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Final Four notebook Ford, Wade can't duck NBA Draft questionsPosted: Sunday April 06, 2003 3:50 AM
By Albert Lin, SI.com NEW ORLEANS -- Upon their teams' eliminations, it didn't take long for the discarded stars -- Marquette's Dwyane Wade and Texas' T.J. Ford -- to be asked about jumping to the NBA. Both finished their seasons with good but not stellar performances Saturday at the Final Four. Wade shot 7-for-15 and finished with 19 points, but he was never a factor in the game. Ford dished out 13 assists and scored 12 points. Wade, a junior who has played two seasons for the Golden Eagles, is an athletic, slashing, 6-foot-5 guard with an explosive first step. He is projected as a mid-first-rounder, but if he shows enough range on his jump shot, he could slide into the lottery. Though not a true point guard, he appears to have enough ballhandling skills to be able to moonlight running the offense if needed. Wade was asked the Question during Marquette's postgame press conference. His answer: "You know, I don't live for the future. Right now I'm living for the present. I just want to get back in the locker room with my teammates." Ford, a sophomore point guard, is a proven talent, but he is dogged by questions about his size (5-10, 165 pounds). Sub-6-foot guards are rare in the NBA, successful ones even more so. But Ford has blazing speed with the ball and a flair for making the right pass at the right time. He also is stronger than he looks and not afraid to go to the basket. He generally is considered a mid-first-rounder, without much chance of moving up. The Question wasn't broached to Ford until he had returned to the Texas locker room. After flashing a disgusted look toward his inquisitor, he started to say one thing and then cut himself off. "I'm definitely coming back next year," he said instead, though it sounded more like a rehearsed comment than a sincere one. "That was soon, man."
Unlikely shooter
Kansas sophomore Aaron Miles, who has struggled with his jumper recently, started Kansas off on a good note by hitting the first shot of the game, a 3-pointer from the left corner. "That put fire in everyone else and it got us hyped," junior Jeff Graves said. "We were ready to play from that point on." Coach Roy Williams said during the week that Miles was the only Jayhawk who played well in last year's national semifinal loss to Maryland; he had 12 points and 10 assists in that game. On Saturday he came through again on the Final Four stage, totalling 18 points, five rebounds and four assists. He also was instrumental to Kansas' success in maintaining an uptempo game. "I'm not satisfied," said Miles, sitting deep inside his locker with his arms folded and an all-business look on his face. "I feel good, because we're a step closer. But I'm not satisfied at all. I'll be satisfied on Monday if we win."
Bittersweet homecomingLast year a B. Mouton from Louisiana -- Maryland's Byron -- enjoyed success at the Final Four, with the Terrapins winning the title. This weekend another B. Mouton from Louisiana -- Texas junior Brandon, no relation -- had a strong individual effort, though his team came up short. Brandon Mouton scored 15 of the Longhorns' first 17 points and 20 in the first half, but he could only manage another five points, on 2-for-8 shooting, after the break. "The game was good for my friends and family," said the Lafayette, La., native, "but that's irrelevant. We came here to win a game."
Loose ballsAs impressive as Kansas' 94-61 victory over Marquette was, it didn't set any Final Four records. The final margin, 33 points, is fourth all time behind a 36-pointer and two 34s. The halftime difference (29) was second behind a 33-pointer. Kansas' 59 points at the half was third behind a 65 and a 62, and the Jayhawks' 94 total points didn't even make the top 10. ... Kansas gained a measure of revenge with the win. When the two schools met in the 1974 national semifinals, Marquette emerged victorious, 64-51. ... The Golden Eagles seemed overwhelmed by their first trip to the Final Four, whereas Kansas played like a team that was here a year ago. But coach Tom Crean said he didn't think his team lost because of unsettled nerves. "I think everybody who plays in the Final Four, I would question if they weren't a little nervous," he said. "There's a sense of urgency." ... ... Marquette's usually reliable shooters, sophomore Travis Diener and freshman Steve Novak, were horrendous from the outside. They combined to shoot 2-for-18, adding to the Golden Eagles' woes ... Crean's mother, Marjorie, began to experience weakness in her arms toward the end of the game. She was taken to a local hospital as a precautionary measure and was in stable condition. ... Think Syracuse star Carmelo Anthony is a freshman? Apparently, the referees don't agree. At halftime Ford joked to Anthony that the first-year player wasn't supposed to be getting all of the calls he was getting. ... Magic number: Texas is 18-0 when it holds its opponent to under 70 points, but 8-7 otherwise. Syracuse is now 24-0 when it breaks 70. ... Syracuse is always associated with its 2-3 zone, but the Orangemen proved that their offense is just as potent. "I was more concerned about them offensively than I was from the defensive standpoint," Texas coach Rick Barnes said. "I don't know if they can play any better than they played tonight. They made every big play they had to make." ... Ford applauded the performance of Syracuse freshman Gerry McNamara, who scored 19 points (6-for-12 FG). "He shoots the lights out. He was big for them tonight," Ford said. "And you can't even foul him, because he's a 91 percent foul shooter." ... Austin native Brad Buckman had his coming-out party, flashing to the high post to take advantage of Syracuse's zone. He hit all six of his shots, including a couple of turnaround jumpers, for 14 points, and also grabbed six rebounds. The hard-nosed freshman, whose father played on two NCAA champion golf teams at Texas with Tom Kite and Ben Crenshaw, has some Mark Madsen in his game.
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