Tulsa to Retire Willie Biles Jersey During Legends Weekend
2/6/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 6, 2010
Tulsa, Oklahoma - Willie Biles, who scored more than 40 points eight times in his Tulsa career, will have his jersey retired at halftime of the Tulsa-Memphis men's basketball game on Saturday, Feb. 13th. The ceremony will take place during Legends Weekend festivities at the Donald W. Reynolds Center. Game time is 6:00 pm.
Biles' jersey will be retired, but the number will still remain in circulation. Biles wore Number 12 for the Hurricane from 1970 to 1974.
The sharpshooter from Memphis, Tennessee, is actually the last player to play for the Hurricane from the city of Memphis. Biles scored over 30 points 15 times in his 65-game varsity career beginning with the 1971-72 season.
Biles averaged 31.1 points as a member of the freshman team in 1970-71. He played in just 13 games as a sophomore, but burst onto the national scene a year later as one of the most prolific scorers in Tulsa history.
The 6-foot, 3-inch guard averaged 30.3 points and 7.5 rebounds as a junior in 1972-73, and tallied 24.7 points and 6.8 rebounds in his senior season. Biles was the MVC's scoring leader both as a junior and senior, and also became the first player since Oscar Robertson to averaged 30 points a game for a single season. He scored a school record 48 points twice in his career and also tallied a single-season school record 788 points during his junior campaign.
The stat line for Biles in his two career-high scoring games of 48 points included 16-of-33 field goals and 16-of-17 free throws against MVC rival Wichita State on March 3, 1973, and 18-of-36 field goals and 12-of-17 free throws against St. Cloud State on Dec, 13, 1973
Biles was a two-time All-American and two-time first-team all-Missouri Valley Conference selection. He led the Hurricane to two consecutive 18-8 seasons, and was drafted by the Golden State Warriors.
Biles was inducted into the TU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994. He played his prep basketball at Memphis' Pisgah High School.
Ticket prices for the Tulsa-Memphis game on Saturday, Feb. 13th, start as low as $10.00 and can be purchased online at www.TulsaHurricane.com, by calling 918-631-GoTU (4688) and in person at the Donald W. Reynolds Center Ticket Office.