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Topic: The greatest (memories)

Topic: The greatest (memories)

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Diamond Cat
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The greatest (memories)

Posted: 1/20/2012 9:37:32 AM

I am sitting here at work on a conference call (not paying attention) thinking of the many drives to Athens (and many other cities) to watch the greatness of Gary Trent. Man.....what a run!

It is crazy how as time goes by the greatness of an athlete seems to be lost as new players come through a system. Dan Marino comes to mind for me. IMO nobody threw the ball anywhere close to the level he did with no surrounding talent to help (worst defense in the league and zero running game). He carried the team.

Gary Trent made (210) free throws in the 93-94 season because he was double and triple teamed so many time and still could not be checked. He fouled more players out than I can possibly remember.

I am headed down tonight for the weekend and it will be a pleasure to see GT. IMO The Greatest of All Time. Beating OSU's a_ _ and the NIT run were just awesome to see. I loved the excuses pouring out of Cow Town that they "were down" and "having some tough times" as we punked them by more than a dozen in that dump.

He had too many big time games to remember. The first game I saw in person was BG at home when GT was a freshman. He got a rebound about a foot above the rim and went straight back up for a back scratching tomahawk dunk! I said to myself - who is this guy? Little did I know what was to come the next 3 seasons.

No disrespect to any player on his teams but I wish GT had a DJ at guard during those years. Forget about it!

I logged more miles driving to see GT play than I can recount. I didn't even miss weekday games. He was that good.

Congrats to GT!

cathead
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RE: The greatest (memories)

Posted: 1/20/2012 9:41:51 AM

My husband had followed Gary's high school career,, when we 1st saw him set foot in the Convo,, he told me watch this,, its the best player you will ever see here.Man ,

was he right,, couldn't believe we got him..and what an absolute blast we had watching,, excited for tomorrow...thanks Gary!

athena
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RE: The greatest (memories)

Posted: 1/20/2012 10:17:20 AM

One of my favorite Trent memories was a game against Western Michigan in the Convo. Sitting a few rows behind the visiting bench, I usually have a pretty good view of what's going on with the opposing team and their coach, who at that time was Bob Donewald.

The Broncos were losing and Donewald was going ballistic because no one on his team could stop Gary from scoring. He kept shouting things like "Make him go left! He can't go left!" and "Keep him out of the paint!" and so on. Gary was obviously listening because whatever Donewald told his team NOT to let Gary do, that was exactly what Gary did -- with ease. After about the 4th or 5th trip down the floor, scoring every time, Gary looked over at Donewald -- who was purple with rage -- and grinned. If you ever watched Gary play, you know the grin I'm talking about. It was so funny ... I thought Donewald's head was going to explode all over the floor.

PalmerFest
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RE: The greatest (memories)

Posted: 1/20/2012 10:28:09 AM

February 1994. Gary scores 40 plus against BG. Game was being broadcast on ESPN 2 I think. He closed it down with a massive break away dunk and the convo's roof blew off. All I could do was shake my head. Dude was AMAZING.

Lande71
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RE: The greatest (memories)

Posted: 1/20/2012 10:44:12 AM

I can't remember if Gary Trent scored more than 40 against BG in the convo, but I witnessed the more than 40 against BG at BG. He carried 2 and 3 BG players with him for dunk after dunk. What a man he was that night. I sat in the front row of the bleachers at the North end of Anderson Arena to watch that. Couldn't have gotten any closer! I will never forget that beat down!

bobcat28
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RE: The greatest (memories)

Posted: 1/20/2012 10:48:43 AM

Trent was a men among boys. When he got the ball within 10 feet of the rim he was going to dunk it. Still remember him wearing that black leather trench coat walking around campus.

And I agree that BGSU game with Antonio Daniels was the loudest I can ever remember the Convo. You couldnt even hear the person next to you talk.

KC Bobcat
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RE: The greatest (memories)

Posted: 1/20/2012 11:21:40 AM

1992 OUr third game of the season at Kansas State (only a 2 hour drive for me). Gary was a freshman and as this was pre-internet and I was living 800 miles from Athens, I had no idea who he was. We hung tOUgh and only lost by one point. I was extremely impressed and exicted about Trent. Not to mention the fact that we also had a 7'2" freshman (Terry). This was also my first opportunity to see Jeff Boals and remember being impressed with his gritty hard nosed play.

Then in 1994 I was at my father in law's house for Thankgiving who happened to live in New Jersey only 30 miles from MSG. The night after Thanksgiving, my wife and I made the trip to New York to experience the NIT final masterpeice.

SBH
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RE: The greatest (memories)

Posted: 1/20/2012 12:59:06 PM

Lande71 wrote:

I can't remember if Gary Trent scored more than 40 against BG in the convo, but I witnessed the more than 40 against BG at BG. He carried 2 and 3 BG players with him for dunk after dunk. What a man he was that night. I sat in the front row of the bleachers at the North end of Anderson Arena to watch that. Couldn't have gotten any closer! I will never forget that beat down!

I was at that game and it featured (for me) the most powerful, exciting and surprising dunk I had ever seen at the college level. Trent got the ball down low - too low - beneath the right side of the basket. Looked like he was trapped. Instead, he takes a step, elevates and thunder-dunks it on the left side of the rim. Anderson arena was silent - people were just stunned.

giacomo
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RE: The greatest (memories)

Posted: 1/20/2012 1:13:02 PM

It was Gary's freshman year at Robert Morris. I had not heard of him or his potential. Somebody throws him an ally oop pass and it was so high it looked like it was going over the backboard. He makes a remarkable snag of the ball and brings it down, just keeping it in play was a great play, then does a two hand power dunk in traffic. I looked at my friends and said "who is this guy"?

stub
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RE: The greatest (memories)

Posted: 1/20/2012 1:23:23 PM

This stat is hard to fathom but it's true as some of you know:

In 1992, in high school, Gary Trent shot 80.9%- from the field! It's remains the Ohio state record by far and I believe it's still the national record.

Last Edited: 1/20/2012 1:52:53 PM by stub

rpbobcat
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RE: The greatest (memories)

Posted: 1/20/2012 1:55:22 PM

I was only able to see 1 of GT's college games in person.

Final of the Preseason NIT at the Garden.

Couldn't have asked for a more exciting game.
GT was a "force".
"Man among boys" describes him the best.

Wish I could have made to Athens for the game.Have to settle for watching the stream.

Piney
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RE: The greatest (memories)

Posted: 1/20/2012 2:18:18 PM

I was so lucky to have been in school during his Sophomore and Junior seasons, and having a front row seat to watch it all was awe-inspiring.

My best memory, more of a team memory that anything else during that time. The pre-season NIT game at UVA. Me and 3 buddies decided that morning to buy tickets and drive to Charlottesville for the game. We were blowing them out, 20+ most of the game and then Virginia made a comeback and to this day I have not been in a louder arena as they pulled close. But we still won comfortably and I stormed the court to mob the team after the win.

Who cares if it took all night to drive back through the fog, or that I missed two finals that morning. Being at that game was my favorite basketball memory while at Ohio.

"If someone told me 20 years ago in my James Hall Dorm room that I would be the commencement speaker I would have told them to get out of here and make sure you put that towell back under the door"

- Matt Lauer '97 Commencement Speech

Jeff McKinney
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RE: The greatest (memories)

Posted: 1/20/2012 2:33:20 PM

A LOT of great memories about Gary Trent, but the game that stands out to me most is the 46 points at home vs. BGSU. He did absolutely suprahuman things that day.

A la SBH: The most amazing thing about Gary was that you would see an offensive rebound disappear on the floor under a mass of humanity...then all of a sudden you would see Gary burst up through everybody and slam it. I've not seen anybody except for Shaq or perhaps a few others do that since then.

IMO, he was the best athlete in all of college basketball during his reign. Not saying he was the best player during that time, but the best athlete. He was also close to being the best player.

Bleed Green & White
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RE: The greatest (memories)

Posted: 1/20/2012 6:23:59 PM

As I was a youngster I only remember a couple games specifically. Dad and I traveled down 33 quite a bit those days (like we do now) and the only thing cooler than the popcorn in the Rohr Room was Gary Trent's slams and a full Convo going nuts! These two stick out:

'94 MAC Championship V. Miami @ Batelle Hall/Ohio Center - Growing up in Columbus I had been to this downtown venue for "Super Mario Brothers on Ice" and "Sesame Street Live" but this was the best show I saw there! I work just down the street and think about that memory often.

@ Ohio State in '94 - Even though I was 10 I knew the difference between the big school in my back yard and OU. Someone at the Alumni event at the Varsity Club let me hold the Paw poster thy made and I kept it after the game. I might still have it somewhere.

"we are bound to win the fray..."
Don't let anyone block your pride.
BSC '06

BobcatJH
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RE: The greatest (memories)

Posted: 1/20/2012 7:39:38 PM

I'll echo everyone's fond memories, and I'll add this:

WIth all due respect to today's MAC, if you put Gary in the conference now he'd average 35 and 15 a game, easily. Put his teams in today's MAC and they'd have won three-straight conference titles.

RSBobcat
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RE: The greatest (memories)

Posted: 1/20/2012 7:50:00 PM

Yes - the '94 MAC Championship game in Columbus, and following the bus back down Rt. 33 - caravan of Bobcat fans, people on the street in Nelsonville and Athens, horns honking etc. - That was Fun!

Thunderous dunks, unstoppable inside. And BTW - he could play some pretty good D too!

RS Bobcat

Alan Swank
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RE: The greatest (memories)

Posted: 1/20/2012 9:20:16 PM

I'll give you two. The first was in Landover in the first round of the NCAA tournament. With just a few minutes left in the first half, Trent literally took over the game, inside and out. Bobby Knight had no clue what to do. Segue into the OU dance team taking the floor and stopping the entire crowd in its exodus to the concession lines at halftime was a sight to behold.

Number two was at The Garden later that year. Down to NMS, and the Bobcats came roaring back. Sitting in the front row with my wife and kids, I couldn't have been more proud to be a Bobcat. But wait, when we left the arena, the 110 broke into a pep rally on 7th ave just after midnight. NYC danced the night away as any and all folks walking by jammed to the sounds of the band that night.

Pete Chouteau
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RE: The greatest (memories)

Posted: 1/20/2012 10:39:18 PM

Tonight's weather reminds me of the '92 Miami game when it snowed a good 8 inches from the time I walked downstairs from the dorm for the women's game and walked back out two games later. Or the '95 game (the Geno dribbling game I think) when the MLK Weekend Blizzard hit and we got snowed in after crashing at a house I knew nobody in. I thought I was going to get fired because I wasn't at work that Monday morning, totally unable to comprehend that the same storm hit Cincy and those trucks weren't going anywhere.

Donuts
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RE: The greatest (memories)

Posted: 1/20/2012 11:50:51 PM

I'd just like to know why Youtube has practically no videos of him. Someone with footage needs to change that.

FearLeon
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RE: The greatest (memories)

Posted: 1/21/2012 3:04:00 AM

Where do I begin?

I'll start with listening to the Kansas State game on the radio. I stayed over winter break with my best friend and we were bouncing off the walls thinking that OHIO was going to beat Kansas State. Trent just kept making moves and scoring at will against a then Big 8 school...we knew then he was something special.

I remember the dunk at Robert Morris...I was there. He also tied the game up at the buzzer, but of course, we still lost. Some things haven't changed against Bobby Mo.

The 46 points against BG. The loudest the Convo has ever been...period!

The ally ooop dunk against Ohio State in pre-season NIT...give the assist to Mike Reese.

Beating Miami at Batelle Hall in Columbus. Trent's hand was hurting and he still threw down some dunks during the MAC Championship.

The great battles he had against Devin Davis and Miami. Those were special.

Watching him walk off the court his freshman year after losing at the buzzer to Toledo in MAC Tourney first round. He scored something like 30 points that game and was a beast.

Watching the wins over Virginia...NMSU...and George Washington on ESPN. Special..very special.

During Larry Hunter's basketball class, I asked Trent if he'd let me score a lay-up over him. He asked me why? I said it's because I never scored against an NBA player. Trent laughed. I went off glass for 2 with his arms raised up and I'll never forget it. He was a freshman at OHIO on that day.

I wish I could be in Athens and thank him for providing me with some of the best days of my life. I'll be watching at 2 PM.

All hail Gary Trent...the greatest player in the history of OHIO basketball.

#BleedGreen #TrentIsGOAT

Jim Bob
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RE: The greatest (memories)

Posted: 1/21/2012 9:45:12 AM

I'll echo Mckinney. it was amazing how he could elevate with people hanging on him. Trent had the most powerful dunks. His legs were monstrous. I remember him playing at OSU and giving the OSU bench the trademark smile as he was out leaping all of them.

97' Bobcat
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RE: The greatest (memories)

Posted: 1/21/2012 12:34:41 PM

This is a great thread. I was on campus for his sophomore and junior seasons. What I remember most with Trent is the anticipation the crowd would have when he would have a chance for a breakaway dunk. I remember being on the edge of my seat all game waiting for him to throw down one of his tomahawk dunks. I also agree with the earlier post that his stats would have been even better playing today because the MAC attracted better talent during that era. Honestly, some of my best memories of OU happened in the Convo watching him play with my friends. The crowds and atmosphere were great back then.

perimeterpost
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RE: The greatest (memories)

Posted: 1/21/2012 1:17:08 PM

I was a year ahead of GT and lived on West Green and remember the excitement he brought to campus. We'd see tall guys in Boyd cafeteria and wonder if they were on the bball team or not but when GT walked in you KNEW he was a baller. We used to grumble about him cutting in front of everyone in line at Boyd and how he was allowed to take 2 entrees at a time and the rest of us could only take 1. I don't care if he's a 250lb athlete that needs to eat a big meal the morning after a game, I'm a 130lb sophomore who spent 4 hours last night drinking and sweating on the dance floor at the Greenery, I need carbs too! He was on a whole other level, and we knew it.

When I was a student I was much more of a casual fan then I am today, I didn't follow stats or rosters or schedules or rankings, I just went to games because it was something fun to do with my friends when we didn't feel like studying. I don't remember planning to go to games, I just remember ending up at them. Looking back I can't believe I lived right next to the Convo during the GT years, had free tickets, but didn't go to every single game. Sometimes kids don't know how good they have it.

Although I don't remember specific plays or games i do remember the atmosphere on campus, the excitement of the national attention, and the pride we all felt for being students at OU. For those good time and good feelings I say to Mr Trent- thank you.

MY STATE. MY TEAM.

txbobcat
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RE: The greatest (memories)

Posted: 1/21/2012 2:48:42 PM

trent vs bowling green scores what 20 in a row?

Those dunks watching from the Sixth Man section and then sixth man was hijacked by the AD and became the Ozone. Ozone you are ok, but the sixth man had character.

The faceoffs with Devin Davis so much fun

going to road games and watching him own people on their floor

Bobcat Grad 86
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RE: The greatest (memories)

Posted: 1/21/2012 5:50:44 PM

Piney wrote:

I was so lucky to have been in school during his Sophomore and Junior seasons, and having a front row seat to watch it all was awe-inspiring.

My best memory, more of a team memory that anything else during that time. The pre-season NIT game at UVA. Me and 3 buddies decided that morning to buy tickets and drive to Charlottesville for the game. We were blowing them out, 20+ most of the game and then Virginia made a comeback and to this day I have not been in a louder arena as they pulled close. But we still won comfortably and I stormed the court to mob the team after the win.

Who cares if it took all night to drive back through the fog, or that I missed two finals that morning. Being at that game was my favorite basketball memory while at Ohio.

I really enjoyed watching that with my wife the UVA graduate! All of these memories are great coupled with where Gary came from as a child and where he is today with his family and community. Sure there were some bumps in the road and some mistakes, but I am sure this was a meaningful day for Gary, his family and everybody who attended the game.

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