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| When you think of University of Memphis basketball, you immediately think of Larry Finch. The legendary player, assistant coach and former head coach was synonymous with Tiger basketball for 25 years. Finch’s jersey was retired on Nov. 30, 1974. |
| Finch, who competed in over 500 games as a Tiger player and coach combined, ranks third behind former Tiger stars Keith Lee and Elliot Perry on the University of Memphis all-time scoring list with 1,869 points. Finch was the catalyst in the University of Memphis reaching the NCAA Final Four for the first time ever in 1973, when the Tigers lost to UCLA and Bill Walton in the national finals. During the ’73 tournament, Finch averaged 26.8 points a game, including 29 against the Bruins. |
| In Finch’s three years at The University of Memphis, the Tigers put together a record of 63-21 and either won or tied for two Missouri Valley Conference Championships. He earned honorable mention All-American honors from both the Associated Press and United Press International and was named to four other All-American teams his senior season after breaking nine individual The U of M records. Finch was also the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year two years in a row. |
| Finch, who holds the record for most points scored in a game at the U of M, is still ranked in the top five in 21 different statistical categories. |