Sports

Gustafson wails on Garnet record books

In print | January 27, 2005

There’s nothing more annoying than a broken record. record. record. record.

Except when the record in question is Swarthmore’s all-time scoring crown. That crashing sound emanating all the way from Muhlenberg last Wednesday night was the mark set by Scott Gibbons ’92 falling to second place behind Matt Gustafson ’05.

Gustafson has shot 1328 field goals and 298 free throws in the 2792 minutes he has been on the court for the Garnet. The mere thought of so much basketball would quiet even Dick Vitale, gaping at the basketball machine that has owned Table Pavilion for the past four years.

The numbers are mind-numbing. Going into last night’s game against Haverford, Gustafson had 1605 points, 523 rebounds, 57 blocked shots, and 183 three-pointers.

Go back and read those stats one more time.

How can one player torch the bucket so badly? “The team that was there [my first year] needed someone to score and shoot,” the 6’4" forward said. That team “needed” Gustafson much in the same way that the President “needed” Florida in the 2000 election.

Gustafson’s excellent inside game and laser-targeted outside shot forces opponents to pick their poison. Larger players may keep him out of the paint, but cannot help but be humiliated by his accuracy. Smaller players are better equipped to cover his outside shot, but simply cannot stop him from driving to the basket.

As a first-year, Gustafson scored 354 points, setting the stage for a burning of the record books that would make Ray Bradbury cough up a lung. “After my freshman year I knew I had a chance [to break the record],” Gustafson said.

In that first season, Gustafson was the leading scorer for the Garnet and tenth in the Centennial Conference with 14.3 points per game. Since then, he has steadily climbed to the top of the leader board, finishing seventh in the conference with 15.6 ppg in 2003, second with 19.5 ppg in 2004, and 23.4 ppg this season, good enough for first in the Conference and 13th in all of Division III.

In addition to the scoring title, Gustafson is on track to score the most 3-pointers in Garnet history. Despite attracting the spotlight, the Virginia native tries to keep a modest attitude. “I don’t think that [the records are] that big a deal,” he said. “I never really thought that much about it, just about making myself the best player I can be.”

The team’s struggles over the years have shadowed Gustafson’s individual success. “My biggest regret is that [Matt] is the best player to have played here, but he’s never been involved with postseason play,” Head Coach Lee Wimberley said.

“It would be great to play in the postseason,” Gustafson concurred. “It’s the goal you set every year.” The Garnet came agonizingly close to achieving that goal last year, remaining in playoff contention until the last game of the season.

Still, buckets of Gustafson’s fond memories will make up for the team’s lack of playoff glory. “I got to meet a good group of friends,” he said, “which is probably more important in the long run than how the team does this year.”

Wimberley had more to say about Gustafson’s contribution to the team’s chemistry. “He’s a class act and a humble leader,” the 17th year coach said. “He’s loved by all of his teammates.”

Number 32 will take the to his home court for the last time on Feb. 16. Eight games remain on the schedule, providing more than enough opportunity for Gustafson to put his record permanently out of reach, although that may not be what he wants. “I think it would be good [for my record to be broken],” he said. “It draws more attention to Swat athletics — anything that can do that is good.” good. good. good.