Monday, March 26, 2001
Final Four test of wills
By MIKE LOPRESTI
Gannett News Service
Here at the end, only the strong wills are left standing. It is a Final Four dedicated to the power of perseverance.
One team endured the death of the coach's wife. Another a late-season breakdown of confidence. Another the burden of defending a national title, even with the heart of last year's champions gone. Another the pressure of the name across its chest, in a place where the only thing more expected in the spring than a Final Four is Easter.
Arizona, Maryland, Michigan State, Duke. In order, a No. 2 seed, a No. 3, and two No. 1s. But not a soft shell in the bunch.
The past weekend showed it, with survival that had to be won with grit and resolve, and little beauty.
Duke took Southern California's best shot. Michigan State had to out-tough Temple. Maryland needed to bring down a No. 1 seed in Stanford. Arizona had to withstand a physical scrap with Illinois that left so many players fouled out, Chief Illiniwek almost had to play forward.
It was rarely pretty. But sent to Minneapolis are four teams who earned their way, with unquestioned quality. They will assemble with the promise of close, tense games.
The tournament could use some. Of the 28 games played since the second round, 21 have been decided by 10 points or more. Only three by four or less.
What better way to fix that than Duke-Maryland IV?
They have been the Ali and Frazier of this season, trading punches from College Park to Durham to Atlanta.
In I, the Terrapins blew a 10-point lead the last minute of regulation, lost 98-96 in overtime, and went into a mental nosedive. It took weeks, and a 1-5 tailspin, for them to recover.
In II, Maryland rained all over Duke's Senior Night 91-80 as the Blue Devils went eight minutes of the second half without a basket.
In III, an ACC Tournament semifinal, Nate James' tip-in with 1.3 seconds left won for Duke 84-82, despite a 51-30 Maryland rebounding edge.
“Some of the kids even said to each other, "We'll see you at the Final Four,' ” Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said.
The two schools come from very different NCAA pasts. Duke, a school that will be in its 13th Final Four, against Maryland, a school that until now had been to none.
The Blue Devils were supposed to get this far, of course, as Krzyzewski teams always are. They are in the midst of a golden age in Durham.
Maryland seemed on the verge of meltdown during its slump, coach Gary Williams questioned near and far. Only one thing could save him, and one thing did. A magic March.
“A couple of weeks ago,” center Mike Mardesich said, “people wanted Coach's job.”
For all the ACC glitter, this is only the second time two brethren have met in the Final Four. North Carolina beat Virginia in the 1981 semifinals.
Meanwhile, Michigan State is back for the third straight year. Without Mateen Cleaves. And Morris Peterson. And A.J. Granger. The core of last year's champions.
Six different schools have repeated, but 1991-92 Duke is the only one since UCLA's John Wooden era. It would be a remarkable feat for the Spartans to pull it off with the lineup changes that had to be made.
Those are three teams with warm stories. But Arizona is truly the tale of the heart, in a season when Lute Olson lost Bobbi Olson after 47 years of marriage.
It has taken tears and mourning and the rekindling of the spirit to put the Wildcats back together.
They are a team to pull for in Minneapolis. But then, why not Michigan State, for the courage of its defense? Or Maryland finally getting a shot? Or Duke for its classy, relentless proficiency?
They all appeal to our sympathy. And not only that, can play the game. The best kind of Final Four.
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Final Four test of wills