RIP Tony Yates

[longtimefan]

So sad to see this. He was a champion on and off the court. He gave so much to the University, two NCAA championships while playing, brought the program back from irrelevance as a coach. He inherited a situation even worse than Cronin did, but left a decent foundation for Huggins. He'll be missed.

[bearcatjd]

RIP Tony, he was a great Bearcat & will be sorely missed.

[Lobot]

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/2020/05/17/tony-yates-former-university-cincinnati-basketball-player-and-coach-dies/5207701002/

[Lobot]

https://gobearcats.com/news/2020/5/16/mens-basketball-former-uc-player-coach-tony-yates-passes-away.aspx

[djs]

Arguably, Tony Yates and his classmate, Tom Thacker, had the finest playing careers in UC history. Each of them played in the national championship game in each year of their careers - their sophomore, junior and senior years (fresshman weren't eligible back then). And each of them started and were integral parts of those teams. I am not aware of any college players, other than those who played for UCLA during the Wooden era, who accomplished that. Had freshman been eligible then, they probably would have played in a fourth national championship game. When Yates and Thacker were freshmen, Oscar was a senior and the Bearcats lost in the national semifinal game. Add Yates and Thacker to Oscar's senior team and they no doubt would have won that semifinal game and probably the whole thing.

[cpawstoney]

Arguably, Tony Yates and his classmate, Tom Thacker, had the finest playing careers in UC history. Each of them played in the national championship game in each year of their careers - their sophomore, junior and senior years (fresshman weren't eligible back then). And each of them started and were integral parts of those teams. I am not aware of any college players, other than those who played for UCLA during the Wooden era, who accomplished that. Had freshman been eligible then, they probably would have played in a fourth national championship game. When Yates and Thacker were freshmen, Oscar was a senior and the Bearcats lost in the national semifinal game. Add Yates and Thacker to Oscar's senior team and they no doubt would have won that semifinal game and probably the whole thing.

You mean junior... those amazing stats The Big O compiled were done in two years, three if you count his freshman year.

[djs]

No, Oscar played 3 years and was a senior when Yates and Thacker were freshmen.

[swilsonsp4]

Yates, RIP, just left a fraternity of former UC basketball coaches still living: Tay Baker, Gale Catlett, and Ed Badger (not to mention Huggs, Mick and AK). Baker is the eldest at 93.

[Geaux Juan]

Baker is the eldest at 93.

And still sharp as a tack.

[longtimefan]

He died of COVID-19.

[Bearcats1232002]

He died of COVID-19.

And he was apparently asymptomatic which is scary.

https://local12.com/news/coronavirus/1-of-147000-covid-19-took-life-of-uc-basketball-great-tony-yates-cincinnati