The calendar year didn’t finish as strong as it started out for USD’s Brandon Johnson, who had led the Toreros to a milestone win in the first round of the NCAA basketball tournament against Connecticut.
Johnson’s bid to return to the NCAA ended December 13 with a ruptured achilles tendon, but Johnson’s mark on 2008 as a junior was an indelible one. He led the Toreros to upset wins over St. Mary’s and Gonzaga as USD won the West Coast Conference tournament to earn the West Coast Conference’s automatic NCAA bid. The 6-foot, 200-pounder was named the tournament MVP.
Before USD upset Connecticut in the first round, a San Diego men’s college basketball team had never won a NCAA tournament game. USD was 0 and 3 in its three previous trips.
Johnson was a first-team All-WCC pick that led the Toreros in scoring with 16.9 points a game and 35.1 minutes played. His 590 points for the season set a school record.
Congratulations to Brandon Johnson for being awarded the amateur 2008 Star of the Year.
Posted on June 7, 2009 by admin
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