Thursday Recap

Despite a 6 am practice Friday morning, I felt compelled to watch every minute of the Syracuse-Connecticut 6 OT thriller knowing that had at any point I gone to sleep I would have woken up furious with Paul Harris' inability to hit point blank layups, and angry at myself for missing the best college game of the year.

What a feeling it must have been to be a walk on getting meaningful minutes in the biggest game of the year. Imagine being told to sub in against a top 5 team in the country in the 5th overtime. Now factor in the following mental process that most walk on basketball players go through based on the several I've encountered at multiple schools.

Warm ups: Try to impress crowd, friends, and family by slapping the backboard on every layup.

15:48(1st half): Make wide circle around huddle during first TV timeout, ensuring the TV cameras a glance at your name on the back of your shooting shirt.

13:06(1st half): Amuse yourself by asking the tall, pasty walk on center (at 6'4") a series of questions wondering which cheerleader from the opposing school is most attractive.

6:08(1st half): Let out a primal scream after a teammate flushes on top of an opposing player. This is followed by awkward two handed high fives to those around you, which quickly you regret.

Halftime: Listen to coach yell at starters for lack of effort. Try not to laugh at coaches cursing in between inaudible grunts while giving a corny dig deep down speech.

2 minutes until second half: Rebound for rotation players hoisting non game like threes.

18:58(2nd half): Begin the stretch run mental zone-out. Secretly hope team doesn't come back so the team gets weekend off.

3:30(2nd half): Realize game has been an intense, hard fought, entertaining battle. Start cheering over the top for teammates after every positive possession.

0.00(End of regulation): Storm the court while chopping your feet Eruzione style after buzzer-beater. Argue with teammate closest to you whether the ball left the hand in time. Endlessly curse officials after shot is called off.

3:49(2nd OT): Start to think about the possibility of entering the game after third teammate fouls out. Force thought out of head immediately.

0:21(4th OT): 4th foul on Eric Devendorf. Lean to teammate and whisper, "dude if E.D. fouls out, im gettin buckets son." Begin getting Gary Williams armpits due to combo of nerves and adrenaline.

2:01(5th OT): Devendorf fouls out. Coach Boeheim looks in your direction for the first time all game. "Let's go!" Jog to scorekeeper's table while tucking in shirt. Silently thank God (and Coach Boeheim) for the 2-3 zone before stepping onto court.

...Now go win a Big East Tournament game. For the record, Justin Thomas played solid given the circumstances including a key rebound later in the game.

*****
Although I understand that many teams either intentionally or unintentionally check out mentally for the conference tournament, look at 2 key components of Pitt's loss to WVU yesterday:

1) Pitt from 3: 0-8
2) Dejuan Blair: 5 personal fouls

Swiss Cheese Panthers live up to their name...we'll see in the coming weeks what happens.

*****
The most impressive play of the night was not from any of the college madness, however. In Cleveland's win in Phoenix last night over the Suns, I saw one player make a complete goon out of himself (for the second time in Jason Richardson's career), and another cement his defensive player of the year award (LeBron James).

As J-Rich leaked out for an easy dunk, he gathered his steps for his patented 360, two-handed stuff. Little did he know, LBJ was locked in from half court, eyeing his prey. As Richardson bounced in the air, James jumped from outside the frame to pin the dunk attempt on the glass. (Edited: Granted, it may have been a foul, but the effort and athleticism was brilliant)

For James it was too easy. It was like clubbing baby seals.

For Richardson, it was the second time in his career that he embarrassingly missed a 360 dunk attempt. The first coming 9 years ago at Michigan State when he jumped too early and was forced to shoot a layup mid air. Only this layup bricked off the iron. Despite collecting the ball for an easy put back, Tom Izzo turned so blue he almost had to be wheeled off by a pair of Oompa Loompas. Despite how irate Izzo was during and after that game, I guess Richardson never learned his lesson.

Who knew a layup or simple dunk is just as effective as a 720, through the legs, tomahawk? Unfortunately for J-Rich and the Suns, a loss isn't as effective as a win. And this loss pretty much assures the Suns won't make the playoffs as they fall to six games out with 17 to go. Ironically, the Bobcats with former Suns Boris Diaw and Raja Bell, who were traded in exchange for Jason Richardson earlier in the season, are playing great and have a decent shot at making the playoffs. Another great mid season trade Steve Kerr, well played...well played indeed.