Staff Photo by D. Patrick HardingMichael Bradley plays against Brainered last year.
HOUSTON – Michael Bradley couldn’t have been happier if he’d been the Connecticut Huskies’ most outstanding player in their national championship victory over Butler on Monday night.
And the Tyner Academy graduate didn’t play a minute. All season.
“If there was ever a year to redshirt, this was it,” said the 6-foot-10 freshman forward who’ll have four years of eligibility left, beginning next season.
“To be a national champion, who wouldn’t want that? Who wouldn’t want to work hard to help make that happen? I might not have played a minute, but I hope I helped make these other guys better. I know they’ve made me better.”
Sitting in the winners’ locker room, 7-foot senior Charles Okwandu on his right and and 6-9 sophomore Alex Oriakhi on his left, Bradley said he’d endured his share of tough moments against the two.
“I’m on defense a lot in practice against them,” Bradley said. “And it’s tough sometimes. But I can see myself getting better, too.”
He estimates he’s added 10 or 15 pounds to his frame. More importantly, he’s added 70 pounds to his bench press, now up to 255.
Tyner coach Gerald Harris – who redshirted during his freshman year at Middle Tennessee State after his own Tyner playing career – arrived in Space City on Friday and said he’s seen the difference.
“His neck’s bigger; his shoulders are bigger,” Harris said as he stood cheering in the UConn section at the close of the game. “I’m just so proud of Michael. He’s really well grounded. He’s really working hard to improve. His basketball IQ isn’t there yet, but his energy and desire is through the roof.”
Harris believes Bradley may be only the second Chattanooga high school player ever to be part of an NCAA Division I title. The first was former Baylor School star Jimmy Braddock, who was a key reserve on the 1982 North Carolina national title team.
Asked about that, Bradley smiled and pointed to his black UConn duffle bag, where he’d just stuffed his strand of championship net.
“Priceless,” he said of that net. “Now I’ve got to work harder to see if I can help us get back here next year.”
Contact Mark Wiedmer at mwiedmer@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6273.