Guys Lewis in the Hall of Fame

Guy Lewis (coach of Houston Cougars, Hall of Fame)
I was inspired to write this because of the buzzer beater concerning N.C. State and Houston from 1983. I think this game has penalized the coaching career of Guy Lewis despite 592 wins and 5 final fours. Critics say that he had great athletes like Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler, Elvin Hayes, Rob Williams, and Michael Young. They mention the years that he went to the final four 2 with Elvin Hayes (67 and 68) and three with Olajuwon (1982-1984) and nothing in between.

The NCAA banned the dunk rule in 1967 not because of Kareem's height and ability but the fact that the 1967 Houston Cougar team had all five guys that can dunk. Lewis emphasized and practiced it because it promoted hustle, concentration, and toughness that so many coaches try to preach. By teaching the dunk, you are teaching power, flexibility as well as post play and players to be an attack mode from whether you are up or down. There was a lot of teaching concerning how to post, position, and pivot before the dunk which is what many critics and impersonating supporters failed to realize. Because you emphasize the vertical game, you put an emphasis on rebounding and block shots. If you do those things, you have control on offense and defense. That dunk law set his program back but if the dunk was allowed, I think Houston could have won in 1968 and maybe UCLA wouldn't have this great dynasty or Indiana going undefeated in 1976.

Then the 1982-1984 teams. After each final four appearance in those years, their star player would leave for the NBA. Rob Williams left in 1982, Drexler left in 1983, and Hakeem left in 1984. Yet, Houston made the final four in 1983 and 1984 with different line-up. You hear coaches complaining about players leaving early and what it can and did to their teams. Well, why not give credit to Lewis for coaching for those teams? Also, those players weren't highly recruited by many of the colleges because they were "schooled" in basketball. Yet, these guys became stars under Lewis and many became stars in the NBA. He has three guys in the Hall, yet he isn't. THat is not right!

I know coaching opponents criticized his coaching but nobody could beat Kareem in 67 and 68. In 1983 final, they didn't make their free throws. In 1982 and 1984, they were not good enough personal wise to match up with Carolina and Georgetown. When UCLA lost, it was due to David Thompson's vertical game of the alley-op pass from Monty Towe and his ability to block shots. People wondered how UCLA beat Kentucky in 1975. Well, Wooden didn't have to worry about being dunked.