Bryce in Hemispheres

[agibson]

If any of you are flying United or Continental this month, check out the "We All Shine On" piece in the in-flight Hemispheres magazine.
It's also up at http://www.hemispheresmagazine.com/2011/03/01/we-all-shine-on/

Sort of a "where are they now" of past NCAA greats including Bryce, Christian Laettner, etc.  It includes a photo of Bryce in a Hornets uniform.

Here's the Bryce-specific bit,

BRYCE DREW

SHINING MOMENT: Every college basketball fan has a special place in his heart for Cinderellas, those plucky teams that make improbably deep runs into the tournament. In 1998, Valparaiso was the lucky lady, thanks in large part to head coach Homer Drew's son Bryce and the three- pointer he nailed to lift his 13th-seeded Crusaders over the fourth-seeded University of Mississippi Rebels in the first round. Drew's shot, which some Indiana natives claim is the real "The Shot," combined the two things college basketball fans love most—buzzer- beaters and underdogs—in one of the tournament's shiniest moments ever.

WHERE HE IS NOW: After teaching the country that Valpo is a college in Indiana and not a brand of dog food, Drew became the school's first-ever first-round pick in the NBA draft. During his six years in the NBA, he jumped between the Rockets, Bulls and Hornets, filling the three-point- specialist role for each. In 2004 his NBA career came to an end, and, like any good coach's son, he jumped into coaching himself. Six years later, Drew is still at Valpo, where he's been honored as one of the 150 Most Influential Persons in the university's history. That's the power of a "shot."

I suppose Bryce still comes up all over the place in March.  But, it was a pleasant surprise to see it in an unexpected context!

[covufan]

It is always a pleasure to remember that moment.  I also remember the crowd in St. Louis for the Sweet Sixteen game against Rhode Island.  Several minutes after the game, many of the VU fans were still applauding the team, and the team was returning the appreciation.  The team appeared to be quite moved by the gesture of appreciation, even after a tough loss. 

I think our move to the Horizon will give us and the rest of the HL the competitive level that the NCAA committee desires for a favorable seeding.  I thought a few of VU's other NCAA teams deserved a little higher seeding, but I'm sure the Mid-Con (now Summitt) schedule did not sway the committee in granting a 13 or 14 seed in those years. 

[valpospartan]

One thing that is usually overlooked when "the shot" is mentioned is that it took two excellent passes to set up Bryce.  Jamie Sykes and Bill Jenkins deserve credit, also.

[VU75]

Fooled me. I thought this was a post about a recruiting trip.