LOUISVILLE, Ky. - There is going to be a new banner hung from the rafters of the KFC Yum! Center. The University of Louisville announced it is recognizing its three NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player honorees at the December 3 game against Michigan.
- Darrell Griffith (1980)
- Pervis Ellison (1986)
- Luke Hancock (2013)
Darrell Griffith, Pervis Ellison, and Luke Hancock's names will be on a banner on the southeast side, where other individual honors are displayed. Griffith and Ellison both have their numbers retired at UofL and have banners in place.
“Our legacy of championship basketball includes many great teams and individual players,” said Vince Tyra, UofL Vice President and Director of Athletics. “This is an opportunity for the university to permanently recognize, and show our appreciation for, the achievements of three former greats who pushed themselves and their team to the highest level of play. Our fans and their teams will never forget their success nor their teams’ success.”
Griffith led Louisville to its first NCAA Championship in 1980 beating UCLA. Dr. Dunkenstein scored 27 points in the game which took place in Indianapolis' Market Square Arena. HThe 57 points he scored in the two games is the second-most scored in the Final Four by an individual in the last 41 years. In addition to being named Most Outstanding Player, Giffith received the 1980 John Wooden Award as the college basketball player of the year.
In 1986, Ellison won the Most Outstanding Player award, becoming the second freshman to get the honor since 1944. Never Nervous Pervis had 25 points, 11 rebounds, and two blocked shots to help lead Louisville over the Duke Blue Devils in the championship game.
History was made in 2013 when Luke Hancock became the first non-starter to earn Most Outstanding Player honors. Luke's "cool hand" kept connecting from three-point range, tying a record of 8-of-10 three-pointers in the two games. In the national championship game against Michigan, Hancock had 22 points.
Griffith and Hancock will be at the game, Ellison has a previous engagement. UofL has declared this game a "white-out" and fans are encouraged to wear all white for the ESPN game. History was made in 2013 when Luke Hancock became the first non-starter to earn Most Outstanding Player honors. Luke's "cool hand" kept connecting from three-point range, tying a record of 8-of-10 three-pointers in the two games. In the national championship game against Michigan, Hancock had 22 points.
Griffith and Hancock will be at the game, Ellison has a previous engagement. UofL has declared this game a "white out" and fans are encouraged to wear all white for the ESPN game.