GABE NORWOOD SPOTLIGHT | 2006 US NCAA FINAL FOUR | FLORIDA VERSUS GEORGE MASON
- Syd Salazar
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
PBA STATS
Gabe Norwood’s talent is just on another level. Like a lot of Filipino-Americans, he came to the Philippines looking for an opportunity to play and make a name for himself — and he absolutely did. His big break actually traces back to one of Chot Reyes’ U.S. scouting trips, when the national team coach was searching for the next great Fil-Am after Kelly Williams.
Before all that, Norwood was part of the George Mason Patriots — the same team that featured former Rain or Shine import Jai Lewis — and they made that unforgettable run to the 2006 NCAA Final Four. It wasn’t an easy road either. As a Colonial Athletic Association school, they had to survive a gauntlet of powerhouse programs: Shannon Brown’s Michigan State in the Round of 64, a North Carolina team with Tyler Hansbrough, Danny Green, and former Ginebra import David Noel in the Round of 32, Wichita State in the Sweet Sixteen, and a loaded UConn squad featuring Rudy Gay plus future PBA imports Josh Boone and Denham Brown in the Elite Eight.
They finally bowed out against the ridiculously stacked Florida Gators — the Al Horford, Corey Brewer, Chris Richard, Taurean Green, and Joakim Noah crew that went on to win back-to-back titles. Norwood logged 25 minutes in that game and, true to form, took on the tough defensive assignment of chasing Lee Humphrey around.
Also, it's insane that Norwood retired before Horford, and Chris Richard's son, Will Richard, is now playing for the Golden State Warriors.
George Mason may have lost, but they made history as the first CAA team to ever reach the Final Four. Their Cinderella run became the blueprint for every so-called “small-market” college program dreaming of a deep NCAA Tournament push.
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