A sort of amusing story from today....

[jekelish]

The main reason the UVM loss (or two main reasons) still stings for me is because I grew up in Vermont so I had to hear about it from my old high school friends, which ties into the second part, since one of my high school teammates was Taylor Coppenrath. That also made it bitter sweet, though, because I hated losing but I've always been happy to see Taylor find success since I've known him since he was 12 (we played AAU together before high school, too).

 

[bballbeadle]

Even being the first #2 seed to ever lose to a #15 when Richmond beat us? That team even had Billy Owens. (I guess i'm assuming you're of the age to remember that)

I scheduled elective surgery to coincide with March Madness. I was in the hospital recovering when SU had its little "oopsie" against Villanova in the Big East Tournament. It was aggravating because it ruined the tournament for me, but I was still ready to watch the NCAAs for a 3 week recovery period at home.

The Richmond game didn't come on until after 10 p.m. and I wasn't feeling the greatest, but I waited faithfully for it. And then... and then... I still can't say the words.

My mom was there to take care of me and she tried to cheer me up by saying, "It's okay, honey, there are other basketball games you can watch!" Can you imagine? Other games I can watch!

 

[sufandu]

I scheduled elective surgery to coincide with March Madness. I was in the hospital recovering when SU had its little "oopsie" against Villanova in the Big East Tournament. It was aggravating because it ruined the tournament for me, but I was still ready to watch the NCAAs for a 3 week recovery period at home.

The Richmond game didn't come on until after 10 p.m. and I wasn't feeling the greatest, but I waited faithfully for it. And then... and then... I still can't say the words.

My mom was there to take care of me and she tried to cheer me up by saying, "It's okay, honey, there are other basketball games you can watch!" Can you imagine? Other games I can watch!

I was actually supposed to be asleep, I had school the next day. I had a little radio that I tuned to 88.3 and listened to the game. The next morning my dad woke me up when he was about to leave for work to tell me that they lost. I told him I knew, and he said he would've let me stay up to watch it. I guess it really didn't matter. That was the first big loss that really hurt for me. I wasn't old enough to really feel the sting of Keith Smart even though I knew about it and can remember watching it.

 

[PeteCalvin]

I caught a little of the coach's interview on 99.5 and he said that after that unexpected win against SU, many people in Vermont became SU fans, and cheer for them to this day! No, it's not worth it, but still an interesting thing to hear. He said that win was probably the biggest thing that ever happened, or ever will happen, to Vermont basketball.

Igor said Ethan Cole was the greatest thing to happen to Vermont basketball.

 

[CorduroyG]

I still have nightmares of gus johnson screaming GERMAIN MOPA NJIILA!!!!!

 

[PeteCalvin]

Navy and Richmond and URI so much worse.

You had to go Navy on us, didn't you? That loss and then Pearl declaring had me crying in my bed for a month.

 

[Marsh01]

I was actually supposed to be asleep, I had school the next day. I had a little radio that I tuned to 88.3 and listened to the game. The next morning my dad woke me up when he was about to leave for work to tell me that they lost. I told him I knew, and he said he would've let me stay up to watch it. I guess it really didn't matter. That was the first big loss that really hurt for me. I wasn't old enough to really feel the sting of Keith Smart even though I knew about it and can remember watching it.

The Richmond game doesnt even register on my scale comparing it to the Arkansas loss. That still scars me to this day. We won that game. It was over and we got it taken from us (albeit self inflicted). Richmond was a fluky upset.

 

[PeteCalvin]

I was SO on board with that team and really believed that was set up for us to get to the Final Four and beat up Izzo along the way. Not sure why, but that one hurt a lot more than Richmond...just personally speaking. I really thought that kind of thing would never happen to us with Gerry Mac around. He and Hakim were just horrible...

That was one of our worst offensive teams in terms of guys who could create their own shots. Vermont slowed us down and held us to one and done on the offensive end. As I recall we shot and rebounded like crap. I don't remember where I was when we lost that game. I think I have permanent brain blocks on that event. Just as well.

 

[jdubs30]

My happy story for that game goes like this:

I had bought tickets to the BET and was going to go for the first time ever. At the last minute I get told I have to go to Russia for work meetings that start the Monday immediately following the BET weekend. It became impossible to set things up for me to just leave from NYC to Moscow so if I want to make the Monday morning work stuff in Moscow, I have to skip the BET.

So I skip the BET, which we then win, and I promptly get stuck overnight in Paris so I don't make the Monday meetings anyway. Then I have to try to catch snippets of the Thursday NCAA tournament action on the Armed Force Network in my US Government lodging. I missed the Vermont game completely while flying home, but am greeted by my wife at baggage claim to get the words "did you hear what happened?"

So I left the country with Syracuse a common pick for the Final Four and come back 5 days later having missed a BET championship and our season is over. And I've still never been to a BET and the odds don't look good of ever getting to one now.

We were common pick for the Final 4 that year? By who?

 

[PeteCalvin]

The main reason the UVM loss (or two main reasons) still stings for me is because I grew up in Vermont so I had to hear about it from my old high school friends, which ties into the second part, since one of my high school teammates was Taylor Coppenrath. That also made it bitter sweet, though, because I hated losing but I've always been happy to see Taylor find success since I've known him since he was 12 (we played AAU together before high school, too).

Be honest now. Did you guys ever call him Chester Copperpot as a kid just to get a rise out of him?

 

[jekelish]

Be honest now. Did you guys ever call him Chester Copperpot as a kid just to get a rise out of him?

Honestly? I know I never did, which is odd considering how much I love The Goonies. Feels like a missed opportunity.

 

[HoustonCuse]

We were common pick for the Final 4 that year? By who?

A lot of experts were picking SU to get there that year. I didn't write down names.

 

[OttoMets]

A lot of experts were picking SU to get there that year. I didn't write down names.

Bilas had us. Several others. We were underseeded and a pretty popular pick.

 

[cto]

The Richmond game doesnt even register on my scale comparing it to the Arkansas loss. That still scars me to this day. We won that game. It was over and we got it taken from us (albeit self inflicted). Richmond was a fluky upset.

I agree. I already had my bags packed for Kansas City. I could not believe that Arkansas loss

 

[themole]

The Richmond game doesnt even register on my scale comparing it to the Arkansas loss. That still scars me to this day. We won that game. It was over and we got it taken from us (albeit self inflicted). Richmond was a fluky upset.

Oh god, yes. I had been home in Camillus for spring break and was on a plane during most of the game. Rode back to my campus during the second half, and didn't SU come back from 10 down or something? I was riding with, uh, Marsh's brother's friend from high school and the radio call was so confusing because we both thought the game was over and were starting to celebrate, until they started talking about the timeout. Grrr. I remember being all mad the next day because the local paper writeup barely mentioned the timeout issue and just said SU had lost in OT.

 

[Marsh01]

Oh god, yes. I had been home in Camillus for spring break and was on a plane during most of the game. Rode back to my campus during the second half, and didn't SU come back from 10 down or something? I was riding with, uh, Marsh's brother's friend from high school and the radio call was so confusing because we both thought the game was over and were starting to celebrate, until they started talking about the timeout. Grrr. I remember being all mad the next day because the local paper writeup barely mentioned the timeout issue and just said SU had lost in OT.

Ha, I know what friend you are referring too. The brother is now signed up here and posts so this place has gone to complete hell in a handbasket.

 

[Shermthegeneral]

heres an ironic story about that game, i was in florida on spring break...going to a bar to watch that game and of all the places in the world.. there was a table of 5 decked out in vermont gear to watch the game right next to us. so of course i ran my big mouth telling them it was going to be a blow out, over by half time, get back to making syrup, etc...needless to say i was nearly taken out back and tarred and feathered after that loss

That's why I hate when people shoot off their mouths about how much we will beat another team! I like to let the scoreboard do the talking.

 

[cto]

I have two things... Although its silly to lump these things together. I'm quite a bit younger than The Kennedy news but: 9-11, VERMONT LOSS, Keith Smart, Bernie Fine Story Breaking, Brushing the snow off Melos car at manley when we got back from Albany.OJ chase & the night we retaliated to al-Qaeda while we were all in Carrier Dome. GMac in the city of lights, Putting my foot through my coffee table during the national champ game, when the refs assisted in KU's comeback, then the realization, we won it all & it was all over. Sadam's statue coming down. Are a few such events for me. like u said events we will not forget where we were.

The other thing I need to say. CTO's stories are wonderful, her insight, the mystique, her friendships with the legends on the hill, her level headed-ness (CTO is this a word) jk. the conversational tone of her stories. Remember she is a professional. I'm sure u could do a top ten of CTO's posts and pin it.

Ok enough gushing over CTO. I Dont think it is a coincidence that my legendary posters are quite honestly legendary outside the message board.

I've never met CTO but I feel I already know her, the story of slip and slide in the bathtub, and many other funny inside stories her philanthropy, the theater etc... Let's just say Jack Welch isn't visiting me in the hospital, just yet. Lets just hope when UConn fades away back to bovine barns and poo. After Calhoun steps down that CTO doesn't disapear. I have it on good authority that she owns undies and socks with husky dogs on them.

Off the top of my head and the most legendary person around here is Orange Eyes he has been in the paper and is in a hall of fame. Not sure he wants everyone knowing who he is so il leave it at that. (Yes he's inducted into a sports hall of fame) If we had a hall of fame built for SU fans, (get it done CTO) Orange Eyes face would be chisled into granite. You are the man!

My favorite BBALL MIND on the board is Mason (TinyManInside). I've learned a lot about basketball from this man. With all that he's provided over the years he'd be on the mount rushmore of cuse fan. He also does really smart stuff in his spare time. Most of all, the biggest thing he taught me is not all scientists are dorks ;-)

There are definitely, some up and comers but nobody else is carve ready yet IMO. Bees and the rest of you that hold this place together thanks for all you do. I'm tired so I'm not gonna find the names of everyone who helps out. You know who u are, special thanks to our New recruiting specialist as well.

There is a very funny (unintended, I suspect) line in this post. I actually DO own socks with husky dogs on them. I ran a golf outing last summer ... that had as its theme... "The Dog Days of Summer." So i scrounged around for prizes that had dog themes. I wound up getting stuff from Yale (bulldogs), The Black Dog on the Vineyard (labs), and UConn (huskies). What I got from UConn as prizes were socks with Huskies on them. I miscalculated and got one pair too many. So I do own a pair of Husky socks (but not undies).

 

[Orangeyes]

Another one that stings for me was our loss to UNCC. I was having a kitchen floor put in that day so I went to watch the game at O' Leary's. The pounding of hammers wasn't going to interfere with my enjoyment of that game. They had two guards who dominated us. They also had a guy who had a pretty good stint with the Celtics named Cedric Cornbread Maxwell. We were never in the game.
Here is an account
http://news.google.com/newspapers?n...oEsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Vs0EAAAAIBAJ&pg=5063,3676143

 

[mantonio]

Navy and Richmond and URI so much worse.

David Robinson took the sting out of that Navy game though.

 

[DNABB5]

The thing that really sucked about that game for me.....

Taylor Coppenrath and I bear a striking resemblance to one another. It's kind of creepy.

Those that have met me can be the judge.

And you know what else? Guess the team colors he wears now? That's right...

Orange and Blue.

And I agree with Marsh, if Tom Brennan came within 100 feet of me, he'd gets a nut shot, know that.

 

[Marsh01]

The thing that really sucked about that game for me.....

Taylor Coppenrath and I bear a striking resemblance to one another. It's kind of creepy.

Those that have met me can be the judge.

And you know what else? Guess the team colors he wears now? That's right...

Orange and Blue.

And I agree with Marsh, if Tom Brennan came within 100 feet of me, he'd gets a nut shot, know that.

Ha you do look like him. Probably with a better jump shot though.

Nut shot...no doubt

 

[JeremyCuse]

Vermont was the culmination of all of the classic things that go wrong when SU loses except this game literally had all of them.

1. No name guy goes absolutely nuts and torches us for his career high at any level - Check Mopa Nijila
2. SU plays great defense late in the game late into the shot clock only to have the PG chuck up a shot from across the street that you know is going in as soon as he shoots it. - Check TJ Sorrentine.
3. Phantom calls you never see start going against SU - Check Technical foul T Roberts - Slapping the backboard or hanging on the rim cant remember.
4. Star SU player forgets to show up and has one of his worst games and teh worst possible time - Check Hakim Warrick
5. As per classic SU, gets down big early and makes a late run when the team finally realizes there on the brink and need to get moving and actually take a late lead or pull within 1 - Check
6. Just like Butler despite everything have a chance to win late only to watch a horrendous unforced error - Check Gmac somehow dribbles off his foot out of bounds with no within 20 feet of him.
7. Right on Cue team that looked like the Mid 90's Bulls against us cant get out of its own way next game and gets pounded - Check
8. Also player who went nuts (Mopa Najila) plays horrible the next game and cant make Check - 0 points.
9. While the game is unfolding all you can think about is if SU can somehow survive there final four bound - Pesonally a Check for some reason I just had this feeling that if they could beat Vermont they were going far.

This isnt even mentioning the fact that two players were suspended for this game and you just knew as soon as the matchup was announced on Selection Sunday we were in trouble.

 

[CusefanATL]

That would be Germain Mopa Njiila. This MF'er averaged about 4 ppg and scored 20 against us which if I remember correctly included a perfect day from the field. This guy was absolutely terrible and picked this game to score a career high against us.

As I predicted the day after he went scoreless against Michigan State and looked terrible. This loss sucked and I would have kicked Brennan in the nuts if I had saw him in our house.

MOPA NJILLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

 

[jdubs30]

"From the parking lot" and "Upset City here in Worcester" are 2 lines from Gus Johnson that I will never, ever forget; no matter how hard I try.