Cracked Sidewalks post July 2011"Trying to explain Jae Crowder's greatness"

[bamamarquettefan]

After Jae Crowder averaged just under 12 points and 7 rebounds a game his junior year, and before he was near any mock draft, I wrote a Cracked Sidewalks post that has always been one of my favorite. In light of my joy at his wonderful $35 million contact, please indulge me in a recount from 4 years ago:

NBC Sports actually linked to the Cracked Sidewalks story here:
http://collegebasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/07/19/marquette-may-have-the-nations-best-all-around-player/

The Cracked Sidewalks headline was subtle, but I tipped my hand a little:

http://www.crackedsidewalks.com/2011/07/trying-to-explain-jae-crowders.html

It closed with this quote, which I am now pretty happy is not the case:

"However, Crowder's greatness is among the best in the country, and hopefully he won't go down as one of the most underrated players by our fan base as they come to appreciate all of the things he does."

Obviously by a year later he was the Big East POY, 2nd Team All-American and taking us to the Sweet 16 again. What a wonderful journey. Oh, did I mention I have a number of pictures of me with Jae after his seniors day massacre of Georgetown mounted on my office wall.

So happy for him and his wonderful father Corey, who actually introduced the two of us for the first time that day well after I started writing about him.

[mu_hilltopper]

I remember writing about his first game:

http://www.crackedsidewalks.com/2010/11/mu-exhibits-new-talent-wins-by-30.html

Jae Crowder was the first man off the bench, followed by Vander Blue.  Crowder had a double double, 15 and 10.

Crowder and Otule combined for 27 points. When was the last time MU's interior guys combined for 27? And 19 rebounds? (Maybe the last time we played a D3 team, yeah. Let me be excited for a few more minutes, ok?)

Sign me up for the Jae Crowder fan club.

[DoggyDaddy]

Me too. Jae's almost soft-spoken manner masks a deep intensity and focus. How many times did we see him in a crowd of bigger bodies and come up with the rebound? Strength and class.

[real chili 83]

My favorite Jae moment...

When he snubbed the Badgers during introductions, and then went on with Derrick Wilson to kick #7 Wisconsin's a$$. 

In Madison.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

My favorite Jae moment...

When he snubbed the Badgers during introductions, and then went on with Derrick Wilson to kick #7 Wisconsin's a$$. 

In Madison.

I was at that game. Great, great moment.

[tower912]

His drive, his intensity, his leadership, his refusal to lose and desire to be the man at crunch time made him the player we all remember fondly.   Remember when Buzz wouldn't start him in order to keep him out of early foul trouble?

[MUfan12]

Me too. Jae's almost soft-spoken manner masks a deep intensity and focus. How many times did we see him in a crowd of bigger bodies and come up with the rebound? Strength and class.

Best traffic rebounder I've seen at that size. Also incredibly crafty in the paint defensively. Came up with a bunch of steals.

He and DJO don't get enough credit for how great they were at Marquette.

[jsglow]

My daughter and I were in Louisville for the tourney Jae's Senior year.  With about 7 minutes to go down big to Murray St. Junior got in Jae's face coming out of a timeout.  All of us in the MU section witnessed it.  Jae went off on both ends of the floor.  MU advanced.  Priceless.

[warriorchick]

He was also a master at drawing the charge. I don't know if he has been able to carry that skill to the NBA or not.

[real chili 83]

He was also a master at drawing the charge. I don't know if he has been able to carry that skill to the NBA or not.

$35 mil.  He's doing something right.

[BM1090]

Best traffic rebounder I've seen at that size. Also incredibly crafty in the paint defensively. Came up with a bunch of steals.

He and DJO don't get enough credit for how great they were at Marquette.

Could not agree more with your last sentence. If it weren't for the ice cold shooting game vs. Florida in the S16, I think they'd be given more credit. That was a legit final four contender and better than the following year's elite 8 team, IMO.

[WarriorInNYC]

My 2 favorite Jae moments.

1) The game against West Virginia.  Words cannot appropriately describe that performance.

2) The game against Washington at the Garden.  I was screaming at the TV when Crowder didn't pass the ball under the hoop for the easy 2 when he took the jumper for 3.  And I was screaming like crazy in joy when he nailed it.

[tower912]

My 2 favorite Jae moments.

1) The game against West Virginia.  Words cannot appropriately describe that performance.

2) The game against Washington at the Garden.  I was screaming at the TV when Crowder didn't pass the ball under the hoop for the easy 2 when he took the jumper for 3.  And I was screaming like crazy in joy when he nailed it.

IIRC, Jamil hit the game winner.  

Edit:  .....Annnnnnnnnnnd a quick scan of scoop wiki indicates that my memory is complete crap.   

[Skatastrophy]

https://www.youtube.com/v/2amrrcUpwyg

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

Love that video -- just missing the DJO dunk against Louisville at home.

Those were fun years on the court.

[withoutbias]

My favorite Jae moment...

When he snubbed the Badgers during introductions, and then went on with Derrick Wilson to kick #7 Wisconsin's a$$. 

In Madison.

what'd jae do to snub the badgers during intros?  do they do it female basketball style for all their regular season home games where they alternate home and away starters and have them meet at half court?  and jae didn't do that?  if so, I didn't think my respect for jae could've grown anymore than it was, but it just did.

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

what'd jae do to snub the badgers during intros?  do they do it female basketball style for all their regular season home games where they alternate home and away starters and have them meet at half court?  and jae didn't do that?  if so, I didn't think my respect for jae could've grown anymore than it was, but it just did.

Jae was called first and he ran to center court.  The badger guy (Gasser?) was called and started to pull his pistols out of the holster and ham it up.  Jae just stared for about 10 seconds then ran to the MU huddle - leaving him hanging when he finally ran to center court.

[tower912]

I remember watching Andre Drummond as a rookie with the Pistons having stretches where he just abused people physically and thinking 'Man, Crowder used to guard this guy better than anybody in tonight's game is.'

[withoutbias]

Jae was called first and he ran to center court.  The badger guy (Gasser?) was called and started to pull his pistols out of the holster and ham it up.  Jae just stared for about 10 seconds then ran to the MU huddle - leaving him hanging when he finally ran to center court.

that is outstanding.  i vaguely remember it but that is great.  if anybody can find a video of it that'd be greatly appreciated.