Ex-Oklahoma basketball coach Tubbs dead at 85

Billy Tubbs, the colorful coach with the high-octane system known as Billy Ball who brought Oklahoma basketball to prominence in the 1980s, died Sunday. He was 85.

Tubbs’ family said in a statement that he battled a form of leukemia since being diagnosed in 2015. The statement said he died peacefully surrounded by family. A news release from the University of Oklahoma said Tubbs died in Norman.

Tubbs took over a struggling Oklahoma programin 1980.

His fast-paced offenses and relentless full-court pressure defenses led to lots of scoring, excitement and wins. His 1987-88 team, featuring future NBA players Mookie Blaylock, Harvey Grant and Stacey King, was upset by Kansas in the NCAA title game. Tubbs also coached Wayman Tisdale, a three-time AP All-American and Olympic gold medalist.

Tubbs had a 333-132 record in 14 seasons at Oklahoma.

Tubbs coached at TCU from1995-2002 and got the previously struggling program to the NCAA Tournament in 1998. He had two coaching stints at his alma mater, Lamar, and was athletic director there from 2002 to 2011.

Tubbs led the Cardinals to their first two NCAA Tournaments.

Perhaps his most famous moment of all came on Feb. 9, 1989, while he was coaching Oklahoma.

The Sooners fell behind Missouri early, and fans who disagreed with a call against Blaylock had thrown debris on the court. The public-address announcer told the crowd the Sooners could be assessed a technical if the activity continued.

Tubbs then took the microphone and said: “The referees request that regardless of how terrible the officiating is, do not throw stuff on the floor.”

He earned a technical from official Ed Hightower and a standing ovation from the home crowd.