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CNN Live Today
Maryland and Indiana Play for NCAA Title
Aired April 01, 2002 - 14:55 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Maryland and Indiana battle it out tonight right here in Atlanta, for the NCAA men's title. And in the women's contest, Connecticut claimed its third national championship last night in a hard-fought 82-70 win against Oklahoma.
"Sports Illustrated" writer Seth Davis is here to talk about all of that. A Duke grad, but we'll leave it there.
SETH DAVIS, "SPORTS ILLUSTRATED": We have to, because Duke is not here, thanks to Indiana, who is here.
LIN: What do you love about the story Indiana versus Maryland?
DAVIS: Well, there are a lot of things to love about this story, Carol. First of all, obviously, Indiana is a huge surprise. Mike Davis, only his second year at the school, was hired by the school as an emergency replacement for Bob Knight. Initially an intern coach. And certainly nobody expected them to be playing here tonight. So everybody loves a good underdog story.
And from Maryland's standpoint, Gary Williams is a Maryland alumnus who has been coaching for 24 years. He came to the school at a time when he was on probation, not allowed to play in the post season. And they've never won a national championship before. So this will be a huge night for Maryland and Gary Williams if they win.
LIN: And a real comeback story for Juan Dixon.
DAVIS: Well, Juan Dixon, Carol, is a terrific player. He scored 33 points on Saturday night against Kansas. And an interesting personal story as well. Both of his parents have died of AIDS-related illnesses when he was in high school. He came to Maryland, as a 6'3", 140-pound high school senior. He's still only 165 pounds, but he plays with great guile, great daring. And he's a very intelligent player. He gives Maryland a lot of what I think Shane Battier gave Duke last year. He's really the difference maker in the game tonight.
LIN: Yes, and a lot of heart. What is the fundamental difference between the play between these two teams?
DAVIS: Well, I think one thing that everybody should be watching for tonight is the style of the play. Maryland would really like to get in an up and down game, a quick-paced game. I think Indiana would really prefer to keep it as a half-court game. They have a great player inside named Jarred Jeffries. Not only is he a great inside presence, but the rest of the team plays off him very well when he has the ball on the posts. So, look for that point guard match-up between Tom Coverdale, who's playing on an injured ankle, going against Steve Blake. Blake is going to try and push the tempo. Coverdale and the Hoosiers want to slow it down.
LIN: And what about the story of the coaches? I mean, both have something to prove, here.
DAVIS: Well, they both do. Certainly, any time you have a coach on the verge of winning his first national championship, it's very significant. (UNINTELLIGIBLE). Fourteen years at Kansas. He's already been at three Final Fours. Has yet to win that elusive national championship. And tonight even Mike Davis of Gary Williams will get there first.
These are two great guys, who I think really embody what's great about college basketball. They care about their kids. They're classy individuals. They're honest. They run great programs. And either way, I think the college game is being well represented by who comes away the winner.
LIN: Yes. Do you think Mike Davis feels a little extra something he's got to prove, given that he's filling the shoes of Bobby Knight?
DAVIS: He's felt that way for a long time. Certainly since getting the job. Everyone in Bloomington really loves Mike Davis right now. I worry what happens next year, when he loses three in a row for the first time. But, you know, I think that Indiana reflects the character of Mike Davis. He's a very honest guy. Very humble guy. He got a $50,000 bonus for taking this team to the Final Four. Not a very high-paid guy, as far as college coaches go, but he donated that money to his church back home, in a small town in Alabama.
LIN: Wow.
DAVIS: He certainly remembers his roots.
LIN: See, you added a human dimension to the play tonight.
DAVIS: That's what I'm here for.
LIN: All right. I'm looking forward to it. Thanks very much.
DAVIS: Thanks for having me.
LIN: And I am sorry about Duke.
DAVIS: I'm sure you are. Sorry about Kansas, by the way.
(LAUGHTER)
LIN: All right. We'll leave it there.
DAVIS: I'm sorry about UCLA . (LAUGHTER)
LIN: Next year. I'm telling you, man.
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