Almost famous: 27 years ago, Phil Hopkins fell short against No. 1 Purdue

Phil Hopkins' career profiles as a classic multi-directional school vagabond - Middle Tennessee, Radford, Wyoming, Indiana State and finally getting his break when promoted at Western Carolina.

The Catamounts of Cullowhee, S.C., had two shots in the air in the final seconds - one to win and one to tie - that rimmed out.

Purdue survived and advanced, 73-71, but Hopkins and his crew were forever tied to what could have been.

Phil Hopkins will be remembered as the man for whom the epic upset eluded.

He'd run for mayor in town and lost in a buzzer beater of an election, but it was hard to see how.

He found a niche coaching junior high kids, and turned down a Division II job because he liked junior high boys and girls.