The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Road to the Final Four: Freshman guard Daniel Gibson
03.17.2005 | Men's Basketball
Seniors Sydmill Harris, Jason Klotz and Kenny Taylor must play this year's NCAA Tournament as if it's their last, because it is. Freshman point guard Daniel Gibson will be playing in Thursday's matchup against Nevada as if it's his first, because it is, but you probably won't realize it.
"When I was younger, I watched the NCAA Championship Game, but I didn't really know what it meant," said Gibson, whose father, Byron, played for the Houston Cougars in the late 1970s. "As I got older, I watched more of the games and now, I'm finally a part of it."
Being "a part of it" has been something that Gibson expected when he verbally committed to Texas two years ago. Now, after a freshman season in which he was the lone Longhorn to start all 30 games, he realizes how hard it is to get to the Big Dance.
But even after all of the congratulatory phone calls from family and friends, Gibson's personal advisor, both on and off the court, told him there was still plenty left to achieve.
"Out of all the people that called me, I remember my dad not seeming too excited," the younger Gibson said. "He simply told me 'you have an opportunity to do some things, but you have to work.'"
With his own ability and confidence mixed with his father's advice, Gibson has earned the trust of his teammates, praise from his coaches and double teams from his opponents. In the NCAA Tournament, you should expect the Houston native to continue earning every bit of respect, praise and defensive attention he gets, because he'll be playing with the same mantra he has played with all season: Just have fun.
A few hours after Texas earned the number eight seed in the NCAA Tournament on Sunday night, Gibson spoke to his basketball friend and Longhorn legend, T.J. Ford. The conversation only lasted 20 minutes, but it was effective. Cutting to the point like only Ford can, his message to Gibson was simple: "Just go out there and have fun."
Rewind back to preseason, before earning Big 12 Freshman of the Year and being hailed as the nation's best frosh by Dick Vitale, and you'll remember that Gibson let us know exactly how he'd measure his freshman season.
"This (his freshman year) is going to be a lot of fun, just being with my teammates and being in a college atmosphere," Gibson said at the team's preseason media day. "I hope to have a big impact and help my teammates have fun. It's not just about winning. We should have fun, too. My job is to keep everybody happy and make sure we're all having fun."
Along with leading the team in scoring (14.4 ppg) and minutes played (32.7 mpg), Gibson also leads the Horns in assists (4.0 apg), steals (54) and three-pointers made (72). More importantly, it was Gibson who took over the role of team leader after the midseason loss of both P.J. Tucker and LaMarcus Aldridge.
While many around Austin and the country figured Texas would be lucky just to get the NIT following those tough circumstances, Gibson simply put the team on his back and stepped up his production.
As Gibson and the Longhorns take the court at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis in Thursday, you can count one thing. Gibson will crack a joke with his teammates and smile. And you'll know he's about ready to have some fun.
