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By Chris Jackson
Arizona Daily Wildcat
December 2, 1996
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Arizona sophomore forward A.J. Bramlett went home to Albuquerque, N.M., on Saturday night, but it was not exactly a joyous throng of people that greeted him.Bramlett was booed mercilessly as the Wildcats met the 19th-ranked Lobos at The Pit, an arena that he had appeared in during the high school state playoffs while attending La Cueva in Albuquerque from 1991-95.
"It was fun playing Kenny (Thomas) again," Bramlett said of the Lobos' center, a former high school rival.
When Bramlett and Thomas met in high school, the future Lobo came out on top in two of their three meetings. He did again on Saturday night as the Lobos dropped the Wildcats 84-77.
"It was disappointing," Bramlett said of his first collegiate game in Albuquerque. "I thought we played our hearts out, but so did they."
The Pit fans, notorious for their ability to shatter the decible level of most jumbo jets, jeered and made fun of Bramlett all night.
"A.J., you suck!" some fans chanted after he missed a free throw in the second half.
"I don't know about (the) effect on me," Bramlett said of the crowd. "I had to expect that, especially with two ranked teams playing. It's part of the game. I remember it from high school."
The fans' dislike of Bramlett was not merely because he played for the opposition, but because he had turned down a scholarship from New Mexico to attend Arizona. During the pregame announcements Bramlett was booed so loudly that the sound meter on the wall of The Pit was solid red.
In the first half, Bramlett made only one field goal. Then came the second half.
"A.J. was beating people down court and we just managed to get it to him," UA coach Lute Olson said.
Bramlett was 8 of 8 from the floor, scoring eight of Arizona's first 14 points in the second half.
Bramlett fouled out with less than 30 seconds to go, prompting a final round of jeers. He walked off with a smile on his face, though.
"I thought it was a good game, we fought hard," Bramlett said. "Maybe next year."
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