Journal and Courier from Lafayette, Indiana • 12

B2 SpOrtS Journal and Courier, Sunday, April 2, 2000 1 ARCIfe UUM lUlfllLn MM mu rvni IM UConn coach believes title game could have Bird-Magic impact 'U fv 4 jEk: i "This is like Houston and UCLA at the Astrodome, but for the national championship," Auriemma said. series stands 5-5. They've played three times before in the NCAA tournament, including UConn's victory in the 1995 championship game, which capped a 35-0 season. In eight of the 10 meetings, one or the other was ranked No. 1.

They split two games this season, each winning on the other's court. It's the kind of game that brings out the competitive zeal in everyone. Take Tennessee's Michelle Snow, a slim 6-foot-5 center with an easy smile. Snow said she likes the Connecticut players and is friends with several. But come tonight, forget it.

"When the jump ball goes up, you don't respect anybody," Snow said. "I don't care if it's your mom on the opposite team, you can't respect that. You're talking about the national championship. We worked the whole season for this." Who wins might hinge on who controls the other's point guard. Sophomore Sue Bird has given Connecticut a steady presence that the Huskies lacked a year ago when she was sidelined by a torn knee Ail-Americans will be everywhere.

Connecticut has two first-teamers in Shea Ralph and Syetlana Abrosi-mova. Tennessee has a first-teamer in Tamika Catchings, the national player of the year, and a second-team pick in Semeka Randall. And they all know what the other is going to do. "We have a million tapes of them and they have a million tapes of us," Ralph said. "You can scout all you want, but I think it's going to be more about who wants it the most and who is willing to work the hardest to get it and who is the most prepared." If along the way it does something for the sport, so much the better.

"The game has been looking for events that define the game and I think '95 was one of the events that put a stamp on the game," Auriemma said. "Now here we are five years later and there's another one. "I think after tomorrow night the game will be changed because of where it is and who is playing and the kind of game it's going to be." ligament. She scored 19 points and did not commit a turnover in UConn's 89-67 victory over Penn State in Friday night's semifinals. Tennessee still remembers the 25 points she scored in UConn's 74-67 victory at Knoxville Jan.

8. "It's going to come to wearing her out for 40 minutes," Tennessee's Kristen Clement said. "I know coach is probably going to put me on her just to pick her up full court and try to make her work with the ball. The key is making her give up the ball and make someone else handle it." Tennessee is 20-0 since freshman Kara Lawson moved to point guard. Law-son was responsible for cracking Rutgers' tough matchup zone in the Lady Vols' 64-54 victory Friday night.

She scored 19 points and has turned the ball over only five times in NCAA play. "I think we should check her birth certificate. She doesn't play like a freshman," Auriemmia said. "She's not afraid. She's competitive, She's tough.

She's exactly what they needed." "What's going to happen after tomorrow, I don't know. If tomorrow is a lousy game, maybe nothing. Auriemma is to morrow is a great game, there will be some effects. There definitely will be some kids watching, there will be people watching that maybe had not turned on a game before just because they are going to get caught up in all the hype." Tennessee coach Pat Sum-mitt said, "I don't know that there's ever been a better matchup. It doesn't get any better than this." The intensity of the rivalry far exceeds its relatively short duration.

The two first met in January 1995 and the By The Associated Press BIG GAME GUARD: Connecticut's Sue Bird (10) played the perfect game against Penn State with 19 points and no turnovers. i S8 ft rilfPf Spartans' victory. "They've worked hard to get here. Now they've got one more. Their defense has been the key." Michigan State lost to Duke in the semifinals last year.

"Because they were used to it last year, being in the Final Four, they were more comfortable this year," Johnson said. Others in the crowd included former heavyweight" champion Muhammad Ali and New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner. Ali lives in Berrien Springs, and has attended several Spartans games in East Lansing. They were sitting about a dozen rows behind the courtside press row. FINAL GAME Jody Silvester's first Final Four game as a referee was in Michigan State's semifinal victory over Pennsylvania in 1979, and his last was Saturday night in Florida's semifinal victory over North Carolina.

The 63-year-old official is retiring after four decades as a college referee. He was assigned last week to one of the two semifinals in the RCA Dome, but he didn't find out which one until Saturday. Silvester has officiated in every NCAA tournament since 1979, when Michigan State went on to the beat Indiana State in the championship game. This year, he also worked the first and second rounds in Nashville, where he officiated the Tulsa-UNLV and Miami-Ohio State games. By Chuck Schoffner The Associated Press PHILADELPHIA The next game in the Connecticut-Tennessee rivalry could do more than decide the national championship.

UConn coach Geno Au-riemma feels it also might be a defining moment for the sport of women's basketball. Think Michigan State-Indiana State on the men's side in 1979. Or the World Cup run by the U.S. women's soccer team. These two teams are so good, the rivalry so hot, even the most disinterested of fans might be drawn to tonight's NCAA title game.

Connecticut (35-1) has been ranked No. 1 all season. Tennessee (33-3) is No. 2. No two teams can put more talent on the floor, no two are more visible in the media.

Both also see what the matchup can do for their game, which still has to fight for attention among fans consumed by the men's tournament. Too quick for Badgers Continued from Page B1 A week ago, Wisconsin coach Dick Bennett said his team had not figured out a way to score against Michigan State. The Badgers still haven't and were held to the lowest point total of any Final Four team since the shot clock was introduced in 1986. Bryant, the MVP of the West Regional after averaging 16.8 points and shooting 50 percent from the field, was 1 of 5 from the field. The Spartans made it difficult for him to even get off a shot much less make it.

"We just didn't get it done," Bennett said. "They're better than us, and we knew that." The Badgers, one of two No. 8 seeds at Indy, finished a remarkable run after getting into the tournament from the bubble. They knocked out top-seeded Arizona in the second round of the West Regional, then made it to Indy by defeating Purdue in another All-Big Ten matchup. But Wisconsin, the sixth-place team in the Big Ten, wasn't quick enough or athletic enough to handle the Spartans.

Michigan State won both regular season meetings and defeated the Badgers again in the conference tournament. Michigan State is capable of playing defense with the stingiest of teams, and it simply had too many offensive weapons for the Badgers, who lost the four games between the teams by an average of nearly 11 points. "We were OK at halftime, but Peterson got it going and we just never Bennett said. "I thanked (the players) for this great run and apologized to them for all the goofy things I say to them." Michigan State dominated the boards, outrebound-ing Wisconsin 42-20 in a virtual replay of their first meeting this season. That choked off one of the Badgers' prime objectives for creating offensive chances.

The Spartans had 14 offensive rebounds and limited Wisconsin to only two. Andre Hutson led with 10 rebounds, Charlie Bell had eight, Peterson and A.J. Granger seven apiece. "They killed us on the boards," said 6-foot-8 Wisconsin forward Andy Kowske, who failed to grab a rebound during his 20 minutes on the court. Michigan State shot 35 percent (16-of-46) as well and overcame a subpar game by Cleaves.

He scored 11 points but nine of those came on free throws. Peterson, meanwhile, was 7-of-15, including Michigan State's only two baskets from outside the 3-point arc. "It seemed like every time we started to make a run and get back in the game," Wisconsin's Mark Vershaw said, "Peterson came up with the big basket." iliSOJ i fA -1 i' Tar Heels The others to appear in the Final Four as a player and coach are Vic Bubas, Dick Harp, Bob Knight, Bones McKinney and Dean Smith. Of those, only Knight and Smith played for and coached championship teams. time to go and one fact had not changed.

Florida had more players. "Coach always told us if we get six or eight points down, to never give up," Nelson said. "With our style, it only takes a steal or two and a couple of baskets and we're right back in it." It came slowly, steadily, with missed shots and tired fouls. Cota picked up his third on a charge, his fourth on a grabbing foul soon after with 13:18 left. The Gators went blowing past, never backing down.

North Carolina could not stop them. No one has been able to Staff and wire reports INDIANAPOLIS Purdue coach Gene Keady has been selected the GTE Division I Coach of the Year award by the National Association of Basketball Coaches. Keady will receive the award today at the annual GTENAB Awards Show at the Murat Theatre. This is the second time Keady has been recognized by the NABC as rnarh nf thf year, having Kady also won in 1994. Overall, he has been named national coach of the year six times.

His Boilermakers were the only team to play each of the Final Four teams this season. In the regular season, Purdue beat Florida and Michigan State, split a pair of games against Wisconsin and lost to North Carolina. The Boilermakers also lost to Wisconsin in the Big Ten tournament and in the NCAA regionals. Elsewhere RECORD LOW Michigan State's 53-41 victory over Wisconsin Saturday night marked the fewest combined points in an NCAA semifinal game since Georgetown beat Kentucky 53-40 in 1984. The Spartans and Badgers also combined for 36 points in the first half, the fourth-fewest points ever in the NCAA semifinals.

Cardinal scores three points in exhibition loss By Hank Lowenkron The Associated Press INDIANAPOLIS The Harlem Globetrotters, known for the comedy they normally use to entertain fans, had to concentrate on basketball to defeat the National Association of Basketball Coaches All-Stars on Saturday 82-80. The 8,286 fans at Conseco Fieldhouse didn't see any of the routines that have entertained millions since the Globetrotters made their debut on Jan. 7, 1927. Instead, the Globetrotters played hard throughout the tight game against the 12-man all-star squad of college seniors, clinching the win only with Nick Sheppard's layup at the buzzer to extend their streak of triumphs to 1,215. Sheppard took a pass from Reggie Phillips with the clock CO MEii'3 FiOTES "Under the basket was tough," Michigan State coach Tom Izzo said.

"We did a decent job defensively, but we just missed some shots." Michigan State led 17-8 with 11:37 to go but managed only two free throws the rest of the half for a 19-17 lead. The record first-half low also involved Wisconsin, which trailed Pittsburgh 18-14 in 1941. Oregon State and Oklahoma State tied the mark with 32 points in 1949. Ohio State and Villanova combined for 35 points in 1939. OFF THE RIM: Greg Paavola's $2 million shot was just off the mark.

The Three Rivers, man, randomly selected to participate in the annual Gillette 3-Point Challenge, bounced the ball off the rim between Saturday night's semifinal games. Instead of a $2 million payoff, he had to settle for a $25,000 consolation prize. "If it was meant to happen it would happen," said Paavola, 37, who planned to use part of his winnings for college tuition for his three sons. Paavola was coached by Hall of Famer Rick Barry. FACES IN THE CROWD Among the spectators in the RCA Dome was Magic Johnson, who led Michigan State to the 1979 NCAA championship over Indiana State.

"It's great. They deserve it," Johnson said after the winding down and tossed it in as the final buzzer sounded. Sheppard, a 6-foot-ll center who just joined the Globetrotters after helping Pep-perdine reach the second round of the NCAA tournament, finished with 14 points and 16 rebounds. Former Maryland star Johnny Rhodes had 24 points for the Globetrotters, who haven't lost a game since Sept. 12, 1995.

Rhodes, who hit 10 of 20 shots from the field, was voted the most valuable player for the winners. Kenyon Jones of San Francisco was voted the MVP for the NABC team with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Oregon's Alex Scales was the only other player in double figures with 14 points, helped by an 8 of 10 effort from the free throw line. Purdue's Brian Cardinal had three points, two rebounds and two assists for the NABC All-Stars. Connecticut's Kevin Freeman, who injured his left elbow in the first half, was sent to Methodist Hospital for fur ir nfrniim nim in By The Associated Press MOVE OVER: Florida's Donnell Harvey takes the ball strong to the basket against North Carolina center Brendan Haywood in the second half.

Depth wears down Donovan joins elite group Continued from Page B1 "My team wasn't comfortable with me having four fouls," he said. "My approach to the game was definitely different. I wasn't being aggressive anymore. I was giving guys open shots It just changed everything." Jason Capel took his fourth with 8:33 left, Forte his fourth at 5:36. Haywood's 20 points and 12 rebounds were inconveniences for Florida to wade through as was the 4-for-21 shooting by Miller and Du-Pay.

Only 8 minutes into the game, Florida already had used 10 players, forced six turnovers, rushed the Tar Heels into l-for-8 shooting and taken the shocking 18-3 lead. Included was a 16-0 run, 12 of those points coming with four or five of the second-team Gators on the floor. It seemed early for a crisis, but here was one for North Carolina anyway. Consecutive 3-pointers by Cota and Capel revived the Tar Heels. The Carolina zone ther examination.

"The initial diagnosis was dislocation, possible fracture," said Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun, who also coached the NABC All-Stars. "He got his elbow caught, he got hooked and was held in." The Globetrotters trailed 69-62 with 7:12 to play. Rhodes, who had 10 points in the remaining time, hit a 3-pointer with 6:49 to play to ignite the comeback. His fourth 3-pointer of the game with 4:59 left the Globetrotters trailing 71-70. The teams then traded the lead four times and there were two ties before Sheppard's winning basket.

It came after Jones had made two free throws with six seconds remaining. "Against a very experienced, strong team, they played very good," Calhoun said. "Sometimes they executed our offense better than we did." The game was also the debut of new Globetrotters coach Alvin Gentry, fired March 6 as coach of the NBA's Detroit Pistons. By Steve Herman The Associated Press INDIANAPOLIS Florida coach Billy Donovan is the sixth man to play and coach in the Final Four. He was a member of the 1987 Providence team that lost to Syracuse in the semifinals.

began to make an impact and Haywood began to assert himself as the one player Florida had no answer for. By halftime, the lead was down to 37-34. Haywood had 16 points but that had been counterbalanced by the Florida bench outscoring Tar Heel reserves, 22-0. The Tar Heels kept coming in the second half and flew right past the Gators on the wings of freshman sensation Forte, who went the first half without a field goal. His four straight baskets, two of them 3-pointers, gave the Tar Heels their 48-42 lead, but there was so much.