"I could give a shit about North Carolina right now. I've got 13 kids in that locker room that I love."
2B • THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Roy Williams
Inside Sports
SPORTS COMMENTARY
Joey Berlin
jberlin@kansan.com
Free throws key statistic in close game
The closer you get to achieving a goal, the more it hurts when you don't get it. When that goal is within your grasp, and the only thing stopping you from getting it is you, that's when it hurts the most.
That's the feeling the 2003 Kansas men's basketball team will have to live with when it looks back on its devastating loss to Syracuse in last night's NCAA Championship game.
When Roy Williams reflects on his latest shot to win the ultimate prize, he won't remember Syracuse's tough 2-3 zone defense. He won't remember the match-up problems the Jayhawks had with Syracuse's nearly unstoppable freshman forward, Carmelo Anthony.
He won't even remember the Jayhawks' inability to get their fast break going in the opening 20 minutes. Despite all those problems, the 'Hawks persevered and gave themselves a real shot to win.
What Williams will remember are two numbers: 12 and 30.
Kansas shot 30 free throws against the Orangemen. It made 12 of them. That's 40 percent, roughly the free-throw percentage of your average one-armed beggar.
If Kansas had made a terrible 53 percent of those 30 free throws, they would be bringing a trophy home to Lawrence with a 1-point victory.
Ine Jayhawks lost the national championship game solely because of their free-throw shooting. There's no worse way to lose. Why?
A basketball team has complete control over its free-throw shooting. The opposition can't stop you from making your free throws; it watches helplessly as you get a clear look at a 15-foot shot. Free throws are supposed to be "free" points.
But Williams watched helplessly as the team's inexcusable free-throw shooting cost him a national championship. That absolutely sucks.
Even worse, the Jayhawks can't learn anything from this loss. Teams practice free throws constantly. They shoot them at the end of practice, so players get the feel of shooting them when they're tired. But in the games, you make them or you don't. When you don't, it's nobody's fault but your own.
But this may hurt more than all of those. Despite its tremendous effort in the title game, Syracuse didn't win the 2003 National Championship. Kansas lost it.
I've sat through every disappointing tournament loss in the Roy Williams era: the 1997 loss to Arizona, Rhode Island in 1998, UTEP in 1992, the list goes on.
Berlin is a Leawood senior in journalism
Free forAll
Yeah, Grandma is already drunk already at the Syracuse University party in Shawnee, Kansas. Why is there a Syracuse party in Kansas? That is like the biggest loser party ever. There were like six people there, Grandma's drunk, there are two kids, a dog, and a TV from 1952. They're weird, Rock Chalk, Rock Chalk.
served in the Nuclear Navy, followed by a career in nuclear engineering and safety. He retired from management st Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant in 1996.
Hi, I'm a Syracuse fan and I'm at a party in Shawnee and Grandma... yeah, Grandma's drunk.
served in the Nuclear Navy, followed by a career in nuclear engineering and safety. He retired from management st Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant in 1996.
Yeah, I'm a KU fan but my Grandma went to Syracuse and Grandma . . put the vodka down. Grandma, grandma . . put your on, put your top back on! Oh dear Lord. I gotta go.
served in the Nuclear Navy, followed by a career in nuclear engineering and safety. He retired from management st Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant in 1996.
Thirty seconds until tip-off, nearly two hours until a victory, we're on the way to a Final Four. Let's go Jayhawks.
I just wanna give a big shoutout to the guy wearing the KUnited shirt and the national championship. Go Jayhawks.
served in the Nuclear Navy, followed by a career in nuclear engineering and safety. He retired from management st Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant in 1996.
丽
So I'm watching the Final Four and it's halftime and we're not doing very well in championship game and I think we need to get Lil Bow Wow in there with magical Michael Jordan sneakers to really help us out. That would really pull us through.
Roy Williams for President
served in the Nuclear Navy, followed by a career in nuclear engineering and safety. He retired from management st Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant in 1996.
--served in the Nuclear Navy, followed by a career in nuclear engineering and safety. He retired from management st Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant in 1996.
Hi, somebody needs to poke that Carmelo dude in the butt. I hate him
served in the Nuclear Navy, followed by a career in nuclear engineering and safety. He retired from management st Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant in 1996.
Hey, I think the problem with Ben McCarthy's article is that he's a loser and he wishes he was a basketball player, because obviously he will never, ever get any girl to like him.
KU has a basketball team?
served in the Nuclear Navy, followed by a career in nuclear engineering and safety. He retired from management st Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant in 1996.
Ummmm, yeah, so Mrs. Chancellor Bob canceled class for Tuesday tomorrow 'cause she and Chancellor Bob are at the Final Four. So they won't be at class tomorrow.
served in the Nuclear Navy, followed by a career in nuclear engineering and safety. He retired from management st Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant in 1996.
Gerry McNamara thinks he's Billy badass. He needs to calm down with those three's. Go' Hawks.
served in the Nuclear Navy, followed by a career in nuclear engineering and safety. He retired from management st Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant in 1996.
Hinrich, Collison, Williams, I love you. Pull this out.
TUESDAY,APRIL8,2003
Whether we win or lose Monday night, Tuesday this entire city of Lawrence will be subjected to one city wide hangover.
served in the Nuclear Navy, followed by a career in nuclear engineering and safety. He retired from management st Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant in 1996.
I would just like to say, and I think I'm speaking for the entire campus, Hin-rich you are the biggest tropper ever.
Graves, I'll make love to you if you make this free throw.
served in the Nuclear Navy, followed by a career in nuclear engineering and safety. He retired from management st Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant in 1996.
Rock Chalk Jayhawk, screw KU.
--served in the Nuclear Navy, followed by a career in nuclear engineering and safety. He retired from management st Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant in 1996.
I just got done watching the national title game and all I want to say is thank you for a great season Hawks, thank you for your leadership, thank you for everything you've done for us. We will always remember you.
Nick and Kirk, I am so sorry you didn't win. I really thought you could and I really think you deserved it and I am so sorry it didn't happen, but I love you guys.
served in the Nuclear Navy, followed by a career in nuclear engineering and safety. He retired from management st Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant in 1996.
OK, so life is definitely not fair. But the KU team did a great job there. It happens sometimes.
served in the Nuclear Navy, followed by a career in nuclear engineering and safety. He retired from management st Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant in 1996.
served in the Nuclear Navy, followed by a career in nuclear engineering and safety. He retired from management st Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant in 1996.
I was wondering where all the people got the blue and red leis and the red, yellow, and blue beads, and I really wanted some. Guess what? I got 'em after the game, I found them in the trash can.
Hey, we're number two, and that ain't bad.
Oh well, second place is better than Mizzou place. Oh, and Carmelo sucks.
2
Hey, win or lose, I love Roy Williams. Muah.
served in the Nuclear Navy, followed by a career in nuclear engineering and safety. He retired from management st Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant in 1996.
OK, we just lost the championship. say we need a day of grieving and Tuesday's and Wednesday's classes should be canceled. Oh, ok, two days of grieving, but what KU student can count?
served in the Nuclear Navy, followed by a career in nuclear engineering and safety. He retired from management st Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant in 1996.
Even though they lost, I said it before and I'm saying it now: I'd sleep with all of them. Go KU.
图
Roy Williams sucks
I find it funny how when we talk crap on KU, all you guy's can talk about it K-State basketball. We never claimed we're good.
served in the Nuclear Navy, followed by a career in nuclear engineering and safety. He retired from management st Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant in 1996.
The KU basketball team choked again. What do know?
The University of Kansas is one stellar program especially when their all-star Nick Collison fouls out and proceeds to allow them to lose the game, national championship that is, and really get blown out by freshmen and sophomores. Congratulations, KU.
served in the Nuclear Navy, followed by a career in nuclear engineering and safety. He retired from management st Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant in 1996.
Rock, Chalk, Choke Hawks, KU
served in the Nuclear Navy, followed by a career in nuclear engineering and safety. He retired from management st Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant in 1996.
So Roy, I don't even want you to go to North Carolina. YEAAHHHHHH.
--served in the Nuclear Navy, followed by a career in nuclear engineering and safety. He retired from management st Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant in 1996.
Roy's leaving. Get ready, Roy is leaving for North Carolina.
器
Roy Williams doesn't even deserved to be contacted by North Carolina.
So I'm just curious. Did KU pay buy the ticket for Roy to go to North Carolina, or did he have to buy it out of his own pocket.
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So KU had a chance at a national championship tonight, and what did they do? Oh wait, a minute, what they always do. Choke.
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All I gotta say is that after watching Roy speak after the game, he is my guy. He是我的 guy. I pray to Allah Roy.
Hey, now that Collison and Hinrich are gone, you can look forward to football.
So, I don't give shit about North Carolina right now, end quote, Roy Williams.
served in the Nuclear Navy, followed by a career in nuclear engineering and safety. He retired from management st Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant in 1996.
Oh my God, did Roy just say 'I don't give a bleep about North Carolina'? Excert for the bleep.
图
served in the Nuclear Navy, followed by a career in nuclear engineering and safety. He retired from management st Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant in 1996.
Hey, if Roy decides to go to North Carolina, he better dye his hair one color instead of having it half brown. half gray.
served in the Nuclear Navy, followed by a career in nuclear engineering and safety. He retired from management st Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant in 1996.
Hey, they might not have won the national championship,but their cheerleaders are hot.
served in the Nuclear Navy, followed by a career in nuclear engineering and safety. He retired from management st Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant in 1996.
Man, Carmelo Anthony is one stud of a basketball player. Too bad he doesn't play for KU.
served in the Nuclear Navy, followed by a career in nuclear engineering and safety. He retired from management st Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant in 1996.
Roy Williams, I love you. I love you so much. Your home is with us, and we love you no matter what. God bless you.
Was that a tear in Collison's eye?
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All I got to say is thank you, thank you Kirk for the greatest years of my life.
Oh man, I was really hoping that KU would win. Too bad that they suck.
served in the Nuclear Navy, followed by a career in nuclear engineering and safety. He retired from management st Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant in 1996.
served in the Nuclear Navy, followed by a career in nuclear engineering and safety. He retired from management st Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant in 1996.
I have to say that Syracuse sucks and Carmelo Anthony needs to go to the NBA and Roy need to not go to North Carolina.
Hey, this is for my basketball players and I just want to tell you guys not to be sad for a second. We're really proud of you guys. Go 'Hawks.
served in the Nuclear Navy, followed by a career in nuclear engineering and safety. He retired from management st Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant in 1996.
NCAA gonna win the championship this year.
served in the Nuclear Navy, followed by a career in nuclear engineering and safety. He retired from management st Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant in 1996.
served in the Nuclear Navy, followed by a career in nuclear engineering and safety. He retired from management st Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant in 1996.
So we don't have what it takes to win the Big 12 Championship and we don't have what it takes to win the national championship either.
Honestly, anyone who loses to North Carolina doesn't deserve to win a national championship. That's why KU did not succeed.
served in the Nuclear Navy, followed by a career in nuclear engineering and safety. He retired from management st Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant in 1996.
I guess KU just didn't put on their pimp juice.
served in the Nuclear Navy, followed by a career in nuclear engineering and safety. He retired from management st Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant in 1996.
served in the Nuclear Navy, followed by a career in nuclear engineering and safety. He retired from management st Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant in 1996.
So I guess we just didn't have the pimp juice that was needed to win the national championship.
Go Orangemen.
served in the Nuclear Navy, followed by a career in nuclear engineering and safety. He retired from management st Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant in 1996.
Syracuse University rocks.
served in the Nuclear Navy, followed by a career in nuclear engineering and safety. He retired from management st Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant in 1996.
Go Wildcats.
served in the Nuclear Navy, followed by a career in nuclear engineering and safety. He retired from management st Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant in 1996.
served in the Nuclear Navy, followed by a career in nuclear engineering and safety. He retired from management st Wolf Creek Nuclear Power Plant in 1996.
Hi, this is Robin and we still love the Jayhawks and we still love Roy Williams. Right guys?
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
MORE SPORTS FREE FOR ALL ON P. 10B
POLL
Will Roy Williams kansan.com fill the coaching vacancy at North Carolina?
No. he stayed last time; he will stay this time.
He will consider it after the tourna ment excitement dies down
No, North Carolina won't pursue him after he said no last time.
Yes, Nick and Kirk are gone; so is Roy.
Log on to Kansan.com to cast your vote.
KANSAS BASKETBALL
Final Four ratings down despite viewing increase
NEW ORLEANS — Final Four victories by Kansas and Syracuse drew overnight ratings that were down from last year's semifinals broadcast.
Kansas' 94-61 victory over Marquette received a 6.8 overnight rating and a 13 percent share, down 30 percent from the 9.7-19 for last year's Final Four opener in which Indiana defeated Oklahoma.
Syracuse's 95-84 victory over Texas drew an 8.6-14, down 25 percent from the 11.5-20 for last year's Maryland victory over Kansas.
The network said ratings were down about 22 percent for the entire NCAA tournament. Last year's NCAA tournament had no war coverage to compete with and overnight ratings showed cable viewing was up 24 percent over last year for the period covering Saturday's two semifinal games.
Overnight ratings measure the 53 largest TV markets in the United States, covering about 65 percent of the country.
National ratings will be available later this week.Each national rating point represents nearly 1.06 million TV homes.
The Associated Press
Fans can welcome 'Hawks with celebration, parade
Kansas coach Roy Williams and his team will be welcomed home in a community celebration at 5:30 tonight. Allen Fieldhouse's doors will open at 4:30 p.m.
The program will include the KU pep band and dance team and KU mascots cheerleaders. The KU student group Random Harmony will sing the alma mater to conclude the program.
The event is free and open to the public.
On Thursday the team will be honored with a parade through downtown Lawrence.
The men's basketball players and coaches will be featured in a 4 p.m. parade beginning at Seventh and Massachusetts streets. The parade will move south along Massachusetts Street to South Park near 11th Street.
The teams will ride in convertibles accompanied by floats, a fire truck and the pep band.
The parade is being organized by the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce.
Kansan staff report
CONGRATULATIONS ON A GREAT SEASON, 'HAWKS!!!
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