CNN/SI Home Men's Home Women's Home NIT Home Other College Hoops News Scoreboard Daily Schedule Stats Matchups Main Bracket Team Pages Almanac SI Cover Gallery: History of Final Four Regional Pages EAST   • Bracket  • Chart MIDWEST   • Bracket  • Chart SOUTH   • Bracket  • Chart WEST   • Bracket  • Chart

West Regional notebook

Frahm's hot hand has Gonzaga on verge of Final Four

Click here for more on this story

Posted: Friday March 19, 1999 01:45 AM

Gonzaga coach Dan Monson motivates his players during a time out against Florida. AP

PHOENIX (AP) -- Richie Frahm limped out of Gonzaga's locker room and down a hallway, ice packs on both knees and a big one on the outside of his right ankle.

His hands, however, were in perfect shape, which is a big reason why the Bulldogs are one victory away from a trip to the NCAA Final Four.

Frahm made 5-of-8 3-pointers in Gonzaga's 73-72 upset of Florida on Thursday night in the NCAA West semifinals, bringing his team back after the Gators surged ahead in the second half.

"They went into that zone," Frahm said. "I was kind of running myself silly on the baseline, I think they kind of forgot about me."

The Bulldogs were 12-for-22 on 3-pointers, while the Gators were 6-for-24, including 1-for-11 in the first half.

"We can all hit 3-pointers," Frahm said. "We kind of expect it and rely on it at some point in the game."

After Florida came back from a 13-point deficit to lead 59-58 on Greg Stolt's 3-pointer as the 35-second buzzer sounded with 6:47 to go, Frahm responded with a shot from the left corner to put the Bulldogs back ahead.

NCAA low seeded Regional finalists Teams seeded in the lower half of their regions that have advanced to the regional finals since 1985, when the field expanded to 64 teams: Year Team Seed 1986 1987 1990 1990 1991 1994 1997 1999 LSU LSU Texas Loyola Mary. Temple Boston College Providence Gonzaga 11* 10 10 11 10 9 10 10 * - reached Final Four

Florida coach Billy Donovan didn't want to go to the zone, but with four fouls on forward Brent Wright and guard Eddie Shannon, he thought he had no choice.

"The zone was buying some time," he said.

Frahm, a junior from Battle Ground, Wash., missed another 3-point try that could have made it 70-64. But with 19.7 seconds left, he knew not to push it.

Instead of trying another 3, he passed to Jeremy Eaton, whose basket pulled Gonzaga to 72-71, giving Casey Cavalry the chance to win it with a tip-in.

Gonzaga coach Dan Monson had warned his team about "not putting up a tough 3 when you're down by 3, which is a tendency."

Dr. Tom bids farewell

Tom Davis completed his 13th and final season at Iowa with a 269-140 record (.657) with the Hawkeyes and 543-290 (.652) overall.

"I was thinking that at the end, the last two minutes, when I knew we weren't going to beat 'em," he said following Iowa's 78-68 loss to Connecticut.

Davis already had cleaned out his office. The school, which hadn't advanced past the second round since 1988, already decided his contract won't be renewed. He wouldn't say if he would coach again.

"I have no idea. I honestly have been trying to put thoughts of this out of my mind," he said, "knowing before I could make an intelligent decision I'd have to get away from it, regroup mentally and physically."

Why not go after another job right way.

"I can afford to sit back. I don't have to do anything if I don't want to," he said. "Try to exercise, eat better, try to do some fun things with my wife."

Gonzaga's secret? Clean living

Gonzaga coach Dan Monson credits good upbringing for helping his team, unranked at the end of the regular season, advance to the West final.

"All these kids have two parents in their homes. They're all stable," he said.

Gonzaga knows it is the surprise team of the tournament, and it doesn't bother them.

"There are a lot of teams at home with better basketball ability," Monson said. "We got through with great chemistry and character."

Connecticut history lessons

After the Huskies beat Iowa, Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun was asked if he had learned anything from his seven previous NCAA appearances with his current team. Calhoun has yet to take a team to the Final Four.

"I'd make sure Christian Laettner doesn't get into the game, make your foul shots in the end, make sure the game doesn't go into overtime, don't play UCLA and don't go to Greensboro if you get the chance," he said.

Under Calhoun, Connecticut lost to Duke in overtime in the 1990 East final, lost to Duke in the 1991 Midwest semifinals on Laettner's last-second basket, lost to Ohio State in the 1992 Southeast second round, lost to Florida in overtime in the 1994 East semifinals, lost to UCLA in the 1995 West final, lost to Mississippi State in the 1996 Southeast semifinal, and lost to North Carolina in the 1998 East final at Greensboro, N.C.

 

Related information
Stories
Huskies down Iowa, set sights on Final Four Last-second tip-in lifts Gonzaga to Elite Eight
Multimedia
Click here for the latest audio and video
Search our site	Watch CNN/SI 24 hours a day
	Sports Illustrated and CNN have combined to form a 24 hour sports news and information channel. To receive CNN/SI at your home call 1-888-53-CNNSI.