An NCAA tournament that could be packed with happy memories brought Kansas’ Bill Self back to the city where he got his big break as a head coach.
Self got his first gig at Oral Roberts before moving across town to Tulsa and launching a career that would eventually take him to Illinois and then Kansas.
“Tulsa’s – the city’s – been very good to myself and my family, and there’s so many people here that have looked out for us and taken care of us,” Self said after top-seeded Kansas beat Illinois 73-59 Sunday night. “I really did want to play well this week, I really did. It wasn’t a distraction but it was a good bonus.”
Self said he brought some of his former players to the Jayhawks’ practices and helped some friends get tickets, although most had to fend for themselves.
Now, he heads to San Antonio – where he led Kansas to the national title in 2008.
“It was a special, special weekend. I mean, an unbelievable weekend, what we got to do.” Self said. “I love San Antonio, and our players will, too. … But it is a business trip and we’ll be reminded of it and it’ll bring pleasant memories to us, but we’ve got to go make new memories.”
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HOME COOKING: It’s hard to beat Duke and North Carolina in their home state at the NCAA tournament.
The Blue Devils extended their streak to 16 straight wins in NCAA games played in North Carolina with a 73-71 victory over Michigan on Sunday, hours after the Tar Heels ran their string to 25 in a row with an 86-83 win against Washington. Duke is 32-4 in NCAA play in the state, and North Carolina is 29-1.
Top-seeded Duke and No. 2 seed North Carolina both made defensive stops in the final seconds to advance to the round of 16.
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NO LOVE FOR LEBRON: George Mason’s Andre Cornelius would fit in with the fans who normally fill the home of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
He’s no fan of LeBron James, either.
“I’m not a LeBron fan,” he said. “Kobe, man. Come on. Kobe’s the best player.”
Cornelius was impressed with the Cavaliers’ locker room after a tour before Saturday’s practice. It was his first time in an NBA locker room.
“That was nice,” he said. “I’ve never seen anything like that.”
Like so many college players, Cornelius is inked with tattoos. He’s lost count of the total number. He has the comedy-tragedy masks on his right arm with the slogan “Laugh Now, Cry Later.”
Why?
“I don’t know. I just got it,” he said. “It doesn’t mean anything.”
One of his favorites is close to his heart – actually his bellybutton. He yanked up his jersey to reveal “My first true love” written on top of a basketball in the shape of a heart on his stomach.
He tried to hide his first tattoo from his parents. But George Mason coach Jim Larranaga noticed it on a recruiting trip and told him, “Nice tattoo, Andre.”
“My parents were like, ‘A tattoo? Where?”’ he said. “That’s how they found out.”
The Patriots were one of three Colonial Athletic Association teams to make the NCAA tournament. Their run ended Sunday with a loss to top-seeded Ohio State. But George Mason did finish with something to boast about.
“We’re the most tatted team in the NCAA,” Cornelius said.
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TRUTH IN NUMBERS: Put point guard Joey Rodriguez next to his Virginia Commonwealth teammates and all will stand a head taller, often more.
Much more.
So Joey, are you REALLY 5-foot-10?
“I’m really not,” Rodriguez confessed Saturday. “I’m like 5-9 and three-quarters.”
Sure it’s not more like 5-8, maybe?
“No, I’m not 5-8,” Rodriguez said as his teammates snickered. “I take that to heart.”
Regardless of his height, Rodriguez and the 11th-seeded Rams are walking tall, winning their first three games in the NCAA tournament to reach the round of 16.
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