It all made sense before Wednesday, how this week might play out for UNLV’s basketball team, how important it could prove in regards to the postseason, how a winnable game against Arizona State would be followed by an extremely difficult one at Arizona.
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.
The text was simple enough. One sentence. More of a promise than statement. This won’t happen next year.
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.
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.
Barry Rohrssen, a former administrative assistant and director of operations at UNLV under Bill Bayno, is in his first season on John Calipari’s staff at Kentucky. “Slice” has made it to the big time. He never won with the Washington Generals. He hasn’t lost with the Wildcats.
“We have a doggone good game,” the Wisconsin coach says before the Final Four. But many critics are frustrated with low scores, inconsistent whistles and micromanaging from the sidelines.
Arizona coach Sean Miller is still oh-for-Final Four attempts, his second-seeded team having been sent home by Wisconsin 85-78 on Saturday.
Sean Miller is arguably the country’s best recruiter not named John Calipari. Miller is also considered an expert coach, having led teams to the Sweet 16 six times and Elite Eight four. But he is also the latest to own this moniker: Best coach not to have reached a Final Four.
Wisconsin rallied late, and because of it will play for a second straight trip to the Final Four, having eliminated North Carolina 79-72 in a West Regional semifinal of the NCAA Tournament. The Badgers will play Arizona, a 68-60 winner over Xavier.
