It was Dec. 28, 2004 – almost two years ago. Just 27 seconds were left in the men’s basketball game at the University of Massachusetts. Our Terriers had a two point lead and the ball. The plan was simple: inbound the ball, get fouled, hit a pair of free throws and go home with a victory – a major road upset over an in-state rival.
Listening on the radio I could barely understand the sequence of what happened next, the play-by-play guy couldn’t get out the words fast enough. What I do know is that the ball was passed in to then-Terrier sophomore Etienne Brower. The UMass pressure came, Etienne lost the basketball and it made its way to an open Minuteman who knocked down a three-pointer.
The whole sequence took less then 10 seconds. And it was devastating, absolutely devastating. Etienne’s turnover cost us the game.
Fewer than six months later, Brower announced he would be transferring to UMass.
Etienne was going to be our leading returning scorer. He was without question the best basketball player in the class of 2007. He was my favorite player.
When he chose UMass, it stung. It stung bad. We had proven we were just as good as the Minutemen that year. We would have won the game were it not for Brower’s turnover and yet he was leaving us for what he thought was a better opportunity with the UMass team.
Even the most avid conspiracy theorist wouldn’t believe the turnover was intentional and I’m not suggesting it. Etienne otherwise had a nice game, 15 points and four rebounds. What I’m suggesting is that it stings a little extra when you have a player leave and he winds up playing for a rival – one we were so close to beating.
Well, guess who’s coming to town tomorrow? I’ll give you one hint, it’s not Santa Claus. Wednesday’s game at Agganis Arena will be Etienne’s second in a Minuteman uniform. He spent last season sitting out due to NCAA restrictions and he missed the first seven games of this season with an ankle injury.
I don’t think it’s a coincidence that he returned from the injury just in time for the BU game. Sometimes ankles miraculously heal themselves before big games.
Brower only saw four minutes of action in his debut against Boston College on Saturday and I don’t expect him to see much more playing time against us. I’m just waiting for him to be announced so I can boo the heck out of him. Our only recourse as disgruntled fans is to utilize the boo.
It doesn’t mean I hate Etienne or that I think he’s an evil person. It’s just my way of letting him know that when he left me, or, um, the basketball team, it hurt. I’m hoping maybe he’ll enter the game with 27 seconds left and the game on the line.
I’m also hoping our players understand how big this game is. This isn’t a typical opponent – this isn’t just another non-conference matchup. This is a rivalry game, our biggest basketball rivalry. There are many players with connections between the schools.
Former Terrier Tony Gaffney followed Etienne and transferred to UMass as well; although he’ll be sitting out tomorrow due to the same NCAA restrictions. His decision to leave for UMass was far more curious than Etienne’s. Gaffney was a mediocre player here at BU and why UMass would want him is beyond my understanding.
Current Terrier Tyler Morris signed a letter of intent to play for coach Travis Ford at Eastern Kentucky before Ford left EKU and came to UMass. Apparently Ford didn’t think Morris was good enough to play basketball for the Minutemen. I hope Morris can prove him wrong.
Then there’s Corey Lowe. He’s my knight in shining armor. He was recruited by Ford at UMass, but turned them down to come here to BU. He and Morris make up what may be the best freshmen backcourt duo in the Northeast. I say a little prayer every night that these guys will stay for all four years.
The truth is: We’re huge underdogs tomorrow. UMass has a talented and senior-laden team. They’re the big bad tough guys, who think they’re better than us. We’re the Bad News Bears and they’re the Yankees. We’re the Mighty Ducks and they’re team Iceland. We’re William Wallace and they’re the English.
This is about them stealing away two of our players. This is about justice. This is about redemption. This is about basketball, putting an orange ball into a metallic cylinder. Sometimes we get too caught up in the rivalries and forget that these are just sports, college sports.
I don’t hate Etienne Brower. Part of me will always be a fan of his. In fact, he’s the main reason I’m so excited about tomorrow’s game – I’m anxious to see him play. It’s been a year and a half and I’ve been waiting for this game, waiting to see what he’ll look like in an opposing jersey. Will his skin turn green? Will he grow horns and carry a pitchfork? Can’t wait to find out.
Josh Lerner, a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences, is a weekly columnist for The Daily Free Press. He can be reached at [email protected].