March Madness '06 one for the ages


College basketball is the type of sport that treasures the underdog. We admire the will to win and the will to fight.

We want to see stars born before our eyes and teams triumph through adversity. We love to see tears of joy careen down players' faces through times of pure euphoria and coaches kiss their wives knowing that they've finally won the "big one."

It happens every year around this time, the closing moments of March Madness culminating in that superior setting, the National Championship game. Each year it's at a different location, but it always yields the same type of feeling.

This year in Indianapolis was no exception, as UCLA, Florida, LSU and George Mason graced the Final Four with the same type of wide-eye awakening that every team probably feels walking into this type of national spotlight.

George Mason, despite incomparable odds, sliced through its bracket as an unknown. Critics questioned the validity of its selection into the field of 65, but soon let their notions go once the 11th seeded Patriots won four games, defeating three former National Champions-North Carolina, Michigan State and Connecticut-en route to the Final Four.

All across the nation, an epidemic of green and yellow fanfare followed, as the Patriots were the first 11th seed to overcome such a feat since LSU did the same in 1986. The Cinderella story was born yet again.

LSU had a story of its own to fight through, as the thoughts of Hurricane Katrina resonated throughout the year. In the process of reaching the Final Four, they resurrected a New Orleans town that was looking for hope and found it in the hands of two players, "Big Baby" Glen Davis and Tyrus Thomas.

"Big Baby," with his chubby round face, braces and a smile that could light up a room, dominated in March, carrying his team on his shoulders when they needed a sure lift of spirit. Thomas, a relative unknown before the tournament, skyrocketed into stardom in mere weeks as he denied teams like Duke and Texas A&M the chance to fight another day with his defensive forte.

UCLA, with a storied history, used tradition as the backdrop during the tournament, honoring the greats of old while creating moments of its own on the court.

In one of the most defining moments of the tournament, UCLA stormed back from an 11-point deficit late in the second half against third-seeded Gonzaga, efficiently breaking down the Bulldogs with full-court pressure until they lost the lead and game. With 2.9 seconds left, they even forced an All-American, Adam Morrison, to cry before the game was even over. Talk about frustration.

The Florida Gators, with no real story or dramatic backdrop, quietly moved through the tournament the first couple of games. They were no Cinderella story, they had no tragedy in their hearts, nor did they have anything near to a notable tradition-the first time Florida reached the tournament was in 1986. UCLA had already won 10 titles.

Florida was quiet until, well, everyone realized how good they were. They went unnoticed until everyone discovered Joakim Noah and Al Horford. They were overlooked until Corey Brewer became the college basketball version of Tayshaun Prince and Lee Humphrey became the latest Gerry McNamara.

Devoid of any true power teams, the Final Four brought college basketball into a state of reality, once again allowing the tournament to bring parity back into the rotation.

George Mason and LSU were eliminated in the semifinals, but they were engraved as two teams that, despite facing criticism due to their seedings in the tournament, willed themselves to the spotlight.

The UCLA vs. Florida finale didn't turn out to be as melodramatic as some had hoped, but it did confirm the suspicions that Noah was once again unstoppable, Horford was uncontrollable, Humphrey was lights out and Brewer was a stifling defender.

UCLA just couldn't handle the obstacles that Florida had to offer. If they doubled inside, they left shooters wide open for three. If they played tight on the outside shooters, they opened up lanes for penetration. When they tried to limit penetration, Florida found its big men for nine dunks in the second half. UCLA, despite a valiant effort, just didn't match up well with Florida.

The Gators convincingly won the National Championship, 73-57, proving that their core of youth-Brewer, Horford, Noah and Taurean Green-could handle the big game pressure. All sophomores, they determined the outcome of the game.

It's nothing new, this day in age in sports. Any athlete can show his talent or have "his" day. The right ones will pick their moments and utilize them, while the wrong ones will slide into mediocrity and wither to the depths of that 12-man bench.

That's college basketball, though. The chance at glory is only a split second away from the possibility of pain and agony. Some rise up to the challenge and hit that final shot to clinch it, while others unravel and begin to cry.

College basketball is so much different from the past, but it also is so much the same.

By Cory M. Mull

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