Buzz Is About Peterson After Tulsa Wins Title

If Coach Buzz Peterson’s tenure at Tulsa lasts only one season, he made sure it would be a successful one.

Marcus Hill scored 24 points as the Golden Hurricane (26-11) won the National Invitation Tournament championship, defeating Alabama, 79-60, Thursday night.

Tulsa’s other NIT title came 20 years ago, when the Golden Hurricane beat Syracuse, 86-84, in overtime in Nolan Richardson’s first season as coach.

“It’s been a joy to watch,” Peterson said. “It’s eerie in a way that it came 20 years after Nolan Richardson did it.”

Peterson, who tied Richardson’s school record for victories in his first season, also might follow a tradition started by the Arkansas coach, turning success at Tulsa into a big-time college coaching job.

Richardson, Tubby Smith (Kentucky), Steve Robinson (Florida State) and Bill Self (Illinois) have all left the cradle of coaches in the last 16 years for better jobs, with Richardson and Smith winning national titles after their stints with the Golden Hurricane.

Peterson, who spent the previous four seasons as the coach at Appalachian State, is at the top of Tennessee’s wish list and could interview for the Volunteers’ opening soon.

The Crimson Tide (25-11) shot only 33% compared to 53% for the Golden Hurricane.

Erwin Dudley scored 17 points and Terrance Meade added 14 to lead the Crimson Tide, which went to the NIT final with five sophomore starters and last year’s high school player of the year in reserve.

In the consolation game, Memphis defeated Detroit, 86-71.