)85(

Behind me is a loaded gym with hundreds of loyal fans cheering on their team after battling on Georgetown Hoyas 83-112 victory. To top that off, The bulldogs played at Georgetown and pretty much heard “Overrated� from the crowd almost the whole night. This chant happened in three other cases at Arizona State, Miami, and Virginia Tech. All three games were away games and only Virginia Tech was able to come out on top in a double over time game 132-129. The only other loss this season was at the hands of the Miami Hurricanes 86-89 Where the Hurricanes were kind enough to accept a home game for the Bulldawgs. Close games and the roar of the crowd would usually be the story but tonight, it’s all about the three year road Gardner Webb had to take just to get to close losses with a big name school.

Boiling springs, North Carolina. A basketball program not likely to see the light of day again for a next season with five starters and only two subs. A team full of forwards and only two actual guards to handle the ball and control the tempo of the game. A full years work to end up only putting up 2 wins to show for it. Back and forth, from bucket to bucket. Each time down the court the morel of the team was getting lower and lower. But out the fire, cam a point guard who was never scared to take the ball to the hoop and a 6’4 forward who can single handedly put the defense on his shoulders night in and night out and make the all important stops. Before The coach took the job he got the Athletic director to use most of the budget on recruiting and he kindly accepted as it paid off. Not one, not three, but seven players decided that Gardner Webb was the right choice to spend their College basketball career. Two of while solidified their spots on the starting lineup. Five made it to the final roster. First we have the 5’11 two guard who was a big part of the 23 games won in his first year as a starter. With his ever present threat to drop a three ball and not only can he shoot but is one of the best on the team with his defensive awareness. Last season he averages 15 points a night and named all conference freshmen 1st team. His name Curt Santiago. This year alone in 5 games, he has put more threes then he did all last season with 21/59 to go down compared to his 15 last season. Santiago alone quieted down a hostel Georgetown crowd with 11 three pointers during a big run from the start of the second half. His performance named him game MVP. With 37 points. Averaging 15 points last year as second leading scorer last year, and is averaging 22.0 points 1.8 rebounds, 6.8 assists. Cameron Darnell also in his second year is averaging 24.6 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 0.4 blocks this year as leading scorer. The majority of his points come off of lobs from Santiago, Major, or Blackwell on the fast break off of stolen passes or pressure defense. Rebounds off of Blackwell’s great perimeter D.
Scott Blackwell is in his final year as a senior along with Lamar Major have been the gel that has kept this team together through the good, bad, and ugly times. Blackwell averaging 5.6 points 2.0 rebounds, 1.0 assists, and 4.0 steals a night and is only noticeable on the defensive end and get his points if available on fast breaks. The first season he played the two guard as he was the only other player who can shoot the ball or have the quickness for defense. When the second season came, his offensive numbers took a nose dive but is presence on the court is with our question. In crunch time, he’s the one who makes the big stops and applies strong pressure on D.

When you think of Gardner Webb, the name Lamar Major is the first name to come to mind. Slashing, full court pressure the whole 40 minutes, and constantly getting to the charity stripe is what this young man can and will do when called upon. The first season after getting beat after every game, he didn’t listen to the “You can’t handle the ball.� or, “He’s a ball hog, and is a selfish player.� He averaged 29 points a game going above and beyond 40 points four times and 30 points seven times. While dealing with a very small offensive option, he got fouled out five times and all in charging foul calls when no one was moving or generating much offence. His hard work almost landed him a all conference player of the year award as he was beat by only one player for the award. From all his hard work he gained the respect from his coach, teammates, and the NCAA as he was named all conference defensive 1st team. That was the first season, the second season with Major’s hard work along with the rest of the team, they got to the second round of the conference finals and Major once again chasing the conference player of the years award. Averaging 22 points per game. In the loss, Gardner Webb only lost one player due to graduation. This year Major’s numbers went down as he’s averaging 11.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 7.2 steals a game. It’s not that’s he’s slowing down, but he’s got other options by his side. Darnel to catch lobs, Santiago to hit the threes, and the rest get their points off what Major opens up for them. His job hasn’t changed, Slash, create shots, and apply full court pressure. Now with a final four hungry team, The coach got a 3 star player to commit to Gardner Webb that can shoot better the Major but not as well as Santiago. Play with Defensive awareness. And handle the ball who stands at 6’1. Michael Delgado during the Georgetown game had 4/11 field goals, 2/4 free throws, and was ½ from downtown to get 11 points 4 rebounds, and five steals with four turnovers.
With all the success of last season, Gardner Webb got an invitation to switch from the Atlantic sun to the MAAC. In the five games this season Gardner Webb has averaged 104.8 points, 32. Rebounds, 20.6 assists, and 20.0 steals, 1.2 blocks, 10.6 offensive rebounds, and 21.4 defensive rebounds leading in points, assists and steals standing gin third place with a record of 3-2.

Darnell is the conference leading scorer followed by Santiago, Major leading in steals with Blackwell right behind him.

If you think, Major(35 total) and Santiago(34) are getting a assists, PG #10 from Fairfield is averaging 8.7 assists with 61 total in seven games.

The three years Marcus Sikvayugak has been the coach, Gardner Webb has only played one top 25 team. Once. Facing 5 very good teams with a B+ ranked team this year is something rare because it’s almost the total B+ teams the whole two first seasons combined. Here’s what the coach has to say.

News castor-What a road it has been for this bunch of players. The first year with only 2 wins and then getting seven players two of which have started almost every game since joining the team, almost making it to the NCAA tournament the very next season. That coach has done wonders. Last year falling is second place for Coach of the year.

Gardner Webb Big Three
Lamar Major

To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 20 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Cameron Darnell

To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 20 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Curt Santiago

To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 20 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Latest Game vs Georgetown

To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 20 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 20 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


Commercial break.

__________________

Twist of lEMOn

playin March Madness eh?
I'll be watchin <,<

__________________

)85(

yeah, the impact moment in the games where you can get in the opponents face, get hyped with your teammates, pump up the crowd, put your hand to the your ear and make the away crowd boo you and then the crowd will boo that player every time he touches the ball. Not only that but the any home team player can dance with the cheer leaders on an impact moment. and the crowd is more noticeable in Madness, you'll hear them "OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!" And as Gardner Webb, as you already read, i get a lot of "Overrated" chants with last years record of 23 with a D+ Off, C- Def and a D+ overall team last year, with all the dynasty points and the recruits, my team shot up to C Off C- Def and a C overall this year. but in all this, i never get to hear the commentary from Dick Vitale and the other guy only at Tournaments at the end of the season. i only hear the crowd, the annoucner.
i had a legacy in 2K7 but my first game was.....57-110. i lost to Houston state i think, i like that fact you can change the shots of the players. haven't played it much though, Madness has been better for me.

__________________

)85(

the next update will be after the regular season is over. probably the only time gif will be used. as this was abig important game for the franchise.

__________________

Twist of lEMOn

Holy jebus players jump high in March madness lol good gifs though and
To view links or images in this forum your post count must be 20 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
at that elbowing the guy to the ground.

__________________

)85(

it took me two days to make them, i spent four hours yesterday finsihing them up and uploading them. i thought you would of played Madness already, i see you being a big basketball fan playing both games from EA and 2K sports. the guy who elbowed Major got 34 points but we got the last laugh. the only thing that would of made it even better if it was nationaly televised.

__________________

Joe Cool

Just repped you for this....

Very cool thread.

Thanks for sharing

__________________

)85(

your welcome, it's not like i had anything better to do. I already told ToQ...I take the PS2 line quite literally. "Live in your world, Play in ours." I can't take my dream on the real College backetball court so i use what i can with videogames.

__________________

Twist of lEMOn

Nah lol I stick with 2k for Basketball, EA isn't looking to bad this year though, College Hoops 2k7 just offers a more Sim style that I like I guess. However that elbowing foul may have swayed me a bit lol

__________________

)85(

I'll get a few gifs done in the next two days for the impact moments. i only been able to compete for the home season opener game to get upgrade for the school such as Better, crowd, better cheerleaders, weight room, school band, library, studyhall. i can't remember the rest. i have' ran into other challenges in the Franchise mode to unlock school upgrades. training sessions cost 350 for one player and 750 for a team training. points all depend on the games you play such as, getting 30+ points, double double, triple double, get a set about of rebound/steals/points/etc in one half and all that for points. and not only that, after the seasons over, all those points add up for multiple team sessions with all the points gained/earned.

The impact moment is the main reason i play madness, not counting the fact i get slaughtered on 2K7. and for the twp/four games i played i never found out how to dunk until i used the right analog stick till the last game i played. the score could of been different 75-112 instead of 57-112.

__________________