SECTION C, PAGE 4 THE BLADE: TOLEDO, OHIO t THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 2004

Owens women rally NCAA in NJCAA tourney West Virginia kno cks off Kent State in NIT Continued from Page 1 OVERL AND PARK, Kan. ASSOCIATED PRESS 9:14 remaining and the Moun- in the second round. Purdue (17-14), Toledo player. “ The good thing is our sea- — Owens Community Col- taineers leading 46-41. 4-8 on the road this season, finished Brandon Crump scored 16 points KENT, Ohio — Tyrone Sally with five straight losses. s o n’s n o t o v e r, ” s a i d S a i n t lege rallied from a 16-point The 6-7 junior retur ned to the to lead Tennessee (15-14). scored 17 points and braved a It was the first game in 38 years Jo s e p h’s p o i n t g u a r d Ja m e e r deficit with 11:30 left in the bloody nose suffered in a sec- game two minutes later and second half to beat Johnson between the schools, separated by USC fires women’s co ach Nelson, a leading Player of the ond-half collision to lead West West V irginia ahead 46-43. just 100 miles. Year candidate. “But if we lose County (Kan.) CC 62-59 last The G olden Flashes shot just V irginia to a 65-54 win over GEORGE MASON 58, LOS ANGELES — Chris Gobrecht again, I have to tur n in my night in an opening round Kent State in the opening round 3 2 p e r c e n t f r o m t h e fi e l d , was fired as Southern California’s game of the National Junior TENNESSEE 55 unifor m, and that will be even of the NIT last night. including 4-for-27 on 3-point- women’s basketball coach. Gobrecht C o l l e g e A t h l e t i c A s s o c i a - FAIRFAX, Va. — George Mason was 93-108 in seven seasons at the more painful. I don’t want this It was the first postseason ers. tion’s women’s tour nament. won its first postseason game in 18 school and never got the Trojans to feeling again.” win for the Mountaineers (16- C l i f B r o w n c a m e o f f t h e Ni c c o l e Br ow n l e d t h e years, winning in the opening round the NCAA tournament. USC was 15- Histor y says that it’s unlikely 1 3 ) s i n c e t h e y r e a c h e d t h e bench to score 14 points in 18 of the NIT. 13 this season. Express with 23 points and Stanford or Saint Joseph’s will regional semifinals of the 1997 minutes for Kent State. The victory gave George Mason 1 5 r e b o u n d s . S t a c e y Bowsher senior Jazlyn Davis, an hear “One Shining Moment” in NCAA tour nament. The G olden NOTRE DAME 71, PURDUE 59 (22-9), coached by Jim Larranaga — a All-Ohio player, has signed to play at Weiland added 12 points San Antonio’s Alamodome on Flashes (22-9) lost six of their SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Chris Quinn former Bowling Green State Univer- USC. Apr il 5. Nor th Carolina State (in and Katie McClure 11. scored 21 points and Rick Cornett sity coach — a school record for wins Gobrecht, a former USC player, is O w e n s n e v e r l e d u n t i l final eight games. in a season. 1974) is the last team to win a Sally spent several minutes a d d e d a c a r e e r- h i g h 1 6 p o i n t s , 425-311 in 25 years as a Division I n a t i o n a l c h a m p i o n s h i p w i t h Brown’s 3-point play with leading Notre Dame to a victory in scored 16 points, and head coach. She also coached at Cal o n t h e fl o o r u n d e r h i s ow n first round of the NIT. Terry Reynolds got George Mason’s only one loss. 1 3 s e c o n d s l e f t . Jo h n s o n S t a t e - F u l l e r t o n , Wa s h i n g t o n a n d County (17-15) had the ball basket after colliding with Kent The Irish (18-12), winners of eight last eight points to finish with 15. Florida State before coming to USC in O n e o f t - d e b a t e d t h e o r y i s State center John Edwards with of their last 11, will play at Saint Louis Reynolds is a former University of 1997. that it’s better to lose a game b u t t h r e w i t a w a y w i t h late in the season, as did Stan- threw seconds left. ford and Saint Joseph’s. A long McClure hit a free throw w i n n i n g s t r e a k o r a n b e f o r e J o h n s o n C o u n t y A&M has made the dance twice, V, babe-eeeee. S: San Antonio, the end of the undefeated season can produce missed its last shot. Hackenberg once with a 12-18 record, this Q: Qualifier. That’s what the road. more negatives than positives Owens (24-9) plays Kala- time at 15-16. Tuesday night play-in game T: It has been 24 seasons m a z o o Va l l e y C C ( 3 1 - 1 ) M: Utah is in the field, but really is. This year, the selection once the pressure of the NCAA Continued from Page 1 since Toledo played in the Tour nament is applied. today at 5 in the double- Rick Majer us is not, which is committee showed no qualms NCAA Tour nament. But who’s “It’s a unique thing team to elimination tour ney. Owens underdog but now one of the too bad. in making a queer decision to counting? N: No. 9 seeds. It would not assign Lehigh, with a greater t e a m , ” M i s s o u r i c o a c h Q u i n handed Kalamazoo a 75-67 elite with a No. 2 seed. Some U: Underdogs and upsets. loss in November. be unreasonable to see all four quantity of wins and a more Snyder said. “Last year, we lost think the Zags have a shot at the You heard it here first. Illinois- of them win first-round games qualitative RPI (20-10, No. 194) the Big 12 [tour nament] cham- title. Chicago 74, Kansas 69. — UAB over Washington, Char- to the Dayton site instead of pionship game and we were flat ence tour nament. H: The ever-flapping Hawk of V: V illanova and Jimmy Val- in the NCAA Tour nament. “ What you’ve accomplished lotte over Texas Tech, Ar izona Alabama State (16-14, 230) to Saint Joseph’s, as good a mascot over Seton Hall and Souther n face Flor ida A&M. The com- vano, still two of the best NCAA “ S o m e t i m e s c o a c h e s a r e dur ing the season or any shor t- as you’ll find in college spor ts. stor ies ever. saying things when you’re win- Illinois over Alabama. mittee repor tedly did not want c o m i n g s y o u’v e h a d re c e n t l y I: Indiana basketball. Is IU in W: , the greatest ning that the players just aren’t don’t have anything to do with O: Oklahoma State, our pick to pit two teams from histor i- the tour nament? Purdue? Notre tour nament coach of all time. hear ing. In that situation, a loss how you play in the NCAA Tour- to win it all. cally black conferences in the Dame? Butler? Evansville? P: . If he thought rag-tail game. Why? I’m afraid X: Xavier, thank goodness. can help you get better. It’s hard n a m e n t , ” Pa c k e r s a i d . “It’s a Ladies and gentlemen, say hello to get better this time of year. Oklahoma State was jobbed out to ask. The answer might make Y: What yuppie yahoos first t h r e e - w e e k s e a s o n , t o t a l l y to your Valparaiso Cr usaders, You find a few teams each year removed from what you’ve done of a No. 1 seed, just say so. But me queasy. There, that’s all the saddled Pitt with a too-low No. carr ying the banner for an that do.” the previous four months.” to make that point by “Q” words I know. 3 seed, and then sent the Pan- entire state. Since Indiana in 1976 became Mar yland is Exhibit A. Two denigrating Saint Joe’s because R: Regionals. It used to be thers to Milwaukee, where J: Just visiting. You don’t want the last team to go undefeated weeks ago the Terps were a the Hawks got a No. 1 instead East, Midwest, South and West. they’ll face a yeoman task to pull Liber ty, Easter n Wash- and win a title, the longest sea- b u b b l e t e a m ; n ow t h e y ’re a was an example of Packer’s This year the committee mem- against Wisconsin in a second- son-ending winning streak for a trendy Final Four dark horse ington, Alabama State, Mon- smug bias toward the power bers announced it as East Ruth- round game? men’s national champion has pick. They’ve won five consecu- mouth, Texas-San Antonio or conferences. Packer seemed to er ford, St. Louis, Atlanta and Z: Zakee Wadood. Really. Ver mont out of the hat. been 19 by UCL A in 1995. The tive games, four against teams be as offended as he was angr y. Phoenix. They had time to make Check out the East Tennessee- K: The last time average season-ending winning in the NCAA Tour nament. The only surpr ise was that such meaningless changes, but Cincinnati game. You’ll see. visited Buffalo for an NCAA Packer’s diatr ibe wasn’t loosed not to factor conference tour na- s t re a k f o r t h e 2 7 c h a m p i o n s “ You don’t feel like [there are Now, let the games begin. since ’76 has been nine. And 11 any limits] r ight now,” Mar y- Tour nament, a loss to Pepper- on behalf of the Atlantic Coast ment championships by Okla- teams have won the title after land coach Gar y Williams said. dine proved to be his final game Conference, for which he is a homa State and Wisconsin into Contact Dave Hackenberg at: l o s i n g e i t h e r t h e i r r e g u l a r - “ That’s the key. It’s how you as Indiana’s coach. rather shameless shill. On the seedings? Why can’t these [email protected] season finale or in their confer- feel.” L: Loveable losers. Flor ida second thought, give me Dickie people ever get it r ight? or 419-724-6398 NCAANCAA TTOURNAMENTOURNAMENT First round Second round RegionalsSemifinals Semifinals Regionals Second round First round March 20 & 21 March 25-28 April 3 April 3 March 25-28 March 20 & 21

1) Kentucky (26-4) Duke (27-5) 1) Tomorrow, 7:10 p.m. Today, 7:10 p.m. 16) Florida A&M (15-16) Alabama St. (16-14) 16)

8) Washington (19-11) Seton Hall (20-9) 8)

Columbus Tomorrow, 9:40 p.m. Today, 9:40 p.m. 9) UAB (20-9) Arizona (20-9) 9) Raleigh, N.C. 5) Providence (20-8) Illinois (24-6) 5) Tomorrow, 7:25 p.m. Tomorrow, 12:25 p.m. 12) Pacific (24-7) Murray St. (28-5) 12) 4) Kansas (21-8) Cincinnati (24-6) 4)

Tomorrow, 9:55 p.m. Tomorrow, 2:55 p.m. Columbus Kansas City 13) Illinois-Chicago (24-7) E. Tennessee St. (27-5)13) St. Louis Atlanta 6) Boston College (23-9) National Tomorrow, 12:30 p.m. Texas (23-7) 3) 11) Utah (24-8) Championship Today, 7:20 p.m. Princeton (20-7) 14) 3) Georgia Tech (23-9) San Antonio N. Carolina (18-10) 6) Tomorrow, 3 p.m. April 5 Milwaukee 14) Today, 9:50 p.m. Denver Northern Iowa (21-9) Air Force (22-6) 11) 7) Michigan St. (18-11) Mississippi St. (25-3) 2) Today, 7:35 p.m. 10) Tomorrow, 7:10 p.m. Nevada (23-8) Monmouth (21-11) 15) 2) Gonzaga (27-2)

Seattle Xavier (23-10) 7) Today, 9:55 p.m. 15) Valparaiso (18-12) San Antonio San Antonio Tomorrow, 9:40 p.m. Orlando Louisville (20-9) 10)

8) Texas Tech (22-10) Alabama (17-12) 8) Today, 2:40 p.m. Today, 12:25 p.m. 9) 9) Charlotte (21-8) Southern Illinois (25-4) 1) St. Joseph’s (27-1) Stanford (29-1) 1) Buffalo Today, 2:55 p.m. Today, 5:10 p.m. Seattle 16) Liberty (18-14) Tex.-San Antonio (19-13)16) 5) Florida (20-10) Maryland (19-11) 4) Today, 12:20 p.m. Today, 12:40 p.m. 12) Manhattan (24-5) UTEP (24-7) 13) 4) Wake Forest (19-9) Syracuse (21-7) 5)

Today, 2:50 p.m. Today, 3:10 p.m. Denver

Raleigh, N.C. 13) Virginia Common. (23-7) BYU (21-8) 12) Phoenix 6) Wisconsin (24-6) East Rutherford, N.J. N. Carolina St. (20-9) 3) Tomorrow, 7:20 p.m. Tomorrow, 12:15 p.m. 11) Richmond (20-12) UL-Lafayette (20-8) 14) 3) Pittsburgh (29-4) Vanderbilt (21-9) 6)

Tomorrow, 9:50 p.m. Tomorrow, 2:45 p.m. Orlando Milwaukee 14) Central Fla. (25-5) Western Michigan (26-4)11) 7) Memphis (21-7) Connecticut (27-6) 2) Today, 7:10 p.m. Tomorrow, 12:30 p.m. 15) 10) South Carolina (23-10) Vermont (22-8) 2) Oklahoma St. (27-3) DePaul (21-9) 7) Buffalo Tomorrow, 3 p.m. Today, 9:40 p.m. Kansas City 15) E. Washington (17-12) Dayton (24-8) 10)

THE BLADE