Butler drove to the other end of the floor, got cut off heading towards the rim, moved to his left, and rose for the biggest shot of his life. It went through the nets at the buzzer, and pure elation filled the San Diego State bench, sideline, cheer section, NRG Stadium, and Viejas Arena back in San Diego, where thousands of fans were watching the game.Â
However, a huge run across a small stretch of that game was the difference. It was a combination of impossible shot making, and awful decisions by the Longhorns. Texas choked!Â
Obviously, the players and coaches are completely different from that miracle run, but Larrañaga’s experience can’t be overlooked. Even though Dan Hurley’s a brilliant basketball mind, Larrañaga is the only coach here who has previously coached a Final Four game. Of the past 22 national champions, only five featured a coach making his first appearance in the Final Four.Â
Frankly, it will be an ugly first half of basketball. A 70,000-seat football stadium will be jam-packed with fans, media, and celebrities, and the jitters will be at an all-time high for both programs. The Aztecs have gotten off to slow starts a couple of times this tournament, although Brian Dutcher has done a great job of settling them down and finding a way to lock in.Â
The NCAA memories of the past had haunted SDSU and their fans, and all they wanted was a win in March Madness. This year, they got more than that, and they have now found their way to the first Final Four berth in program history.Â
Then it happened. With the Hawkeyes down by two and 1.5 seconds on the clock, Clark came off a double screen on the inbounds play. Her defender fell down on the second screen. She caught the pass and shot an off-balance three as the buzzer sounded in the arena. The shot went in. Clark charged to the baseline, where Hawkeyes fans waited to greet her. The place erupted. It was one of the coldest moments I’d ever witnessed in a basketball game.Â
This is the final four of the NIT in Las Vegas. Wisconsin is the only team from a power 5 league and getting them as an underdog is too good to pass up. Big 10 vs. American Conference. Wisconsin plays Michigan and Indiana. North Texas plays the lines of ODU.
Nate is back with an instant preview of the Final Four matchups on Saturday with his initial leans on both games from a betting perspective.
That SDSU halfcourt, grind-it-out-to-a-halt and watch the paint dry basketball, is something to behold. While I was not known as a defensive minded basketball coach, and I spent only one fourth of my average practice time on it, this Aztec defensive is something to behold.