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Your attempt to live vicariously through LSU is sad.
ATLANTA -- With a trip to the Final Four at stake, LSU's baby Tigers turned to the biggest Baby of all.
Glen Davis found a clearing at the top of the arc, lifted his hefty body off the court and softly spun the ball toward the hoop.
His only 3-pointer of the NCAA Tournament hit nothing but net.
The portly but nimble player known as "Big Baby" scored 26 points, including the decisive shot in overtime, to lead LSU to its first Final Four since 1986 with a 70-60 victory over Texas in the Atlanta Regional final Saturday.
"It's called thinking without thinking," he said. "The opportunity was there to make the shot. Most of the time when I'm shooting 3s, I'm thinking about it too much. I was just in rhythm, I felt it was a great shot and I made it."
Freshman Tyrus Thomas added 21 points and 13 rebounds. Like Davis, he's a homegrown Tiger, raised practically in the shadow of the LSU campus.
When the horn sounded, Davis marched to the front of the scorer's table, faced the gold-and-purple-clad contingent and saluted. Then he let out a huge scream, pounded his massive chest and was mobbed by Thomas, who was named the region's most outstanding player.
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The final margin wasn't indicative of a game that was close all the way. The lead changed hands 11 times, and there were seven ties. No one had a double-digit lead until the end.
But No. 2 seed Texas (30-7), which was trying to become the first Division I school to win national les in football and men's basketball in the same academic year, fell apart in OT. The Longhorns were down seven by the time they got off their first shot of the extra period.
Fourth-seeded LSU (27-8) turned to Davis -- the Southeastern Conference Player of the Year -- to finish off Texas. The 6-foot-9, 300-plus-pound sop re does most of his work banging on the inside, but he stepped outside to make just his sixth 3-pointer of the season.
"He's got such a feathery touch," Texas coach Rick Barnes said. "He's physical, but it's his skill that really impresses you."
The Tigers led 59-52, and Texas never got closer than five the rest of the way.
"When Glen hit the 3, that was the turning point," said Darrel Mitc , the only senior in the youthful LSU lineup.
Indeed, Davis' nickname is most appropriate for this group, which includes three freshmen starters. Most of them have known each other since they were kids. They grew up together, went off to school together and now they're heading to the Final Four together.
"We're like brothers," Mitc said. "Brotherhood and togetherness."
LSU, which has never won a national le, will face UCLA next Saturday in the national semifinals.
In regulation, Davis hit a soft, turnaround jumper in the lane just before the shot clock expired to give the Tigers a 52-49 lead with 1:04 remaining.
"Big Baby, he's just a load down there," said Texas forward Brad Buckman, who spent part of the game guarding Davis. "Some of his moves are incredible."
Texas tied it after a wild sequence that epitomized the frenetic pace of the game, which was sloppy at times but thrilling all the way.
P.J. Tucker's hook was blocked by Thomas, but Tucker chased the ball down in the corner. He passed off to Kenton Paulino, the hero of Thursday's victory over West Virginia, but he missed a jumper.
Two LSU players failed to corral the loose ball near midcourt and Paulino got it back, only to have his jumper swatted away from behind by Garrett Temple. The ball went Texas' way again -- right to Daniel Gibson, who made the tying 3 with 32 seconds left.
LSU squandered three chances to win in regulation. Davis had a mental blunder, firing up a wild 3 off an inbounds pass that didn't hit anything. Thomas got the rebound, but his baseline jumper was blocked by LaMarcus Aldridge. The ball deflected off the back of the goal, giving the Tigers one more opportunity.
They swung the ball around to Temple, but his open jumper from behind the arc barely hit the rim before time ran out.
LSU bounced right back from that disappointment. The Tigers won the jump and Tasmin Mitc scored on a lay-in. Texas turned the ball over, and Temple scored off a double-pumping banker from beneath the hoop. The Longhorns threw the ball away again, and Davis clinched it.
Texas, which dominated the lane in its buzzer-beating win over the Mountaineers, faced a much more physical team in LSU. The Longhorns were outscored by an astonishing 38-10 in the lane and had only a slight edge on the boards, 45-42.
Texas couldn't overcome poor games by its two leading scorers. Tucker was held to 10 points on 4-of-11 shooting. Aldridge, a 6-10 center, was dominated in the head-to-head matchup with Davis, making only 2 of 14 shots to finish with four points.
"It's tough when your big man can't score," Tucker said. "He just missed them, but he kept playing."
Gibson led the Longhorns with 15 points and the unheralded Buckman chipped in with 13. Paulino, who beat West Virginia with a 3-pointer, went 0-for-5 from outside the arc this time, settling for 10 points.
Overall, Texas made 21-of-69 from the field -- a dismal 30.4 percent. Barnes credited LSU's defense, which limited top-seeded Duke to its lowest point total since 1996 in a 62-54 upset Thursday.
The Tigers were equally stifling against the Longhorns.
"They turned in an outstanding defensive effort," Barnes said, "both inside and out."
When it was over, LSU gave the Georgia Dome a bit of Mardi Gras feel. Davis wrapped a feathery, gold boa around his neck, grabbed a microphone and let out a "Yeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaah!" that he hoped could be heard all the way back in his home state, still recovering from Hurricane Katrina.
"I wanted to give a shout-out to the people of Louisiana," Davis said. "I wanted to give them some motivation ... give them a good feeling about their state."
AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service
Your attempt to live vicariously through LSU is sad.
LMAO try harder...
Irony is, LSU is our rivals. Irony is, it just happend to be them to kick Texas to the curb. Irony I happen to love. As I am going for them to win it all, rooting for the SEC now that it's all I have left.
Enjoy.
You're reduced to rooting for a team that you regard as an archrival, but whose fans don't give half a about your team (their rivals are Bama and Ole Miss).
How far did YOUR team go in the tourney?? What a stupid bag.
Unlike you we are man enough to come on here when our team loses.
Brut=Dumbass
You're reduced to rooting for a team that you regard as an archrival, but whose fans don't give half a about your team (their rivals are Bama and Ole Miss).
Arkansas, those miserable wretches. Bama, Georgia, LSU, Florida, and Tennessee all hate each other's ing guts. Now that it's been 14 years since Arkansas (and South Carolina) opened her legs and brought her various athletic accomplishments to the keg party in the Southeast, I guess Arkansas is finally allowed to sit at the big table and hate on the big boys. The Razorbacks have stayed out of the way of the BCS, though, which makes her less of a rival.
By the way, those accomplishments? That was a 28 year old college football le and 12 track les of dubious luster that collects dust with their now 13 year old basketball le. Now, if a Texas fan envies the quan y of hardware Arkansas has, think of that guy from back in college you knew who banged all those ugly girls and occasionally caught a good one, but it never lasted.
Then think of that nice crystal ball Vince brought home less than 90 days ago, count a couple of baseball trophies if those matter to you, and think about how great of a season we up until today. Who did Arkansas lose to last week? The Patriot League team?
But according to Wikipedia, Arkansas' permanent rival is South Carolina and at least in football they actually do play a trophy game with LSU for Billy Cannon's boot or something. So that's correct all you Longhorns at home, those guys are LSU's Texas Tech, or perhaps more accurately Colorado.
So next time I'll read about the greatness of Razorback athletics, I'll let the track les hang out with UT's 16 swimming les, or Oklahoma State's 35 wrestling les, or even Florida's 7 women's softball les. Then I'll remember that these were the assholes that broke up the SWC and now have an inferiority complex. Finally, I'll think of that nice crystal ball that Vince brought home less than 90 days ago. Then politely thank them for Jerry, Jimmy, and Bubba, and go find someone important to take up my time.
We have the shinest le the NCAA offers, these so called rivals of Arkansas had it two years ago, and they bring up their track program in defense. Try doing something on the field rather than the oval that goes around it and we'll talk.
Man Brut gets owned by everyone, I guess he is everyone's little .
I was curious why Barnes was going on about telling the team that they won as a team all year, and they lost as one as well."It's tough when your big man can't score," Tucker said. "He just missed them, but he kept playing."
Looks like some guys in the locker room were hanging this one on LeMarcus.
Yeah, let's see if Brut is the "mature" person he claims to be and answers & NOT dodges the question.
How did your team do Brut??????
The team I've rooted for for over 30yrs got bounced outta the tourney in the round of the Elite 8 by getting some ass kicked in OT & sloppy play during reg.
The past doesn't matter and the future doesn't matter. A football schedule in a basketball discussion REALLY doesn't matter. All that matters is the here and now. The here and now is the 2006 NCAA basketball tournament and in the 2006 NCAA basketball tournament the Longhorns got farther than the Razorbacks.
End of story.
Poor baby.. whatever makes you feel better son. I laugh harder.You're reduced to rooting for a team that you regard as an archrival, but whose fans don't give half a about your team (their rivals are Bama and Ole Miss).
Willinsa- You should give up. By far the dumbest prick next to Dio on the boards. Or try harder like I tell everyone.
The irony is all the talking I get because Arkansas lost. Instead of making excuses or trying to look for reasoning on someone elses team I said,.. we sucked.. and we lost.. oh well... instead of eating crow. The irony is, a week later your own team getting owned. I mean, it's quite funny... hilarious actually. So bring up any points to make you guys feel better. But remember, don't give you can't turn around and take.
The point is not who got farther, or who is better or who has won what. Typically, Texas fans use jumbled history and excuses for everything... when in fact the point is, there was a thread dissing me, and here's your own. Again, don't give you can't take. Don't reply unless you use your brain instead of this 'ohh u r so poo poo face wha wha wha ownedd tehehehe.' Actually try harder. This is simply a mock thread. In which of course no Texas fan would have humor about even when a couple posters in this thread I .used. to have respect for.
See you in Austin later this year.
Well, obviously you're slowed down by the inbreeding, and by eating the diseased squirrel brains your family scavenges off the side of the road, so I'll make it clear:
I'M NOT A TEXAS FAN
So I don't so much give a whether they win or lose. I just don't like crackers such as yourself.
I never assumed you was one? The problem is, people can talk up a storm but can't withstand their own.
Problem is, you're missing the point. Try to find one thread where I have started something with anyone. I'm always the one replying to some prick with more problems than being on the internet 8 hours a day.
ButtAssLick, you & your TY 13yo CECELIA have got to be the most immature girls around. I guess once your parents bought a computer your Barbie was passe?
Sorry your pigs got RAPED in the 1st round.
Deal with it, get over it.
1) WERE, were one. Geez, 3rd graders always think they're so hot.
2) Yes, we know how much you hate getting stuck like your pigs did in the 1st round.
3) Hmmm, that'll be real hard to do. When I have 10min to WASTE on you I'll look them up. Yeah, you're a real angel.
4) You hate being shown up & embarassed so much you can't walk away. You only shoot off like some wannabe bad ass but you're a closet got living on the DL with CECELIA.
IF, you're so mature then walk away. Or continue to be the Board .
I spent 10 seconds & found a thread that YOU started.
http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37212
Yup, it's this one.
So, you were saying that you never start anything?
You jr high kids are TOO EASY!
yes because all Texas fans think alike.Typically, Texas fans use jumbled history and excuses for everything... when in fact the point is, there was a thread dissing me, and here's your own.
Man you own yourself on your own post dumbass, you lost in the 1ST ING ROUND, we lost in the ELITE 8. Records in the tourney-
Texas 3-1
Pigs 0-1
So we get owned for going 3 rounds further then your ty team? WTF
Give it up man, you are making yourself out to look like a dumb . But I think we all know you are.
Sorry you confuse "starting" with "finishing."I spent 10 seconds & found a thread that YOU started.
http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37212
Yup, it's this one.
So, you were saying that you never start anything?
You jr high kids are TOO EASY!
You guys cry louder than the old Bulls fans there used to be.
I used to think different til y Texas basketball fans came to life.yes because all Texas fans think alike.
How was I being a y Texas fan?
Proof, please.
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