Romar’s Tough Decision Pays Off
Lorenzo Romar was so close to accepting the Pepperdine job over the summer he could feel the sea breeze on his face. But every time he closed his eyes and inhaled, he saw Toby Bailey. Then J.R. Henderson. And he would smell a crowded gym in April. He’d smell sweat and tears and happiness. And he’d smell championships.
“I couldn’t go,” UCLA’s assistant coach said. “I couldn’t go and watch our guys cut the nets down on television. Coaches coach for 30 and 40 years and never get that moment.”
The vision was that clear?
“I had a very good idea.”
In the biggest UCLA basketball game in 15 years, Romar’s vision materialized.
They wrote it
A sampling of columnists:
“North Carolina advanced for two reasons. The Tar Heels easily outperformed the Wildcats in the critical basketball area called shooting. The North Carolina fans who hovered over Kentucky’s exit at the game’s end pointed out the second reason: ‘Coaching, coaching, coaching!’ they exclaimed.
“The legend-in-the-making, Rick Pitino, is now oh-for-three against the legend-in-real-life, Dean Smith.” - Kevin B. Blackistone, Dallas Morning News
“No words, coach (Pitino)? Allow me: Ugly, wretched, homely, rancid.” - John McGrath, Tacoma News Tribune
“Flashing a wide smile, (UCLA coach Jim Harrick) climbed the steps, yelled ‘Thank you!’ to the Bruin faithful, and then severed the final piece of cord that held the net to the rim.
“This bears some resemblance to another scenario envisioned by many UCLA backers at this time last year. That one also involved Harrick climbing steps, where a rope awaited.” - Michael Ventre, Los Angeles Daily News
“Donny Marshall was the fastest forward in the land, said (UConn) coach Jim Calhoun, and no other frontliner in the nation could stay with him. Yes, UCLA can move, they agreed, but how far can Tyus Edney go in a box?
“In this case, he can go from Oakland to Seattle.” - Bob Keisser, Long Beach Press Telegram
Joe Smith to win Naismith
Maryland sophomore Joe Smith has been named winner of this season’s Ban-Naismith Award as national player of the year. The official announcement will be made today, the Baltimore Sun reported.
Smith, a 6-foot-10 center, first-team All-American and the Atlantic Coast Conference’s player of the year, is the first Terrapin to receive an award of this kind.
“It’s a great honor,” Smith said from his mother’s Virginia home.
Smith topped five other finalists: Arkansas’ Corliss Williamson, UCLA’s Ed O’Bannon, North Carolina’s Rasheed Wallace, Michigan State’s Shawn Respert and Arizona’s Damon Stoudamire.