Madison Square Gordon

[tcf15]

Highlights from Ben Gordon's takeover during the 2004 Big East Tournament

​

 

[rip7774]

My favorite Husky team and my favorite Husky pre-Kemba!!!

Still have the NY Post that I think said same headline!

Wish I had his lift on my jump shot!

 

[Uconn77Duke74]

He would be the perfect fit for next years team. Exactly what we need.

 

[huskyharry]

He has exactly the skills that next years' team needs & he does have one year of eligibility left (if you forget that silly amateurism clause, which they ignore for other schools anyway), right?

 

[UConnSwag11]

He would be the perfect fit for next years team. Exactly what we need.

He has exactly the skills that next years' team needs & he does have one year of eligibility left (if you forget that silly amateurism clause, which they ignore for other schools anyway), right?

yeah, we know, every single player past and future is exactly what this team needs.... just enjoy the video

 

[UConnSwag11]

Highlights from Ben Gordon's takeover during the 2004 Big East Tournament

​

any possibility of putting his with kembas together? or caron, him, and kemba?

 

[Ts5034]

The way BG played in the Big East Tournament and the NCAA Tournament was huge. He played the best basketball of his career in March 2004 and the team needed it. I remember there was some uncertainty going into the BET because Okafor was sitting out because of his back injury. Ben put the team on his back and I dont think we win either championship that year without the way he played. Ben Gordon is an all time great and he deserves to be in the Huskies of Honor.

 

[August_West]

He would be the perfect fit for next years team. Exactly what we need.

I get a kick out of those type of posts. Is there any team in the country who couldn't say Ben Gordon would be the perfect fit on their team EVERY year. Talent trumps need.

 

[johnhuskies95]

He should be a Husky of Honor.

 

[SirHypeAlot]

BG was absolutely enfuego that BET. Awesome highlight tape. Can the season start already?!

 

[tv]

Straight up: BG may not have even hit the rim with a shot in those highlights until his 25th point. That's laser-like.

 

[rip7774]

He should be a Husky of Honor.

+1000!!!!

 

[tentoes4rings]

He should be a Husky of Honor.

What is the criteria again? Ben's teams were 83-23 during his career, with conference, BET Tourney and national championships. Definitely one of the best, most clutch players we've ever had.

 

[Huskies4ever]

The way BG played in the Big East Tournament and the NCAA Tournament was huge. He played the best basketball of his career in March 2004 and the team needed it. I remember there was some uncertainty going into the BET because Okafor was sitting out because of his back injury. Ben put the team on his back and I dont think we win either championship that year without the way he played. Ben Gordon is an all time great and he deserves to be in the Huskies of Honor.

The way JB and CV stepped up in EO's absence with RA's big threes supplemented BG's superstar performance. Without all of that, we don't win the Big East or the NCAA championships. Amazing team.

 

[Ts5034]

The way JB and CV stepped up in EO's absence with RA's big threes supplemented BG's superstar performance. Without all of that, we don't win the Big East or the NCAA championships. Amazing team.

Yes. Great point. It really was a true team effort and we were just clicking on all cylinders. Once we got to the NCAA tournament, every game was pretty much a blowout outside of the Duke game.

 

[CTBasketball]

One of our greatest.

 

[UConnNick]

ESPN2 graphics tech spelled his name "Ben Gordan", which is likely the very last time anybody spelled his name wrong on a graphic.

 

[Lefty2one]

One of my favorite games (outside of all the typical popular choices) was the '04 Elite 8 game against Bama. He had 36 and Rashad had 28 in an absolute dismantling of the Tide. I remember there were enough talking heads picking an upset there, that year there was a good chunk of the media that was never going to believe in our team or thought w'd cut down the nets. The Elite 8 game was just like the G-Tech game in the Finals, if we kept our foot on the pedal the whole game we would have won by 40.

 

[CallMeBruce]

One of my favorite games (outside of all the typical popular choices) was the '04 Elite 8 game against Bama. He had 36 and Rashad had 28 in an absolute dismantling of the Tide. I remember there were enough talking heads picking an upset there, that year there was a good chunk of the media that was never going to believe in our team or thought w'd cut down the nets. The Elite 8 game was just like the G-Tech game in the Finals, if we kept our foot on the pedal the whole game we would have won by 40.

I don't remember this media perception at all. In fact, I seem to remember that we were both the preseason #1, and the favorite to win the title at the start of the NCAA tournament.

 

[Lefty2one]

I don't remember this media perception at all. In fact, I seem to remember that we were both the preseason #1, and the favorite to win the title at the start of the NCAA tournament.

We weren't even a 1-seed, we were a #2 seed and Okafor's back issues were a big question mark. That whole season was up and down from Villanueva's eligibility issues to Gordon's broken nose to Okafor's back problems. We had plenty of doubters.

 

[CallMeBruce]

We weren't even a 1-seed, we were a #2 seed and Okafor's back issues were a big question mark. That whole season was up and down from Villanueva's eligibility issues to Gordon's broken nose to Okafor's back problems. We had plenty of doubters.

We were a 2-seed because we'd lost 6 regular season games. They were widely considered the most talented team in the field that year. You're off on this one. That team did exactly what most media members thought it was going to do; win a championship.

 

[August_West]

We were a 2-seed because we'd lost 6 regular season games. They were widely considered the most talented team in the field that year. You're off on this one. That team did exactly what most media members thought it was going to do; win a championship.

Remember Okafor and Taurasi on the Cover of SI before the season started. Both men and women were picked to win the NC.

 

[Chief00]

Quite frankly, this is a great opportunity to break down what differentiated Ben from the ordinary player.
1) He was a student of the game and often watch video learning from some of the great ones. Learning not only technique but how to capitalize on the big moment.
2) Ben took weight lifting seriously - he wanted to beat guys through strength, quickness or skill. That made him a tough match-up. He sized up his opponent and then capitalized on his biggest advantage. He was stronger than our Bigs this year and could take punishment and still finish - and he had the skill to make that foul shot.
3) He strongly believed in shooting practice late at night - he loved shooting and perfecting it - those hours of solitude or with one other - built his confidence in big games - it translated - repetition built a quiet confidence.

I hope this may help some of the younger guys who wonder how do I become a great player.

 

[CallMeBruce]

Quite frankly, this is a great opportunity to break down what differentiated Ben from the ordinary player.
1) He was a student of the game and often watch video learning from some of the great ones. Learning not only technique but how to capitalize on the big moment.
2) Ben took weight lifting seriously - he wanted to beat guys through strength, quickness or skill. That made him a tough match-up. He sized up his opponent and then capitalized on his biggest advantage. He was stronger than our Bigs this year and could take punishment and still finish - and he had the skill to make that foul shot.
3) He strongly believed in shooting practice late at night - he loved shooting and perfecting it - those hours of solitude or with one other - built his confidence in big games - it translated - repetition built a quiet confidence.

I hope this may help some of the younger guys who wonder how do I become a great player.

It's a crime that you don't have an avatar.

 

[Chief00]

Thanks - I recognize many of you are sincere fans but possess little understanding of the game, maybe because you never played it other than on some video game on someone's phone. But UConn still needs fans like you regardless.
I will continue to breakdown aspects of the game or players so you can start somewhere.