Loyola Marymount Basketball: 1990 National Champions

The Loyola Marymount basketball team won the 1990 National Championship This blog will discuss the team’s historic season and what made them such a great team.

The 1990 Loyola Marymount men’s basketball team

The 1990 Loyola Marymount men’s Basketball team represented Loyola Marymount University during the 1989–90 NCAA Division I men’s Basketball season The team’s Head Coach was Paul Westhead. The Lions played their home games at Gersten Pavilion on the university campus in Los Angeles California.

In December 1988, Hank Gathers, who had been diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat, collapsed during a game and subsequently died. His death deeply affected the team and left them determined to win the National Championship in his memory.

The 1990 team averaged a record 122 points per game and won the West Coast conference tournament In the NCAA tournament they defeated New Mexico State Alabama, defending champion Michigan and Seton Hall to reach the Elite Eight. They then lost to UNLV in the national semifinals.

The team remains one of only three college basketball teams to score more than 100 points in all of their games in a single season. They also set an NCAA Division I record for most points scored in a season (3,122).

The team’s head coach Paul Westhead

Head Coach Paul Westhead brought the fast-paced, “Runnin’ style of play to Loyola Marymount University when he was hired in 1985.

In just his second season at the helm, Westhead guided the Lions to the school’s first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance. The following year, LMU won a school record 27 games and captured the West Coast Conference regular season championship.

The 1988-89 campaign was one of disappointment, as the Lions finished 20-11 and failed to make the NCAA tournament despite being ranked as high as No. 11 in the nation during the season.

But Westhead and company bounced back in a big way in 1989-90. Led by seniors Jeff Fryer and Bo Kimble, LMU raced to a 30-2 record and became just the third team in NCAA history to score 3,000 points in a single season. The Lions’ averaging 122.4 points per game that year is still an NCAA Division I record.

After winning the WCC tournament title, LMU entered the NCAA tournament as a No. 11 seed but upset New Mexico State Alabama and top-seeded Michigan en route to the West Regional Final. There, the Lions’ Cinderella run came to an end with a 79-78 loss to UNLV. The Runnin’ Rebels would go on to win the National Championship that year.

Despite falling just short of their ultimate goal, Westhead’s squad put together one of the most unforgettable seasons in college basketball history. And they remain the only team from California to ever make it to the Final Four.

The team’s star player Hank Gathers

Hank Gathers was the team’s star player and one of the best players in the nation. He was a 6’7″ Power Forward who could play both inside and outside. He was named co-Player of the Year in the West Coast Conference (WCC) in 1989 and 1990. Gathers led the WCC in rebounding both years and was second in scoring in 1989. He was also named to the All-American Team in 1990.

The team’s tragic story

The Loyola Marymount Lions men’s basketball team was one of the most dominant forces in College Basketball during the late 1980s and early 1990s. The team was led by star players Hank Gathers and Bo Kimble, who were both drafted into the NBA. However, tragedy struck the team in 1990 when Gathers collapsed and died during a game. The team continued to play in his honor, and they made an improbable run to the NCAA tournament’s Elite Eight. They eventually lost to eventual National Champion UNLV, but their story captivated the nation.

The team’s amazing season

Loyola Marymount University’s Basketball team had an amazing 1990 season. They won the National Championship and their star player Hank Gathers tragically died during the season.

The team’s NCAA tournament run

In 1990, the Loyola Marymount Lions basketball team made an improbable run to the NCAA Tournament Championship game The team was led by star players Bo Kimble and Hank Gathers, and their story captivated the nation. Despite being a heavy underdog, the Lions made it all the way to the final game where they lost to UNLV.

The team’s run to the Championship game was one of the most improbable in NCAA Tournament history. They were a lower-seeded team that had to win multiple games on buzzer-beaters just to stay alive. But their story was about more than just winning basketball games

Hank Gathers, one of the team’s stars, had died suddenly during the season from a heart condition. The team dedicate their tournament run to him, and his memory inspired them to play with heart and determination.

The Loyola Marymount Lions’ story is one of tragedy and inspiration. They will always be remembered as one of the greatest Cinderella stories in NCAA tournament history.

The team’s National Championship game

The Loyola Marymount Lions men’s basketball team defeated the Alabama Crimson Tide in the National Championship game on April 2, 1990, by a score of 149–115. The game was played at the Hoosier Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The team’s legacy

In 1990, the Loyola Marymount Lions men’s basketball team made history by becoming the first, and to date only, 11th seed in the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament to make it to the Elite Eight. The team’s run came to an end with a loss to eventual champions UNLV in the semifinals, but their legacy as one of the most exciting teams in NCAA history lives on.

LMU’s 1990 squad was led by star players Bo Kimble and Hank Gathers, who both tragically passed away before their professional careers could really take off. In 1992, LMU retired Gathers’ #44 jersey, and in 2002, the school renamed its basketball arena after him.

The Lions have not been able to replicate their 1990 success since then, but they will always be remembered as one of college basketball’s all-time great Cinderella stories.

The team’s place in history

In 1990, the Loyola Marymount Lions men’s basketball team made history. The team, led by seniors Bo Kimble and Hank Gathers, finished the season with a record of 29-5. They won the West Coast Conference regular season title and the WCC Tournament title. They received a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament and made it to the Elite Eight, where they lost to eventual national champion UNLV.

The Lions were one of the most entertaining teams in College Basketball history. They averaged an astounding 122 points per game which was nearly 20 points more than any other team in Division I Basketball that season. Gathers and Kimble were two of the best players in the country and their on-court chemistry was undeniable.

The team’srun to the Elite Eight is even more impressive when you consider that they did it without a true point guard Starting point guard Terrell Lowery missed most of the season with an injury and backup Tony Slaughter tore his ACL in February. That left 6’7″ small forward Jeff Fryer as the primary ball-handler for much of the tournament run.

The Lions’ magical season came to an end with a 131-101 loss to UNLV in the Elite Eight. Gathers, who had been battling a heart condition throughout the season, collapsed during the game and died shortly thereafter. Kimble kept his promise to dedicate all of LMU’s tournament games to Gathers by shooting his first free throw of each game left-handed, as Gathers had done throughout his career.

The 1990 Loyola Marymount Basketball team will always be remembered for their incredible run to the Elite Eight and for their strength in the face of tragedy. The team’s place in history is secure and their legacy will live on forever.

The team’s impact on the game of basketball

Few teams have had as big of an impact on the game of basketball as the 1990 Loyola Marymount team. Led by star players Bo Kimble and Hank Gathers, the team was known for its high-scoring, up-tempo style of play. The team was also tragically impacted by the death of Gathers during a game in 1990, which only added to their legend.

Despite their tragic ending, the 1990 Loyola Marymount team is still remembered as one of the most talented and entertaining teams in college basketball history. They left a lasting impact on the game that is still felt today, and their story continues to inspire players and fans alike.