March 22, 2003
By PAUL NEWBERRY
AP Sports Writer
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Rick Majerus still reminisces about the hug from Ashley Judd. Ahh.
The rest of his Kentucky memories? Ugh.
If it’s March, it must be time for Utah vs. Kentucky. These two schools, which have little in common beyond their love of hoops, will meet Sunday in a second-round game at the Midwest Regional – their fifth tournament encounter in the past 11 years.
“It seems like we always end up in the same region, the same bracket,” Kentucky coach Tubby Smith.
And the Wildcats always come out on top, winning those four tourney games by an average of 18? points. Which brings us to Majerus, the lovable, roly-poly coach of the Utes.
He remembers each loss in excruciating detail – especially the 78-69 defeat to Kentucky in the 1998 national title game. The Utes led by 10 at halftime, only to get stung by the greatest comeback in championship history.
“I think I missed a timeout,” Majerus said, his thoughts clearly drifting to another time, another place. “(Jeff) Sheppard hit that shot out of the left corner on (Andre) Miller. Andre just didn’t have the strength to guard him.”
But Majerus does have one pleasant recollection from that night at the Alamodome. Judd, the striking actress who graduated from Kentucky in 1990, consoled the losing coach when it was over.
“I’m such a pathetic figure,” Majerus said. “Ashley Judd came over and gave me a big hug. I think she felt sorry for me. That was the story of my sex life for the next two or three years.”
While top-seeded Kentucky (30-3) has a 24-game winning streak and its eyes on a third national title in seven years, Majerus finds himself still lamenting his chance at glory five years ago – only to see it slip through his fingers.
He wonders if the chance will ever come again. Judging from the doubt in his voice Saturday, he’s not optimistic.
“You have one moment in life,” Majerus said. “That’s your career dream. It’s like the Pulitzer Prize. You’re that close to getting in, but you get beaten out in the last paragraph.”
It doesn’t help that Majerus keeps running into people from the Bluegrass State. On the beach in Maui. While attending a Chicago Cubs game at Wrigley Field. They’re everywhere.
“I like Kentucky people,” Majerus said. “They’re always nice to me. I guess it’s easier to be nice when you’re someone’s doormat.”
Majerus and the ninth-seeded Utes (25-7) certainly fit that role against Kentucky.
The Wildcats beat Utah by 21 in the second round of the ’93 tournament. Three years later, Kentucky rolled to a 31-point victory in the regional semifinals. The next season, the Wildcats knocked off the Utes by 13 to earn a trip to the Final Four.
In the other game Sunday at the Gaylord Entertainment Center, No. 6 seed Maryland (20-9) meets No. 3 Xavier (26-5) in the South Regional.
Maryland, the defending national champion, managed to keep its season going on a miracle 3-pointer by Drew Nicholas. The senior guard drove nearly the length of the court and swished a 25-footer off one foot with a defender in his face, giving the Terrapins a 75-73 victory over North Carolina-Wilmington in the opening round.
In the space of five seconds – the time it took to grab an inbounds pass and sprint into shooting position – Nicholas placed himself alongside Danny Ainge, Christian Laettner and Tyus Edney with one of the most memorable shots in tourney annals.
“When I woke up this morning, I was still kind of astonished by what happened,” Nicholas said, sitting at his locker before an off-day practice. “Maybe down the line, they’ll be talking about it. But it will always be in my memory how special it was.”
Nicholas watched a replay of the shot when he got back to the hotel early Saturday morning, but doesn’t see any reason to look at it again. It’s all in his head, as vivid as the moment it happened.
“I had tunnel vision,” Nicholas said. “I can’t see anything but me trying to get the ball down the floor as soon as possible. Five seconds is a pretty long time, but when I let it go I thought it would come up short.”
Instead, the ball hit nothing but net. More than anyone, Nicholas realizes how fortunate the Terrapins are to still be playing.
“Some of the guys were joking with me on the bus about whether I should try it again in practice,” he said. “I think I’ll just let it be. I’m 1-for-1.”
Maybe Maryland hasn’t lost its magic touch, despite losing four starters from its championship team.
“I told my team that we’re playing the defending national champions,” Xavier coach Thad Matta said. “Until someone beats them, that’s the title they hold.”
