ATLANTA – We’d like to take this opportunity to personally thank Louisville and Michigan for leaving us with the memory of a riveting championship game.
Because until the Cardinals edged the Wolverines 82-76 Monday night in a frenzied Georgia Dome, we feared the image we would take from this NCAA tournament was that of Kevin Ware’s horrific injury.
Instead, we saw Peyton Siva lead, Spike Albrecht go Hoosiers on us, Cool Hand Luke Hancock and then we got to see the basket lowered in the Dome so Ware could cut down a net.
“I’m not sure I could have, or the players, gotten over that emotional trauma, if he didn’t say to me, ‘Coach, I’ll be fine, we’ve got to win the [Duke] game,” said Louisvile coach Rick Pitino. “He said it three times.”
Here are some highs and lows of the tournament and a look ahead to next season.
Worst coaching decision: Pitino tellings his players this season he would get a a tattoo if the Cards won the national championship. He’s 60.
“I don’t like pain so I have to figure out how to have somebody put me to sleep,” said Pitino.
Best suggestion for said tattoo: ”You know, get my name,” Siva said.
Worst coaching decision II: Andy Enfield instructions to hide his wife, model Amanda Marcum, during team’s regional semifinal loss to Florida.
Most gut-retching loss: Leading 56-51 with 41seconds left, Davidson committed an uncharacteristic turnover that set up Vander Blue’s driving layup with one second left. The Wildcats, the best free -throw shooting team in the tournament, never should have been in that position An 80-percent free throw shooting team, they made just 14-of-22 (63.6 percent) against Marquette.
Most gut-retching loss II: Kansas led Michigan 68-54 with 6:51 left. The Jayhawks, one of the most experienced teams in the field, went 2-for-7 from the field and committed three turnovers. They lost 87-85 in OT.
“Well, this will certainly go down as one of the toughest games that obviously we’ve been a part of and I’ve been a part of,” Kansas coach Bill Self said.
Spike TV: Few outside of Ann Arbor knew Spike Albrecht before the first half of the national championship game. The 5-11, 170-pound freshman guard from Crown Point Indiana, whose only other scholarship offer was from Appalachian State, scored 17 points, making 6-of-7 shots including all four of his 3’s.
“He may not win the look test,” player of the year Trey Burke, “but he’s going to make plays for this team.”
Classiest losing coach – ever: John Beilein. After his team played its heart out and pushed the No.1-overall seed to the brink, Beilein was asked when he would start to get over the loss.
“I hope tomorrow when we get on that plane, there’s some smiles on the faces,” he said. “The sun is going to come up tomorrow. If they’re not smiling we’re going to make them smile. They’re terrific young people. As I said, we’re the luckiest coaching staff in the world to be able to coach those guys.”
Where do I sign?
Best nickname not named Phi Slama Jama: Dunk City
Best in 2013-14: Lets’s get it started, a Commonwealth hoedown. 1. Kentucky; 2. Louisville; 3. Arizona; 4. Michigan State; 5. Michigan State; 6. North Carolina; 7. Florida; 8. Ohio State; 9. Marquette. 10. Georgetown