PLAYER.

BUT HE WAS A BETTER PERSON JUST LIKE HIS DAD.

>> JUST LIKE HIS DAD.

DENNY IN THE TIME WE HAVE LEFT I WANTED TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WELL, TODAY'S GAME.

I HEARD ONE TIME THAT THE MOST MONEY COACH WOODEN EVER MADE IN THE SEASON WAS $32,000.

TODAY YOU HAVE COACHES MAKING $5 MILLION AND $6 MILLION A YEAR, YOU KNOW, BUT I GOT TO TELL YOU, AND I DON'T HAVE ANYBODY IN PARTICULAR IN MIND, BUT SEEMS TO ME THAT COACHES ARE MAKING A LOT MORE MONEY AND DOING A LOT LESS COACHING BECAUSE I REMEMBER YOUR HIGH POST OFFENSE AND THE PRESS AND ALL THAT.

IT SEEMS LIKE THE PICK AND ROLL IS ABOUT THE ONLY THING A LOT OF THESE GUYS RUN TODAY.

>> EVERYBODY DOES IT, YEAH YOU KNOW, BILLY, THINGS CHANGE AND YOU KNOW, YOU KIND OF GO WITH THE FLOW.

I DID IT DIFFERENT THAN MOST OF THE COACHES THAT ARE COACHING TODAY.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN I WAS RIGHT AND THEY WERE WRONG.

IT WAS JUST THE WAY WE DID THINGS.

THE THINGS I LEARNED LEARNED FRH WOODEN.

I EMBELLISHED THEM, I ADDED TO THEM, AND I TRIED TO KEEP EVERYTHING THE SAME AS THE WAY HE DID IT BECAUSE IT WORKED AND NOT THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE GOOD ENOUGH EVERY YEAR TO WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP AND I MEAN WHAT THEY DID OUT THERE, 10 CHAMPIONSHIPS IN 12 YEARS, I MEAN, THAT'S MIND BOGGLING NO.

NOBODY TODAY IS EVER GOING TO DO THAT I DON'T THINK.

BUT THEY DO THINGS DIFFERENT.

I LIKE THE GAME THE WAY IT IS TODAY, BUT I LOVED IT BACK THEN.

>> I DID, TOO, YEAH AND YOU KNOW, ABOUT THE TIME THAT YOU RETIRED IS WHEN SOCIAL MEDIA WAS STARTING TO GET A FOOT HOLD IN EVERY PART OF OUR SOCIETY.

AND YOU NEVER HAD TO DEAL REALLY WITH ALL THESE BLOGGERS AND TWEETERS AND.

>> NOPE.

>> EVERYBODY IS A REPORTER NOW.

EVERYBODY IS A CAMERA MAN.

PEOPLE, IF THEY WANT TO, CAN THROW OUT THE MOST VICIOUS RUMORS AND WHEN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT THE THINGS THAT YOU DIDN'T ENJOY, I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT YOU WOULD EVER... THAT YOU ARE GLAD YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO DEAL WITH A LOT OF THAT STUFF.

>> NO, I STILL DON'T DEAL WITH IT.

MY WIFE AND MY SECRETARY, THEY BOTH...

THEY'RE GOOD AT IT AND I LET THEM HANDLE IT.

I DON'T WANT ANY PART OF IT.

I MEAN I CAN TEXT YOU AND WORK MY PHONE, YOU KNOW, BASICS.

>> GOT YOUR FISH ON THERE.

>> I GOT A LOT OF NICE PICTURES OF MY FISH.

NO, IT'S A WHOLE OTHER BALL GAME OUT THERE NOW.

>> WHAT ABOUT YOUR FUTURE?

YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING AT U OF L, YOU HAVE BEEN HELPING THEM WITH VARIOUS PROJECTS.

WHAT IS IN THE FUTURE FOR DENNY CRUM?

>> WELL, I GAVE MY SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION DENNY CRUM SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION TO THE UNIVERSITY.

AND THEY APPOINTED A YOUNG MAN NAMED JONATHAN ISRAEL TO OVERSEE IT.

AND SO HE AND I ARE IN THE PROCESS OF RAISING MONEY.

WE HAD NEVER DONE ANY CAPITAL FUNDRAISING AT ALL.

WE, EVERYTHING WE DID WE DID WITH EVENTS, YOU KNOW, POTATO SOUP, MAKE PIZZA, YOU NAME IT, PLAYED CORNHOLE, POKER, ANYTHING WE COULD DO TO RAISE MONEY, AND WE DID AND LAST YEAR...

THE FIRST YEAR WE GAVE SEVEN 1,000 DOLLAR SCHOLARSHIPS.

LAST YEAR WE GAVE 100.

THIS YEAR OUR GOAL IS TO RAISE $2 MILLION SO THEY CAN TAKE WHAT THE UNIVERSITY ALLOWS, 5.5% EACH YEAR, SO IF YOU GOT $2 MILLION, THAT PUTS YOU AT $100,000 AND YOU CAN GIVE $100,000 SCHOLARSHIPS FOREVER AND THAT'S MY GOAL.

SO THAT'S WHAT I'M STILL WORKING ON.

>> AND FISHING.

>> YEAH, I DO THAT, TOO.

>> IF THERE IS ANYTHING YOU COULD CHANGE ABOUT BASKETBALL TODAY, WHETHER IT'S SOMETHING WITH OFFICIATING OR THE NCAA OR RECRUITING, WHAT WOULD THAT BE?

>> OH BOY, I KNOW I WAS GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE I DIDN'T LIKE THE RECRUITING.

TOO MANY PEOPLE INVOLVED.

I MEAN IT WASN'T JUST THE HIGH SCHOOL COACH AND MOM AND DAD ANYMORE.

IT HAD GOTTEN WAY PAST THAT.

IT WAS ALWAYS SOMEBODY THAT THE KID WAS, I DON'T KNOW IF HE WAS OBLIGATED TO BUT HE WOULD GIVEN TO AND SO YOU HAD TO SELL FIVE, SIX DIFFERENT PEOPLE AND THAT MADE THE RECRUITING...

IT TOOK A LOT OF FUN OUT OF IT FOR ME.

>> I THINK, YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAD ALL THESE ACADEMIES AND ALL THAT STUFF BACK WHEN WERE YOU COACHING, DARRYL GRIFFITH MIGHT NOT HAVE PLAYED HIS SENIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL IN MAYO.

SOMEBODY MIGHT HAVE TAKEN HIM OFF TO SOME ACADEMY.

>> THAT HAPPENS EVERY DAY AND THAT'S UNFORTUNATE BUT IF IT HELPS THOSE KIDS, I GUESS YOU CAN'T COMPLAIN ABOUT IT BUT IT IS DIFFERENT AND IT'S NOT SOMETHING...

I'M PLEASED THAT I'M NOT A PART OF THAT BECAUSE I DON'T...

I DON'T...

I DIDN'T ENJOY IT, YOU KNOW.

I LOVED DOING WHAT I DO.

I LOVE TO GO TO THE GAMES AND ROUTE FOR THE TEAMS.

I THINK RICK HAS DONE A GREAT JOB COACHING THE TEAM THIS YEAR.

WITH ALL THE DISTRACTIONS AND STUFF, BOY IT'S HARD TO KEEP EVERYTHING HONEST, YOU KNOW, THE LEVEL PLAYING HE HAS DONE A GREAT JOB WITH THAT.

>> OTHER THAN U OF L, ARE THERE ANY TEAMS YOU PARTICULARLY LIKE WATCHING TODAY?

>> I DO.

I LOVE THE WAY THAT VIRGINIA TEAM CAME IN THE YOUNG CENTER AND BEAT US EVERY WAY COULD YOU BEAT A TEAM.

THAT NIGHT THEY PLAYED AS CLOSE TO A PERFECT GAME OF BASKETBALL AS I'VE SEEN IN A LONG TIME.

THEY WERE REALLY GOOD.

I REALLY ENJOYED TONY BENNETT AND HIS TEAM.

MIKE KRYZEWESKI ALWAYS HAD GOOD TEAMS AT DUKE AND ROY WILLIAMS.

BILL SELF, I MEAN HE DOESN'T GET MUCH CREDIT BUT BOY, HE'S AN EXCELLENT COACH.

THERE ARE SO MANY GOOD ONES OUT THERE.

>> COACH, I'M GRATEFUL FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.

I'M GRATEFUL FOR 45 YEARS OF FRIENDSHIP.

IT'S BEEN A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF FUN AND I THANK YOU FOR TAKING YOUR TIME AND I LOOK FORWARD TO READING ABOUT ALL THE FISH YOU'RE CATCHING.

>> BILLY, IT IS MY PLEASURE, BUDDY.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.