This is what March Madness clip reels are made of, what Dickie V likes to think about before launching into his trademark "slippaaa still fits!" routine.
An undersized, undermanned challenger taking it to the major conference power with future NBA talent on its sideline? Ivy League teams weren't supposed to do this anymore, not in 2006.
And yet there stood Eric Osmundson, Penn's senior captain, leading the 15-seeded Quakers to a halftime lead against second-seeded Texas.
Ultimately, the Longhorns pulled away to repel the Ancient Eight challenger, 60-52, but Osmundson was hardly done suiting up against top-shelf hoops talent.
Upon graduating, the Carlsbad, Calif., native signed on with the Colorado 14ers of the NBA Developmental League for what would prove to be a two-year foray into semi-professional play. He announced his retirement from the league late last week, three weeks before the next season was set to begin.
"I decided that I'm going to transition into the 'real world,' so to speak," he said. "Two years was enough to get that valuable experience playing ball and pursuing my dream."
During his tenure in Colorado, Osmundson averaged 7.3 points per game for the 14ers, but found the style of play markedly different from the standard Palestra fare to which he was accustomed.
"The D-League is very fast-paced, and you've got to be really athletic," said Osmundson, who received a prorated salary of $42,000 a year plus amenities for his services. "The shot clock is 24 seconds, so you don't really have time to set up those crazy plays like we had in the Ivy League."
What he'll remember most, he says, are the relationships he's forged with a diverse group of teammates and opponents - raw talents fresh from college, chomping at the bit for a shot at the Big Show, and Crash Davis-types trying to claw their way back to basketball's promised land.
"It's tough in the D-League," said Osmundson's former 14ers roommate Louis Amundson, who now runs the floor for the Phoenix Suns. "To have a friend like that on a daily basis, on the road, it's a great thing."
One of Osmundson's career highlights came last March, when he recorded 15 points and 10 assists in a game against 1999 Final Four MVP and Michigan State standout Mateen Cleaves.
"Playing against players that you remember from way back in the day is really cool," Osmundson said. "I can always tell people that I outplayed Mateen."
His story might be subject to a bit of revisionist history, however. Cleaves, the point guard for the Bakersfield Jam, tallied 32 points and 17 assists of his own in the game, spearheading a 129-118 victory over the 14ers.
Indeed, despite never fully exorcising those tournament demons by downing the one-time king of college hoops, Osmundson decided last week that it was finally time to move on. He had spent the summer entertaining offers - some in the six-figure range - from various clubs overseas.
"I've gotten a lot out of it," said Osmundson, who is currently scouring San Diego for leads on a position in medical sales. "But I wanted to utilize my degree before it became obsolete."
Besides, how many other applicants can have "Double-double against National Champion" on their resumes?
