CJ versus Hankins

[94GRAD]

This.

CJ Anderson did not introduce “Toughness” to X. There were so many tough teams before he came.

No question that the team with Hill, Strong, Walker, Kimbrough, Davenport - or the next season that added Brantley and Williams (and knocked off a Georgetown team that had Mourning, Mutombo, Charles Smith and two other NBA players on it).

That was one tough group of guys.

I dare someone to tell Torraye Braggs he wasn't tough!

[nuts4xu]

FWIW, for those who haven't been around the program as long as others, prior to CJ coming to Xavier, Xavier was considered a soft basketball program. They were not considered a physically tough team like UC's Huggins teams. That changed once CJ joined Xavier and became infectious with the rest of the team.

This is 100% accurate. Before Anderson transferred to Xavier, we were coming off a series of teams filled with "nice guys". It started with Coach Prosser (another nice guy), when he signed Gary Lumpkin's class, and we were inundated with stories about how he played the organ in his church. When Justin Doellman was on the team, he would literally get punched in the face once per season. Each time it happened, there was zero retaliation. He often played better after taking the punch, but his teammates always accepted it, and the program developed a reputation in some circles as "soft".

CJ Anderson transferred to Xavier and that all changed. He brought some swagger, and toughness we hadn't seen in a while. It was refreshing. Nice guys like Derrick Brown, Dante Jackson, Josh Duncan, Justin Doellman, Brad Redford, and all great players, but not known for their physical toughness. CJ didn't start fights, didn't get a lot of T's that I can recall, but carried himself with confidence and "don't f**k with me" attitude. He showed no fear, and didn't back down from anyone.

[GoMuskies]

I hear you on Lumpkin....but in Lumpkin's class was Lenny Brown. Dude.

[IM4X]

I dare someone to tell Torraye Braggs he wasn't tough!

He may have been the baddest of the bad to ever play at X.

[cutterX]

Torraye Braggs hands down. The dude scared me and I sat in the upper section of the Gardens! Other teams did not eff with him!

[MHettel]

Jeff Robinson.

That dude scared me every time he entered the game.

[xeus]

I'd fight A-Train and Weez at the same time before I messed with Andre Smith.

[94GRAD]

I'd fight A-Train and Weez at the same time before I messed with Andre Smith.

He is out of prison now

[paulxu]

Speaking of Prosser on the nice guy front...his son Mark, who coaches at Western Carolina, just won the Skip Prosser Award.

[94GRAD]

Speaking of Prosser on the nice guy front...his son Mark, who coaches at Western Carolina, just won the Skip Prosser Award.

Nepotism at its finest?