SAN ANTONIO -- It was that moment just before tipoff Monday, the one that can give a grown man chills as the anticipation of 44,000 spectators builds to a crescendo. As the ref with the game ball approached center court, Taliek Brown hopped up and down like a little kid on Christmas morning. After four years, 134 games and countless critical column inches, this, his ultimate moment, could not come soon enough.
That energy would carry him through the first half of the biggest game of his life, one in which he would exert control from the get-go, run Connecticut's fast break like a seasoned pro, make picturesque passes to open teammates and, most importantly, send his team rolling toward an 82-73 national championship victory over Georgia Tech.
It's a UConn tradition for the seniors to say something in the locker room after their last game. Brown's words: "What are they going to write about now?"
The stats will show that Brown finished with a modest nine points, six rebounds and four assists, seemingly meager contributions compared to Emeka Okafor's 24 points and 15 rebounds or Ben Gordon's 21 points. Not so. To anyone who watched Brown shout instructions to his teammates, step up to challenge Yellow Jackets star Jarrett Jack on defense, pump his fist as he ran back down court after feeding Okafor for layups, he was arguably the biggest key to the Huskies' overwhelming first half.
"He's our heart and soul," forward Josh Boone said of Brown. "I doubt we could have made it this far without him."
We as fans tend to pay attention largely to two types of college athletes: the ones like Okafor and Gordon, who put up big numbers and produce highlights on their way to a lucrative NBA career; and the ones like Ricky Clemons and Tony Cole, the misfits who make us think college athletics are going to hell in a handbasket.
In between is a guy like Brown, often overlooked, rarely glamorized. Just an old-fashioned, four-year guy who goes to class, plays basketball and, in the ultimate circumstances, helps bring glory and championships to his school. The kind of the guy the NCAA puts on posters.
"My wife's favorite player at UConn is Taliek," coach Jim Calhoun said. "The first time he visited my house, to have a recruiting meal, I went back to the room to watch TV, and Taliek started cleaning off the table.
"He is without question one of the toughest human beings I've ever met in my life. He's streetwise and loveable all at the same time."
For all his fondness, Calhoun wasn't entirely pleased with Brown two days earlier. He'd committed seven turnovers in the semifinal win over Duke. He took bad shots. He had played out of character.
Monday night was a different story. He did exactly what was asked of him, setting up the offense and helping hold Jack to 1-of-8 shooting and seven points. "Jack is probably one of the best point guards in America," Calhoun said. "He did an incredible job on him."
| MAILBAG
|
 |
MAILBAG |
|
Stewart Mandel will answer questions from SI.com readers each week in his mailbag.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brown was billed as one of the best point guards in America coming out of high school in New York City four years ago. Lumped together with fellow New York point guards Omar Cook and Andre Barrett and fellow summer-circuit star Chris Duhon, he had stardom written all over him. The others would go on to receive the expected acclaim, but Brown, partially because he wasn't a big scorer, partially because he had a rough sophomore year, became a more frequent subject of criticism.
Of that foursome, only he and Duhon wound up hoisting trophies. He and Duhon also had nearly identical statistics this season. Duhon garnered ACC player of the year honors; Brown received Big East honorable mention. Brown wound up setting UConn's all-time career assists record (428), averaging a school-record 6.5 his senior season, and won nearly three-fourths of the games he started.
"He never needed to be vindicated in my eyes," Calhoun said. "He's one of the best point guards who ever played for UConn, and he's one of the toughest warrior athletes I've ever coached."
So, Taliek, might as well answer the question you threw out there. What are they going to write now?
"'He won a national championship, scored 1,000 points, set the school assist record,'" said Brown. "That's what they're going to write."
Stewart Mandel covers college sports for SI.com.
• 
