Part of the delight of March Madness is seeing the scope of groups thrust into the spotlight. If you’re an ACC fan, for instance, you may not get a lot of direct exposure to groups playing in other places in the nation. And those teams will get in the NCAA Tournament with their own distinct designs and stories.
Think About the Houston Cougars, who have actually reentered the spotlight years after the Phi Slama Jama took the program. Throughout the 2023-24 project, they’ve been taking the flooring with a No. 32 spot on their cumulative chests.
And if you aren’t too acquainted with Houston, you may be questioning what that jersey information represents. Lots of groups utilize memorial spots to honor very much left legends, however those gamers are generally long eliminated from their time on the wood. For these Cougars, however, the loss of No. 32 strikes much closer to home.
Justin Ford/Getty Images
Houston Remembers Reggie Chaney With Patch
Throughout the years, lots of big-time names have actually worn for Houston. And while names like Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler might loom big in history, nobody connected with the modern-day program will forget Reggie Chaney.
After beginning his NCAA profession at Arkansas, the forward associated Houston ahead of the 2020-21 season. He wasn’t a nailed-on starter (he remained in the Cougars’ very first 5 13 times that year, which number reduced with each passing season), however he instantly ended up being an essential part of the group’s rotation. Chaney participated in 32 video games that project and followed it up with 37 looks in 2021-22 and 35 in 2022-23.
The Oklahoma native never ever actually packed the stat sheet– his general NCAA average was 4.0 points and 2.9 rebounds per trip throughout 5 seasons– however he still made lots of acknowledgment. Chaney declared 2022-23 American Athletic Conference Sixth Man of the Year honors and, after leaving school, was poised to play expertly overseas.
That foreign launching never ever got here.
The forward passed away on August 21, 2023. Ultimately, “the Tarrant County Medical Examiner stated Chaney, 23, passed away from fentanyl toxicity,” according to the Houston ChronicleHis death was ruled a mishap.
His previous college group without delay commemorated him and his tradition.
“I informed them Reggie’s constantly going to remain in our hearts,” head coach Kelvin Sampson stated, according to Chris Baldwin’s Paper City publication story. “That’s why we have memories. While somebody near and dear to our hearts left us, we have his memories. And we’re likewise going to put No. 32 on our jerseys this year so he’ll be close to us.”
And when the chips were possibly down throughout a difficult NCAA Tournament conference with Texas A&M, Chaney’s memory assisted his old colleagues overcome the bulge. Sampson pointed out the late forward throughout his halftime talk, and the Cougars reacted.
“We play every video game for Reggie,” Ryan Elvin described after that success, according to Jason Munz of the Industrial Appeal paper in Memphis, Tennessee. “Tough video games like this, you understand, we understand he’s with us. This was his kind of video game, for sure. Reggie was among the hardest men, if not the hardest man, I’ve ever been around.
“When it’s difficult video games like this, we consider him a bit more. He’s constantly with us,” Elvin stated.
How far can Houston enter the competition? For much better or even worse, attempting to anticipate March Madness is a fool’s errand. No matter how long this journey lasts, the group will not forget Chaney’s memory.
His number, after all, exists whenever the Cougars take the court.
Unusual Knowledge
Newsweek is dedicated to difficult traditional knowledge and finding connections in the look for commonalities.
Newsweek is devoted to difficult traditional knowledge and finding connections in the look for commonalities.