Just over 14 years ago a basketball season started in the SUU Centrum and by the time it ended the team may have cemented itself into the archives as the most successful in the University's history.  Many members of that team return to Cedar City this Saturday to be inducted into the Southern Utah University Athletics Hall of Fame.

The 2001 SUU men's basketball team set the school's Division 1 record for most wins in a season, with 25 victories. They also capped off an amazing season with the first and only appearance in the NCAA tournament. Several members of the team are able to return to the Centrum Saturday to watch the 2015 team play a game against Northern Colorado after the banquet and induction ceremony where they will be officially welcomed into the SUU Hall of Fame.

Bill Evans coached the 2001 team to an impressive 22-5 regular season record and a share of the Mid-Continent Conference regular season title.  The Thunderbirds then carried that momentum through to the conference tournament. They won their first game against Western Illinois, 66-53.  They downed Oral Roberts 63-62, earning a chance to play for the title against Valparaiso.  The T-birds then knocked off six-time defending conference champion Valparaiso 62-59 to earn their first trip to the big dance.

A contingent of fans, friends and family then followed the team to Long Island, New York for the first round game against third seeded Boston College. The Thunderbirds battled the Eagles in a tough game right up to the final buzzer. SUU had a three point shot bounce off the rim at the buzzer that would have sent the game into overtime. The final game of the amazing season ended in a loss in the NCAA tournament, 68-65.

The amazing season dazzled SUU fans with a perfect 13-0 home record. It also included important road wins, none more impressive than beating the University of Utah in Salt Lake City.

Fans can relive old memories again this weekend when the team comes out on the Centrum floor during half time of the men's basketball game. Tipoff against Northern Colorado is at 7 p.m. in the Centrum.

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{This is the first of a three-part feature on this year's Hall of Fame inductees  The other inductees are Kent “Red” Dover and Frank LaRussa.  Media wishing to visit with this year's Hall of Fame class can come to the Rotunda in the Sharwan Smith Student Center at SUU at 6:15 p.m. on Saturday night.}