Jordan Carter was a sophomore on the 2006 Final Four team. Playing in the Final Four was special Carter but it was also a homecoming for the native of Indianapolis. Carter starred at Brebeuf Jesuit Prep. GoMason.com caught up with Carter recently to celebrate the historic event of 10 years ago.
Q. Do you keep in touch with your Mason teammates? If so, how often do you talk or see each other?
A. I talk to John Vaughan more than the others since we were roommates for so long. JV has also visited me in Las Vegas. But I talk to the others from time to time. A few of us are online video gamers.
Q. Do you keep in touch with the coaches?
A. No, not often. But I will always remember Mason's past Assistant Coach Courtney, coming to Dayton, OH when we beat Michigan State and North Carolina. Coach Courtney recruited most of the players on the Final Four team. I also speak to Coach Konkol and Debi Corbatto through social media from time to time.
Q. What have you been doing since you graduated?
A. I have been through a lot since I graduated. I was playing ABA ball out in West Virginia, and after that, I was a 911 Telecommunicator in Roanoke, Va. I then moved back to the Northern Virginia area and trained for 5-6 months to be a Cisco Voice Engineer. I am currently living in Pittsburg, California (40 minutes from San Francisco) doing Telephony/Voice Engineering.
Q. What experience did you gain playing after Mason?
A. I never played overseas, but I was a member of the ABA West Virginia Blazers out of Bluefield, WV. I made a lot of good friends and have a lot of good memories playing with those guys. We still keep in touch.
Q. What have you been doing since retiring as a player?
A. After I tore my Achilles during a pick-up basketball game my playing days were over.
Q. Do you still get recognized as a member of the 2006 Mason team? If so, any good stories?
A. I used to a lot, especially if I was wearing Mason Final Four gear. Once while in Walmart a kid came up to me and asked for my autograph. He didn't have any paper so he had me sign his Pepsi bottle. But not so much anymore since I no longer have my afro. Recently I was recognized in CA at a mall. Some guy randomly told me he remembered the Final Four run and that he was a 1993 graduate of Mason.
Q. What do you remember about Selection Sunday?
A. The team was all gathered at Coach L's house nervously waiting for the news. When our name was called we all yelled in excitement. A moment I will never forget.
Q. What memory do you have of eating at Outback in March 2006?
A. I remember eating at Brion's Grille more than Outback. Brion's Grille was our pre-game meal spot. The last time I was there with my parents they were thrilled to see all the photos, gear, autographed items on display there.
Q. What are your top 3 moments from the 2006 season?
A. 1) Beating NC and Michigan State
2) I was a Sophomore and I was playing in the Final Four in Indianapolis, the place where I was born and raised. I am not sure how often this happens, but it was very special to me.
3) When the 2006 Final Four banner was raised at Mason. It will forever be a part of Mason with my hometown, Indianapolis, on it.
Q. Tell me a good story about that run in March that maybe fans don't know?
A. I bet the fans don't know about all the gear we received from being part of the Final Four. Rings, shoes (that my dad never let me wear), a piece of the floor, socks, t-shirts, jerseys, etc. Also, because the Final Four was in my hometown, I got a lot of interviews and press. My grade school, St. Michaels, dedicated their outside display to me during March. My high school, Brebeuf Jesuit named me the “local link” to the Final Four, and I was listed as a Brebeuf “Famous Alumni”. There was an article in the local paper headlined “Brebeuf's Carter living the dream”.
Q. Which pregame speech from coach Larranaga struck you the most? Why?
A. “Nothing is particularly hard when you divide it into small parts. Remember this when you have a large job to do.” I remember this because this it is not just about basketball, it is how I live my life, reach my goals, etc.
Q. How do you fill out your bracket in March? What's it like to now watch March Madness from your home?
A. Believe it or not I don't watch much college basketball, just a lot of NBA. But I always fill out a bracket, but you never know when there will be another mid-major team like ours coming to the big game. It just depends on what team plays the best that day.
Q. How do you compare Mason to other underdogs that have gone to the Final Four?
A. I don't. There is no way we can be compared to anybody. The teams we beat were teams that had all been to the Final Four numerous times and probably even won. The mid-majors that followed us can't make that claim.
Q. Do you think the media and fans look at underdogs differently now that Mason paved the way as a double-digit seed?
A. Yes, they have to. A team can have all the “super stars” they want but nothing beats playing hard, smart, and together.
Q. What do you do when you hear Bon Jovi's 'Livin on a Prayer'?
A. I love that song to this day. Every time I hear this song, it instantly brings back fond memories of Mason basketball.
Q. What was going through your mind when Denham Brown was dribbling down the court for the final shot?
A. My first thought was that he was going to take a 2-point shot and we'd be in overtime. Glad he went for the 3 pointer and missed.
Q. In 2006 was there a particular music you listened to or dance during that time? I remember a lot of dancing.
A. Oh Geez. The Dancing. Back in the day, we were leaning and rocking with it. I recall the Big Boi “Kryptonite” song being popular with us during that time. We actually got an autographed copy of his album that had his Kryptonite single on it.
Q. How would you describe the 2006 run to the Final Four in one sentence?
A. Begin with the end in mind. Fellow Mason players will know that line very well.
