FSU Hall of Fame basketball player Otto Petty passed away on Monday at the age of 76.

The 5-foot-7 point guard from Louisville, Kentucky led the Seminoles to the Seminoles’ only appearance in the National Championship game in 1972. The Seminoles lost to UCLA in Pawley Pavilion, UCLA’s home court, 86-81.

Otto came to FSU with state champion teammate Ron King, who was named Mr. Kentucky in basketball.

King chose FSU because Kentucky’s legendary coach, Adolph Rupp, wouldn’t offer Petty a scholarship, because Petty was “too short for college ball.” As fate would have it, King and Petty’s run to the championship game included a victory over Rupp’s SEC Championship team in the final game of Rupp’s career.

Too short for college basketball, the little man scored 13 in that game including a perfect 9 for 9 from the charity stripe with six rebounds.

In a 36-team NCAA Tournament, FSU defeated, in order, Eastern Kentucky, Big 10 Champion Minnesota, SEC Champion Kentucky by 20 points and Coach Dean Smith and Bob McAdoo’s ACC Champion North Carolina.

Petty single-handedly broke the Tar Heels vaunted full-court press.

Petty’s three-year, all-time assist record (602) stood for 21 years, until broken by Charlie Ward.

Petty was a fan favorite, and not just because of his relatable stature or massive Afro hair style, but for the manner in which he broke down opposing defenses with behind the back and between the legs assists that transformed tiny Tully Gym into “Terrible Tully” for opposing teams.

Petty was a proud Seminole, and he attended many FSU basketball reunions.

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