Editor's Note: This is the final in a series of looks back at the highlights of Durand "Rudy" Macklin's career at LSU in preparation for his jersey retirement ceremony at halftime of the LSU-Kentucky game on Saturday at 3 p.m. at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

Monday we looked at his freshman year, Tuesday his sophomore season, and Wednesday his junior seasons. Today the series concludes with a look at his final and the Tigers' most magical season, 1981 that concluded with LSU reaching the NCAA Final Four.

Senior Season (1980-81)

It was the final go round for Durand "Rudy" Macklin. A season he would have never played in if he hadn't broken a bone in his leg early in the 1978-89 season and received a redshirt year.  But what a year it was. Along with point guard Ethan Martin, Greg "Cookieman" Cook, Leonard Mitchell, Howard "Hi-C" Carter and "the best sixth man in college basketball (as he was introduced by PA announcer Sid Crocker) Willie Sims, the Tigers took fans on a magical ride that captured the attention of the entire SEC and the nation as well.

But it wasn't all roses at the start. After beating Colgate in the opening round of the Great Alaskan Shootout, Arkansas knocked LSU off its lofty perch.  But the Tigers rallied the next day to beat Georgetown to stand 2-1 on the year. That one in the loss column wouldn't change for over three months.

LSU was 9-1 when LSU went to Florida to open conference play and the wins kept on coming. LSU was 10th in the AP poll when conference play started. After beating No. 3 Kentucky in Baton Rouge on Jan. 19 they were No. 5. One week later they moved to No. 4 where they stayed until, after a 66-65 win at Tennessee on Feb. 21 that made the Tigers 16-0 in the league, they came back to Baton Rouge to face Texas A&M before an NBC television audience that featured a very young Bob Costas doing play-by-play.

LSU's 67-57 win upped LSU to No. 2 and ran its record to 17-0 in the league, 27-1 overall with a 74-67 win over Ole Miss. But for the second straight year, Kentucky won the regular season finale, 73-71, this time at Rupp Arena, making LSU's regular season record 17-1 in league and 27-2 overall.

"I knew this was a special team after going 17-1 in the SEC," Macklin said recently as he remembered the good times of 1981. "It was the toughest conference in the country at that time. Every game was a tough game on the road. Experiencing close games was something we had gotten use to seeing. We knew how play through closely called games. We just didn't panic. We had the experience and desire all in one package."

Following the SEC Tournament, one in which all the top seeds including LSU got beat early, the Tigers were chosen as a Number one seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers needed to beat Lamar to advance to the regional semis in of all places, the Louisiana Superdome. Lamar was the early-round victim setting off a frenzy of ticket buying as LSU was setting up shot in the Dome. LSU would beat Arkansas, 72-56, and set off a wild celebration with a 96-86 win in the Elite 8 over Wichita State, putting LSU in the Final Four for the first time since 1953.

"Playing in the Superdome was a wonderful experience," Macklin said. "Hooping in front of 32,000 screaming fans was something I will never forget. The "Who Dat" chance was in full force. We were clicking on all cylinders against a very tough team. This game (to go to the Final Four) was one of the highlights of my life and I have memories to show it."

Macklin dislocated the little finger on his right hand and it hampered things in the Final Four. At the press conference Tuesday, Macklin said the loss to Indiana in the national semifinals still haunts him to this day.

But that loss to Indiana has done nothing to dampen a senior season like none other. A 17-1 SEC record and a title and a trip through New Orleans to "Get Silly in Philly" at the NCAA Final Four. Along the way in his final year, he passed 2,000 points and became the second-leading scorer at LSU behind only Pete Maravich and became the school's all-time leader in rebounds.

A spectacular career and over the years he has become a Louisiana friend by his long-time work for the state government. Saturday will culminate a long-time dream of many to see his jersey hang from the rafters of the Assembly Center. Halftime of the LSU-Kentucky game will mark another special moment in LSU basketball's rich history. We hope you are there to join us to honor this outstanding player, this outstanding individual - Durand "Rudy" Macklin.