Indiana not last stop for Davis

Mike Davis: “You don't have to be the best team, you only have to be the best team that day." AP

ATLANTA (AP) -- Mike Davis doesn't plan to finish his coaching career at Indiana.

'I would love to coach in the NBA,' he said Sunday. 'Maybe it would take me five, 10 years from now. That is a goal of mine.'

Davis has three years remaining on a contract he signed in February, and he said he's waiting to see if Indiana gives him a raise after the season. He got a $25,000 bonus for leading the Hoosiers to the NCAA tournament, and if they win Monday night, he gets another $100,000.

Davis is making a base salary of $175,000 this season. His salary will go up to $225,000 in each of the next three season before his contract expires May 1, 2005.

"If they want to take care of me, fine," he said. "I make more money than I've ever dreamed of making. But people said, 'You have to prove yourself.' We're in the championship game. That should be proof."

If an NBA team wants to discuss an opening with him, Davis said he's willing.

"I doubt anyone would ever call me from the NBA," he said. "If they did, I definitely would listen. I mean, that's the ultimate, is to coach in the NBA."

Williams' Legacy

If Maryland beats Indiana, coach Gary Williams will become only the ninth coach ever to lead his alma mater to the national championship.

North Carolina State's Norm Sloan, in 1974, was the last to do it.

"It's one of those things where, when I was at the university, going to school, we weren't a very good basketball team," Williams said. "I always felt when I left there and went into high school coaching and all that, there's no reason why Maryland couldn't be as good as anybody else."

After stints at American, Boston College and Ohio State, Williams returned to Maryland in 1989.

"When I got the opportunity to go there, through the help of these guys, we've been able to get a team together that has been good enough to compete at the national level," he said.

"Once you do that, then you have a chance to do this, if things go your way."

Injury Update

Tom Coverdale's sprained ankle didn't swell after Saturday's victory over Oklahoma, and the senior point guard plans to play in the championship game.

"I think running on it during the game will help loosen it up," he said. "Mentally, I proved to myself I can play and now I know the ankle will be stable on Monday."

But he won't be 100 percent.

"If I am on the floor playing, I should not be making excuses," Coverdale said. "Sure, it is difficult playing in a championship game and knowing you aren't 100 percent, but I am thankful that I am here and playing."

A.J. Moye, who injured a hamstring against the Sooners, didn't offer much information on his status.

"It's tight," was all he said.

Maryland is injury free for Monday night's game.

Underdog Indiana

Maryland's an early 7 1/2-point favorite for Monday night's game, and Terrapins forward Byron Mouton said that gives Indiana an edge.

"That's why the underdog always has the upper hand, because they have nothing to lose," he said. "I'm not even going to take them for granted."

But the Hoosiers don't plan to play that role.

"We don't consider ourselves underdogs and we feel as though we can win this game just like we could all season when we were considered underdogs," guard Dane Fife said.

Davis' Emotions

When Indiana upset Duke in the South Regional semifinal, Davis celebrated by immediately walking across the court and saluting his former college coach, retired Kentucky athletic director C.M Newton.

Davis was much more subdued Saturday night after the Hoosiers beat Oklahoma, calmly walking to midcourt to shake hands with Sooners coach Kelvin Sampson.

"Sometimes I get emotional," Davis said. "But after I watch it, I'm a little embarrassed about it. Last night, I was like 'Don't embarrass yourself, don't run around, don't cheer, act crazy.'"

What will be his reaction if Indiana wins Monday night?

"If we win, I don't know, I'm going to try to just keep it, you know, under control," Davis said.

 

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