USF Big Players in Big Games

[usfgrad84]

In the girls basketball game last night Jessica Dickson started out hot with 8 quick points in about the first 6 minutes then disappeared the rest of the night finishing with 11.  That seems to be the pattern in the big games I have seen her play.  I started to think about it.  Other than maybe Stephen Nicholas in a couple of big games.  Maybe JR Reed a few years back.  Does anyone ever remember one of our big time players having a big game during an important game for us?  There have been big games like Amarri Jackson vs UL, but he wasn't really the star of team and that was not a big game at the time for us as no one thought we even had a chance.

Maybe it's lack of depth or lack of a 2nd go to player, but i don't ever remember a dominant perfromance by a player (not just a decent game, but a real difference making game) by one of our star atlhletes when something is on the line.

The memory is fading a bit or maybe selective memory, but I do recall that Charlie Bradley had a couple of big games, but I don't remember the situations.  The most dominating athlete I recall at USF in his sport was Roy Wegerle in Soccer.  He was incredible to watch, but again I don't remember if we were in any must win situations when he was there and he only played for a couple of years before going pro.

I think one ingredient we need for us to get over the hump in any sport and become truly recognized nationally is that we need our big time players to step up in big games and be leaders in performance when something is on the line.  I think Grothe has the potential to do it in football. Hopefully Ford or one of the receivers has potential to step up and take over a game in Football.  Gransberry has the potential in men's BB, but we are so far away from a big game that he may not get his chance.  Shantia Grace has the potential to be the next big star in Womans BB and there is still time left for Jessica Dickson to have a big game in a crucial situation.  Would love to see it to finish out her career.

[Kyle]

I guess you missed her gave against Cappie Pondexter and Rutgers last year. Or the game against TCU that she hit the half court shot to tie (or win?) the game. Jess has had a ton of big games for us. She's 24 points from breaking the ALL TIME scoring record at USF...male or female. To only score 11 against the #3 team in the country when you're the big threat says more about UCONN then it does about Jessica Dickson.

[usfgrad84]

Thanks for reminding me about the Rutgers game.  That's the type of game we needed to see from her in the BE tourney and the NCAA's.  Not just in the 2nd conference game of the year, but when it really counts.  Not meant to be a knock on her at all  In fact on the local UCONN TV broadcast of the game last night they recognized her as one of the greatest scorers in BE woman's BB history.  Quite a statement from the UCONN announcers considering some of the Woman BB players they have had there in the past 15 years or so.

Like I said in my original post, lack of a second go to scorer is a big part of the opponents shutting down any of out top players.

What I am hoping to see in any of our sports is that big game performance when the game has real meaning.  The big game in a must win situation.  What i am talking about is a situation like Ray Rice running for 130 yards and 2Tds vs UL.  or Pat White running for 145 yards and a TD then throwing for 2 more against GT in the bowl game.  Everyone knew they would be the go to guys and they still performed.  it's not just about stats it's about, as they say, big time players playing big in big games.  Not a big deal, but i think to get to the next level we will need those guys to step forward.