Avon Barksdale
Member
"or twice" once there...
go on that elite 8 roll through a fearsome Maryland team until we lost to Texas
Huh? Are you referring to the Barkley/Artest year that we beat Stevey Franchise before losing to Ohio St.?
Scoonie Penn, Michael Redd, and the big bastard Ken Johnson with his 12blocks.
If not for him, that game was.ours.
Ron Artest played the entire first half as if he was terrified, medicated, or both. He shot airballs, looked shaky with the ball in his hands, as if some CYO kid was wearing his uniform. He picked it up a little in the second half but was not the dominant player he had been all tournament.
He looked to be having anxiety attacks. He was fine for the second half. His discomfort with being on the courts during the first half was very noticeable
I 've always thought it was because he thought he had to take over. In the second half we were back to Barkley running things and were much better. Just couldn't get over the hump.
The night before, Ron and other members of the team used their meal money to order room service from the hotel. The meal didn't go down well, and Ron got up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom to throw up. Unfortunately, in trying to get to the bathroom in the dark, he tripped and fell over the bed, and hurt his foot. True story. I believe it was even mentioned on the broadcast.
Still though, the turning point of the game was the first shot we took, that Johnson blocked. It was a clear goaltend that went uncalled. That turned us into a jump-shooting team for most of the day. We had guys that could make jumpers, but it was not our game.
I was not shocked that we lost, though. 2 nights prior, I was rooting for Auburn to beat Ohio State, even though the Tigers were seeded #1 in the region. Just liked that matchup better.
First I've heard this story. Thanks.
i think they ordered the room service before the Maryland game actually, it wasnt the Ohio State game.
Oh, that may have been the case, because he didn't have a great scoring game vs. Maryland either (though his all-around effort was good). Injury was much more noticeble against OSU. At least, that's how it appeared.
Yes but the key was against MD, Erick outplayed Steve Francis.
in the OSU game Penn outplayed Erick. Just to start the game the 4 point play and the circus 3 point play on the fast break lay up....as time passes i get sicker thinking about it....disgusting
