BBN Jam Sweet 16: (1998) Mohammed & Sheppard vs. (1999) Turner & Padgett
When the idea of the BBN Jam Tournament was conceived, the goal was to pit dynamic duos from different eras against one another. Thanks to a first round upset by Scott Padgett and Wayne Turner, we have teammates facing off in the Sweet 16.
All four players were key components to Tubby Smith’s improbable National Championship in 1998. Sheppard (13.7 ppg.) and Mohammed (12) were the leading scorers, just ahead of Padgett (11.5) and Turner (9.3). In fact, in the Comeback Cats’ most memorable game of their tournament run against Duke, Padgett and Turner were the stars. Sheppard led all scorers with 18 points but Turner scored 16 and shut down Wojo, while Padgett hit the late three-point that delivered a dagger into the belly of the Blue Devils.
TALE OF THE TAPE
These four players have shared the court many times. Did they ever play two-on-two? That seems unlikely, so we’ll still play the hypothetical game.
Padgett is a big enough body to hang around with Nazr inside, only one-inch shorter than the center. The St. X product has an even bigger advantage offensively. All he has to do to put Nazr on his heels is stand behind that three-point line. Even though Turner is a point guard, he does not have a dramatic disadvantage in size against Sheppard, only separated by an inch. Sheppard is the much better scorer of the two, but Turner’s defensive prowess would certainly pose a problem.
The decision is now in your hands. Who wins this clash between teammates?
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