Hall of Fame
A native of Memphis, TN, and a product of Melrose High, Larry Finch was a three-time All-Missouri Valley Conference choice, earning second-team honors in 1971 and first-team plaudits in 1972 and 73.
The Valley Player of the Year in 1973, Finch led the Tigers to the conference title with a 12-2 mark and into the NCAA Tournament.
While averaging 26.3 points per game in four tourney games, he led UM to wins over South Carolina (90-76), Kansas State (92-72) and Providence (98-85), prior to the Tigers’ loss (87-66) to UCLA in the national title game.
A two-time All-American, Finch finished his career with 1,869 points and led The Valley in scoring in conference games only in 1972 (25.9 points per game).
Following his playing career, Finch – a 1975 UM grad – served as assistant coach at Memphis in 1986.
In his first season, Finch inherited a team on probation and left void by the departure of three key players due to graduation and the NBA, but while orchestrating the “Season for Miracles”, he guided UM to a 26-8 record.
In his 11 seasons at the helm, he tutored the Tigers to seven 20-win seasons, six NCAA Tournament appearances and three NIT spots. In 1991-92, Finch saw his team reach the NCAA Midwest Regional championship game in Kansas City, MO.
Inducted into the University of Memphis Hall of Fame in 1981, his number 21 is now a retired number for Memphis Basketball.