ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, March 26, 1997 TAG: 9703260081
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MIKE JENSEN PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER
The NCAA Tournament, as always, provides many memorable moments.
Three No.1 seeds and a team that knocked out a No.1 are in the Final Four.
But Lute Olson of Arizona as a Cinderella?
Some other thoughts as the NCAA Tournament winds down into Indianapolis:
Reasons this tournament works: The biggest upset this year was pulled off by the team coached by a guy named ``Fang.'' ... The Mocs of Tennessee-Chattanooga made it just as far as Kansas. ... A freshman from Finland scored to put Utah ahead for good in overtime against Stanford. ... Yet another first-round opponent (this time Mississippi, which had beaten Kentucky) didn't have a clue on how to score against Temple's matchup zone. York. ... Fairfield, which showed up with the worst record in the tournament, led North Carolina at halftime....Listening to Dick Vitale is optional. ... How much did everyone out there know about Minnesota's Bobby Jackson, who has been the best player in this whole thing?
Moments for that end-of-tournament television montage: Brevin Knight leaning and hitting that 3-pointer to send Stanford into overtime against Utah. ... UCLA point guard Cameron Dollar re-creating Tyus Edney's dash against Missouri with his own end-of-game full-court romp for a game-winning hoop against Iowa State. ... Long Island University's Charles Jones patting himself on the back after a 3-pointer.
All-tournament team so far: Jackson of Minnesota, North Carolina's Antawn Jamison, Kentucky's Ron Mercer, Arizona's Miles Simon and Stanford's Knight.
Freshmen who showed up with reputations, but made bigger names for themselves: Mike Bibby of Arizona, Ed Cota of North Carolina, Arthur ``Yah'' Davis of St. Joseph's.
Most enthusiastic pep band: The Fairfield Stags didn't take their band to Winston-Salem, N.C. Instead, the school hired Appalachian State's band for $15 per member, plus a free Fairfield T-shirt. The Appalachian State band learned Fairfield's fight song next door in a Burger King parking lot, then went in and rooted like crazy for the Stags against North Carolina.
Sweet talker award: Minnesota coach Clem Haskins, describing to reporters how good he felt after reaching the Final Four: ``It's like, you know, if you're a drug addict. I'm sure some of you use drugs. You know what it feels like to be high.''
Fang's Gang: Coppin State, coached by Ron ``Fang'' Mitchell, knocked off second-seeded South Carolina, then showed it was no fluke when it nearly beat Texas in the second round.
Cruising to Indy: North Carolina, playing well enough to win the national title, still had the easiest road to Indianapolis. The Tar Heels were the first school since Michigan in 1993 to reach the Final Four without playing a single top-four seed in its region.
We'll miss you, Pete: Providence coach Pete Gillen likes to call time whenever the opposing team scores two straight baskets. His wit is just as fast. After a Murray State player asked Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski for an autograph, Gillen said: ``They don't even know who I am. They think I'm the trainer. Sometimes they ask me for some tape.'' Of his own emotional team, Gillen said: ``We'll cry at the opening of a supermarket. We have a nervous breakdown every day.''
Things you'll see in Indy: Kentucky's Wayne Turner dribbling right past someone into the paint. ... A textbook hook by North Carolina's Serge Zwikker. Southern Cal coach Henry Bibby. ... Dean Smith actually being the funniest coach there.
Things you might see: Kentucky actually getting worn down, by Minnesota. the job his players have done (Ron Mercer is the only UK player left who scored in last year's championship game), Pitino dislikes having to perpetually reload. Someone who knows him well said his negotiations with the New Jersey Nets last year set his price; the Celtics and other NBA clubs know where to start.
Who's going to win: It could be anyone. But don't be surprised if it's Minnesota.
LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines KEYWORDS: BASKETBALLby CNB