The good vibes for Brandon draft thread

[nychoya3]

In a effort to conjure the powers of Good Brandon and in worshipful awe of the throw dribble, I propose a thread where we all recollect Brandon's finest moments as a Hoya. We can do this later for DJ, Ashanti, and AKD, but unless Isiah sees something he likes in the Irish-African Assasin (tm flhoya) those guys aren't getting their names called.

So, without further ado, here are my nominations:

1) Crazy reverse dunk on Villanova in the BET as a freshman. I was at this game and it was probably the single most boring game I've ever been to on any level of basketball. As I recall, Nova was playing with 3 players in uniform because the rest had been suspended for phone card infractions. They slowed it down to a crawl and we stunk up the joint. All in all, a horrible game. And then Bowman threw down this dunk where he cut across the paint, pumped, went under the basket (this was all in the air, mind you) and somehow uses his go-go gadget arms to slam it home. It actually made people in the crowd wake up and clap.

2) Blocking JJ Reddick's three pointer at the end of the Duke game. We all know that ball was going in. And if it goes in, the most important win in the last decade of Hoya basketball very probably doesn't happen. Bowman found a way to get there and thank god for that.

3) Crazy reverse dunk against UConn in the BET last year. The one where he uses the throw dribble to knife down the lane and slams it home reverse. It was either the first or second basket of the game, and it really set the tone. I think that was the best game we played all season - remember, everyone was picking UConn to win the NCAAs until Denham Brown and Marcus Williams got gimpy. We played awesome, and we were a tunnel visioned Ashanti Cook (pass it to Jeff, Ashanti!) from winning it.

4) Honorable mention, because it was so close to being huge is the should-have-been three pointer to beat Cuse at the Dome in 2005. As BB said, his feet were one size too big. That win sends us to the NCAAs, but even in losing it was an awesome effort. I got a tape of it somewhere, and you can really start to see the GTown offense and what it could be and also what Roy Hibbert could become.

So, that's my effort. I'm sure I'm leaving out some great moments, so fill in the blanks, and good luck Brandon tonight. Whether he goes first, second, or not at all I have great memories of his time on the Hilltop.

[StPetersburgHoya (Inactive)]

Another great BoBo play - the block on Krauser at the end of the Pit game.

[kchoya]

nychoya3 said:

In a effort to conjure the powers of Good Brandon and in worshipful awe of the throw dribble, I propose a thread where we all recollect Brandon's finest moments as a Hoya. We can do this later for DJ, Ashanti, and AKD, but unless Isiah sees something he likes in the Irish-African Assasin (tm flhoya) those guys aren't getting their names called.

So, without further ado, here are my nominations:

1) Crazy reverse dunk on Villanova in the BET as a freshman. I was at this game and it was probably the single most boring game I've ever been to on any level of basketball. As I recall, Nova was playing with 3 players in uniform because the rest had been suspended for phone card infractions. They slowed it down to a crawl and we stunk up the joint. All in all, a horrible game. And then Bowman threw down this dunk where he cut across the paint, pumped, went under the basket (this was all in the air, mind you) and somehow uses his go-go gadget arms to slam it home. It actually made people in the crowd wake up and clap.

I agree on this one. I bet there aren't 5 players in college that could do that dunk. Not many more in the NBA. The most impressive thing was that he didn't throw it down over the back of his head or turn 90 degrees and dunk it with one hand. He turned his body 180 degrees and dunked with both hands while facing the basket after have swooped in from the opposite side.

[RockawayHoya]

My vote's for the block on Redick, the most important play in still the most intense game from tip-off to buzzer I've ever seen BB play.

[BubbleVisionBiff]

All this year.

1) Diving on the floor against Puke to make sure Re-dick doesn't get one last look, sealing the deal. Just hustle.

2) There was also a vicious breakaway tomahawk during the second half of the Cincy game @ MCI (i think it was Cincy, but please correct me if it wasn't).

3) @ MCI, the breakaway off the WVU turnover in the first half (followed by DJ doing exactly the same thing on the following possession), where DJ (or Ashanti or Jon) led him down the floor by flinging the ball over his head. As the ball floated to him, I distinctly remember a "I'm gonna kill this one" look on his face. And boy, did he ever.

4) the running high bank off the glass to deliver the W against Marquette in the BET. Wonderful shot.

-sniff-

[SFHoya99]

You've got your trademark wrong on the Irish-African Assassin. Despite his much better writing skills, I'm pretty sure that was mine.

Anyway, my pick would go to the block of Redick. But I also love his dunk early in the Duke game when he spun around, pointing a #1 up as he acknowledged the crowd.

[Deleted]

My favorite - after the Duke game, some dope for the local news or Comcast interviewing BB coming off the court. I won't bother trying to recall exactly what was said as I'd botch it completely, but it was along the lines of "total team effort... EVERYONE executed the game-plan to perfection... the fans were nuts, they should be like this all the time, they were a big help... coach had us perfectly prepared"...

... but mostly what I remember was his utter joy and excitement delivering the message. He was literally screaming. Even though he may not show it on the court at all times (we've all knocked him for playing with intensity/urgency at some point), at that point I was convinced he had the drive to do what it takes to crack a roster in the NBA.

Here's to Phoenix taking him and turning him into a great 8th man.

ROCK 'EM BRANDON!!!

[RDF]

Favorite Bobo moments

1. Entire 2nd Half of Pitt Game this year--he played his best basketball as a Hoya in that 2nd Half and willed this team back into game and to a victory.

2. Duke game this year--close 2nd to Pitt 2nd Half

3. BET game against ND and Marquette--solid showings

4. dunks in BET--already mentioned

Favorite DJ Moments

1. dunk in Daniel Ewing's face at Duke

2. his defense against Ohio State--locking up people, getting steals/rebounds, beautiful game.

3. BET and NIT run that led to great SR year for Darrel

Favorite Ashanti Moments

1. sick step back jumper that had entire bench falling out--believe it was against Pitt but didn't matter--had me fired up too! Tied with start of Ohio State game in 2nd Round--he was unreal and led us to great start

2. His entire SR year--he was outstanding and most improved player not named Roy Hibbert.

3. Oregon game--where he's on fire and kept us in First Half and torched them in 2nd.

4. Throwing down dunk at end of UNI Game--first dunk as a Hoya and a SWEET way to punctuate Hoyas return--from a guy who stuck with a downtrodden program and helped lead them back.

AKD and Beal were also important team members but I'd be a liar if I could state anything that I remember on the court for them--but appreciated their enthusiasm and effort any time they played and way they supported/pushed teammates while being Hoyas! Wish them best.

[FLHoya]

sfhoya99 said:

You've got your trademark wrong on the Irish-African Assassin. Despite his much better writing skills, I'm pretty sure that was mine.

I came up with "Good Brandon" and "Bad Brandon," but the Irish-African Assassin is def. not mine.

One of my personal faves from Brandon was in the Quarterfinal NIT game at UNC his freshman year, he stole a ball at half court, collected the dribble and threw down a one-handed flush. Went from center court to the dunk in four steps. Pretty cool.

Ashanti I'll always remember for the games when he was completely "on" and unstoppable from anywhere. His freshman year against South Carolina, the Tennessee NIT game, and the Oregon game come to mind.

And the one RDF said above, when he faked Ronald Ramon out of his socks and Drew Hall haircut.

[SoCal Hoya85]

The BB moment I will remember the most (but I guess not who it was against, UNI?) will be in the NCAA tourney this year when we were up by a couple of points and he got a break away which would put the game on ice and instead of a careful two handed dunk he scared me to death by doing that crazy one hand windmill with the ball between his palm and forearm throwing the rock down crazy hard. If he had missed that...

[Bay99]

Good luck, Brandon!

Phoenix in the second round ...

[TBird41]

During the Orange Toss:

"Hey Brandon, want to throw an Orange?"

"Sure"

"You going to throw it at McNamara or Boeheim?"

"I'm gonna hit the S*** out of Boeheim!"

*Bowman takes 3 running steps, crow hops and releases his best fastball 1 ft. from Boehiems picture.

[williambraskyiii]

BoBo is on Bilas' top 10 remaining talent, with pick 52 coming up...come on! someone take a chance on BB - the kid can ball!

[hoyaboy1]

Well, hopefully he can get picked up via FA

[miamihoya]

well I guess he stayed undrafted...last i saw he was #6 on Bilas best available list. I'm sure some team somewhere will give him a shot. At least we can be pretty sure that a year or two down the line there will be hoyas making an impact on draft day.

[Filo]

Too bad. Still think there is a shot that he can hook up with a team somewhere. Best of luck, Brandon!

[theEDGEfactor]

he deff will be in some1s mini camp thinking especially between dallas, miami, washington, phx, or detroit

[prhoya]

Go to Europe and come back after a couple of years.