Blog: Nothing Compares to Final Four:

Posted By: Theodore Taylor

FRIDAY, March 31:

INDIANAPOLIS — UCLA and I returned to the Final Four together.

The last time the Bruins played in the national semifinals was in 1995 at Seattle, which happened to be my last visit to the signature event in college basketball as well. I didn't work for the AP back then — that would come a year later.

My gig in '95 was with UPI, a company good enough to send me to five Final Fours before I left.

I had forgotten how much I missed it.

There is nothing better than the Final Four. Really, nothing's close.

NFL fans can rant and rave all they want about the Super Bowl. Bor-ing. The Kentucky Derby? Indianapolis 500? Daytona. Puh-leeze. The Olympics? Good, not the Final Four. Game 7 of the World Series is close, but how often does that happen?

There is a moment before Saturday's first national semifinal when it all comes into focus. As the fans from all four schools arrive, dressed to the nines in their favorite T-shirts, sweatshirts and caps, all four groups think that their team is the one that will cut down the nets on Monday night.

I was reminded of that today when George Mason's players took the floor for practice. Right now, it doesn't matter to the Patriots' fans that they play in a tiny conference that gets little attention or that their fuzzy green mascot looks like Oscar the Grouch from Sesame Street.

They're here along with Florida, UCLA and LSU, and 323 other schools are at home watching on TV.

That's what I did, too, before getting a phone call earlier this week asking me if I would like to go. They didn't have to ask, I would have walked to Indy.

AP Sports Writer Tom Withers

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INDIANAPOLIS — It's not easy being a star.

Duke's J.J. Redick spent Friday morning picking up college player of the year awards, fighting through the rain to get from one to another.

He started his day at Conseco Fieldhouse where he was honored by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association as co-player of the year with Adam Morrison. He left that around 10:15 a.m. and headed for the Marriott Hotel, about six blocks away to pick up the national player of the year award from The Associated Press.

"Man, that other one went long," Redick said as he walked into a near empty ballroom about 15 minutes before the ceremony was to start. He eyed a table loaded with breakfast food and moved like he did when one of his Duke teammates set a screen for him.

He didn't even get his bagel into the toaster before he was approached for an interview and it sat as he talked for a few minutes. He finally got the bagel then went up to another dais.

What makes Redick special was on view after the ceremony. After a few more interviews he signed autographs for a couple of kids wearing No. 4 Duke jerseys and then spent a few minutes talking with a teenager in a wheelchair.

It's easy being a star for J.J. Redick.

- AP Basketball Writer Jim O'Connell

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MONDAY, March 27:

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — It's OK to look now, Jenna.

Connecticut's frantic finish Sunday night against Georgia in the Bridgeport Regional semifinal electrified the sellout crowd of 9,091 at the Arena at Harbor Yard. The roar was deafening when UConn's Barbara Turner threw up an off-balanced 3-pointer with 1.8 seconds left to win the game 77-75.

UConn coach Geno Auriemma watched the whole thing unfold with a kind of stunned silence.

"I asked my daughter, Jenna, what she was thinking when the shot went up and she said `Nothing. I didn't see it. I refused to look.'"

For those who did keep their eyes open, they saw another signature moment for the program.

I think it's right up there with Sue Bird's fadeaway jumper at the buzzer to win the 2001 Big East tournament title against Notre Dame, Nykesha Sales' 3-pointer against Tennessee to send their 1996 national semifinal into overtime and Diana Taurasi's 3-pointer with 7.5 seconds left against the Lady Vols, sending their 2003 regular season matchup in Hartford to overtime.

But even after Turner's heroics, Georgia wasn't done. Tasha Humphrey heaved a desperation shot about three-quarters the length of the court as time expired. Everyone, possibly except for Jenna Auriemma, followed the arc of that ball.

Clang. It bounced off the front of rim.

Georgia coach Andy Landers' shoulders slumped. And Auriemma?

"I don't how I felt at that point," he said. "I was vomiting."

_AP Sports Writer Donna Tommelleo

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SUNDAY, March 26:

MINNEAPOLIS — It's hard not to be a fan of Villanova coach Jay Wright.

All weekend long, as his Wildcats made a run at their first Final Four in 21 years, Wright conducted himself with class and patience.

He welcomed former players and coaches from the 1985 team that shocked Georgetown for the national title, embracing the tradition rather than treating it as a burden that these new kids had to live up to.

Everywhere he went, people talked about 1985. And with Rollie Massimino in the stands and Ed Pinckney on the bench as an assistant coach, the newest edition of the cardiac Cats easily could have been overlooked.

But Wright made sure that didn't happen. While welcoming chatter about the past, he also used the platform to introduce the rest of the country to his seniors — particularly Randy Foye and Allan Ray.

After the Wildcats lost to Florida on Sunday, Wright was blunt in his feelings.

"This hurts," he said. "It's supposed to hurt."

But he also went out of his way to say how proud he was of his team's breakthrough season — a school record 30 wins and their first No. 1 seed.

And he answered every question, from those about the disappointment to what happens next when Foye, Ray and Co. leave school.

"It's not even about not going to the Final Four," Wright said. "We just wanted to advance and keep playing together, keep being together."

A lot of coaches say things like that, but Wright says it with a purpose and a genuineness that some of his colleagues lack.

"I want them to feel great about themselves, great about Villanova," Wright said.

After spending four years with a coach like him, how could they not?

_AP Sports Writer Jon Krawczynski.

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WASHINGTON — It's not easy wearing two hats and staying neutral when you want to cheer your head off. Tom O'Connor is a great example of that.

O'Connor is the athletic director at George Mason University, the team that has captured the hearts of the American sporting public with a run to the regional finals of the NCAA tournament.

O'Connor is also a member of the 10-person NCAA tournament Selection Committee, the group that picks and seeds the 65-team field.

On Sunday morning, about four hours before the Patriots met Connecticut for the right to go to the Final Four in a game played 22 miles from George Mason's campus, O'Connor was at breakfast with his wife. He was wearing a sleeveless green windbreaker with "George Mason" on the left chest.

He was reminded that people might think he was showing favoritism for his school rather than showing the neutrality of a committee member overseeing the game.

"I can wear this for another couple of hours then I'll be wearing my tournament badge," O'Connor said laughing.

He was asked how crazy had it become over the last few days with ticket requests considering how close the Verizon Center is to the Patriot Center. Again he had a quick answer.

"I have a great staff and they haven't relayed any of them," he said.

_AP Basketball Writer Jim O'Connell

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WASHINGTON — I came, I saw... and I passed on buying the T-shirt for the Washington Regional.

I wanted a polo shirt, but the only one available cost $49 and had the Final Four logo. That wasn't going to work, because it would only put me in an embarrassing situation when someone asked the inevitable question: "Hey, did you go to the Final Four?"

The T-shirt had the logo of all four teams here, but I just couldn't see shelling out $22 for a souvenir that would probably end up underneath an already formidable pile of shirts I rarely wear. My kid has enough T-shirts, too.

Besides, I need the money to pay for parking.

_AP Sports Writer Dave Ginsburg

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SATURDAY, March 25:

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — Five words you never want to hear when you're rushing to an assignment: "You're not on the list."

There I sat in my idling Ford Escort at the entrance to the media lot this morning at the Arena at Harbor Yard, while an NCAA official double-checked his parking list.

"Nope. Not on it."

Never mind that I had written confirmation, verbal confirmation and the first news conference of the day — the Michigan State women's team — was just 15 minutes away. Oh, those tantrums we threw as kids. It's a shame they won't work now.

Just be nice to the man in the yellow jacket, after all he didn't make the rules. He just enforces them, but why was I beginning to feel like Public Enemy No. 1? I made a quick cell phone call to the arena official who just the day before assured me I was on the alleged A list. I handed the phone to Mr. Yellow Jacket and after their brief conversation was waved through.

"Thank you." I made sure I smiled at him.

No return smile this time.

There was one more jolly stop ahead. The big, burly guy at the door took his bag search seriously. Wouldn't let me turn to the credential table right across from him to pick up my pass. No siree, not without emptying my pockets and getting wanded.

No smiles there, either. But you put up with that because Sept. 11, 2001 changed everything, even basketball.

The folks that staff the portals and parking lots of the venues — I'm sure are hard-working, decent men and women and are just carrying out their duties — but don't EVER walk through the wrong door, take a soda can onto press row, walk in front of a team that's making its way to the locker room or break any number of rules that are in effect today that weren't yesterday and probably won't be tomorrow.

Because then you are Public Enemy No. 1.

_AP Sports Writer Donna Tommelleo

___

SAN ANTONIO — Long live the tree!

OK, as far as rallying cries go, it's not that great. But it sure has the kids in the Stanford band fired up.

The band is all the Cardinal have to motivate them and their fans for the rest of the NCAA women's tournament. Their tree mascot has been kicked out of the rest of the tournament for having danced last weekend in a restricted area.

"The tradition with the tree ... to me, it's funny," star guard Candice Wiggins said during a news conference on Friday.

"We're sad that he's not with us," added center Brooke Smith, her sly smile making it obvious she knew she was giving a good quote.

Gone, but not forgotten, the tree was courtside in spirit Saturday for Stanford's 88-74 victory over Oklahoma in the semifinals of the San Antonio Regional.

Nearly every member of the band was adorned with some sort of shrubbery. There were twigs of various shapes and sizes taped to hats, backs and arms. Several folks used thick tape to fashion trees on their backs. (Most had the zigzag look of the Christmas variety.)

After the game, long after both teams and most fans were gone, the band played on, chanting, "Just three more wins!"

True. But "Three for the Tree!" sure has better ring to it.

_AP Sports Writer Jaime Aron

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FRIDAY, March 24:

MINNEAPOLIS — Pretty disappointed with the crowd here for the Sweet 16, but it's understandable.

A little over 22,000 came out to watch two great games — Villanova against Boston College and Florida against Georgetown.

With the games in the Metrodome, which seats over 60,000 for football games, there was a sea of empty blue seats, which certainly won't help the Twin Cities the next time they bid for a regional.

Maybe the committee will show a little understanding given the geography.

All four schools are on the East Coast, making a trip here awfully expensive and time consuming.

And let's face it, how many Florida fans would want to leave the Sunshine State to come to the Great White North in late March? I don't blame them, and I'm from Minnesota!

_AP Sports Writer Jon Krawczynski

___

WASHINGTON — Plenty of yellow shirts in the MCI, er, Verizon Center tonight. Most of them are George Mason fans — five sections worth — although there are a few hundred Wichita State backers wearing yellow, too.

Interestingly, George Mason probably has more fans here tonight than at most of their home games. The Patriots, whose campus is 20 miles south, usually attract a crowd of just over 3,000.

Wichita State had to travel 1,200 miles to get here. They wore white jerseys as the higher seed, but they were definitely must have felt like a road team tonight.

On an unrelated note, here's a quirky detail about the so-called media room, which is located in the bowels of the building. I have a Verizon internet phone card and a Verizon cell phone, neither of which work in the basement of the Verizon Center. Go figure.

_AP Sports Writer Dave Ginsburg

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WASHINGTON — The NCAA tournament is the greatest sporting event on the planet and I'm allowed to say that because I've covered every one since 1979. Thursday night's buzzer-beaters proved my point again and the wins by Texas and UCLA were so good that 12 hours later they were still being talked about fervently.

I was sitting at breakfast in the media hotel with three other writers when Dave Gavitt, the former Providence coach and founder of the Big East stopped at the table to talk.

He was animated right away talking about the two games from the night before. When he talked about the play that UCLA scored the winning points on he really wanted to emphasize a point about the inbounds play Gonzaga messed up and allowed the steal on.

The man who was chosen to coach the U.S. Olympic team in 1980 grabbed the salt shaker and said "This is Morrison. He got the ball in a bad spot but still made a great pass to Batista," who became the small jar of jelly. "Then Raivio is right here," he said moving a glass of water onto the table that had become a basketball court. "How did he not get him the ball?"

Sorry NBA Finals, World Series and Super Bowl. Moments like that make the NCAA tournament the best event there is.

_AP Basketball Writer Jim O'Connell

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THURSDAY, March 23:

ATLANTA — Duke's J.J. Redick and Shelden Williams may be more established stars, but TV loves a catchy nickname and so the cameras were pointed at Louisiana State's Glen "Big Baby" Davis early and often Thursday night at the Atlanta Regional.

The 6-foot-9, 310-pound Davis makes for good TV with his big body, baby face and shaved head, and about four minutes into the game he delivered a ready-for-replay highlight with a coast-to-coast basket. Davis dribbled the ball up the floor, made the basket and drew the foul.

No matter that he missed the free throw. One play can last a long time on TV, what with endless replays.

Alas, Davis faded to the background when he took a seat with two fouls and only four points just past the midpoint of the half.

That's OK. Turns out the cameras stuck with Davis. Sure the actual action was on the floor, but what camera can ignore a Big Baby sucking on his water bottle?

_AP Sports Writer Charles Odum

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WASHINGTON — Open practices are a big part of the NCAA tournament, a chance for local fans who weren't able to get tickets for the games to see the teams up close with cameras in hand.

The ones before the first-round games are sparsely attended unless a local team is playing; then it's amazing how many people, especially those of school age, are free on weekday afternoons.

The open practices before the regional semifinals are rarely well attended because by then teams usually aren't playing anywhere near home.

Not Thursday at the Verizon Center, the site of the Washington Regional and a building just 22 miles from George Mason's campus.

When the Patriots took the floor for practice at noon, there were plenty of green-and-gold clad fans cheering on the team that beat national powers Michigan State and North Carolina in the first two rounds. When Washington (the state from the West Coast not another local) took the floor at 1 p.m., most of the George Mason fans were on their way back to work or heading home.

George Mason has knocked the nation's capital favorite college basketball team, Georgetown, off the front pages of the local newspapers and from the top of the local newscasts. After all, the Hoyas are still playing, but they are in Minneapolis.

With George Washington, another D.C.-area school with plenty of recent basketball success, it seems a natural to have an area tournament with a theme. You could have Georgetown, George Washington and George Mason in the field. A fourth? How about George Fox, a Division III school from Newberg, Ore., or another Division I program from a different part of the country, Georgia?

_AP Basketball Writer Jim O'Connell

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WASHINGTON — Yet another reminder of TV's role in the world of sports:

So I'm standing outside the locker room that George Mason is using at the Washington Regional, waiting my turn while reporters file in, and I overhear a snippet of conversation between two media relations types.

The gist of the discussion: One says to the other that he received a request from CBS and he's not quite sure what to do about it.

And the other, presumably more veteran, media relations type responds: "Whatever CBS wants, do it."

So that's the kind of service all those billions CBS pays the NCAA earn, huh?

_AP Sports Writer Howard Fendrich

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TUESDAY, March 21:

NORFOLK, Va. — Lots of eyes will be on Norfolk tonight to see if America's newest dunking sensation, Tennessee's Candace Parker, does it again against George Washington.

To Colonials forward Jessica Simmonds, that means all eyes on her, too, since she's likely to be the defender responsible for keeping Parker from taking over the game.

Simmonds has clearly spent some time thinking of being "posterized" by Parker, caught looking up helplessly as the 6-foot-4 redshirt freshman throws another one down.

Asked if she was concerned about it, Simmonds delivered a decisive "no."

"That's not happening," she added with a confident, almost angry stare.

Maybe it's because they are next in the Lady Vols' line of fire, but while much of the women's basketball community celebrated Parker's feat and the attention it brought to the game, George Washington seemed to think it was all a bit overblown.

"It was against Army," Simmonds said dismissively.

Just hearing the dunks discussed got Colonials coach Joe McKeown fired up.

"I think our game is better than that," he snapped. "Our game has evolved past that. I think the hype that was given was a little much. There should be a lot more focus on Parker's talent, her ability and some of the other players on Tennessee."

I asked Simmonds if she had a plan to prevent another dunk.

McKeown interrupted to give the answer.

"We're not saying," he said.

Stay tuned.

_AP Sports Writer Hank Kurz Jr.

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NORFOLK, Va. — Some coaches of lower seeded teams have a harder time than others of masking their realization that their team's NCAA tournament run is sure to be brief, and it often makes for some of the more amusing moments during news conferences.

Count Southern Cal's Mark Trakh among the realists.

The Women of Troy will have four players on the bench in street clothes when they play top-seeded Duke tonight, essentially leaving the team with only seven healthy players.

While discussing his team's long odds yesterday, Trakh cited foul trouble, fatigue and Duke's size and depth and talent among the possible stumbling blocks in the game.

Then, trotting out a well-worn cliche with a wry smile, he added:

"They put their pants on one leg at a time, just like we do," he said as the assembled media chuckled. "It just takes them a little longer to get 'em up."

_AP Sports Writer Hank Kurz Jr.

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SUNDAY, March 19:

DALLAS — Every NCAA tournament game has a loser and that team invariably has at least one or two key seniors whose college careers end when the buzzer goes off.

Bucknell's Charles Lee and Kevin Bettencourt made the sorrowful final walk to the sideline Sunday in the closing seconds of a 72-56 loss to Memphis.

They were met by coach Pat Flannery, who gave each of them a big hug and a surprising offer.

"When we get back, we'll have some beers," Flannery told them.

Flannery laughed telling that story, adding that it's a line he uses every year.

"They look at you like you've got two heads," he said. "Then they realize it's over at that point."

Here's hoping Flannery springs for pizza, too. It's the least he can do for two guys who have done so much for his program.

Lee and Bettencourt deserve a proud spot in their school's athletic history for what they've done the last four years, especially the last two.

When Lee and Bettencourt arrived as freshman, only a few Patriot League schools were giving out athletic scholarships. Bucknell wasn't among them.

When they were sophomores, the school started handing out three scholarships a year. Next year's incoming class will make it 12.

This year, both players were all-conference picks, with Lee named player of the year. They led the Bison to a 17-0 march through league play, making them one of only three teams in the country not to lose to a conference foe. (Trivia answer: The other two are Gonzaga and George Mason, both of which advanced to next weekend.)

They came to Dallas expecting to play two games, and they did. They beat a great collection of athletes Friday with a 59-55 victory over Arkansas. Against an equally athletic but more skilled squad from Memphis, they never really had a chance.

Lee scored 12 points and Bettencourt 11. And now, their careers are over.

"I think we've accomplished a lot," Lee said. "I think this team is in the right direction. I wish them the best of luck. I'm really glad i was able to be a part of it."

Said Bettencourt: "I have absolutely no regrets."

_AP Sports Writer Jaime Aron

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TRENTON, N.J. — As I walked into Sovereign Bank Arena for the first round of the women's tournament, the first thing that struck me was how small the arena was.

When I was in college at Binghamton in upstate New York, the basketball team was in Division III and played in a gym with bleachers that were pulled out from the wall on both sides of the gym. But I left college almost 14 years ago, and I haven't watched a game in a 'room' that small since.

I've been to many games at Madison Square Garden, both as a fan and a sports writer. It seemed like the seating area here would fit inside the bottom section of the Garden. Maybe a little more, since Sovereign Bank Arena's capacity is at best half of MSG's. The small size wasn't a problem during the afternoon session — the crowd of 4,067 was about half of the capacity.

Maybe the night session, which has nearby Rutgers playing, will have a bigger attendance.

The Hartford fan section was pretty loud during its game against Temple, often drowning out both schools' bands. They had plenty of reason to make noise, with their team getting its first NCAA tournament win.

One of the funnier sights of the day was an elderly woman wearing a white sweatshirt with 'Atlantic 10' in huge letters, standing by her seat and doing the arm motions with the Temple cheerleaders across the court while the school's band played its fight song late in the second half.

_AP Sports Writer Vin Cherwoo

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PHILADELPHIA — Marcus Williams had quite a day Sunday in the second round of the NCAA tournament at the Wachovia Center.

Marcus Williams had 44 points on 12-for-28 shooting (0-for-7 from 3-point range) from the field and 20-for-24 from the free throw line. Marcus Williams had 11 rebounds and 12 assists.

Marcus Williams also went 1-1 on the day.

Junior point guard Marcus Williams had 20 points for Connecticut in its 87-83 victory over Kentucky. Freshman forward Marcus Williams had 24 points for Arizona in its 82-78 loss to Villanova.

West Coast natives both, Connecticut's Marcus Williams is from Los Angeles while Arizona's Marcus Williams is from Seattle.

The two almost met earlier this season in Hawaii. Connecticut beat Arizona 79-70 in the semifinals of the EA Sports Maui Invitational. Arizona's Marcus Williams had four points. Connecticut's Marcus Williams missed the game as part of his first-semester suspension for his role in the theft of laptops from a dormitory this summer.

_AP Basketball Writer Jim O'Connell

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NORFOLK, Va. — One day later, I have egg on my face, sort of, and a sense of relief that only other AP sports writers — and the kindhearted — can likely appreciate.

I wrote this yesterday: "In women's basketball, fans don't wait for a dunk or some other big play to get jazzed up."

Today, I saw not one dunk, but two, and even the fans that don't like Tennessee went nuts when Candace Parker threw one down in the early going of each half.

The relief? That I saw the second one.

AP sports writers have to send their stories real quick once the final horn sounds, so when games are out of hand, the outcome long since decided, we start writing and occassionally glance up to see what the second- and third-stringers are doing.

Today, I was already well into my story about Parker's first dunk, its historical implications and such when I looked up, saw her pass the ball to Nicky Anosike at the top of the foul line, break for the basket, take a return pass and slam it again.

Amazing.

_AP Sports Writer Hank Kurz Jr.

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AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Nothing beats the NCAA tournament.

Not the Olympics, Super Bowl, Ryder Cup, NBA or NHL Finals.

I haven't covered the World Series, and I probably won't because I cover the Tigers, but I can't imagine it toppling my affection for college basketball this time of year.

I'm wrapping up my day at The Palace — after covering my 26th round of the tournament, dating to 1994 — and I feel fortunate to call this work.

The shockers, buzzer-beating shots and stories are consistently amazing.

Writing about tiny Northwestern State was the treat of my four-day stint at The Palace. The Demons went home with a loss to West Virginia, but these guys can't be called losers. They had a blast, stunned a third-seeded team, and soaked up every second of their experience.

Thankfully, Jermaine Wallace's falling-out-of-bounds 3-pointer with a split second left to beat Iowa will be shown for years because it will remind me of the guys from Natchitoches, La., that you wouldn't mind marrying somebody from your family.

_AP Sports Writer Larry Lage

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SATURDAY, March 18:

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Usually pep bands are stretching the limits beyond the school fight songs if they play tunes like "Time Warp" from the Rocky Horror Picture Show or "Tequila." UC Riverside, making its NCAA tournament debut, brought something very different to its inaugural game Saturday against top-seeded North Carolina — bagpipers.

The Highlanders' usual pep band is a jazz combo, and they've used bagpipers occasionally at halftime before. But for the biggest game in school history, they brought out a group of bagpipers and drummers replete with kilts, something that would be right at home in a St. Patrick's Day parade or firefighter's procession.

Now some of the bagpipers really looked out of place at a college women's basketball game with gray hair and beards.

But they had fans and reporters alike paying attention, enjoying the unique and thrilling sounds that sent chills down the spine and seemed appropriately at home in the old concrete block arena called Memorial Gym.

Now if only they had brought some cheerleaders to join the parents and close family that came to cheer on the Highlanders.

_AP Sports Writer Teresa M. Walker.

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