Collegiate Times

With four years of experience, formidable changes will inevitably appear.

Just ask Jamon Gordon.

In the 2004 Big East Tournament, Gordon stepped into the legendary Madison Square Garden for the first time as a freshman, and quietly helped the Hokies upset the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, 61-58, with five assists and five steals.  The next day in the same venue, Gordon put up 14 points for Tech in the 61-74 loss to the then-ranked No. 6 Pittsburgh Panthers.

Though years have passed, Gordon remembers the games well.

“Freshman year, everybody thought we were going to lose to Rutgers,” he said.  “But Rutgers, that was a different story, we had something to prove that game.  This game we had a more experienced team, it was a different game.”

Even as a freshman, Gordon led by example.  But now as a senior, he incorporates inspiration with his actions – Gordon scored his 1,000^th point against Seton Hall.

Prior to his 22-point-performance against the Pirates, Gordon pulled together his team and displayed his growth in leadership.

“I said, ‘these games right here, we always seem to lose, and we always feel like the team we lost to we could have beat,’” he said.  “So I told the team that ‘we’re better than a lot of people think, we just have to come out and show it, especially in Madison Square Garden.’”

His words impressed Head Coach Seth Greenberg.

“I thought that showed real ownership, and I think that he wanted to make sure everyone was accountable,” Greenberg said.  “And I thought he was very accountable by how he played.  I thought he set a great tone for us.”

But his motivational speech before the tip not only awed the coaches, but aided those Hokies who never stepped foot in the world-renowned Madison Square Garden gain confidence.

“It’s important for me because I look up to him because he’s doing the same thing that I want to do on the court,” said freshman Nigel Munson.  “So I don’t have no choice but to look up to him.  But he motivates the whole team, and he’s a leader on the team, so everyone’s going to listen to him when he talks.”

The speech clearly helped for Munson ended the evening with a career high of 12 points, an impressive display for a first in the Garden.

Along with Munson, freshman Lewis Witcher experienced a debut in the “world’s most famous arena.”  Hailing from the small town of Rocky Mount, Witcher played in anarena larger than any he’s ever known, and toured a city unlike any in Virginia.

“It’s really exciting coming here and playing in one of the most famous NBA arenas in the world,” he said.  “Just coming out to play was exciting.  It was my first time in the Garden and in New York, so it was a really good experience for me.”

While the game marked both firsts for the freshman, and lasts for the seniors in Madison Square Garden, one Hokie has many experiences in the venue, with many more to come.

“I grew up taking the train in with my dad going to the old Garden,” Greenberg said.  “Where I sat for game seven in the Knicks first championship no longer exists, it’s a box.  I wish I could have sat in those seats.”

“This place is special, just the way it is… the best basketball games were played in one place, this is it.  This is the home of college basketball…  (and) Hokie nation is a real entity, and maybe if we keep getting good players and keep improving, we’ll get a chance to come back.”