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While the previously mentioned Loyola Marymount Lions are credited with perfecting the up-tempo offense in the mid to late ’80s, Houston Basketball under Guy Lewis are the ones credited with bringing it over from the ABA.

Phi Slama Jama was the moniker given to Houston’s up and down, rim attacking style of play while boasting a roster that, at one point, featured a quintet of future NBA players. The tent poles of the roster were future NBA Hall of Famers Clyde “The Glide” Drexler and Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon.

The excitement lasted from 1981-1984 and saw the Cougars record 88 wins in three seasons, as well as three consecutive trips to the final four. Even with the hall of fame roster and visually appealing style, they were unable to get over the hump. In 1982, they fell in the Final Four to eventual champion North Carolina. In 1983 they faced North Carolina State in the National Championship game and fell to the Wolfpack on the legendary Lorenzo Charles putback dunk.

Drexler and Larry Micheaux left after the 1983 season, but Olajuwon and Michael Young led the Cougars back to the National Championship game in 1984. Houston would then face Patrick Ewing and the Georgetown Hoyas in a matchup featuring two of the greatest centers in basketball history.

In the end, the two big men basically negated each other while Reggie Williams led Georgetown to the National title with 21 points off the bench.

Olajuwon was selected first overall in the 1984 NBA draft and Michael Young graduated, effectively ending the Phi Slama Jama era.