NCAA Basketball Tournament

Tar Heels Are Aged for Victory

Kevin B. Blackistone — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 23:09:00 EST

Filed under: ACC, FanHouse Exclusive, South Region

MEMPHIS - After Roy Williams answered his last question Sunday night at the press conference following his Tar Heels' easy 72-60 win over Oklahoma to advance to next weekend's Final Four, a North Carolina sports information official barked out some trivia for the departing media: the Tar Heels won for the first time all season with forward Tyler Hansbrough, the defending player of the year, and shooting guard Wayne Ellington failing to score in double figures.

That is how good the latest edition of the Tar Heels is - they can soundly beat a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament with two hands tied behind their back.

I don't know that these Tar Heels are better than the squad Williams coached to the 2005 national title in his second season atop Chapel Hill. That team had four first-round draft picks - the No. 2 overall in Marvin Williams, plus lottery picks Raymond Felton, Sean May and Rashad McCants. NBADraft.net predicts this season's Tar Heels have three first-rounders in Hansbrough, Ellington and their most-important player, point guard Ty Lawson, the Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year.

I don't know that these Tar Heels are playing better now than the team they'll meet Saturday in the national semifinals, Villanova.

I don't know that these Tar Heels, despite weathering an injury to Lawson and losing to injury Marcus Ginyard, have overcome more than Connecticut, which lost guard Jerome Dyson for the year, lost their coach for a spell at the tournament opener and are now playing under a cloud of NCAA scrutiny.

All I know for certain is none of that really matters. With two games left on the season, these Tar Heels - as was predicted by so many at season's start - have proven the last two weekends that they are the team to beat for the crown. The selection committee got that wrong.

After all, of the teams headed to Detroit, the Tar Heels are alone in getting there mostly without a hitch. Sunday against Oklahoma was par for their course. They jumped to an early lead and never relinquished it. The 12-point margin of victory was closer than the competition really was. Oklahoma never had a chance.

NCAA Tournament Action

GREENSBORO, NC - MARCH 21: Wayne Ellington #22 of the North Carolina Tar Heels drives against Garrett Temple #14 of the Louisiana State University Tigers during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Greensboro Coliseum on March 21, 2009 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Wayne Ellington;Garrett Temple

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PORTLAND, OR - MARCH 21: A Washington Huskies cheerleader performs during a break in the action against the Purdue Boilermakers during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Rose Garden on March 21, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

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KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 21: Manny Harris #3 of the Michigan Wolverines jumps to the basket for a lay up against Taylor Griffin #32 of the Oklahoma Sooners in the first half during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Sprint Center on March 21, 2009 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Manny Harris

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KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 21: Zack Novan #0 and Zack Gibson #32 of the Michigan Wolverines vie for the loose ball with Blake Griffin #23 of the Oklahoma Sooners in the first half during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Sprint Center on March 21, 2009 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Zack Gibson;Zack Novak;Blake Griffin

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KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 21: Willie Warren #13 of the Oklahoma Sooners makes contact as he goes to the basket with Zack Gibson #32 of the Michigan Wolverines in the first hafl during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Sprint Center on March 21, 2009 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Willie Warren

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KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 21: Taylor Griffin #32 of the Oklahoma Sooners goes up for the short jump shot against DeShawn Sims #34 of the Michigan Wolverines in the first half during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Sprint Center on March 21, 2009 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Taylor Griffin;DeShawn Sims

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PORTLAND, OR - MARCH 21: JaJuan Johnson #25 of the Purdue Boilermakers goes up for a shot over Jon Brockman #40 of the Washington Huskies in the second half during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Rose Garden on March 21, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** JaJuan Johnson;Jon Brockman

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KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 21: Taylor Griffin #23 of the Oklahoma Sooners and Zack Novak #0 of the Michigan Wolverines vie for position to the loose ball in the first half during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Sprint Center on March 21, 2009 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Zack Novak;Taylor Griffin

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KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 21: Head Coach Jeff Capel of the Michigan Wolverines yells from the sideline during their game against the Oklahoma Sooners in the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Sprint Center on March 21, 2009 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jeff Capel

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PORTLAND, OR - MARCH 21: Lewis Jackson #23 of the Purdue Boilermakers goes up for a layup as Quincy Pondexter #20 of the Washington Huskies looks on during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Rose Garden on March 21, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Lewis Jackson;Quincy Pondexter

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The only team the Tar Heels saw the past two weekends that managed to make part of a game interesting was LSU for a moment in the early second half. The Tigers wound up going down by 14.

The biggest worry the Tar Heels really had in this tournament was Lawson's injured toe that kept him out of the tournament opener against sacrificial lamb Radford. Said Lawson on Sunday, after leading the Tar Heels with 19 points, five assists and three steals: "Once I get the adrenaline and just the intensity of it [the game], I really don't feel the toe or start favoring it."

Lawson makes the Tar Heels look like an almost perfectly constructed team. They have inside might in Hansbrough. They have outside shooters galore in Ellington, Danny Green and Lawson. Green also is a slasher and Lawson is fast and quick and can get around most any guard to get to the rim for an easy bucket or pass.

If there is anything they don't have much of it is depth. A freshman shot blocker, Ed Davis, and senior guard Bobby Frasor were the only reserves to log double-digit minutes against Oklahoma. But what does that matter at this time of year?

Williams said his team played a nearly perfect game in overwhelming Gonzaga in the regional semifinal on Friday, 98-77. Sunday Williams said his team repeated that performance for at least the first half, when they jumped to a 12-point lead behind 13 points off nine turnovers. They didn't allow Sooners' superstar Blake Griffin to score a field goal until after 12 minutes expired and the Tar Heels had established a double-digit lead. (Update: There was no comparison between Griffin and Hansbrough. Griffin finished with 23 points and 16 rebounds.)

The Tar Heels won't see a more dangerous or determined player in Detroit than Griffin. They'll see better shooters and tougher defense with Villanova. If they escape that match up, which they should, they may see a more imposing defender in the paint with Connecticut in 7-3 Hasheem Thabeet. Or they could be forced to roll up their shirt sleeves against Tom Izzo's Spartans.

But these Tar Heels will have one more thing to lean on that none of those other teams have - the all important intangible of experience.

The Tar Heels last got this far just 12 months ago. They'll be the only team with players who've played in the Final Four. Winning it all is a big reason seniors Hansbrough and Green and juniors Lawson and Ellington came back for this campaign.

"This game, we were used to it," Lawson said of the Final Four, "and just experience overall in the NCAA tournament."

In the last Final Four, the Tar Heels looked like they suffered stage fright as the eventual champions from Kansas bolted to a 28-point lead before every fan had settled into their seats.

"It's a different team," Green said of himself and his mates. "It's a new year, a new day, a new game. We know what our goals are. We know what our focuses are and what we have to do to win games. Last year, of course, we use...as a learning experience."

Next weekend is the final exam and these Tar Heels will ace it.

Kevin B. Blackistone is a panelist on ESPN's Around the Horn, the Shirley Povich Chair in Sports Journalism at the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland, and a former award-winning sports columnist for The Dallas Morning News. He lives in Silver Spring, Md.

Tar Heels Are Aged for Victory originally appeared on NCAA Basketball Tournament on Sun, 29 Mar 2009 23:09:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Silence Is Izzo's Victory

Jay Mariotti — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 21:19:00 EST

Filed under: Big Ten, FanHouse Exclusive, Midwest Region

INDIANAPOLIS -- On his tippy toes, he might be 5-foot-10, very easy to lose in the enormity of a football stadium where faces look like matrix dots and crowd noise drifts to the ozone. But no one strikes a larger pose in the Midwest today than Tom Izzo, public defender of the Big Ten's battered self-esteem. If trends and hipness start on both coasts in America, college basketball in the heartland also has been taking on an irrelevant, plodding look, to the point I stopped watching.

And I live in Chicago.

Then came the irked intruder, Izzo, who admittedly is tiring of Digger Phelps, Dick Vitale and the bullhorn campaign that has been anointing the Big East as the greatest conference ever and downgrading the Big Ten into something between a mid-major and YMCA league. Hearing that Michigan State would be served as Sunday brunch for Louisville and the $2,000-suit mystique of Rick Pitino, Izzo spent the eve of the Midwest Regional final launching an impassioned defense of his conference. First, he said the Big Ten hasn't had favorable matchups in this NCAA tournament, which could have been perceived as sour grapes.

"I think sometimes, we anoint a league,'' said Izzo, referring to the Big East. "Sometimes, matchups at this tournament in general for everybody, every year, can determine who wins and loses. Certain teams don't play as well against certain teams. For some reason, you think of Louisville, you think of racehorse basketball. I think we've averaged, like, two points less than them this season. So I'm giving my normal hurrah for the Big Ten because I think too many people, especially some on TV, have abused it.

"I think our conference, top to bottom, is also one of the best in the country. I really do. And I think sometimes, people evaluate that on how many points you score or what goes on or what perception you have. And I don't agree with that.''

When someone challenged him, Izzo fired back. "`When you look at some of these other leagues, if somebody has a couple teams out (of the NCAAs), how do I say this without starting controversy, my favorite subject?'' he said. "You know, we've been in four Final Fours in 10 years. Three of them, we've had two Big Ten teams in it. I didn't hear anybody saying how great the Big Ten was. Case closed.''

His grand speech could have backfired and perpetuated the Big Ten's misery. Instead, it will be remembered for motivating his team to heights not thought possible this March. Rather than perish like the other league clunkers, Michigan State delivered the most fundamentally sound performance of the tournament, using Izzo's time-proven formula of defense, rebounding, offensive balance and toughness to disorient Louisville and eliminate a Big East powerhouse perceived by many -- myself included -- as the national championship favorite.

This could be remembered as a watershed game in the industry. It could lead Pitino to Arizona after Louisville's second straight defeat in the Elite Eight. And it could lead Izzo to Kentucky, which is ready to make him the highest-paid coach in the college game. But first, Izzo is headed to Detroit, to another football stadium where Michigan State wll be the home team in a 72,000-seat configuration and trying to inject joy into a blighted, unemployment-wracked ghost town.

Take that, Big East.

Clearly in his Izzone after the 64-52 romp, he could have gloated, sure. But it's not his style. His statement was left on the court inside Lucas Oil Stadium, where his high-efficiency, high-energy team held the potent Cardinals to their second-lowest point total this season. Remember what we said about Terrence Williams being the best all-around player in the tournament? Scratch that. The Louisville stud was held to five points on 1-of-7 shooting against furious, feisty man-to-man defense while a roulette wheel of MSU weapons -- none bigger than center Goran Suton, who introduced the Final Four to his native Bosnia with 19 points and 10 rebounds -- took turns demoralizing the overall No. 1 seed. Leading this team to the Final Four might be Izzo's finest piece of work, not that he'll say so.

"You don't think I'm going to sit here and rip 'em, do you?'' he said of the Big Ten critics. "I got more class than that. You know, I understand the whole thing. Louisville's a very, very good team. Last year everybody said -- Bobby Knight picked Pittsburgh, and I was saying to myself, me, too. I loved the way Pittsburgh was playing. They played great. Just happened on that day, we were able to beat 'em. I must admit, though, we've been fighting all year for some credibility. I don't know if this does it or not, but it was definitely a big start.''

NCAA Tournament Action

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Oh, this does it, all right, at least bringing renewed credibility for Izzo and his program. When Vitale, Phelps and the boys are critical of the Big Ten, they should leave Michigan State out of the equation and realize Izzo has reached the Final Four five times in the last 11 years, more than any program in that span, and now is 5-1 in regional finals. In pulling it off, he reconfirmed his place among the best coaches in the college game and gave the Final Four an unlikely angle: Michigan State playing 90 miles from campus, in Detroit's Ford Field. It's the first time in 15 years, since Duke bussed over to Charlotte, that a team will play a national semifinal in its home state. But Duke staying in North Carolina hardly carries the symbolism of the Spartans playing in a dying city that needs hope and life.

All season, Izzo has emphasized the Ford Field angle. He talked about it with his players before the game. Now, their dream has arrived, with a winnable matchup against Connecticut ahead on Saturday evening. "It's as big a win as our school has had because we're going to Detroit, and that's been a dream and a goal since they announced where the Final Four was in 2009," Izzo said.

He and his players are ready to embrace the bigger meaning of the host site. "It's been a tough time. But our state has been hit maybe as hard as anybody's,'' Izzo said of Michigan's auto-based economy. "I'm just hoping we're a silver lining in what's been a bit of a cloudy year for us. I'm hoping that we're the sunshine, I'm hoping we're something to embrace, be involved with, and I hope they all support us because, you know, I haven't even had time to think about UConn. But they got a guy that is fairly big (7-3 Hasheem Thabeet) and does a pretty good job, and a coach (Jim Calhoun) that's fairly ornery and does a pretty good job. So it should be one helluva game.''

Concurring with Izzo was a familiar face in the sea of green.

"Detroit needs something, Michigan needs something to feel good about," said Magic Johnson, wearing his Michigan State garb in the 30th-year anniversary since his epic NCAA title game against Larry Bird. "Right now, the whole state is feeling good about this Michigan State team."

There is this matter of Kentucky, though. Arguably the most popular guy in the state -- outside University of Michigan precincts, that is -- Izzo will have to decide whether he wants to be a lifer in East Lansing or try another challenge. He has rejected NBA overtures, most recently from the Atlanta Hawks and Chicago Bulls, but Kentucky will come at him hard. And given the chance to deny interest, he didn't. "I don't think there's a guy on this planet that would ever say he's not going anywhere, not doing anything," Izzo said Saturday. "But at the same time, I've got so many goals and so many things I'd like to accomplish here yet. When Final Fours come up, Sweet 16s and Elite Eights, Michigan State's name is always in there. (A national title) is my ultimate goal right now. I've still got a lot of work to do to accomplish that. We've put a heck of a dent in it. But when you look at Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, Duke, we're not at that level yet, and that's the level I'd like to get to."

As a friend of Tubby Smith, a coach couldn't flee Kentucky quickly enough, Izzo knows about the unrealistic expectations and insane pressures in Lexington. "It's a tough job because it's demanding and expectations are high,'' he said. "But I don't know if there's any job that can put more pressure on a person than he puts on himself if he's really good and he's really competitive and in that mold. I feel pressure at Michigan State, you know, to maintain or even grow from what we've done. At the same level, I did not like what happened to Tubby Smith personally. I just know that I'm happy he's at Minnesota, happy he's in the Big Ten, and sad that now we got to play against each other two, three times a year. It's harder to keep our friendship.''

He was kidding. For all his success, Izzo remains an affable, down-to-earth family guy who buys his own groceries and takes out the garbage. That doesn't mean he isn't a tough S.O.B. Take the War Drill. Upset after a loss in 2000, Izzo asked the Michigan State football coach at the time, Nick Saban, if he could borrow several sets of helmets and shoulder pads. Then he had his players put on the equipment and pound on each other. "We're going to learn how to hit somebody and get a rebound," he told them. To this day, Izzo uses the drill when he thinks his players are fragile. Sometimes, they use pads; sometimes, they don't.

"The war drill has no out of bounds,'' said guard Travis Walton, the team's defensive specialist. "They shoot the ball. It's five-on-five. Everybody just runs at each other, trying to get a little basketball. So we just go at each other, no fouls called. You're grabbing, you're pulling, you're scratching. Sometimes people get to bleeding and different things like that. When they get real tough, we put the football pads on."

Said Izzo: "It seems brutal and cruel, but there is a mission to the madness."

That mission was as apparent Sunday as a poke in the eye or an elbow to the chops. The Midwest may be soft and passe, but don't mess with Michigan State. The short man with the large heart will silence the biggest mouths out there.

Silence Is Izzo's Victory originally appeared on NCAA Basketball Tournament on Sun, 29 Mar 2009 21:19:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A Heavyweight Rumble

Kevin B. Blackistone — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 01:20:00 EST

Filed under: ACC, Big 12, FanHouse Exclusive, South Region

MEMPHIS - The last time I came to Memphis for a heavyweight title bout it turned out to be the dud most everyone figured it would be. It was 2002 and Lennox Lewis battered and befuddled Mike Tyson for eight rounds in The Pyramid before Tyson toppled over and could not get up.

This time, Sunday afternoon in FedEx Forum, I expect to see a more competitive match: 6-foot-10, 255-pound Blake Griffin v. 6-9, 250-pound Tyler Hansbrough.

If there was one thing the men's NCAA tournament selection committee did right to spice up this March Madness, it was putting this season's undisputed player of the year, Oklahoma's Griffin, on a collision course with last season's disputed player of the year, North Carolina's Hansbrough, to get to the Final Four. Friday night made that possibility a reality, after Griffin and his Sooners crushed the Syracuse Orange and Hansbrough and his Tar Heels raced by Gonzaga.

(I interrupt this column for those in Tar Heels blue fuming at the word "disputed" to describe Hansbrough's accomplishment last season, when he swept the many player of the year awards. I must remind them that Kansas State's Michael Beasley averaged more points, rebounds, assists and blocked shots than Hansbrough and had more double-doubles. Hansbrough averaged more steals and shot a little better and played on a much better team. As Jay Bilas, one of Hansbrough's biggest fans, said last year: "Michael Beasley is the best player in the country and an unstoppable man among men. But, Tyler Hansbrough is my choice as national player of the year." That was a common illogical explanation.)

Sunday afternoon will not, of course, settle anything that seems unsettled from a season ago. Beasley is hooping for dollars after being forced to labor for NCAA basketball for one season. He'll have to wait for Hansbrough to join him next season in the NBA to settle any score the rest of us would prefer him to have with Hansbrough, or prefer Hansbrough to have with him.

Griffin is just the next best thing, maybe better.

Griffin has more double-doubles than Beasley put up. He averages more rebounds and makes almost 65 percent of his shots because he plays around and above the rim so much.

Unfortunately, Griffin sounded Friday night as if he is the product of a household that taught humility. He refused to engage in the me-against-him tenor of what we'd like to think of as a titanic tussle with Psycho T, as Hansbrough is known.

"It's another team," Griffin said of his next game after dropping 30 and 14 on Syracuse. "I'm not going to get into a personal battle with Tyler Hansbrough. I have no beef with him.

"They're a good team. This game...it's not going to be me against him. It's going to be Oklahoma versus North Carolina, and that's how we plan to attack them."

Hansbrough, sadly, took the same tact.

"For me...I just have to play my part within this team, not, like I said, not try to force anything, let the game come to me," Hansbrough said following his 24 and 10 outing against Gonzaga "I'm not looking at it [Sunday] as a matchup between me and Griffin or something like that. I'm looking at it as North Carolina is playing Oklahoma."

So, it is up to the rest of us to blow their impending match up out of proportion and call it the biggest meeting of big men in the NCAA tournament since the 1984 Final Four. That was when Georgetown's Patrick Ewing took on and slayed Kentucky's two-headed dragon of Sam Bowie and Melvin Turpin before knocking out Houston's Hakeem Olajuwon. There was no trash talking then, either, except for the ferocity with which Ewing played.

Griffin isn't at the disadvantage Beasley was at last year in comparison to Hansbrough. His Sooners are a lot better than Beasley's Wildcats were and better commanded by Jeff Capel. If Oklahoma plays Sunday as it did Friday, with Tony Crocker leading its three-guard offensive attack to 9-for-21 shooting from beyond the 3-point stripe, Oklahoma will be as good a team as North Carolina usually puts on the floor. The Sooners don't generally get that kind of production from their three guards, though, particularly Crocker, who had a career game scoring 28.

Hansbrough's Tar Heels, however, are better than they were a season ago. They are more experienced and deeper and point guard Ty Lawson, if healthy, is even more explosive, all of which has helped depress Hansbrough's numbers a little. Other guys around him are doing more.

It isn't fair, of course, to heap so much expectation on two young men or to draw from whatever they do a grand conclusion. This really won't be Memphis's Tyson-Lewis II. Basketball is a team sport.

NCAA Tournament Action

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But both these guys are the centers of their teams, literally and figuratively, and both will soon be carrying much of the same hardware - Wooden, Naismith, etc. They play the game a little bit differently; Griffin's game is defined by power and Hansbrough's game is defined by energy. If Griffin's game inspires oohs and ahhs, Hansbrough's brings forth attaboys.

Chances are, this will be one of those games where the player with best numbers loses the game and the one who walks away a winner winds up with the accolades.

Kevin B. Blackistone is a panelist on ESPN's Around the Horn, the Shirley Povich Chair in Sports Journalism at the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland, and a frequent sports opinionist on other outlets. A former award-winning sports columnist for The Dallas Morning News, he currently lives in Silver Spring, Md.

A Heavyweight Rumble originally appeared on NCAA Basketball Tournament on Sat, 28 Mar 2009 01:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Caution Advised on Calhoun's Nice Story

Jay Mariotti — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 22:00:00 EST

Filed under: FanHouse Exclusive, West Region, South Region

PHILADELPHIA -- Uh, oh. Jeff Adrien was posing for the cameras and woofing, enjoying this blowout a little too merrily. You could say it was a "Yo, Adrien!'' moment in Rocky Balboa's city, and while Connecticut was comfortably en route to a 92-66 rout of Texas A&M, my eyeballs instinctively shifted to his coach, Jim Calhoun, who doesn't suffer self-posturing well and needs no stress in his life.

Impressively, he handled the scene with aplomb. Calhoun looked at Adrien, lifted both hands in a stop-it gesture and simply said, "Don't.'' We can't promise he'll handle future flashpoints as calmly, knowing him as a maniacal competitor who paces the sideline, chomps gum furiously and might emasculate an official as quickly as he shouts down a political activist inquiring about his salary. "I did yell a couple things out,'' he said to laughter in the media room. "My wife will tell me about them later.''

But it was good to see the rascal have an easy afternoon Saturday. Because too much of his life has been utter hell.

As anyone with a pen and bracket knows, Calhoun was hospitalized Thursday and missed UConn's first-round derailing of Chattanooga. This was major news, in that the Hall of Famer's ongoing health problems have become one of college basketball's bigger stories. It was the third time he has missed an NCAA tournament game, the 21st time he has missed a game in his career. Last spring, he battled cancer for the second time, undergoing surgery to remove a lump in his neck and following up with radiation treatments. Six years ago, he battled prostate cancer. A season doesn't pass without something attacking the man's soul, such as the stress and exhaustion that forced him away last season and the shingles that got him in January. This time, fortunately, doctors here said he was nothing more than dehydrated and gave him a clean bill of health after a full-blown examination and overnight hospital stay.

"I started bargaining with them to get out of there as quickly as I could, using tickets and anything I possibly could,'' said Calhoun, joking about his doctors and nurses. "T-shirts being sent to their children, their next of kin -- anything I could do to get out of there early ... But bottom line is that (when wearing a hospital) bracelet, unless you can whip up on a couple security guards, you're not going anyplace. And I wasn't going anyplace.

"Quite frankly, I feel good now. I didn't realize I was that healthy. But I'll preface that by saying no psychiatric tests were taken. So keep that in mind.''

At 66, in a demanding profession that tortures the body and mind, Calhoun knows he must be especially careful. Coaches are still stunned by the death of Wake Forest colleague Skip Prosser, who died of a heart attack in his office two years ago after going for a jog. When Calhoun was a teen, his father died of a heart attack, forcing a 15-year-old to help take care of a large family that included five siblings. There are people in the game who root for Calhoun to win his third national championship, or at least reach the Final Four, so he can retire on top with his health intact.

Good luck with the retiring part.

NCAA Tournament Action

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"It isn't like it happens every single day,'' said Calhoun, who pointed out that he has coached 1,144 games. "I haven't had a great run over the last year, at least it seems, from cancer to shingles to this, although this was not an illness really -- it was something where I didn't feel well. I've been there for most of the games (in his
career). Missed a few. Some of those, obviously, were for prostate cancer.''

And it's not like Coach Type A is going to downshift his intensity at this point in life. "On occasion, the (players) tell me I'm a little bit high strung and nervous. I say, there's a guy named Bill Russell who threw up before every game,'' Calhoun said. "He turned out OK, the greatest winner ever. There is no game that I've ever approached that I don't feel that in my stomach, OK?

"I've been in national championship games. I've been in a lot of different kinds of situations. I've always probably been stressed in every single game. As a matter of fact, the only thing I shared with Russell, as a player, is the fact there was never a game where I didn't feel really, really ready to go before the game. I mean, really ready to go. The point being, it's a natural inclination of mine. I've had players ask me the same thing. I've had people I've become friendly with who are actors, public speakers. Do you get kind of a rush? Everybody handles it differently. Everybody's body handles it differently.''

Has anyone tried to advise him? "I don't know of any tip -- except maybe not coach basketball, not doing something competitive,'' he said. "But whatever it is, I'll find a reason to make it competitive. You know what I'm saying? Reading a book? I'd see if I could do it the fastest of anybody who's ever read a book. Point being, that's my nature. A woman (reporter) asked me very nicely earlier, 'Are you type A?' What's beyond that? That's a trick question, I know.''

Motivated by Calhoun's health situation, the Huskies have ripped their first two opponents by a combined 82 points. That ties the 1999 Duke team for the most decisive results in an opening weekend -- the same Duke team that UConn beat for Calhoun's first national championship. Want more potential karma? In '99 and 2004, Calhoun had to miss NCAA tournament games. Both years, UConn won national titles.

Hmmm.

"I didn't know that,'' said Hasheem Thabeet, the 7-3 center. "That's very interesting to know.''

"Maybe it's an omen or something. Hopefully, it is,'' Calhoun said. "It doesn't seem that my body picks its spots.''

The players clearly respect this man. They had no doubt he'd be back for the second round. "He's just fought through so many things in his life. A little sickness wouldn't prevent him from coaching,'' said Adrien, who had 23 points and eight rebounds. "He's a fighter, and basically, that's who we are. He pushes us to go to the next level, to go higher and expect more and more from ourselves, because that's what he does. He expects that out of himself. He's going to keep on fighting, so we're going to keep on fighting."

"He definitely does rub off on us,'' said A.J. Price, who had 27 points for a team that shot 58 percent against defensively challenged A&M. "If you're not tough, a tough person mentally, you couldn't play under coach Calhoun. That's the only way I can really put it. His toughness carries over to us. It translates from practice to game time.''

Without injured guard Jerome Dyson, UConn has slipped in some eyes as a serious March player. But those who doubted the team's resilience after its six-overtime loss to Syracuse last week now are rethinking positions. Thabeet gives them a shot-blocking element unlike any in the college game. Price and Adrien are big-time players. They're still the No. 1 seed in the West Region, and they're still on a collision course to play maligned and angry Memphis in the regional final in an Arizona football stadium. For now, Calhoun is thrilled to see his team playing so well.

"This is kind of a nice moment for me. This team brought me a great deal of joy,'' he said. "I truly believe that they're really, really focused on being the best they can be. It was not a game where I had to get them going. They were very focused on their own. They came in really with a purpose. I don't think it's a chip, but it's a purpose, no question.''

There was a preliminary game, if you can call it that. If the NCAA was in the fairness business, Villanova wouldn't have been playing a home game in the East Regional. But the NCAA is in the filling-seats business, which explains why the Wildcats had a ridiculous home-court advantage in their cakewalkish, 89-69 victory over UCLA. It's not that we should feel sorry for the Bruins; they had an inconsistent year and, as a sixth seed, had no right to beef about a 2,700-mile trip if this actually was a neutral site. The Wachovia Center, 16 miles down the Main Line from the Villanova campus, was no neutral site.

Villanova cruised into the Sweet 16 with a blowout win over UCLA.

It was a home game for coach Jay Wright, just as it was Thursday in a tense win over American University. The navy-clad fans were rocking and screaming, creating a rare partisan edge in an event built on impartiality in the stands. The old 1985 miracle-maker, Rollie Massimino, sat behind the bench in what felt like a Philly love-in. I was waiting for Rocky to show up. Villanova has played more than 40 games in the home arena of the Philadelphia 76ers and Flyers, usually against major Big East rivals, and the players know the nuances of the Wachovia. "It's the way the NCAA set it up, and I wouldn't argue with you," Wright said. "I'd rather play here than play in California, there's no doubt in my mind. There are advantages to being home."

"When the crowd kicks in here, you can just feel the energy," said Villanova's Dante Cunningham, who scored 18. "It helps take your game to another level."

"They're always loud, very into the game for the entire game,'' teammate Dwayne Anderson. "It definitely helped us.''

That's a problem. Why should Villanova have such an advantage when 64 other teams in the NCAA tournament do not? It's one thing for North Carolina and Duke to play an hour from their campuses in Greensboro Coliseum, which isn't a home court for either. It's quite another to play in your "home away from home,'' as Villanova calls the arena in its media guide, and dress in your own locker room. Worse, Wright and his bosses seemed to plot the advantage when they scheduled only three games at Wachovia this season, circumventing a rule that doesn't allow an NCAA team to play in an arena where it had at least four home games in a season. They conveniently moved two games next door to the Spectrum, the old relic that soon will meet a wreckingball.

"We understand this is the only true road game in the NCAA tournament,'' UCLA coach Ben Howland said. "I think it's obviously an advantage to be in your familiar, backyard surroundings -- there's no question about that. Whether the game would have been any different if it had been played anywhere else is something we'll never know ... They know the place. They even know about the dead spots on the floor."

Well, not exactly. As Villanova's Reggie Redding pointed out, "It's actually not even the same courts. The NCAA brought their own courts in this year.''

Truth be told, UCLA delivered such a soft, wimpy performance that it probably wouldn't have mattered where the game was played. So intimidated was Darren Collison by Villanova's physicality, the UCLA point guard kept complaining to the officials. "I was talking to the official because I thought they were fouling too hard," Collison said. "They were a physical team. It's nothing we haven't seen in the Pac-10. We've played a lot of physical teams in the Pac-10."

It comes off as West Coast whining, especially when UCLA committed 20 turnovers and was outrebounded 41-29. "I mean, if he thought we were playing rough ... We were playing our game,'' Redding said. "That's the way we play every game. He's going to the ref complaining -- we don't pride ourself on other teams going and complaining to the ref. We saw it, just kept coming at them. I think we won the battle.''

Still, this was a sham that clearly helped Villanova, a Big East team that needs no help. By halftime, the fans streamed out of the building, leaving thousands of empty seats for UConn and Texas A&M, which also was unfair.

Not that Jim Calhoun cared. He was happy, healthy and coaching again.

But he must be careful. The next hospital visit might not be as kind.

Caution Advised on Calhoun's Nice Story originally appeared on NCAA Basketball Tournament on Sat, 21 Mar 2009 22:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hate Hansbrough? How?

Jay Mariotti — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 20:35:00 EST

Filed under: ACC, FanHouse Exclusive, South Region

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Oh, don't you just hate him? Tyler Hansbrough broke the Atlantic Coast Conference career scoring record Thursday, appropriately hitting a free throw after another team nearly dislodged his face. And you know what the lout did when the crowd, lathered in Carolina blue, stood as one and gave him a loud, warm, lengthy standing ovation?

He thought about the opponent, Radford, and how the Highlanders from the Big South Conference were making only their second NCAA tournament appearance. Seems Hansbrough didn't want to demean them in any way by acknowledging his accomplishment. What a complete jerk, huh? Kind of guy you wouldn't want even Cruella de Vil to marry.

"Once I got the standing ovation, I thought about waving. But I didn't want disrespect to anybody," he said. "I just wanted to stay focused on the game. I came here to win the game today. I didn't want to focus on individual goals."

I don't understand this national mandate that we're supposed to hate Tyler Hansbrough. I happen to admire him -- for making the most of his talent with hard work and 6 a.m. wakeup calls, for passing on the NBA last summer when his stock was at his peak, for staying four years at North Carolina and earning his diploma when most college basketball stars want to shake David Stern's hand during freshman orientation. But for some reason, probably because he wears the Carolina uniform and has a baby face and has been gushed over by Dick Vitale for years, he continues to reign as America's most disliked player. Gets to the free-throw line way too much? Only because his bull-rushes to the basket are unstoppable and require Wrestlemania moves by frustrated foes. Flops too often? What's he supposed to do, defy gravity when they're pulling him to the floor? Wears a pouty look? I'd say it's the look of a kid who has had nothing handed to him and wonders when it will be taken away, perhaps when he sits on an NBA bench or doesn't make it on the next level. The face of Carolina basketball, the blue blood of all programs, religion as sport?

Hey, if you actually hate a college hoops program when Bernie Madoff and assorted terrorists are out there -- well, see a therapist. Hansbrough has been a credit to the collegiate experience and has cemented a memorable profile in self-made excellence. If you spend any time around him, you realize he's far more humble and downhome than haughty. While explaining why he didn't wave, he also made it clear what the scoring record means to him in the country's most prestigious conference. I don't need to list the regal names through time. "I look back and think of all the players in the ACC that I watched when I was young," he said. "For me to top all of the scorers in the league, it's special."

His coach and public defender, Roy Williams, says the records aren't as big as Hansbrough's heart. "Don't take this the wrong way, but it (wouldn't) mean one more thing than if he fell three points short," he said. "It's a personal thing that he's one of the most unbelievable youngsters I've been around. The fact that you can say he's the leading scorer and rebounder in North Carolina history is enough for me. The fact you can say that he played four years and did all the things he did would be enough for me. When you have that and now you're saying, 'Man, he's scored more points than anybody who's ever played in the ACC,' it just adds a 17th layer of icing."

His teammates speak in similar reverential tones. "I just want to say it's an honor to play with a player that has the type of skills and character that Tyler has," said shooting guard Wayne Ellington, who lit up Radford for 25 points in a 101-58 win, achieved without injured point guard Ty Lawson. "Just watching him, you see how hard he works and how consistent he is. You basically know he's going to give to 20 (points) and maybe 10 (rebounds) every game. It's very hard to do that every night."

"People talk about legends. I think he is going to have a legend quality about him," said senior point guard Bobby Frasor, who has dived off frat houses into swimming pools with Psycho-T. "The stories are going to build up and build up. People talk about (him eating) sushi now; in 20 years, it's going to be Tyler ate a live cow or something."

So why the rampant disrespect around the country? "I guess for some people, it's like having filet every day -- you kind of get sick of it after a while," Frasor told North Carolina reporters recently. "With Tyler, you're going to get 20 and 10 every day because of the maximum effort that he gives every day .. and if people don't think that's fantastic, then I think that's ridiculous. But I guess it comes with the territory of being so good."

Not that Hansbrough lets it bother him. He gets it. "People have seen me play for so long, and sometimes people have expectations," he said. "Fans go to hate me, and that's just part of the game. I'm used to it, and in a way I'm proud of it. No matter what, I'm still going to play my game. It doesn't really affect me. I don't really listen to anybody outside our program."

NCAA Tournament Action

Damion James (R) of the University of Texas goes to the basket against the defense of University of Minnesota's Jamal Abu-Shamala during the first half of their first round NCAA tournament basketball game in Greensboro, North Carolina March 19, 2009. REUTERS/Ellen Ozier (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL)

Reuters

Michigan Wolverines Manny Harris (R) is congratulated by teammate Laval Lucas-Perry on a potential three-point play against the Clemson Tigers during the first half of the first round of the NCAA men's basketball tournament at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri March 19, 2009. REUTERS/Dave Kaup (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL)

Reuters

Minnesota coach Tubby Smith reacts during the first half against Texas in a first-round men's NCAA college basketball tournament game in Greensboro, N.C., Thursday, March 19, 2009. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

Xavier forward B.J. Raymond watches practice for a first-round men's NCAA college basketball tournament game in Boise, Idaho, Thursday, March 19, 2009. Xavier is scheduled to play Portland State. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

Wake Forest forward Al-Farouq Aminu, left, and guard Harvey Hale run through drills during practice Thursday, March 19, 2009, for a first-round men's NCAA college basketball tournament game in Miami. Wake Forest plays Cleveland State on Friday. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Texas' Dexter Pittman, left, and Minnesota's Jonathan Williams, right, chase a loose ball during the first half of a first-round men's NCAA college basketball tournament game in Greensboro, N.C., Thursday, March 19, 2009. (AP Photo/Robert F Bukaty)

Michigan's Manny Harris drives the ball around Clemson's David Potter during the first half during a first-round men's NCAA college basketball tournament game in Kansas City, Mo., Thursday, March 19, 2009. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

Michigan Wolverines Zack Gibson (L) looks for a teammate during a scramble with Clemson Tigers Jesse Yanutola during the first half of the first round of the NCAA men's basketball tournament at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri March 19, 2009. REUTERS/Dave Kaup (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL)

Reuters

PORTLAND, OR - MARCH 19: Jimmy Conyers #32 of the Akron Zips shoots over Austin Daye #5 of the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the first half during the first round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Rose Garden on March 19, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jimmy Conyers;Austin Daye

Getty Images

GREENSBORO, NC - MARCH 19: Damion James #5 of the Texas Longhorns drives against Al Nolen #0 and Jamal Abu-Shamala #33 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers during the first round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Greensboro Coliseum on March 19, 2009 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Al Nolen;Damion James;Jamal Abu-Shamala

Getty Images

It would have been convenient for Hansbrough to seek the nearest escape hatch and bolt Chapel Hill last spring. The Tar Heels were humiliated by Kansas in the Final Four, and after he was named National Player of the Year, many were urging him to turn pro. But only days after the setback, Hansbrough told Williams he was returning. He told his coach to craft the press release because he was "too happy" to offer his own quotes. Truth be told, he also has been driven by unfinished business: He wants to win a national championship. "You try to block it out, but you can't block something out like that," Hansbrough said of the Kansas loss. "It's how you ended your season last year. We didn't come out to play that game. We'll use that as fuel."

In retrospect, Hansbrough may have cost himself draft-day millions. Some NBA scouts think his game has stagnated in his senior season, possibly because he already has maximized his skills. Maybe he'll be a hustle guy and make a roster, but he won't be a star. That's all the more reason to praise his decision. He gambled and might lose the money game, but he wanted to win a title and spend a fourth year at North Carolina, a place he initially didn't like during recruiting because of bad weather and its distance from his native Missouri.

But now there's another obstacle: trying to win without Lawson, the elite floor leader who should return Saturday for a second-round matchup against LSU. Will Lawson be ready physically? For a Carolina team that some of us thought might go unbeaten, it's quite a March burden. "I mean, sometimes pressure is a good thing," Hansbrough said. "It makes people realize the situation they're in. But also, I think it's something we've been talking about for a long time. It seems that before the season, people kept saying we're gonna win the national championship. I'm glad it's tournament time, but it's my last run. I realize that. So, you know, there will be a little extra oomph there. But there's nothing more I'm putting into this tournament than I haven't in the past."

The lingering Lawson issue has created considerable doubt about Carolina. President Obama isn't fazed by the injury, picking the Heels in a much-debated bracket that was lightly mocked by Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski. "Somebody said that we're not in President Obama's Final Four, and as much as I respect what he's doing, really, the economy is something that he should focus on, probably more than the brackets," Coack K said. When Williams was asked Thursday about Obama, he actually agreed with his Duke rival.

"You know, I love the president. I really, really like President Obama," he said. "I think it's great that he's a sports fan and goes through the bracket and the whole bit like that. But frankly, he's got some more important things to worry about than the NCAA tournament. But I still love the fact that he's willing to be involved.

"I know the truth of the matter. He really didn't know who to pick. But when he played pick-up with our guys (last April), nobody blocked his shot and everybody passed him the ball, and everybody set screens for him. Wanted to let him score. So it's payback for us being so nice to him. And he drove to the basket one time, and Tyler didn't take his head off. So that was good."

See? If Tyler Hansbrough was such a rogue, such a sinister Psycho-T, he'd have thugged up Obama. Go ahead and hate him. I love him.

Hate Hansbrough? How? originally appeared on NCAA Basketball Tournament on Thu, 19 Mar 2009 20:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FH Podcast 6.2: Eamonn Brennan

Will Brinson — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 07:18:00 EST

Filed under: Media Watch, Tourney Gambling, Tourney Coaches, Tourney Fans, FanHouse Exclusive, Midwest Region, West Region, South Region, East Region

'HouseCast is FanHouse's podcast. Watch out. Or you might just get what you're after.

Can you take any more March Madness inundated into your domepiece? Of course you can. It's the number one reason why you keep coming back to FanHouse's NCAA Tournament Coverage, and it's definitely the reason why you were waiting, desperately, of course, for the second half of FanHouse's NCAA Podcastactular.

In 6.2, Ryan Wilson and Will Brinson chat with FH's own Eamonn Brennan (who moonlights on the very, mucho excellente college basketball blog The Dagger) about nostalgic brackets, hating on North Carolina or Duke, sleepers, whether you should fill out a single bracket or not, and a myriad of other college basketball topics.

Hit the jump to listen to the whole thing in our embeddable player.

FH Podcast 6.2: Eamonn Brennan originally appeared on NCAA Basketball Tournament on Thu, 19 Mar 2009 07:18:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FH Podcast 6.1: ESPN's Doug Gottlieb

Will Brinson — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 15:27:00 EST

Filed under: Media Watch, FanHouse Exclusive, Midwest Region, West Region, South Region, East Region

Burning Down the 'House is FanHouse's podcast. Watch out. Or you might just get what you're after.

FanHouse brings the podcast pain once again this week with a focus on, well, what else but the NCAA Tournament? On Tuesday's episode, Will Brinson, Michael David Smith, and Ryan Wilson are joined by ESPN's own college basketball expert and radio host, Doug Gottlieb (old-school shot of Doug in the middle, above). It's obviously one of his busiest times of the year, so we were thrilled to talk college hoops with him for nearly 30 minutes.

Hit the jump for downloadable segments, or to listen to the whole thing in our embeddable player.

(Quick aside: if you notice any disruption during the podcast, it's because Doug was bouncing back and forth between live Sportscenter segments and chatting with MDS and myself. Which, frankly, is even cooler.)

(Gentle reminder: Right-click on the segment links to download them directly to your own 'puter.)

Segment 1: Doug discusses why San Diego St. -- and not St. Mary's -- got screwed out of a tournament bid.

Segment 2: MDS asks Doug if the Big Ten was good enough to get seven bids.

Segment 3: Will gets Doug's thoughts on "first-round bracketbusters" before the conversation turns to colleague Jay Bilas, who was on ESPN radio at the time of our interview disagreeing with Gottlieb's argument for SDSU.

Segment 4: Doug continues his crusade for the little guy and uses University of Arizona as the perfect counterexample. Then Will asks about former NC State coach-turned-success-story at Arizona St., Herb Sendek. We even manage to get in a Jay Cultler reference.

Segment 5: MDS gets Doug's thoughts on the Big East and their three No. 1 seeds, and the discussion expands to include Memphis getting a second seed even though they went undefeated in their conference. Will also asks about Syracuse's chances after their Big East tournament run. And, yes, we have Devendorf.

Segment 6: Doug shares his Final Four and picks a winner.

FH Podcast 6.1: ESPN's Doug Gottlieb originally appeared on NCAA Basketball Tournament on Tue, 17 Mar 2009 15:27:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cal State Northridge: Against All Odds

Elie Seckbach — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Big West, Tourney Video, FanHouse Exclusive, West Region

Elie Seckbach, the Embedded Correspondent, brings his exclusive video reporting to FanHouse. Check back regularly for more videos.

Making it to the Big Dance is the moment every college player dreams about, but for members of the Cal State Northridge basketball team this achievement means so much more. This year's team had to overcome challenges on and off the court time and time again, only to remain standing tall.

In this exclusive FanHouse report, we were there with the Cal State players and coach Bobby Braswell as they get the news that they made the NCAA tournament, with top-seeded Memphis waiting in the first round. And no, they aren't backing down from this challenge either.

Check out the video after the jump.

Cal State Northridge: Against All Odds originally appeared on NCAA Basketball Tournament on Mon, 16 Mar 2009 20:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A Cardinal Achievement

Lisa Olson — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 03:30:00 EST

Filed under: Big East, Tourney Coaches, FanHouse Exclusive, Midwest Region

NEW YORK - Terrence Williams curled his body into a crouch, half walking on his tiptoes, half stalking the prey. He was heading toward the Louisville bench, but on the way he made sure to jump-and-bump any Cardinals in sight, to yank on their jerseys and double slap their chests.

In a minute or so Williams would be holding aloft the Big East Conference championship trophy, carting it around Madison Square Garden arena as if it were a newborn, so precious, so beautiful. All across the basketball sphere top seeds kept dropping Saturday, biting the dust and then shrugging it off, as if it were fairly clear the larger prize hadn't yet materialized.

Not Louisville, and its coach who earned his rep on the unforgiving stoops of NYC.

And certainly not here, in front of a crowd that wouldn't hesitate to shred any team that dared not give it all.

The Cardinals beat Syracuse, 76-66, Saturday night to stock the tournament hardware next to their regular-season conference title. The win virtually assured the Cardinals a No. 1 seed when the NCAA selection committee dispenses the magic beans Sunday. The selectors, wise and omnipotent, will take into account one thing above all else: a team does not just win the Big East title as much as it survives it.

"History, we made history tonight," Williams, Louisville's irrepressible senior guard, was saying as he stood on the Garden floor holding the trophy, bedlam all around, describing how the Cardinals were not about to be another No. 1 seed to crash and burn. "The Big East is the toughest league and we won it. I've been in this building three years and I got sent home early three times. It's about time."

Syracuse's romp through the week was about as thrilling as they come, starting with the Orange's epic six-overtime win against Connecticut in the quarterfinals and carrying over to a OT victory over West Virginia in the semis. For days, the Orange staved off exhaustion and dehydration and cramps and the impossible, but the magic came undone early in the second half Saturday, against a team that blends tremendous depth with a full-court press that refuses to let up until its victims are bruised and bloodied.

Rick Pitino might be relatively new to the rough-and-tumble Big East, but he knows how New York ball is meant to be played and has done his best to create a synergy of street sense and collective code. "Give me two new guys," is how he runs his bench, fresh bodies rolling off his assembly line. The word "touches," Pitino said, "infuriates me more than anything in life," and his co-captains, Williams and Andre McGee, seem to have taken to their coach's philosophy.

The Cardinals pressed Syracuse from the opening tip, McGee wasting zero time in getting up close and personal with the Orange's indefatigable guard Jonny Flynn. Later Pitino would joke that McGee "puts more pressure on than any mother-in-law in the country." Flynn had another, equally colorful analogy.

"It's like being chased by eight pit bulls and (you) just got to keep running for your life," said Flynn, who still managed to score 11 points and dish six assists in 34 minutes despite having McGee glued to his side.

Flynn played 67 minutes Thursday night, 45 more Friday, and Saturday he was named the tournament's most valuable player. If Syracuse had pulled off another stunner, if it had held on to an eight-point halftime lead and sent the mostly-Orange crowd of 19,000 into another awestruck tizzy, Flynn probably could strapped the trophy to his back and run with it to the team's hotel across town.

Instead he sat at the podium, forlorn and dejected. Syracuse is still thick in the jumble of Big East teams sure to earn invites to the NCAA Tournament, but from the look on Flynn's face, you'd think he was being ordered to never again pick up a ball. That's how much the Big East title meant to him, a sentiment that appeared to ripple through both teams.

"I would trade the trophy in to win the Big East Tournament any day," Flynn said. "Lot of people are going to remember who won this tournament. They're not going to remember who won the outstanding trophy award."

There was 1:19 on the clock when coach Jim Boeheim pulled Flynn off the Garden court for the final time, Louisville up by nine and the championship trophy getting spit-shined. Flynn collapsed into his courtside seat, flopped his head into this hands and refused to glance up again. He couldn't, wouldn't, even with the action mere inches ahead. Sheer exhaustion hadn't sent him into a depressive spiral; losing was the beast that finally did him in.

The feeling will subside, Boeheim promised Flynn, as long as the games continue to stretch across March.

Latest College Basketball Images

Cal State Northridge players Mark Hill, top, and Kenny Daniels dance during the celebration after their 71-66 overtime win against Pacific in an NCAA college basketball final game at the Big West men's tournament in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, March 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Mark Avery)

Cal State Northridge players Rodrigue Mels and Tremaine Townsend hug during the celebration after their 71-66 overtime win against Pacific in an NCAA college basketball final game at the Big West men's tournament in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, March 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Mark Avery)

LAS VEGAS - MARCH 14: Billy White #32 of the San Diego State Aztecs drives past Luke Nevill #50 of the Utah Utes during the championship game of the Conoco Mountain West Conference tournament at the Thomas & Mack Center March 14, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Utes won the title 52-50. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Billy White;Luke Nevill

Getty Images

LAS VEGAS - MARCH 14: Head coach Jim Boylen of the Utah Utes watches his team take on the San Diego State Aztecs during the championship game of the Conoco Mountain West Conference tournament at the Thomas & Mack Center March 14, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Utes won the title 52-50. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jim Boylen

Getty Images

LAS VEGAS - MARCH 14: Luke Nevill #50 of the Utah Utes posts up on Ryan Amoroso #43 of the San Diego State Aztecs during the championship game of the Conoco Mountain West Conference tournament at the Thomas & Mack Center March 14, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Utes won the title 52-50. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Luke Nevill;Ryan Amoroso

Getty Images

Nevada's Armon Johnson walks down court in the final moments of Nevada's 72-62 loss to Utah State in a NCAA college basketball game finals at the Western Athletic Conference men's tournament in Reno, Nev., Saturday, March 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

Utah State's Gary Wilkinson hugs head coach Stew Morrill after defeating Nevada 72-62 in NCAA college basketball game finals at the Western Athletic Conference men's tournament in Reno, Nev., Saturday, March 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

Pacific guard Terrell Smith, right, commits a foul trying to block Cal State Northridge forward Tremaine Townsend from behind in the first half of an NCAA college basketball final game at the Big West men's tournament in Anaheim, Calif., Saturday, March 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Mark Avery)

The Utah State men's basketball team poses with their trophy after beating Nevada 72-62 in a NCAA college basketball game finals at the Western Athletic Conference men's tournament in Reno, Nev., Saturday, March 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

Utah State's Gary Wilkinson raises his arms in celebration after Utah State beat Nevada 72-62 win in a NCAA college basketball game finals at the Western Athletic Conference men's tournament in Reno, Nev., Saturday, March 14, 2009.(AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)

"The one last thing I said that I would share with you is that when this is all over, you know, five years from now, there's going to be two things people remember about this Syracuse basketball season. Two and only two," Boeheim said. "They're going to remember the Connecticut-Syracuse (game) here and going to remember what we do in the tournament. That's all they remember."

But will the strain of suiting up four straight nights in the Garden jeopardize Syracuse's push into March? Battle fatigue began to reflect off the players' sweat early in the second half, when Louisville's relentless press forced the Orange into an 0-for-8 stretch from the 3-point line. Williams, meanwhile, sunk back-to-back treys from the same spot on the wing within a minute span, both off McGee passes, building the Cardinals a 10-point lead.

Syracuse blew through its timeouts, exhaustion starting to show. The Orange rushed their passes, dribbled off feet and failed to anticipate angles off rebounds. McGee, a victim of cramps and poor conditioning throughout much of his high-school career, had 10 points and left his DNA all over Syracuse shooters. Williams got his touches in a way that makes all coaches wing, with seven steals and six assists.

Look around you, Pitino had told his players before the championship. You're in an NBA locker room, not some Garden broom closet. Relish it, honor it, said the man who once coached the Knicks. He took his players on a trip down memory lane, then reminded them about the immediate urgency: winning Louisville's first Big East crown since joining the league in 2006, and fulfilling the destiny of a top seed.

The Big East fingerprints will be all over the NCAA bracket, with Pitino's Cardinals the centerpiece. In the span of a week, in a city that eats its own, toughness was amplified, guts and perseverance laid bare. Boys became men on the Garden court, a theory supported by both Williams and McGee as they danced in front of the trophy and traded turns wearing the nets as necklaces.

"Listen to the words!" Williams shouted as the loud speakers blared the familiar strains of Frank Sinatra. "If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere!" Williams yelled it again, in case anyone missed the message, then picked up the trophy and cradled it tight. It was a fine way to burst through March.

A Cardinal Achievement originally appeared on NCAA Basketball Tournament on Sun, 15 Mar 2009 03:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Orange Ironmen Still Press On

Lisa Olson — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 03:30:00 EST

Filed under: Big East, Tourney Coaches, FanHouse Exclusive, South Region

NEW YORK (March 13) -- What a breeze, overtime.

"We're getting used to it, yeah," Jonny Flynn, Syracuse's precocious sophomore guard was saying as he bounced off the Madison Square Garden parquet early Saturday morning, destined for another late-night dinner of fast food and an evening date in the Big East championship. His legs were rubber, his energy indefatigable, his smile glowing like a neon light. They don't know for sure, but Flynn's teammates swear he grins in his sleep. And really, who can blame him?

Less than 24 hours removed from winning the second-longest Division I men's basketball game ever, the 18th-ranked Orange outlasted West Virginia, 74-69, in a semifinal game that stretched from Friday into Saturday. Compared to the epic six-overtime thriller over Connecticut one night earlier, these extra five minutes were mostly exhausting parades to and from the free throw lines. But it's not as if anyone is asking for refunds.

"Sorry we didn't give you a longer game tonight. We tried," said Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim, while the sold out crowd filed out of the Garden, mentally spent. It was all Boeheim could do to muster up a weak smile. In a few minutes he'd somehow find the energy to lead his team on another search of an open restaurant, apparently a tough find in the little 'burb known as Manhattan.

"Syracuse, you can get something to eat at 2:30. I couldn't find anyplace last night," Boeheim said, and for a moment you wanted to ask a man who had just earned his 14th trip to the title game how it was a million visitors never have much trouble tracking down a slice after midnight, but Boeheim could be forgiven a rare slip into clueless tourist territory. He has the most important, hectic part of his job down pat: Syracuse is 5-0 in overtime this season, a statistic that bodes well for the Orange during March, the most unforgiving time of the year.

Next up for Syracuse is top-seeded Louisville, 69-55 winners over Villanova in Friday's earlier game. Not that the Orange appear to need much rest, but considering the Cardinals press like demons on nearly every possession, it will be interesting to see if Syracuse has any adrenaline left in the tank. Of course, many wondered how the Orange could possibly respond with anything but yawns and dribbles off the toes Friday, and they still managed to rule the boards on both ends, score eight points off the break compared to West Virginia's four, knock down 32 in the paint next to WVU's 22 and collect 21 second-chance points opposite WVU's 13.

Anything else, before catching a few winks?

There was Flynn, as sublime a leader as you'll find, lodging 67 minutes in the quarterfinal, 45 more Friday night. All he did was score 15 points and dish out nine assists against the Mountaineers, never losing his composure even while his tongue hung loose on his drives deep into the paint. If it wasn't quite as dominant as his 34-point, 11-assist performance Thursday night against the third-ranked Huskies, it's only because Boeheim thought the kid might need a breather now and then.

"I don't know why the coach took him out those three minutes," said Boeheim. "He was not thinking, not good coaching probably. (Flynn) wants to be out there, he doesn't like to come out. All the great players I've had hate to come out."

And there was Eric Devendorf knocking back 23 points, one more than he scored in 61 minutes during the unforgettable win over Connecticut. Devendorf put to bed the idea he'd be lugging around dead weight when he heaved in a 3-pointer from half court as the buzzer sealed the first half, putting Syracuse up, 36-29. He was 4-for-8 from beyond the arc, none bigger than the trey he hit with 3:44 left in the game after Flynn found Devendorf alone on the wing and within a horn's blow of the Garden's largest Orange blob. Devendorf turned to the crowd and thumped his chest. Tired? Syracuse ought to never sleep again until the first week of April.

If Syracuse had a smoother touch at the foul line, West Virginia might never have pushed the game into OT. Well-rested and on a hot streak, the Mountaineers finished in a panic, heaving up airballs and rushing passes. There was a moment when coach Bob Huggins tried to snap his clipboard in two, but all it did was sting his hands.

"They've got the damn things now you can't break them," Huggins said, before taking the blame for forcing his players into an overtime fire drill.

With Syracuse never backing down, with Connecticut and Pittsburgh both dropping, Louisville has mostly been the forgotten first seed throughout the week. The Cardinals trailed by 10 points early against Villanova, and at halftime Rick Pitino walked into the locker room, yelled that he was speechless, and then decided his team would be better off with a tongue lashing. A No. 1 NCAA seed was at stake, and New York's native son had no desire to be laughed out of the Garden.

"I said, I don't recognize any of you. I don't know who you are. That's not Earl Clark, that's not Terrence Williams, that's not Jerry Smith," Pitino recalled later. "Everything that we've gone through to become a good basketball team, you totally changed in a 20-minute half."

The Cardinals responded with a voracious press, creating turnovers and draining eight 3-pointers, Clark and Andre McGee hitting back-to-back 3s to open the half. Clark had 17 points, Smith added 16 and the Cardinals reached the Big East championship game for the first time since joining the conference four years ago.

The bags under Pitino's eyes suggested he was one of the many who stayed awake late Thursday night, transfixed by Syracuse's marathon battle with Connecticut. He described sitting in his hotel room with his daughter and his niece, as the overtimes blended and bedtimes were missed.

"In the second overtime, my niece Christina said, "Uncle Rick, when do they stop an overtime? How many do they go?" I said, they go on forever. They never go past two or three. At the fourth, I said let's go to bed. Two young kids were glued to it. I've never seen anything like that in my life," Pitino said.

Syracuse's 127-117 six-OT win over UConn was a hearty mixture of adrenaline and spirit, inspiring the laconic Boeheim to call it "the greatest game ever played." In the brief hour after Louisville's semifinal win, as the Orange were about to take the court and prove they hadn't exhausted every ounce of strength the night before, Pitino offered a prescient prediction.

"Syracuse will really gut it out and play well in the first half and somewhere in the second half they lose their legs, normally," said Pitino. "If they don't you're really looking at something special."

He and the Cardinals will see it up close Saturday night.

Latest College Basketball Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 13: Forward Josh Shipp #3 of the UCLA Bruins goes to dunk the ball against the USC Trojans during their game in the Pacific Life Pac-10 Men's Basketball Tournament at the Staples Center on March 13, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Josh Shipp

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LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 13: Forward Josh Shipp #3 of the UCLA Bruins drives with the ball against the USC Trojans during their game in the Pacific Life Pac-10 Men's Basketball Tournament at the Staples Center on March 13, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Josh Shipp

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LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 13: Center Alfred Aboya #12 of the UCLA Bruins reacts to a call during the game against the USC Trojans in the Pacific Life Pac-10 Men's Basketball Tournament at the Staples Center on March 13, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. The Trojans defeated the Bruins 65-55. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Alfred Aboya

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LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 13: Center Alfred Aboya #12 of the UCLA Bruins goes up for a shot during the game against the USC Trojans in the Pacific Life Pac-10 Men's Basketball Tournament at the Staples Center on March 13, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. The Trojans defeated the Bruins 65-55. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Alfred Aboya

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LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 13: Center Alfred Aboya #12 of the UCLA Bruins makes a dunk during the game against the USC Trojans in the Pacific Life Pac-10 Men's Basketball Tournament at the Staples Center on March 13, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. The Trojans defeated the Bruins 65-55. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Alfred Aboya

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LAS VEGAS - MARCH 13: Head coach Jim Boylen of the Utah Utes yells to his players as they take on the Wyoming Cowboys during a semifinal game of the Conoco Mountain West Conference Basketball Championships at the Thomas & Mack Center March 13, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Utes won 68-55. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jim Boylen

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LAS VEGAS - MARCH 13: Head coach Heath Schroyer of the Wyoming Cowboys consoles Sean Ogirri #0 near the end of their game against The Utah Utes during a semifinal game of the Conoco Mountain West Conference Basketball Championships at the Thomas & Mack Center March 13, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Utes won 68-55. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Heath Schroyer;Sean Ogirri

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LAS VEGAS - MARCH 13: Lawrence Borha #11 of the Utah Utes tries to hold onto the ball as teammate Luka Drca #5 and Sean Ogirri #0 of the Wyoming Cowboys land on him during a semifinal game of the Conoco Mountain West Conference Basketball Championships at the Thomas & Mack Center March 13, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Utes 68-55. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Lawrence Borha;Sean Ogirri;Luka Drca

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LAS VEGAS - MARCH 13: Head coach Heath Schroyer of the Wyoming Cowboys yells to his players as they take on the Utah Utes during a semifinal game of the Conoco Mountain West Conference Basketball Championships at the Thomas & Mack Center March 13, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Utes won 68-55. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Heath Schroyer

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Orange Ironmen Still Press On originally appeared on NCAA Basketball Tournament on Sat, 14 Mar 2009 03:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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