GANSEYBITCHES! Big Shot of the Week
January 31, 2008
Winner: Matt Causey, Georgia Tech
I never thought I would see Matt Causey on a division I basketball court for the rest of my life. The diminutive Caucasian guard played one wildly unsuccessful year at Georgetown (2003-2004) before transferring to the wilderness of college basketball at North Georgia (NAIA). Causey looked overmatched in his one year at Georgetown on a team that lost its final nine games, which forced the firing of "he-who-shall-not-be-named." Causey is apparently determined to play out his final year of eligibility in style. Despite an anemic start, Causey has averaged 22 points in his last three games, including 18 in an overtime win against NC State. Twelve of those 18 points came in the overtime period, including a prodigious three-pointer shot from six or seven feet beyond the arc. When asked after the game how he's managed to turn his whole career around so belatedly, Causey shrugged, "I guess I just decided to channel my inner Gansey." Well played.
Loser: Juan Palacios, Louisville
The Louisville senior pump-faked a UConn defender at the end of the game just beyond the three-point line before taking a dribble and deciding that his best option was a fade-away three-pointer, despite the fact that he had a wide-open lane to the basket and chance to tie the game with a higher percentage shot. Palacios is not a good a three-point shooter and needs to stop shooting them.
The Tee’s Weekly Michael F. Gansey Big Shot of the Week title is awarded each week to the biggest shot in college basketball. Michael F. Gansey is one of college basketball's all-time clutch shooters. A pure, lights-out shooter, he was recently selected as one of Tee's Weekly 50 greatest college basketball players of all time. He set the all-time record for three pointers in a game for West Virginia with eight trifectas against Marquette in 2006. He has more career three-pointers at West Virginia than even the great Jerry West. While at WVU Gansey made a habit of hitting three-pointers at critical spots in games and could often be heard taunting his opponents while the ball was in the air by screaming "GANSEYBITCHES!" So, next time you are on the playground and someone shoots a three in your face and yells "GANSEYBITCHES!" you'll know why.