Faaborg Keeps Home Fires Burning
1/24/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Danny Faaborg knows how it feels to witness crucial moments of Bobcat-Grizzly games from the bench. On Saturday, he found out what it was like to finish one.
"Me, I'm a fifth-year guy, and I know what it's like to be on the bench at the end of this game," said Faaborg, beaming, after leading his hometown school, Montana State, to a win over arch-rival Montana. "That was my role, and that's fine. But being on the floor at the end of this game, that's what it's all about."
Faaborg was on the floor at the end of the game, receiving a rousing ovation when he checked out for the final time in the last minute, but it was the opening moments of the second half that he changed the game. Montana scored at the outset of the second period to cut MSU's lead to four points. At that point, Faaborg played perhaps the finest four-and-a-half minutes of his career.
Faaborg answered Derrick Mansell's quick hoop with a three-pointer, stretching the Bobcat lead to seven. "I don't think he even knew they were in a box-and-one," Bobcat coach Mick Durham said, and he was right. Less than a minute later, after a Kevin Criswell free throw, Faaborg hit a layup, then at the 15:44 mark hit a short jumper. Three buckets, all in a period of time in which Montana was trying to claw its way back into the game. Those three baskets came at the game's most crucial juncture, and helped MSU extend its lead from six to 10.
"There's no question, Danny played a terrific game," Durham said. "When he can knock down some shots, we're a much more difficult team to guard."
Faaborg's biggest contributions, in Durham's mind, weren't measurable by statistics, though. "We have a veteran team," Durham said. "We have four seniors in our starting lineup, and I wouldn't trade that experience. Danny is a big part of that."
Seniors are supposed to spend their final collegiate season living halcyon days, and student-athletes that play college ball in their hometown are supposed to be heroes. Faaborg has really never fit either of those roles. He has been a role player throughout his career, and even this season, his final playing the game he loves so much, he has toiled outside the limelight.
"Danny has done a nice job doing some of the dirty work this year," Durham said, referring to the fact that Faaborg has toiled as a drastically undersized power forward. Every game he gives away several inches and many pounds to the player he guards, and even though he gets the pleasure of dragging bigger players out on the perimeter at the other end of the floor, his willingness to bang and scratch and claw inside have been crucial to MSU's strong play of late (the 'Cats have won eight of their last 10).
Faaborg may toil out of the limelight, but his golden locks and million dollar smile -- his trademarks over the last five years no matter what his role on the Bobcat basketball team has been -- radiated after Saturday's MSU victory more than any spotlight ever will.
"To win this game in my fifth year, I can't put this feeling into words."
Just as the Bobcats can't measure Faaborg's contributions with mere statistics.
"Me, I'm a fifth-year guy, and I know what it's like to be on the bench at the end of this game," said Faaborg, beaming, after leading his hometown school, Montana State, to a win over arch-rival Montana. "That was my role, and that's fine. But being on the floor at the end of this game, that's what it's all about."
Faaborg was on the floor at the end of the game, receiving a rousing ovation when he checked out for the final time in the last minute, but it was the opening moments of the second half that he changed the game. Montana scored at the outset of the second period to cut MSU's lead to four points. At that point, Faaborg played perhaps the finest four-and-a-half minutes of his career.
Faaborg answered Derrick Mansell's quick hoop with a three-pointer, stretching the Bobcat lead to seven. "I don't think he even knew they were in a box-and-one," Bobcat coach Mick Durham said, and he was right. Less than a minute later, after a Kevin Criswell free throw, Faaborg hit a layup, then at the 15:44 mark hit a short jumper. Three buckets, all in a period of time in which Montana was trying to claw its way back into the game. Those three baskets came at the game's most crucial juncture, and helped MSU extend its lead from six to 10.
"There's no question, Danny played a terrific game," Durham said. "When he can knock down some shots, we're a much more difficult team to guard."
Faaborg's biggest contributions, in Durham's mind, weren't measurable by statistics, though. "We have a veteran team," Durham said. "We have four seniors in our starting lineup, and I wouldn't trade that experience. Danny is a big part of that."
Seniors are supposed to spend their final collegiate season living halcyon days, and student-athletes that play college ball in their hometown are supposed to be heroes. Faaborg has really never fit either of those roles. He has been a role player throughout his career, and even this season, his final playing the game he loves so much, he has toiled outside the limelight.
"Danny has done a nice job doing some of the dirty work this year," Durham said, referring to the fact that Faaborg has toiled as a drastically undersized power forward. Every game he gives away several inches and many pounds to the player he guards, and even though he gets the pleasure of dragging bigger players out on the perimeter at the other end of the floor, his willingness to bang and scratch and claw inside have been crucial to MSU's strong play of late (the 'Cats have won eight of their last 10).
Faaborg may toil out of the limelight, but his golden locks and million dollar smile -- his trademarks over the last five years no matter what his role on the Bobcat basketball team has been -- radiated after Saturday's MSU victory more than any spotlight ever will.
"To win this game in my fifth year, I can't put this feeling into words."
Just as the Bobcats can't measure Faaborg's contributions with mere statistics.
Wednesday, June 10
Friday, March 27
Monday, March 23
Friday, March 13
