Georgia State head basketball coach Ron Hunter gained immediate cult status during 2015’s NCAA tournament after he slapstick-fashion fell on his backside celebrating the No. 14 Panthers’ first round upset of No. 3 Baylor, 57-56, on a miracle last-second three pointer from the top of the key by none other than his own son, R.J. Hunter.
Georgia State is headed back to the big dance with the infamous Buzzer-Beater Stool
Ron Hunter’s legendary stool is dancing yet again!
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Let’s take this frame-by-frame for a quick minute.
Apprehension.
Celebration.
Oh, no.
OK. Bye.
The damn stool failed Hunter, who was already recovering from a dang Achilles injury, but buzzer beaters in the Big Dance make no such time for ankle injuries or stool-related slips.
Wait, why is Hunter falling on his ass here, again?
Hunter’s son R.J. buried Baylor’s otherwise optimistic 2015 tournament aspirations with that there three-pointer, yet the Panthers would go on to lose to Xavier in the tournament’s second round, 75-67. No matter, though, because Coach Hunter stunted himself into March Madness history, and shamelessly wears his sideline goof as something of a badge of honor. As well he should.
Hunter was wheeling himself about the court that night because he had previously shredded up his Achilles tendon while exuberantly celebrating the team’s first ever NCAA tournament berth and was forced to wear a walking boot through the first week of the 2015 Big Dance. One must feel understandably sympathetic for a mid-major coach’s jubilant celebration — if even down one leg — while he topples heels over head onto the hardwood as his underdogs snipe down a game-sealing three in the tournament’s first round.
The Buzzer Beater Stool is back this year!
Well, now Georgia State is finally headed back to the big dance for the first time since Hunter’s hobbled visit in 2015, and the Panthers are bringing that damn scooty stool with them. Just look at this supportive beauty.
College basketball may not enjoy as robust bench hijinks as, say, college baseball, but this is still a deep March Madness cut. Certainly anyone in Waco should look at this stool and grimace hard.
No. 15 Georgia State takes on No. 2 Cincinnati Friday at 2 p.m. ET in the Nashville South region site. Hunter and his wheelie stool will certainly be in attendance.
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