Legendary Oklahoma basketball coach Tubbs dies at 85

BillyTubbs, the colorful coach with the high- octane systemknownas Billy Ballwho brought Oklahoma basketball to prominence in the 1980s, died Sunday at85.

Tubbs’family said hebattled a formof leukemia since being diagnosed in2015. The statementsaid he diedpeacefully surroundedby family.

Tubbs tookovera struggling Oklahoma programin1980. TheSooners reached theNCAA Tournament just once— for most of those years, only the Big Eight championwent to the tournament— over the32 seasons prior toTubbs’arrival and held a winningpercentage of .471 from1950- 80.

His fast- pacedoffenses and relentless full- courtpressure defenses led to lots of scoring, excitementandwins. His198788team, featuring futureNBA players Mookie Blaylock, Harvey Grant andStacey King, was upsetbyKansas in theNCAA title game. Tubbs also coached WaymanTisdale, a three- timeAP All- American and Olympic gold medalist.

Tubbs had a333- 132recordin 14seasons at Oklahoma andwas a four- time Big EightCoach of the Year. In three seasons, theSooners averagedmore than100points pergame.

“We are deeply saddenedby the passing ofCoach BillyTubbs,” Oklahoma athletic directorJoe Castiglione said in a statement. “Billy is one of themost successful, popularand colorful figures in the historyofOUAthletics. His passion andvision of the gamedefined an era ofSooner basketball and foreverchanged the trajectoryof ourhoops program.”