RIP, Ernie “Pop” Lewis

[lloyde dobler]

Ernie “Pop” Lewis, one of the standouts of the 1987 Providence Final Four team, has died.

He was one of my favorite Big East players back in the day. He hit one of the biggest shots in Providence history, a buzzer-beater to give them a huge win over Georgetown. That was the moment that legitimized that team as a national threat, after starting out the season as a middle-of-the back Big East projection. That shot catapulted not only that team, but Rick Pitino as well. It also legitimized the idea that teams like Providence, Seton Hall and UConn could succeed in the league - which they all did over the next few years.

 

[Corny T.]

Ernie “Pop” Lewis, one of the standouts of the 1987 Providence Final Four team, has died.

He was one of my favorite Big East players back in the day. He hit one of the biggest shots in Providence history, a buzzer-beater to give them a huge win over Georgetown. That was the moment that legitimized that team as a national threat, after starting out the season as a middle-of-the back Big East projection. That shot catapulted not only that team, but Rick Pitino as well. It also legitimized the idea that teams like Providence, Seton Hall and UConn could succeed in the league - which they all did over the next few years.

He was as nice a person as you would find. This is just way too young to go. That shot you talk about indeed is a shot that many remember as one of the best PC games ever. That game had Rick Pitino getting in Big JT's face as well.