With Alabama and Kentucky playing a big one tomorrow why not wax nostalgic? Certainly the stakes are high tomorrow but the loser is assured of a NCAA bid , barring some off the wall unforseen issue. Not so 50 years ago, which yes is a long,long time ago but also the tournament was night and day what is today.

While Tennessee had a mathematical shot at a tie for the SEC Title, realistically the Vols were hoping to position themselves for an NIT bid (which was still a big deal in this the unknown at the time, last year of the NCAA's one bid per conference rule) or the new and ill conceived "Conference Commissioner's Associtation" Tournament put together by the NCAA to compete with the NIT. Alabama and Vanderbilt in reality had distanced themselves from the Vols and everyone else.

#8 Alabama (19-3, 12-2) basically had to beat Kentucky as both of the Tide's SEC losses were to Vanderbilt in effect giving the Commodores (21-1, 13-1) a two game lead. For Alabama it was going to be out-right champion or bust. Starting two years earlier, the NCAA had a rule that whereas a team could host a regional and play at home (TRUE regionals at the time) shall they fall short they were precluded from the NIT or this new CCA tourney. While Kentucky in Joe B Hall's second year was struggling, the Tide had not won in Lexington since the 30's and never in Memorial Coliseum,opened in 1950--when Alabama coach CM Newton was a reserve for Adolph Rupps's Cats In fact in a simliar situation in the prior year in 1973, Kentucky roared out to a 22-2 lead and crushed Alabama 111-95 and their SEC hopes.

Not today. Before the SEC's "TVS Game of the Week" there was a lot of "String Music in Lexington K Y" from the Tide. Not only did Alabama win, their 94-71 win was the worst loss Kentucky had ever suffered at Memorial Coliseum (well, Kentucky's Memorial Coliseum --dueling Memorial Coliesums with these two). Unlike last year, Alabama took the lead at 13-12 and roared out to a 46-27 halftime lead. Charles Cleveland went off with 24 points and Alabama just crushed Kentucky on the boards, 50-31. Kentucky was now headed for their worst record in decades opening to avoid their first losing season since the 1920's. Alabama's win put the heat back on Vanderbilt.

Tennessee and Vanderbilt met later that evening at Vandy's Memorial Gym in Nashville. The Vols (15-7, 9-5) came to Nashville as big underdogs . Vandy had ripped the Vols, 82-65 in Knoxville a month earlier handing Ray Mears his biggest home court loss. However, the Vols under Mears had won 4 of the last 5 vs Vanderbilt in Nashville with last year's 86-74 loss Vandy's only win at Memorial vs Tennessee since 1968.

As Vanderbilt coach Roy Skinner said Vandy played an almost perfect game in Knoxville shooting close to 60% and dominating the boards. Mears didn't disagree. The two went back and forth as Vandy had struggled lately and struggled in this game. The Commodores had kept winning,but by smaller and smaller margins. Tennessee broke away from a 22-20 game to an astonishing 36-24 halftime lead. All-world freshman Ernie Grunfeld had 16 points at halftime and Vandy couldn't touch him.

But with 16,000 screaming Vanderbilt was going to come back...eventually. Tennessee's zone with 7'0" Len Kosmalski covering the middle had Vandy's sharp shooters missing left and right. Only two Commodores would have double digits, Terry Compton and Jan van Breda Kolff. The famed F-Troop,Jeff Fosnes, Butch Feher and Joe Ford combiled for 10 points making 5 of 21 shots. Vandy shot a miserabl 37% for the game.

But Vandy wasn't 21-1 for nothing. After the Vols' lead reached 13 at 52-39 with 11:00 left, Skinner moved van Breda Kolff from the post back to point guard where he had led the SEC in assists in 1972 and 1973. Slowly Vandy came back as they became more patient. With one minute left Vandy had wittled it down to 54-53 and had possession. Bill Ligon, a Commodore senior who would play a few years for the Pistons, rushed a shot which missed and the Vols had the rebound. Guards John Snow and Rodney Woods made pressure free throws in the last :30 and Vandy couldn't score. The Vols came away with stunning 59-53 upset of Vandy.

Now Alabama and Vanderbilt were tied for first at 13-2 in SEC play with three games left. Neither team could afford a loss and Alabama needed some help. The Vols basically secured a trip to either New York for the NIT or St Louis for the CCA with this win .