Kemba vs GMac (BET performances)

[Rocco]

That commercial they show during the BET games makes me sick. Was Kemba's performance really "hands down" better over GMac's and the best performance in the history of the BET?

What GMac did was pretty phenomenal too.

It's weird Jimmy Dykes is featured in the commercial.

 

[SoBeCuse]

Yes...this was discussed I think right around UConn's Big East run or national title run. Yes. Kemba was unguardable.

 

[Rocco]

Yes...this was discussed I think right around UConn's Big East run or national title run. Yes. Kemba was unguardable.

But was it really hands down better? I mean GMac made 2 massive shots that kept SU alive...

 

[SoBeCuse]

But was it really hands down better? I mean GMac made 2 massive shots that kept SU alive...

Maybe not "hands down" but definitely better I would say. Didn't Kemba have a couple of game winners? I know he had the one vs Pitt. Walker was definitely more consistent. The BET was really loaded last year with good teams as well.

 

[CorduroyG]

You have to take into consideration that syracuse was squarely on the bubble. Those shots against cincinnati and connecticut had alot more at stake than anything kemba did, basically syracuse's season was on the line, connecticut's was not.

 

[SoBeCuse]

You have to take into consideration that syracuse was squarely on the bubble. Those shots against cincinnati and connecticut had alot more at stake than anything kemba did, basically syracuse's season was on the line, connecticut's was not.

So he made some big shots obviously. Awesome moments no doubt. You can't tell me that GMac had a better tourney than Kemba. That's ridiculous. Wasn't UConn on the bubble too? Can't remember.

 

[BuffOrange]

Maybe not "hands down" but definitely better I would say. Didn't Kemba have a couple of game winners? I know he had the one vs Pitt. Walker was definitely more consistent. The BET was really loaded last year with good teams as well.

Depaul and G'town sans Chris Wright were not two of those good teams mind you. So 3 good teams.

As a disclaimer I was too disgusted to watch the L'ville game in the finals last yr, but the Cincy/Uconn/Gtown trio is pretty much impossible to top - and I'm not one of Gmacs biggest fanboys...

OP Kemba was last year not 6yrs ago so of course espn's gonna reference that more in their promos.

 

[Rocco]

OP Kemba was last year not 6yrs ago so of course espn's gonna reference that more in their promos.

Clearly. Why would they make a positive mention about anything SU BBall related?

Blood in the street or BUST.

 

[Knicks411]

Also, Kemba's run gets more love because th ey ended up winning it all as well, I think. It wasn't just a great 5 day run, it kick started a title run.

 

[DoctorBombay]

Kemba's was better... by a long-shot.
It was 5 games in 5 days instead of GMac's 4, with a team of underclassmen, and he "finished" the fairytale by winning the whole shebang. I always hated the fact that we lost in the 1st round that year- it sorta diminished the BET run, IMO.
The fact that Kemba won those 5 games, and then defied conventional wisdom by not being "tired" and winning the NC, made his feat that much better.

 

[BuffOrange]

Kemba's was better... by a long-shot.
It was 5 games in 5 days instead of GMac's 4, with a team of underclassmen, and he "finished" the fairytale by winning the whole shebang. I always hated the fact that we lost in the 1st round that year- it sorta diminished the BET run, IMO.
The fact that Kemba won those 5 games, and then defied conventional wisdom by not being "tired" and winning the NC, made his feat that much better.

Well if you're just talking about the BET, I think you need to do better than "an extra game vs Depaul & the ncaas".

 

[SoBeCuse]

Kemba's was better... by a long-shot.
It was 5 games in 5 days instead of GMac's 4, with a team of underclassmen, and he "finished" the fairytale by winning the whole shebang. I always hated the fact that we lost in the 1st round that year- it sorta diminished the BET run, IMO.
The fact that Kemba won those 5 games, and then defied conventional wisdom by not being "tired" and winning the NC, made his feat that much better.

Good point with the one and done in the tourney post BET. It's so hard for people to praise non-SU performances. Just don't get it, especially when it's an epic one.

 

[caw]

Both had amazing runs. GMac's may have been a bit more clutch and was more relevant to getting his team in the tournament.

Statistically, Kemba's was better.

Couldn't find all of GMac's stats so from what I could find:

Kemba shot 47% had 6.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 26 points per game.
GMac shot 40% had 2.8 rebounds, 8.3 assists and 16.3 points per game.

Both amazing numbers, Kemba had slightly better all around numbers though. I don't think 4.1 assists makes up for 9.7 points and 3.6 rebounds a game.

*Note: if you take out Kemba's DePaul numbers he averaged 26, 6.3 rebounds, 4 assists and shot 46%, so not much of a difference.

Edit, found Steals and TOs
Kemba averaged 3.6 TOs and 2.8 Steals. (not including DePaul 3.5 TOs and 3.3 Steals)
GMac averaged 4.3 TOs and 1.3 Steals.

 

[CorduroyG]

So he made some big shots obviously. Awesome moments no doubt. You can't tell me that GMac had a better tourney than Kemba. That's ridiculous. Wasn't UConn on the bubble too? Can't remember.

Syracuse being on the bubble is what made gmac's run so dramatic. He misses the shot against cincy and we're nit bound. He misses the shot against uconn and we're sweating out selection sunday. Syracuse sucked that year, uconn i believe was ranked most of last year. They won the maui tournament. They won at texas. If kemba misses the game winner against pittsburgh theyd still be going to the tournament. Syracuse's season was riding on those shots, and his team was MUCH worse.

Im not saying gmac had a better run, but its close, definitely not "hands down".

 

[SUfanNC]

I have to say Kemba's too. It was 5 games in 5 days (never been done). I love GMAC and what he did to get us in but Kemba's run was better.

 

[SoBeCuse]

Syracuse being on the bubble is what made gmac's run so dramatic. He misses the shot against cincy and we're nit bound. He misses the shot against uconn and we're sweating out selection sunday. Syracuse sucked that year, uconn i believe was ranked most of last year. They won the maui tournament. They won at texas. If kemba misses the game winner against pittsburgh theyd still be going to the tournament. Syracuse's season was riding on those shots, and his team was MUCH worse.

Im not saying gmac had a better run, but its close, definitely not "hands down".

No doubt it was dramatic and those shots were obviously huge.

 

[DoctorBombay]

Well if you're just talking about the BET, I think you need to do better than "an extra game vs Depaul & the ncaas".

Last I checked Depaul is in the BE, fields a basketball team, AND someone kept score of their games.
We always complain about folks diminishing our record because of the teams we've played- how is it any different if we downplay Kemba's run because they played "an extra game vs Depaul"? Just sayin...:noidea:

 

[SoBeCuse]

Last I checked Depaul is in the BE, fields a basketball team, AND someone kept score of their games.
We always complain about folks diminishing our record because of the teams we've played- how is it any different if we downplay Kemba's run because they played "an extra game vs Depaul"? Just sayin...:noidea:

Yep...an extra game no matter who in 24 hrs is still something, obviously.

 

[MyMeloMyMan]

It was a springboard for UCONN...it was the death of GMac for us...too many games and minutes..it destroyed him for the next week.

Not 10 !!

 

[Knicks411]

Syracuse being on the bubble is what made gmac's run so dramatic. He misses the shot against cincy and we're nit bound. He misses the shot against uconn and we're sweating out selection sunday. Syracuse sucked that year, uconn i believe was ranked most of last year. They won the maui tournament. They won at texas. If kemba misses the game winner against pittsburgh theyd still be going to the tournament. Syracuse's season was riding on those shots, and his team was MUCH worse.

Im not saying gmac had a better run, but its close, definitely not "hands down".

Yeah, it's probably pretty close.

Just based on the raw numbers, Kemba probably was better. But Gerry hit a game winning shot in the first game, a game tying shot the next day, assisted on the winning bucket the following day,after making a 3 to cut the lead to 1 the possession before; he basically made every big play we needed. (Not that Kemba didn't do the same).

 

[caw]

Yeah, it's probably pretty close.

Just based on the raw numbers, Kemba probably was better. But Gerry hit a game winning shot in the first game, a game tying shot the next day, assisted on the winning bucket the following day,after making a 3 to cut the lead to 1 the possession before; he basically made every big play we needed. (Not that Kemba didn't do the same).

Kemba hit the game winner versus Pitt and assisted on the game winner versus UL.

 

[Knicks411]

Which is why I said "not that Kemba didn't do the same"

 

[Rocco]

Good point with the one and done in the tourney post BET. It's so hard for people to praise non-SU performances. Just don't get it, especially when it's an epic one.

I am obviously not down-playing Kemba's performance, just wanted to see if people really thought his performance that unquestionably better than GMac's.

I was at every game last year by the way, so I witnessed Kemba's greatness.

GMac's was more dramatic I guess.

 

[caw]

Which is why I said "not that Kemba didn't do the same"

I realize, was just expanding.

 

[senorpalmer]

Better performance by Kemba, more drama from Gerry and the miracles. Three of the four games in 06 were very memorable, the comeback against Gtown gets overshadowed by the other two games, that in itslef is one of the great games in BET history.