Monday, March 29, 1999

MEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP NOTEBOOK

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UConn's new role: Underdog

BY MICHAEL PERRY
The Cincinnati Enquirer

        ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Here's a switch for Connecticut: All season long, the highly touted Huskies were supposed to steamroll opponents on the way to the NCAA final.

        Now that they're here, they find themselves in the underdog role. Despite a 33-2 record.

        Duke is a 9¹/₂-point favorite for tonight's meeting for the national championship. And yes, the Huskies plan to show up.

        “It's kind of funny,” UConn junior Richard Hamilton said. “Usually we're on that end. We never felt like this all year. It's crazy. Now we're supposed to be scared?”

        “There's one thing the media can't judge and that's heart,” junior Kevin Freeman said. “We're not willing to give up in the face of any adversity.”

Turnaround
        Talk about your changes in fortune.

        When Trajan Langdon was a freshman, Duke went 13-18.

        When he was a sophomore, he had to sit out the season because of a knee injury.

        Now, he's a three-time first-team all-Atlantic Coast Conference player, a second-team All-American and finally getting the chance to play for an NCAA title.

        “I don't think there's been a kid in my program that I've enjoyed knowing and following his progress more than Tra,” Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said. “ ... I've admired him, truly. Especially how he's faced adversity. He's truly been our leader.”

Well-rounded
        Freeman likes to catch CNN, not always ESPN, on TV and read the front page of a newspaper before the sports section.

        The political science major has other interests, you see.

        Once his basketball playing days are over, Freeman, UConn's Scholar-Athlete in 1996-97, wants to become involved in politics. The junior forward said he'd like to be a mayor or congressman someday. He wants to make a difference in his community.

        “I think I have the smarts and the attitude to do it,” he said.

Bench attack
        One of the most talented players in tonight's game won't be on the floor when the game starts. That's because Duke brings Corey Maggette off the bench.

        When it does, UConn will have to find an answer for him.

        The 6-6 freshman averages 10.7 points and has scored in double figures nine of his last 14 games, including a career-high 24 points against North Carolina State in the ACC Tournament.

        “I think everyone here would recognize that Corey is our best athlete,” Krzyzewski said.

Emotional leader
        Khalid El-Amin is truly UConn's emotional leader.

        When the Huskies gathered for a team prayer before their second-round NCAA Tournament game against New Mexico, El-Amin got so worked up that he started crying. He was telling his teammates: We could lose this game, the season could be over, we won't be playing together anymore.

        “We didn't know if he was still praying or what he was doing,” center Jake Voskuhl said. “We were joking about it after the game.”

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System can work - ask Carrawell Paul Daugherty column
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Childhood friends are foes tonight
'Rip' believes he'll rip Duke
MARCH MADNESS PAGE