Hey everyone:
First game in Gampel vs. St. Johns. We were down by a few just before half time, and then Chris Smith makes a 3 point buzzer beater. I don't recall if that basket made us go ahead, tied the game, or just brought us a few points closer, but that shot was not just the turning point of the game, but of the entire program. I was watching the game at the old Margaritaville on Rt 32 with a bunch of kids from my floor in Alumni, and you could literally feel the energy coming over from the Pavilion a few miles away. The whole Margaritaville exploded as well when Chris made that basket, even though it wasn't just college kids there.
That one basket seemed like an event of earth shattering magnitude. It was as if suddenly everyone knew that UConn was soon going to be a nationally recognized program, a force to recon with for many years to come. At half time we went outside to have a smoke. It was a cold winter night, the air was full of electricity. The drinks and nachos at Margaritaville were good, the fireplace was crackling, the girls were beautiful and they were dealing hugs and kisses.