Time: 03-26-2012 22:20 User: rtaylor2 PubDate: 03-27-2012 Zone: KY Edition: 1 Page Name: C6 Color: CyanMagentaYellowBlack

C6 | TUESDAY,MARCH 27, 2012 | THE COURIER-JOURNAL SPORTS | courier-journal.com/sports KY NCAA MEN’S TOURNAMENT Along I-64 drive,there’sablue and redbuzz

SOMEWHERE IN KENTUCKY Mike Street. that all fall into it.” way mark between the two New Year’sEve, all rolled into — OK, the dateline can’tbefound Lopresti “Youshould »10:30 a.m., Frankfort: schools, but the only signs of life one,” Mickey says. on MapQuest. But Monday was see the bank,’’she Driving into the state capital, I at this DMZ are two truck stops. As Ileave, they’re arguing the day to hit the Final Four answers. dial up the governor’soffice to »12:15 p.m. Shelbyville: with customer Keith Owens over Trail; Interstate 64, starting with United Bank is see if he might comment. “You “Fifteen miles up the road, which coach has more baggage, the University of Kentucky and the old train de- want to talk to the most conflict- you’re on the blue side,’’Tommy and Iwonder if maybe there ending with the University of pot, and there ed man in America?’’awoman Hayes explains at the Main should be no sharp objects Louisville. might be green in asks over the phone. Street Barber Shop. “Fifteen around. But how would they cut It was like driving 70-odd the cash drawers Gov.Steve Beshear is in a miles the other way,you’re on anybody’shair? miles from Lee’scamp to but blue on the budget meeting, but he has is- the red side. We’re in the mid- »1p.m., Louisville: The Grant’s. walls. Youdon’t sued astatement: “The best dle.” name of the Cardinal Hall of »9a.m., Lexington: Chris know who they’d thing about this game is that a Which is why the shop logo is Fame Café, not far from Chur- Cross and Matthew Laurence are rather less see come in, abank team from Kentucky will play red, white and blue. Neutrality. chill Downs, pretty much de- having coffee just across the robber or aLouisville fan. for the national title.” Nothing neutral inside, scribes the motif. What might street from Rupp Arena, dis- Iask Susan the teller,who At Rick’sWhite Light Diner though. Hayes works one bar- happen if aKentucky fan hap- cussing their afternoon radio doesn’twant to give her last on the Kentucky River,crawfish ber’schair as aUKfan, Kenny pened to walk in, and who better sports talk show. name, what would happen if pie is the specialty.Rick Paul Mickey the other as afervent to ask than the bartender? “Ithink madness is an under- Kentucky actually lost. proclaims Frankfort mostly a Louisville fan. Do the customers “You’d be taking achance,” statement,’’Cross is saying. “I “Them’sfighting words,’’she Wildcat town, but says his grand- ever debate? Lamont Samuels says, but come want to ask the question (on the answers. son wouldn’t “root for them if it “Nobody debates more than Saturday, “there’ll be infiltra- air) what the hell will happen if Acouple walks in, and the was Kentucky against the devil.’’ us,’’Hayes says. tors.” Kentucky loses. woman shouts “Go Cats.’’Then Customer Susan Carson Lam- “Youwalked in five minutes Imentioned that afew miles “This is the ultimate must-win they go into an office to talk bert doesn’teven like basketball late,’’says Mickey. back down the road, Iheard a game I’ve ever seen in my life.’’ about their mortgage or some- and never watches. She’sinto the The shop has huge pictures of Kentucky fan refer to Louisville Laurence ponders the days thing. environment. “But Iknow Muhammad Ali, and Kentucky as “little brothers.” ahead for nervous Wildcat listen- At Railroad Drug, pharmacist they’re in the Final Four.How teams, and aslim slice of Louis- “That’saUKstate of mind,” ers. “It’sgoing to change as the and owner Ken Glass wears a could you miss it?’’ ville items in acorner. “Igive Samuel says. Bartending has week goes on. As it get closer, blue smock with UK on it. Do any »11a.m., I-64: Former coach- him alittle Louisville in the taught him one difference be- there’ll be more angst.’ Louisville fans dare live in this es Joe B. Hall and Denny Crum back,’’Hayes says. tween the two sides, he says. »9:30 a.m., Midway: I town? have had their own radio show They talk of watching the “Kentucky fans are cocky.” check in at the visitors’ center “We have one that we know for years, the two old Kentucky- game together Saturday — “I »1:30 p.m., downtown with Diane Shepard to see if this of,’’Kimberly Witt says from be- Louisville foes practicing dé- hope we still love each other,’’ Louisville: The bridge takes me is aKentucky or Louisville town, hind the counter. tente over the airwaves. “Take a says Mickey – and betting on the over the Ohio River and out of with its water-tower sign honor- Glass mentions some recent shovel and bury the hate,’’Hall game, the winner getting to Kentucky.Left behind is astate ing the 1937 state high school Rick Pitino quotes. “It’slike he tells the audience. shave the loser’smustache. waiting, in various forms of anxi- basketball champions, and rail- says things that egg it on. Unfor- »11:30 a.m, Waddy/Peyto- “Ithink it’sgoing to be the Su- ety,for abasketball game Satur- road tracks running down Main tunately,there are abunch of us na exit: Nearly the exact half- per Bowl, slash Derby,slash day night.

CRAWFORD: Dieng’sfather ahugerole model

Continued from Page C1 with people.’ ” These days, it’snot unusual to always told me. I’m going to give see Dieng stopped on campus, you food, I’m going to feed you talking to just about anybody. well, I’m going to get you Coach Rick Pitino said he’s clothes, I’m going to take you to impressed with Dieng’sdedica- school. But don’tever think that tion —and his potential. Pitino you’re going to get my money told Dieng that he was going to one day. drive him like he’d never been “... Then he took that money driven. Dieng asked him what and gave it to the poor.Bought “drive” meant. them food, clothes, took their “Ilove Gorgui so much,” kids and got them school stuff. Pitino said. “We’re not ahumble And Ilearned from that. Why society,athletes today.The Afri- could Inot be like him one day? can athletes are so humble and Make my own money,helping hungry.It’sjust so much fun poor people and people that need coaching him because he’sa it. Ithink he’sarole model and throwback.” he taught me how important For example, Dieng throws school is. ... Youneed to be smart The Cards’ Gorgui Dieng goes up out statements like, “Idon’tplay to be successful in this life.” against Florida’sScottie Wilbekin this game to make enemies, only Does Dieng have your atten- on Saturday in Phoenix. SAM friends,” and refuses to talk tion yet? He certainly had the UPSHAWJR./THE COURIER-JOURNAL trash to opponents because “why attention of national reporters in would Iwant to make another Kentucky coach John Calipari, shown Sunday in Atlanta, said he’s Phoenix last week for the West talent scouts at aWithout Bor- player feel bad? It could be me.” “not worried” about the rivalry. SCOTT UTTERBACK/THE COURIER-JOURNAL Regional. It was so different a ders tournament, and wound up And then there’sthe NBA. message from those you usually in, of all places, Huntington, Dieng wants to go to the NBA as against Georgetown” in 1985 to hear at tournament time that W. Va.Rob Fulford, basketball much as any player in the Final FOCUS: UK, beat the Cats. Nova shot 77 per- Dieng stood out even more than coach at Huntington Prep, re- Four.But for different reasons. cent in that game to topple the usual, which is quite abit for a members the day he sat his new “If Imade it to the NBA one heavily favored Hoyas despite player so tall with astory so basketball player in achair in day,that would be 70 percent of UofLhave having lost twice to them in the different. his office and tried to talk to my goals,” he said. “And I’m regular season. And NBA scouts are starting him. going to change people’slives eyeonball The buildup of the annual to notice, too. After his perfor- “Istarted trying to have a where I’m from. They’re going UofL/UK game cannot com- mance in the NCAA Tournament, conversation with him, and he to look at me and realize how Continued from Page C1 pare to what will take place this he’sexpected to climb up the just broke down in tears,” Ful- important school and education week, if for no other reason the mock draft boards for the 2013 ford said. “It was culture shock. are. They’re going to understand of the year; it doesn’tmatter,” stakes that are involved. draft, though it seems unlikely He was away from home and it Iget where Iamthrough school. Caliparisaidinateleconference Pitino said that while he Dieng would leave for the NBA just hit him that his parents Because some kids where I’m Monday. “If you win or lose, wants his players to be focused, without adegree. weren’tgoing to be around. He from quit school just to play you’re going to feel the same healsowantsthemtosoakupthe Because he was always taller didn’tspeak any of the language. sport. If Ihave both, get my whether it’sateam you’ve atmosphere. than kids his age, Dieng said he He was obviously uncomfortable degree, make it to the league, played before or never seen in “Certainly they have ajob to usually hung out with older and probably scared.” they will see.” your life, ateam that’s12miles do, but on the other hand, like I people. Even today,Dieng seems That was four years ago. But So if the NBA is 30 percent of from you or ateam that’sathou- believe with all my teams that beyond his years. those who know him now can’t Dieng’sgoals, what are the other sand miles from you.” have been there, fun is amajor Like most in his country,his be surprised at the progress he’s 30 percent? Pitino’sCardinals literally aspectoftheFinalFour,”saidPi- favorite sport was soccer.He made. He learned English quick- “To be arole model,” he said. playedathousandmilesawayen tino, who makes his sixth trip grew up playing on afield right ly. “ Iwant to go back home and route to New Orleans, winning there. “Youhave to let the guys across from his house, amid- “It was very hard for me,” give back to people who helped West Region games in Portland have some fun as well as work. fielder,and would shout to his Dieng said of his arrival. “The me. Iwant to go back one day and in Phoenix. He said he That’swhat this whole experi- mother to watch before making first week Istayed in my room. I and do the same thing for the wasn’tconcerned with all the ence is all about.” big plays against his brother. couldn’tspeak to anybody.I kids. Idon’twant to be selfish. outside noise that will be made Part of the experience is But there’slittle call for soc- couldn’tdoanything. Icouldn’t People who helped me to get about the game because of their learning to deal with distrac- cer players of his height. His speak English. If you said hi to where Iam, Iwant to go back maturity.And he’snot making tions. Kansas coach Bill Self, neighborhood got its first bas- me Iwouldn’tsay anything, and do the same thing for them.” any special plans to shield them. who has the Jayhawks back in ketball goal when he was 5, and because Ididn’tknow.Mydad “Being away didn’thelp us the Final Four for the first time by age 13 he began playing seri- told me, ‘You need to communi- Contact Eric Crawford at (502) 582- anditdidn’thurtus.Itwasreally sincewinningitallin2008,joked ously,transferring to the only cate with people so you can pick 4372 or ecrawford@courier-jour- no factor,” Pitino said. “This that players “all of asudden be- school where he could play and up the language pretty quick. nal.com. Comment on this column or group is avery humble group. come more attractive” and have study. Youcan’tjust stay in your cor- read his blog and past columns at They do everything they can do new friends asking for tickets. He drew the attention of ner.You need to socialize more www.courier-journal.com/crawford. mentally and physically to try UK has three players in its and win agame.” current rotation in Doron Lamb, UofL(30-9) has reached Sat- Terence Jones and Darius Mil- urday’ssemifinal game as a ler who also played key roles in No. 4seed. UK (36-2) enters as last year’smarch to the Final BOZICH: Pitino can join small club with wins the No. 1overall seed. The Wild- Four and should know the drill. cats beat the Cards 69-62 in Even though the routine is Continued from Page C1 Arizona showed that it could Pitino will need more than Rupp Arena on Dec. 31. new for the current Cards, Self be done. Once in 33 seasons. karma. Indiana coach Tom Calipari said the rivalry as- thinks taking direction from On the flip side, Louisville is The Wildcats whacked top- Crean and Baylor’sScott Drew pect matters to fans, “but we’re their coaches will eliminate po- only the 12th four-seed to sur- seed Kansas in the 1997 Sweet took their teams to Atlanta con- not worried about that.” tential distractions. vive to the Final Four.Arizona Sixteen —and then backed up vinced they could defeat John “Obviously with the Internet Ohio State coach Thad Matta won the 1997 title. Syracuse that one shining moment with Calipari’sWildcats. They left the and social networking, you can’t is glad he doesn’thave to deal finished second in 1996. The two more. Arizona took out two Georgia Dome raving about the keep anything away from them. with arivalry in addition to the other nine were all beaten in the more No. 1seeds (North Caroli- superb work Calipari has done They hear everything; they talk tough task of preparing for aFi- semifinals. na and Kentucky,coached by with his talented team. They to each other; they’re probably nal Four. To complete this unlikely job, Pitino in his final game at UK) at also left with 12-point defeats. talkingtoplayersfromtheother “Iknow what atoll rivalry Louisville will have to defeat the Final Four in Indianapolis. Iwonder when the 24 Hall of teams.That’sjusthowitisnowa- games take on acoach on the another top seed (Kentucky) in If Pitino can shake two more Fame selectors must file their days,” Calipari said. “What you lead-up with all the outside addition to the No. 1seed (Michi- victories out of this team, it ballots. Pitino needs 18 votes for hope is they understand. For us, hype, so Idon’tenvy Coach Cali- gan State) the Cardinals already would be the signature achieve- induction. we’re worried about us playing pari or Coach Pitino in that re- beat in Phoenix. ment in acareer that has al- I’d advise waiting as late as as well as we can. If that’snot gard,” Matta said. “But Ithink Then the mental challenge ready placed his name on the possible. They’re going to look good enough, we’ll deal with the it’sgreat. Both teams are play- would increase for Louisville. ballot for the Naismith Memori- awfully silly if Pitino becomes results.” ing at ahigh level right now,and The Cards would have to tune- al Basketball Hall of Fame. only the third coach to take aNo. AfewofPitino’sanswersinti- obviously it’sone of the great ri- out any post-game celebration The hall will introduce its 4seed to the NCAA champi- mated he may be playing up the valries in college basketball.” about beating the Wildcats and 2012 class next Monday in New onship game —and then the underdog role. He said that back up their Saturday victory Orleans. The national champi- second coach to win it. UofLwould have to play “the C.L. Brown can be reached at (502) with atitle-game win Monday onship will be decided Monday type of game Villanova played 582-4044. against Kansas or Ohio State. night. Karma, anyone? Reach Rick Bozich at (502) 582-4650.