1987–88 Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball team
Encyclopedia
The 1987–88 Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball team represented the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
in competitive college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
during the 1987–88 NCAA Division I season. The Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball team played its home games in the Lloyd Noble Center
Lloyd Noble Center
The Lloyd Noble Center is an 11,528-seat multi-purpose arena, in Norman, Oklahoma, United States, some south of downtown Oklahoma City...
and was a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
's (NCAA) former Big Eight Conference
Big Eight Conference
The Big Eight Conference, a former NCAA-affiliated Division I-A college athletic association that sponsored football, was formed in January 1907 as the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association by its charter member schools: the University of Kansas, University of Missouri, University...
at that time. The team posted a 35–4 overall record and a 12–2 conference record to earn the Conference title under head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
Billy Tubbs
Billy Tubbs
Billy Tubbs is a former men's college basketball coach. The Tulsa, Oklahoma native has been the head coach of his alma mater Lamar University , the University of Oklahoma and Texas Christian University .Tubbs was known for his high scoring offense and full-court press defense.Tubbs achieved many...
. This was the third Big Eight Conference Regular Season Championship for Tubbs and his second Big Eight Conference Tournament Championship.
The team was led by three future NBA Draft
NBA Draft
The NBA Draft is an annual event in which the thirty teams from the National Basketball Association can draft players who are eligible and wish to join the league. These players are usually amateur U.S. college basketball players, but international players are also eligible to be drafted...
first round selections: Harvey Grant
Harvey Grant
Harvey Grant is a retired American National Basketball Association basketball player. He is the identical twin brother of Horace Grant, also a former NBA player...
, Stacey King and Mookie Blaylock
Mookie Blaylock
Daron Oshay "Mookie" Blaylock , is a retired American professional basketball player. He spent 13 years in the NBA with three teams.-Professional career:...
. Grant and King earned All-American recognition that season. The team won its first 14 games before losing back to back contests to unranked and Kansas State
1987–88 Kansas State Wildcats men's basketball team
The 1987-88 Kansas State Wildcats men's basketball team represented Kansas State University in the 1987-88 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The head coach was Lon Kruger who was in his second of four years at the helm of the Wildcats...
. The team then won 12 consecutive games before falling to unranked in overtime in its penultimate regular season game. The team then ran off 9 more wins taking it to the championship game of the 1988 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
1988 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1988 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 17, 1988, and ended with the championship game on April 4 returning to Kansas City, Missouri...
where it lost to Kansas. The team defeated all five ranked opponents it faced during the season. (In order, #6 , #12 twice, a rematch against #14 Kansas State, and #2 Arizona in the final four).
Mookie Blaylock
Mookie Blaylock
Daron Oshay "Mookie" Blaylock , is a retired American professional basketball player. He spent 13 years in the NBA with three teams.-Professional career:...
established the current National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
Division I college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
single-season steals
Steal (basketball)
In basketball, a steal occurs when a defensive player legally causes a turnover by his positive, aggressive action. This can be done by deflecting and controlling, catching, or batting to a teammate a pass or dribble of an offensive player...
(150) and single-game steals (13) records. Stacey King set the current Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball
Oklahoma Sooners men's basketball
-1908-1980:The Sooners enjoyed moderate success on the court during this era, posting only 16 losing records in their first 72 seasons. They were coached by 9 different coaches during this period, beginning with Bennie Owen , and ending with Dave Bliss in 1980...
single-season blocked shots (103) record. Ricky Grace
Ricky Grace
Ricky Ray Grace is an American/Australian professional basketball player who played in the Australian National Basketball League from 1990 until the 2004/2005 season.- Playing career :...
set the single-season assists
Assist (basketball)
In basketball, an assist is attributed to a player who passes the ball to a teammate in a way that leads to a score by field goal, meaning that he or she was "assisting" in the basket. There is some judgment involved in deciding whether a passer should be credited with an assist...
(280) record. The team holds numerous Sooner records including wins (35), and points per game (102.5).
NCAA basketball tournament
The following is a summary of the team's performance in the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament:- Southeast
- Oklahoma (1) 94, (16) 66
- Oklahoma 107, (8) 87
- Oklahoma 108, (5) 98 (Sweet 16)
- Oklahoma 78, (6) 59 (Regional Final)
- Final Four
- Oklahoma 86, Arizona 78
- Kansas 83, Oklahoma 79
Honors
- All-American: Harvey GrantHarvey GrantHarvey Grant is a retired American National Basketball Association basketball player. He is the identical twin brother of Horace Grant, also a former NBA player...
and Stacey King (1st of 2 times) - Big Eight Tournament MVP: King
- NCAA Tournament Southeast Regional MVP: King
Team players drafted into the NBA
The following players were drafted in the 1988 NBA Draft1988 NBA Draft
The 1988 NBA Draft took place on June 28, 1988 in New York City, New York. The length was reduced from seven rounds in the previous year to three rounds.-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Notable undrafted players:...
:
| Round | Pick | Player | NBA Club |
| 1 | 12 | Harvey Grant Harvey Grant Harvey Grant is a retired American National Basketball Association basketball player. He is the identical twin brother of Horace Grant, also a former NBA player... |
Washington Bullets |
| 3 | 67 | Ricky Grace Ricky Grace Ricky Ray Grace is an American/Australian professional basketball player who played in the Australian National Basketball League from 1990 until the 2004/2005 season.- Playing career :... |
Utah Jazz Utah Jazz The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association... |
The following players were varsity letter
Varsity letter
A varsity letter is an award earned in the United States for excellence in school activities. A varsity letter signifies that its winner was a qualified varsity team member, awarded after a certain standard was met.- Description :...
-winners from this team who were drafted in the NBA Draft
NBA Draft
The NBA Draft is an annual event in which the thirty teams from the National Basketball Association can draft players who are eligible and wish to join the league. These players are usually amateur U.S. college basketball players, but international players are also eligible to be drafted...
in later years:
- 1989 NBA Draft1989 NBA DraftThe 1989 NBA Draft took place on June 27, 1989 in New York City, New York, USA. It has been regarded as one of the worst drafts in NBA history, along with the 1986 NBA Draft and the 2000 NBA Draft. Though the draft produced talented players such as Shawn Kemp, Glen Rice, Sean Elliott, Nick...
: Stacey King (1st, 6th, Chicago BullsChicago BullsThe Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
), Mookie BlaylockMookie BlaylockDaron Oshay "Mookie" Blaylock , is a retired American professional basketball player. He spent 13 years in the NBA with three teams.-Professional career:...
(1st, 12th, New Jersey NetsNew Jersey NetsThe New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in Newark, New Jersey. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
)
See also
- Oklahoma Sooners men's basketballOklahoma Sooners men's basketball-1908-1980:The Sooners enjoyed moderate success on the court during this era, posting only 16 losing records in their first 72 seasons. They were coached by 9 different coaches during this period, beginning with Bennie Owen , and ending with Dave Bliss in 1980...
- List of Oklahoma Sooners Men's Basketball Conference Championships
- 1988 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament1988 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball TournamentThe 1988 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 17, 1988, and ended with the championship game on April 4 returning to Kansas City, Missouri...