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CONGRATULATING THE GAMECOCKS MEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA ON WINNING ITS SECOND NATIONAL INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP AND ON BECOMING ONLY THE SECOND TEAM IN HISTORY TO WIN BACK-TO-BACK NATIONAL INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT TITLES.
Whereas, the Gamecocks Men's Basketball Team, whose rocky regular season performance appeared to have ruined a promising year, never flinched as it walloped the University of Michigan Wolverines to clinch its second National Invitational Tournament (NIT) Championship on March 30, 2006 in Madison Square Garden; and
Whereas, this win clinched the Gamecock's second NIT title in two years, a feat accomplished on one previous occasion in 1944; and
Whereas, prior to the NIT tournament, the Gamecocks were able to overcome a difficult regular season by upsetting the Universities of Tennessee and Kentucky before losing to Southeastern Conference Tournament champion and National Collegiate Athletic Association champion the University of Florida; and
Whereas, team leaders Tarence Kinsey and Tré Kelley scored twenty-one and twenty points, respectively, and Renaldo Balkman, the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, assisted with ten points, eleven rebounds, and a career-high six blocks; and
Whereas, under the leadership of Head Coach Dave Odom, the Gamecocks have reached the NIT semifinal round in three of his five seasons; and
Whereas, the team continues to be a source of pride for the entire State of South Carolina and we look forward to cheering them on in future tournaments; and
Whereas, it is fitting and proper for the members of the General Assembly to pause in their deliberations to honor this outstanding team. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly congratulate the Gamecocks Men's Basketball Team of the University of South Carolina on winning its second National Invitational Tournament Championship and on becoming only the second team in history to win back-to-back National Invitational Tournament Titles.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the Honorable Herbert C. Adams, Chairman, University of South Carolina Board of Trustees; Dr. Andrew A. Sorensen, University of South Carolina President; Mr. Eric Hyman, University of South Carolina Director of Athletics; and University of South Carolina Head Basketball Coach Dave Odom.
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