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Thursday, March 15, 2007

90 solid seconds with…Niagara senior Clif Brown

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During the NCAA Tournament, KUSports.com editor Ryan Greene will spend 90 quality seconds with a member of the team getting set to face KU. In today's episode, Ryan chats with Niagara senior forward Clif Brown, who tied a career high with 32 points in Tuesday's 77-69 opening round win over Florida A&M in Dayton, Ohio.

Ryan Greene: What's one word that comes to your mind when you hear 'Kansas?'

Clif Brown: Upset. That's for sure. Upset, that's the first word that comes to mind.

RG: How soon after you guys found out you were going to be playing them were you aware of what they'd done the last two years in the tournament?

CB: Actually, the next day I had to be reminded that Bucknell and, who else was it...Bradley, had won those games. So I had to be reminded of that. So we feel good. We're going into it from a positive aspect. We've got a game under our belt already. So yeah, that's the first thing that comes to mind. It took awhile, though, to realize that. I was reading the paper and had to realize that.

RG: How soon after that were you reminded that a 16-seed has never beat a one-seed?

CB: I've always known that. I've always been a big fan of the NCAAs just like every college athlete, so we're going into it looking for a win, definitely not a loss.

RG: You say you're a big fan of the NCAA Tournament. What's your very first memory of the NCAA Tournament?

CB: (One) Shining Moment, that's my favorite part. Definitely.

RG: How old were you when you first saw it?

CB: Oh my goodness, I can remember crossing my legs on the floor, eating popcorn and watching it, so I was pretty young.

RG: How many times growing up did you picture yourself playing in the NCAA Tournament?

CB: Every year since middle school, that's for sure.

Brown is the Purple Eagles' second-leading scorer, averaging 16.5 points per game, and leads the team in rebounding, with 9.8 boards a contest. The Purple Eagles, 23-11 overall, 13-5 MAAC, tip off against KU at 6:10 p.m. Friday in the United Center in Chicago, Ill.

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Comments

ralsterKUMed95 (anonymous) says...

This Niagara center is 6'7". And he plays their 5 position. So they are small-ball, which usually means hustle and defense, and alot of swats and inside buckets for us. Should be highlight-reel action....
He mentioned the word 'upset'--I also think of the word, and how upset Niagara players/coaches will feel after this game. Small-ball: enough said.

March 15, 2007 at 6:23 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jaybate (anonymous) says...

Usually I think its wise to just win comfortably on your first round game. But I'd really like to see us double the score on them.

March 16, 2007 at 12:42 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

ralsterKUMed95 (anonymous) says...

A very personal commentary here: Yes, like jaybate, I wish we double the score on Niagara. This team's thug recruiting and reputation is well known. Those players they had suspended at the start of their season got in trouble for beating up a baseball player from their OWN school. That's despicable, frankly along the same lines as what happened at Baylor. I for one have never liked trying to mix 'thug'-life with basketball. Ask Allen Iverson about how far someone should(nt) go in trying to build 'street cred'. What would Jordan say?? I thought gaining fame and fortune was the Dream; ie, a ticket out of the street life. What is glamorous about the pecking order of typical street life wannabes? Seems some people/kids are watching too many music videos? And Blacktop basketball and its latest iteration, the 'And-1' travelling tour on cable TV is different enough from NCAA ball to be difficult for many of the players (should I say 'performers'?) to contribute effectively to an NCAA or NBA squad...
Contrast all that with the quality of kids we now have on KU's team and we all should be proud. And for the most part, we always have had good people come here, with rare exception. And we are winning as a team, as it should be. As I said in an earlier post, we just need to go out and bury this Niagara team, for a LOT of reasons. As evidenced by Sasha and Darrell, I will take our brand of toughness ANYDAY!

March 16, 2007 at 1:18 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

JayCeph (anonymous) says...

I just hope they don't bring that 'thuggery' on to the hardwoods. I'd hate to see one of our players go down because Niagara takes a cheap shot when they begin to feel frustrated.*

(*see VCU and Duke)

March 16, 2007 at 9:11 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jross1972 (Joe Ross) says...

Ignorance is bliss

March 16, 2007 at 12:12 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

honk4tad (anonymous) says...

Which team are you referring to, JayCeph? I hope you mean Duke.

March 16, 2007 at 3:01 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

JayCeph (anonymous) says...

Sure. Why not?

March 16, 2007 at 3:06 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

honk4tad (anonymous) says...

Oh, and thanks for the 90 solid seconds, Ryan Greene. I guess??

March 16, 2007 at 3:07 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

honk4tad (anonymous) says...

So you didn't mean Duke, JC. Interesting.

March 16, 2007 at 3:08 p.m. ( | suggest removal )