This latest Final Four — won by Duke on Monday by a 68-63 score against Wisconsin at pristine Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis — was my 20th straight covering the national semifinals and final. It is a stretch that began in 1996 and has included some unforgettable moments, on and off the court.
Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma, lord of the rings, once again conquered the world of women’s college basketball. The Huskies beat familiar foe Notre Dame 63-53 in the NCAA Tournament championship game Tuesday, giving Auriemma a 10th national title. He ties John Wooden, the legendary UCLA men’s coach, for the most championships in Division I basketball.
The text was simple enough. One sentence. More of a promise than statement. This won’t happen next year.
Duke won the NCAA men’s basketball championship in a thrilling title contest, defeating Wisconsin 68-63 on Monday in Indianapolis.
Two days after getting rid of Kentucky — and good riddance to those sore losers — a tougher opponent is awaiting Wisconsin. And it’s not the letdown factor. It’s just never easy to beat Mike Krzyzewski.
To suggest any Duke basketball team over the past 25 years has flown under the national radar is to suggest Tom Brady can walk into any restaurant across the Northeast unnoticed.
Duke has won five NCAA games by an average of 17.6 points in eliminating a 16 seed (Robert Morris), an 8 (San Diego State), a 5 (Utah), a 2 (Gonzaga) and a 7 (Michigan State).
The training table was hot dogs. The morning of the national championship game, he had a cream doughnut and a diet pop. There might have been one media member from a newspaper back home covering the game.
Wisconsin is the reason Kentucky’s season fell two wins short of undefeated, the Badgers having proved a better No. 1 seed with a 71-64 semifinal victory before a Final Four gathering of 72,238 at Lucas Oil Stadium. Kentucky finished 38-1. That close to perfect. That far away.
The Spartans weren’t very good on college basketball’s grandest stage Saturday, and the Blue Devils were, clearly proven in Duke’s 81-61 national semifinal victory. It means the Blue Devils advance Monday to a ninth national title game under coach Mike Krzyzewski, who will be seeking a fifth title.
