ST. LOUIS – Through the great disappointment in the Oregon locker room following the 85-77 loss to Florida in the Elite Eight, senior point guard Aaron Brooks reflected on his up and down career at Oregon – one that was capped by a magical run to end the season but ended against the defending national champion Gators on Sunday.
“I had fun,” Brooks said. “I’ve grown a lot during these four years. And I just love my teammates, regardless. We’ve been through so much together, and I just love my guys. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for them.”
Brooks entered his senior year after spending three seasons in which he was unable to meet expectations, and as the leader, he failed to take Oregon to the postseason.
And it was a career for Brooks once tainted by costly mistakes late in games, a broken hand after punching the backboard support at UCLA in frustration and, a violent forearm shot to the face of an opponent – but it’ll end as one of the most decorated ever at Oregon.
He joined the 1,000-point club and finishes ninth on the schools career points list with 1,511. The Pac-10’s leading scorer at 17.8 points per game also finishes his career as the fourth most prolific three-point shooter in school history with 205.
And Brooks was such a critical part of Oregon’s success having made six different shots late in games that either won it or tied it and he was rewarded with All-Pac-10 honors this season, falling just short of the Pac-10 Player of the Year award.
Despite the loss Sunday to the top-seeded Gators, his career ended fittingly – with Brooks giving everything he had until the very end and leading the Ducks in scoring with 27 points, his 11th 20-plus game of the season. He also earned a spot on the Midwest Region All-Tournament team.
“Obviously he’s probably the one that’s grown the most so far in his time here at the University of Oregon, probably more than any player I’ve ever coached at this point,” Oregon coach Ernie Kent said. “He’s one of those infectious players that you know you are going to be involved with the rest of his life because of everything you’ve gone through.
“Aaron’s meant a lot to us. He’s won a lot of basketball games for us this year…I told him, he’s the greatest point guard I’ve ever coached in terms of everything he’s been through.”
Brooks will depart with fellow seniors Adam Zahn and Adrian Stelly.
“I’m so happy for Aaron Brooks, the way he’s finished his year,” Zahn said. “He’s going to have a very bright future.”
During the press conference following the loss, Brooks said, for the last time, he couldn’t wait to get back to Oregon’s very emotional locker room to be with the teammates he’s shared so much with in the last four years.
“I had a nice run here,” Brooks said. “I met some guys that are going to stick with me for a lifetime. They’re like family.”
Encore
It was certainly difficult to grasp the situation for most Oregon players and coaches following Sunday’s game. Kent paused for a few moments while addressing the media to shed a few tears and it was clear that even more were wept by the players following the loss.
“It hurts,” guard Malik Hairston said. “It hurts to see these guys’ faces like that. We’ve been through so much and I just think we’ve done a great job just coming from where we came from. This year’s been a great year.”
And the run to the Elite Eight offers much hope for next season with the Ducks returning the bulk of its firepower except for Brooks. The Ducks reload next season with six of its seven top scorers including Hairston, Taylor, Maarty Leunen and Chamberlain Oguchi returning as seniors along with freshmen Tajuan Porter and Joevan Catron.
Also returning are reserves Ray Schafer, Mitch Platt, Josh Akwenuke and Churchill Odia.
And joining the team officially are incoming freshmen Drew Viney and Kamyron Brown as well as redshirt freshman LeKendric Longmire and Frantz Dorsainvil, a Haiti-native, who could not join the team after signing a letter of intent due to issues with his visa.
“We got a great taste of success this year,” Leunen, the top rebounder, said. “We know what it takes to get to this point. Even though we do lose great seniors and Aaron Brooks, the heart and soul of our team, it just gives us an opportunity for someone else to step up.”
The Ducks finish the season with the second most wins in school history at 29-7 and had the best start to a season in school history after going undefeated in the regular season and boasting a 20-1 record at one point.
“I just told them how proud I was,” Kent said. “This team has been through so much.”
Kent’s Status
There is question of whether Kent will return next season after former Athletic Director Bill Moos failed to rollover Kent’s contract – which would have kept in Eugene until 2010 – following a disappointing 15-18 record last season. Current Athletic Director Pat Kilkenny, who was in attendance Sunday, said he intends to sit down with Kent when the coach is ready to discuss the future.
“That’s really up to him,” Kilkenny said of the timing. “He’s been through a lot. Let’s cut him some slack and let him do what he wants to do. That’s what they go through in terms of emotion and energy – if I were him, I would be in bed for a week.”
Kilkenny said he has not been contacted for permission from other programs to speak to Kent and said he does want to see Kent back at Oregon next season.
He also had a few positive words for the team following an emotional loss.
“I said the entire state of Oregon is proud of them,” Kilkenny said. “I’m confident that even the people in Corvallis are.”
Kent said he thanked outgoing Athletic Director Bill Moos behind close doors for sticking by his team through all the struggles of last season. He also said his “heart is at Oregon” and that he would like to remain in Eugene, if Oregon wants him to stay.
He admitted last week that he has been contacted by officials at Michigan regarding the opening there.