N.C.A.A. TOURNAMENT: MEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP; UConn Proves It Can, and How (original) (raw)
Sports|N.C.A.A. TOURNAMENT: MEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP; UConn Proves It Can, and How
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N.C.A.A. TOURNAMENT: MEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP
- March 30, 1999
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March 30, 1999
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Section D, Page
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Richard Hamilton slowly climbed up the 8-foot ladder, savoring every step. Hamilton slowly snipped the net, savoring every slice. Hamilton slowly wrapped the net around his neck and waved to the delirious fans, savoring every wave. Hamilton was savoring a trip to heaven, hoops heaven.
Actually, Hamilton and the Connecticut Huskies savored every moment and deserved to after they shocked favored Duke, 77-74, to win their first national championship at Tropicana Field. It was a dramatic game that was not decided until the final possession. And after Trajan Langdon had turned the ball over for the second time in six seconds, the Huskies did their impersonations of Jim Valvano and hustled around the court searching for someone to hug. They looked like 5-year-olds dancing through sprinklers on a humid day.
Everyone wanted to hug Hamilton and Ricky Moore, the two dominating reasons the Huskies performed the unimaginable in stopping a team that was being called one of the best in college history. But Moore, the defensive whiz, turned offensive with 13 critical points in the first half and Hamilton poured in 27 for the game to spark an inspired attack that ruined Duke and raised UConn's program to another echelon.
''UConn is No. 1,'' Moore declared. ''No doubt about it.''
Precisely. Hamilton made some amazing shots for the Huskies. With the score tied, 68-68, and 4 minutes 7 seconds remaining, he made two free throws to put the Huskies ahead to stay. But the shot that was more incredible than any other followed as Hamilton nailed a 23-foot 3-pointer to push the lead to 73-68 with 3:38 left. Duke never got closer than 1 point the rest of the game, making Hamilton seem like a prophet.
''I think we can accomplish it as long as we come together, stay together and play as a team,'' Hamilton said, predicting a Huskies title before the tournament. ''Every guy on this team wants to get to the Final Four. But we don't just want to get there. We want to win the national championship.''
They did, and they did it in style. There was a wild celebration after the victory as Khalid El-Amin mugged for the cameras and then slammed the ball down so hard that it landed in the third row of press seats about 20 feet off the court. Hamilton and El-Amin stood back to back with their arms folded while photographers clicked away. The savvy and faithful UConn fans shouted to Hamilton, ''One more year.'' There has been speculation that Hamilton, a junior, might leave for the National Basketball Association. That speculation will surely increase for Hamilton and perhaps El-Amin.
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