The coaching rivalry between Jim Calhoun and Jim O'Brien dates back to when they came into the Big East together in 1986. The first official function was at a league get-together on a Florida beach. "It seems like 100 years ago," Calhoun said last week.
There were 25 games played between Calhoun's Huskies teams and O'Brien's teams at Boston College over 11 seasons. Connecticut won 22 of them, including the last 18 before O'Brien left for Ohio State last season.
"We should be the big underdog, it's 9,000-to-1 that you keep doing that," Calhoun said. "I think the venue has changed. When Jim had good teams, we had very good teams. When they had very good teams, we had great teams."
The two coaches and their teams renewed their rivalry, not far from the beach, in yesterday's 64-58 victory by Connecticut in the first NCAA tournament semifinal at Tropicana Field.
Before anyone even asked him about the 18-game losing streak to Calhoun, O'Brien brought it up himself.
"Jim Calhoun is obviously a wonderful guy; we've become friendly down through the years," O'Brien said. "When he sees me, he says: 'It's really nice to see you.' He's probably feeling good that he's playing against me."
Final exam at Final 4
While most of his teammates were conducting interviews in the Connecticut locker room Friday afternoon, senior forward Antric Klaiber was making his own last-minute preparations.
Not for yesterday's game, but for an Operation Systems Management final he was to take that night. Klaiber, a business management major, hopes to get his degree this spring.
Klaiber said he was the only player who had to take a final while at the Final Four.
"Everybody else got a deal," he said with a smile.
Reading between the lines
Tattoos come in all shapes and sizes, with all kinds of messages.
Slobodan Savovic, Ohio State's 6-foot-6 freshman guard, has one that reads: "When is it going to end?" -- a rather poignant protest against the civil war that is affecting his homeland. Savovic is from Montenegro, in Yugoslavia, and his mind isn't just on the Final Four, but on the NATO bombing that began last week.
What's in a number?
Scoonie Penn, Ohio State's top player, wore No. 35 instead of his customary uniform number of 12. At first, tournament officials scrambled to investigate a possible break-in into the Buckeyes' locker room, until they were told that the jersey simply wasn't packed.
A bigger picture
There are constant reminders that this is not basketball country. Spring football is going on, for instance, and then there's Grapefruit League baseball. Jog past Thomas Jefferson High School in Tampa, and check the honor roll posted on a sign near its baseball field. There are dozens of pros listed, including Tony La Russa, Fred McGriff and Tino Martinez.
High school reunion
Connecticut guard Ricky Moore and Duke guard William Avery played in the same backcourt at Augusta (Ga.) High School four years ago. Moore was a senior and Avery was a sophomore. Avery later left to finish his high school career at Oak Hill Academy.
"He was a great player even when he was younger," said Moore. "He liked to shoot."
Deep questions
Calhoun has an interesting relationship with point guard Khalid El-Amin that extends beyond the court.
"He's Muslim, I'm Catholic," said Calhoun. "He said, 'Tell me about Mass, Coach.' " Any place we're at, he wants to know more, [like he did] about the Wailing Wall and the significance of it when we were in Jerusalem."
Calhoun has been quoted as saying that El-Amin, a sophomore, is more mature than 20. Most of the time.
"It varies in the day between 35 and 15," Calhoun said.
Et cetera
Calhoun to his staff, after they had tried to insert a player one sequence too soon with 25.9 seconds left: "Would you guys wake up?" Raise your hand if Ohio State's Michael Redd reminded you of another swingman from the Big Ten, Calbert Cheaney. Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski has a 48-12 NCAA record, and his .800 winning percentage is the best among active coaches.