Sean Woods
Encyclopedia
Sean Woods is an American former basketball
player who is currently serving as the
head coach of the Mississippi Valley State University
men's basketball team. He had previously been an assistant coach at Texas Christian University
.
Woods played college basketball
at Kentucky
. As a Wildcat
in 1992, he was a member of a senior-laden team colloquially known as the "Unforgettables" who had come to Kentucky in 1988 and had stayed with the school all four years despite a major scandal that put Kentucky on NCAA probation until the 1992 season, in which they were allowed to participate in postseason play again.
The Unforgettables, coached by Rick Pitino
and also including fellow seniors Richie Farmer, Deron Feldhaus, and John Pelphrey
, surprised many by garnering a #2 seed and reaching the Elite Eight
in the NCAA tournament
that year. Woods and the Wildcats defeated Old Dominion
, Iowa State
and UMass
en route to the regional final. With a 29-6 record, the Wildcats faced off against Duke
at the Spectrum
in Philadelphia with a trip to the Final Four
on the line.
In that game against Duke, often cited as the greatest college basketball game of all time, Woods cemented a legendary status in Kentucky lore by pouring in 21 points, none more important than a 10 feet (3 m) floater over Christian Laettner
that bounced off the backboard and dropped into the basket in overtime
. The basket gave Kentucky a 103-102 lead with 2.1 seconds remaining. Unfortunately for Woods, the Unforgettables would lose the game on Laettner's subsequent jumper as time expired.
Woods went to the NBA and played for the Indiana Pacers
, but not making the roster. He ran a popular basketball camp during his time in the NBA, which polished future players such as Tony Delk
and Antoine Walker
(both of whom played at Kentucky). He was an assistant coach at High Point University
before he came to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
, also as an assistant.
In 2005, Woods became a charter member of the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame as part of the Unforgettables. Immediately following the Duke loss, every Kentucky senior's jersey (though not their numbers) was retired. Woods is currently fifth all-time on Kentucky's career assist
list, with 482. He is married and has two children. His son Martiese Morones, a high school point guard in Kentucky, was signed by TCU for the 2006-07 season. Woods would join the TCU staff shortly afterwards.
On June 24, 2008, Woods became the head coach of the Mississippi Valley State University
men's basketball team.
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Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player who is currently serving as the
head coach of the Mississippi Valley State University
Mississippi Valley State University
Mississippi Valley State University is a historically black university located in Itta Bena, Mississippi, in the United States. MVSU is a member school of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund....
men's basketball team. He had previously been an assistant coach at Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University is a private, coeducational university located in Fort Worth, Texas, United States and founded in 1873. TCU is affiliated with, but not governed by, the Disciples of Christ...
.
Woods played college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
at Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
. As a Wildcat
Kentucky Wildcats
The Kentucky Wildcats are the men's and women's intercollegiate athletic squads of the University of Kentucky , a founding member of the Southeastern Conference...
in 1992, he was a member of a senior-laden team colloquially known as the "Unforgettables" who had come to Kentucky in 1988 and had stayed with the school all four years despite a major scandal that put Kentucky on NCAA probation until the 1992 season, in which they were allowed to participate in postseason play again.
The Unforgettables, coached by Rick Pitino
Rick Pitino
Rick Pitino is an American basketball coach. Since 2001, he has been the head coach at the University of Louisville. He has also served as head coach at Boston University, Providence College and the University of Kentucky, leading that program to the NCAA championship in 1996...
and also including fellow seniors Richie Farmer, Deron Feldhaus, and John Pelphrey
John Pelphrey
John Leslie Pelphrey is an American college basketball coach and was the 14th head men's basketball coach at the University of Arkansas . After being named Kentucky's "Mr. Basketball" in 1987, he became a star college player at the University of Kentucky. Prior to coaching the Razorbacks, he...
, surprised many by garnering a #2 seed and reaching the Elite Eight
Elite Eight
The term Elite Eight, or less commonly called "Great Eight", refers to the final eight teams in the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship or the NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship; and, thus, represents the national quarterfinals. In Division I, the Elite Eight consists of the...
in the NCAA tournament
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
that year. Woods and the Wildcats defeated Old Dominion
Old Dominion University
Old Dominion University is a state university located in Norfolk, Virginia, United States, and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools...
, Iowa State
Iowa State University
Iowa State University of Science and Technology, more commonly known as Iowa State University , is a public land-grant and space-grant research university located in Ames, Iowa, United States. Iowa State has produced astronauts, scientists, and Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, along with a host of...
and UMass
University of Massachusetts
This article relates to the statewide university system. For the flagship campus often referred to as "UMass", see University of Massachusetts Amherst...
en route to the regional final. With a 29-6 record, the Wildcats faced off against Duke
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
at the Spectrum
Wachovia Spectrum
The Spectrum, formerly known as the CoreStates Spectrum , First Union Spectrum , and Wachovia Spectrum was an indoor arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
in Philadelphia with a trip to the Final Four
Final four
Final Four isa sports term that is commonly applied to the last four teams remaining in a playoff tournament, most notably NCAA Division I college basketball tournaments. The term usually refers to the four teams who compete in the two games of a single-elimination tournament's semi-final round...
on the line.
In that game against Duke, often cited as the greatest college basketball game of all time, Woods cemented a legendary status in Kentucky lore by pouring in 21 points, none more important than a 10 feet (3 m) floater over Christian Laettner
Christian Laettner
Christian Donald Laettner is a retired American professional basketball player and entrepreneur. He had a distinguished college and national career, and played in the National Basketball Association for thirteen seasons, from 1992–2005. He is presently a minority holder for the Major League...
that bounced off the backboard and dropped into the basket in overtime
Overtime (sports)
Overtime or extra time is an additional period of play specified under the rules of a sport to bring a game to a decision and avoid declaring the match a tie or draw. In most sports, this extra period is only played if the game is required to have a clear winner, as in single-elimination...
. The basket gave Kentucky a 103-102 lead with 2.1 seconds remaining. Unfortunately for Woods, the Unforgettables would lose the game on Laettner's subsequent jumper as time expired.
Woods went to the NBA and played for the Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
, but not making the roster. He ran a popular basketball camp during his time in the NBA, which polished future players such as Tony Delk
Tony Delk
Tony Lorenzo Delk is an American former professional basketball player and current assistant coach for the New Mexico State Aggies men's basketball team. He was team leader of the 1996 University of Kentucky Wildcats team that won the 1996 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament...
and Antoine Walker
Antoine Walker
Antoine Devon Walker is an American professional basketball player who most recently played for the Idaho Stampede of the NBA Development League...
(both of whom played at Kentucky). He was an assistant coach at High Point University
High Point University
High Point University is a private liberal arts university in High Point, North Carolina, USA, affiliated with the United Methodist Church.- Beginnings :...
before he came to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi
Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi is a state university located in Corpus Christi, Texas, United States, on Ward Island in Oso Bay. The university is part of the Texas A&M University System...
, also as an assistant.
In 2005, Woods became a charter member of the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame as part of the Unforgettables. Immediately following the Duke loss, every Kentucky senior's jersey (though not their numbers) was retired. Woods is currently fifth all-time on Kentucky's career assist
Assist (basketball)
In basketball, an assist is attributed to a player who passes the ball to a teammate in a way that leads to a score by field goal, meaning that he or she was "assisting" in the basket. There is some judgment involved in deciding whether a passer should be credited with an assist...
list, with 482. He is married and has two children. His son Martiese Morones, a high school point guard in Kentucky, was signed by TCU for the 2006-07 season. Woods would join the TCU staff shortly afterwards.
On June 24, 2008, Woods became the head coach of the Mississippi Valley State University
Mississippi Valley State University
Mississippi Valley State University is a historically black university located in Itta Bena, Mississippi, in the United States. MVSU is a member school of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund....
men's basketball team.
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