Seems right to put this out there in light of another thread. This is not about his injury - though it's a bummer and I feel for the guy.
Writing this to share a few things I really like about what a competitor Big Matt is - off the court
First, how he shushed CCC up in the Indiana postgame press conference after trying to sell a misleading answer. (he said plays aren't called for him - building some deliberate competitive subtrifuge into his answer). CC blew it by not playing along. Matt tried to shush him up - it was a really funny moment which said a lot about MN but also about the rapport CC has with his players.
Second, at Purdue this year when he fouled out. Apparently in Mackey the fans erupt when a fouled-out competitive player sits down on the bench. Big Matt stood there in front of his chair until the exact point when Edey was about to release the first free throw - at which point he sat down and the crowed roared. It was perfect - really looked like Edey was affected, and he missed the free throw. The announcers mentioned it and marvelled at the devious genius of that move. The subsequent shot shows Matt and the NU bench cracking up about how Matt had trolled all of Mackey - and Edey - at the same time. That should be a highlight of its own on Northwestern Athletics' channel.
He's a character, seems to have fun engaging in some very competitive mind games. Got to love that - the kind of thing that only a center from NU would pull off. I see he chats to other players during the game as well - it all looks very friendly with a smile - but I can't help but wonder if he's messing with people as he does.
That's one of the many things I appreciate about Big Matt.
Writing this to share a few things I really like about what a competitor Big Matt is - off the court
First, how he shushed CCC up in the Indiana postgame press conference after trying to sell a misleading answer. (he said plays aren't called for him - building some deliberate competitive subtrifuge into his answer). CC blew it by not playing along. Matt tried to shush him up - it was a really funny moment which said a lot about MN but also about the rapport CC has with his players.
Second, at Purdue this year when he fouled out. Apparently in Mackey the fans erupt when a fouled-out competitive player sits down on the bench. Big Matt stood there in front of his chair until the exact point when Edey was about to release the first free throw - at which point he sat down and the crowed roared. It was perfect - really looked like Edey was affected, and he missed the free throw. The announcers mentioned it and marvelled at the devious genius of that move. The subsequent shot shows Matt and the NU bench cracking up about how Matt had trolled all of Mackey - and Edey - at the same time. That should be a highlight of its own on Northwestern Athletics' channel.
He's a character, seems to have fun engaging in some very competitive mind games. Got to love that - the kind of thing that only a center from NU would pull off. I see he chats to other players during the game as well - it all looks very friendly with a smile - but I can't help but wonder if he's messing with people as he does.
That's one of the many things I appreciate about Big Matt.
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