For most basketball fans March usually means two things: the end of winter and more importantly the basketball lover’s heaven known as March Madness. Each and every year we see Cinderella stories; buzzer beaters and future NBA stars compete in perhaps America’s favorite sporting event outside of the Super Bowl.
This year will be no different, but for now let’s jump in the time machine and examine how your favorite Lakers fared in their time during March Madness.
We all know that Kobe, Pau Drew and D-Fish did not get a taste of the NCAA Tournament because Kobe and Bynum came to the NBA straight out of high school, while Pau was still fine tuning his game in Europe rather than cutting down nets.
Fisher and veteran Theo Ratliff also both missed out on attending the big dance, due to coming from Arkansas-Little Rock and Wyoming more than likely.
While those Lakers did not compete in the tournament the rest of the Lakers did. Perhaps the most shocking aspect of looking at each player’s college career is the fact that their roles were so much different, as many of the Lakers role players were actually college standouts for big time programs.
Next: Two future Lakers make an impact in the Pac-10
We now know Matt Barnes as the Lakers’ tough, do everything player off of the bench but at UCLA Barnes was a more than just a role player as he made a major impact on UCLA’s tournament run during his senior season.
During his senior season in 2002 Barnes, with the help of future NBA sharpshooter Jason Kapono, led the Bruins to the Sweet 16 despite only being ranked 8th in their region. In the first round of the tournament Barnes contributed just 6 points and 8 rebounds in limited minutes due to a route of Mississippi.
Barnes made his presence felt though in when the field was cut down to 32 teams, as he scored 17 points along 11 rebounds in a thrilling double overtime victory over the region’s number one ranked Cincinnati Bearcats. Barnes’ effort was noticed, especially by then UC coach Bob Huggins.
“I mean their power forward Barnes had 17 points and 11 assists. That hasn’t happened since Magic Johnson, has it,” questioned Huggins after the game.
Eventually UCLA’s bid at continuing the programs great history fell short when UCLA fell to future Laker Kareem Rush and his Missouri Tigers. Barnes outdid his performance against Cincinnati though by scoring 23 points and grabbing 11 rebounds.
Barnes also contributed to two other Sweet 16 runs for the Bruins, these came in his junior and sophomore seasons. Barnes averaged nearly 7 points a game in these tilts.
Another Laker was actually a Pac-10 foe for Matt Barnes; this was Luke Walton who attended the University of Arizona from 1999 to 2003. Although Walton is now somewhat buried on the Lakers’ bench, he was an elite player for Lute Olson at Arizona.
As a freshman, Walton suffered heartbreak in the big dance, which would seemingly become a theme for Luke during his college career. The talented Wildcats team that featured future NBA players Gilbert Arenas and Richard Jefferson, along with Walton, was upset by the 8 seed Wisconsin when Luke was a freshman. Luke had a minimal effect during this tournament averaging just 2 points in the Wildcats’ two tournament games.
Walton’s sophomore season provided much more success for the Wildcats as they steamrolled through the NCAA tournament en route to a match up against Carolos Boozer’s Duke Blue Devils for the NCAA championship.
The Wildcats fell short in the title game, as Walton continued to have a minimal effect on the Wildcats’ championship dreams.
Walton’s junior season was a different story though, as he turned the corner and developed into one of the country’s premier players. During his junior campaign Walton averaged 15.7 points, 6.3 assists and 7.3 rebounds per game.
Walton’s success continued come tournament time, especially in a second round match up against Wyoming. In this game Walton showed some scoring punch dropping 21 points along with 9 rebounds in Arizona’s win securing a spot in the Sweet 16.
Despite Walton’s versatility, Arizona was defeated in the next round by Oklahoma. In defeat, Walton flirted with a triple double, scoring 9 points, grabbing 8 boards and dropping 8 dimes.
Walton ended his college career by being recognized as a finalist for the Naismith Award. With high hopes it appeared as if Walton would add to his family legacy, this was not meant to be though as the Wildcats lost and Elite 8 showdown with Kirk Hinrich and the Kansas Jayhawks.
Walton made his mark on the tournament though averaging 15.5 points and nearly 8 assists in his final NCAA tournament run. Despite the fact that Walton could not capture a championship, he was able to build a very strong legacy in the NCAA.
Next: Two of the newest Lakers make their mark at Maryland
Joe Smith is now known as an NBA journey man, but what few remember is that Smith was a great player at the University of Maryland. Smith was one of Maryland’s most decorated players ever, winning the Naismith Award in 1995.
In Smith’s two seasons at Maryland, the Terrapins reached the Sweet 16 in both seasons under Gary Williams. Despite the success of Smith, Maryland was still left searching for a championship, but this would all change with the help of another Laker.
While Joe Smith fell short of cutting down the nets for Maryland, current Lakers guard did not. Blake helped Maryland win the 2002 NCAA title along with Juan Dixon.
The championship came in Blake’s junior season at Maryland and although Blake’s numbers from that tournament are not eye opening, he was still a solid contributor as one of Gary Williams’ starting guards.
Blake facilitated the Maryland offense, and his play making skills were on full display in Maryland’s Final 4 match up against Kansas. Blake tallied 11 assists in that game.
Blake had a more prominent role during his senior season in which he led the Terrapins to the Sweet 16. Ultimately, Blake was not enough as Maryland fell to Michigan State to end their title reign. Blake scored 11 points in a losing effort.
Next: Two future Lakers make New York proud
Queens native Ron Artest did not take his game far from home after graduating from high school as he attended St. John’s. In both of his two seasons with the Red Storm, Artest was able to lead them to the tournament.
Artest came off the bench during his freshman year, in which the Red Storm were eliminated in the first round by Detroit. Artest had a solid game scoring 10 points along with 4 rebounds and 2 steals.
Artest’s second time dancing was a much more productive one for him. The 1999 tournament saw Artest and the Red Storm advance all the way to the Elite 8.
Artest did his part contributing a little bit of everything in the tournament. This was especially true in a third round match up with Maryland in which Artest filled the stat book by scoring 8 points, grabbing 7 rebounds, taking 3 steals and blocked 6 shots. A young Artest stayed humble after his performance.
“We weren’t expecting to be up by 19 or 20, the only way we could do that was as a team. “I would like to give thanks to my teammates,” Artest said after the game.
Artest ultimately fell short of bringing a championship home to New York though as St. John’s lost a heart breaker 77-74 against Ohio State, with a bid for the Final 4 on the line.
Another New York native took a bit of a rockier path to the NCAA tournament. Lamar Odom had enrolled at UNLV in 1997, but an academic scandal ruled him ineligible. Odom transferred to Rhode Island.
In his lone season with the Rams, Odom punched his ticket to the big dance by leading Rhode Island to the Atlantic 10 Conference title. Odom’s NCAA tournament run was a short one though.
NC Charlotte eliminated the 12th seeded Rams in the first round. Odom had a stellar performance though, scoring 16 points along with 12 rebounds. Unfortunately Odom fouled out and the Rams were sent home early.
“I tried my best tonight, and I got into some foul trouble, so it took me out of my rhythm a little bit. I surely didn’t want to force anything. They did a great job on defense,” Odom said after his final NCAA game.
Next: Shannon takes to the air at Michigan State
Before Shannon became one of the most explosive players in the NBA and one of the most important pieces off of the Lakers bench, he spent three seasons at Michigan State under Tom Izzo.
Shannon reached the tournament in all three years at Michigan State but his best run came in his sophomore season in 2005.
In 2005 the Spartans, ranked 5th in their region, made an improbably run to the Final 4 thanks in large part to the play of Shannon Brown.
Brown averaged 13.8 points per game in the 2005 tournament, but his game against Kentucky during the round of 8 is what stands out. In the double overtime thriller against Kentucky, the Spartans punched their ticket to the Final 4 behind Brown’s 24 points on just 10 shots, including a 5-6 effort from behind the 3-point line.
Brown followed up his career high effort with a 15 point performance against North Carolina, but Sean May and Raymond Felton were too much as the Tar Heels prevailed.
Brown’s college career ended rather unceremoniously in 2006 when Michigan State was upset by soon to be Cinderella George Mason. Brown scored just 5 points in a losing effort.
Next: Two Lakers rookies who had opposite results in last year’s tournament
Before they became Lakers, Devin Ebanks and Derrick Caracter were attempting to lead their respective schools to glory.
At West Virginia, Devin Ebanks was a key piece on a Mountaineer team, which returned to glory and advanced to the Final 4. Ebanks was a key part in the team’s success averaging 13 points and 7.2 rebounds per game during the tournament.
While Ebanks and the Mountaineers ultimately fell short to Duke, Ebanks’ performance in the tournament has the Lakers’ licking their chops at what he could become in the near future.
The other Lakers rookie, Derrick Caracter, also went dancing in 2010. Unfortunately for Caracter, his dance was much shorter than his fellow Lakers rookie’s.
Caracter led UTEP to the NCAA tournament, but was defeated by Butler as they were being fitted for their glass slipper. Caracter did have a great game in a losing effort though as he scored 20 points on 10 of 13 shooting in addition to 9 rebounds.
Caracter also had an impact in the tournament before attending UTEP while playing under Rick Pitino at Louisville. Caracter had limited impact and minutes though with the Cardinals.
So as we gear up for the stretch run of the NBA season, kick back and enjoy March Madness. After all you never know what hero in March could become a Laker legend years later in June.