On the flight to Milwaukee, hand the tape of the Rutgers game to Edgar Sosa. Have him listen to Dickey Simpkins’ color commentary. The former Providence player turned announcer was effusive in his praise of Edgar’s leadership and unselfish play in a welcome 87-50 romp over the Scarlet Knights.
Sosa will see a point guard distributing the ball to open players, cutting to the basket with confidence, getting in balance hitting two of four three-point attempts, making three assists. Watch that same point guard laughing and joking it up with Terrence Williams on the bench, several minutes after the reserves enter the game. Being a point guard can be much more fun than just being a shooter. Whole outlook changes …. for everybody.
When Edgar is finished watching, pass the tape to Earl Clark, a couple rows behind Sosa. Replay that sequence where Rick Pitino grabs Clark’s jersey and pulls him into the huddle. Not playing tiddly-winks anymore. Got to get serious, E-5, and he finally does, pulling down 10 rebounds. No awful three-point attempts today. Hitting his only attempt in balance, winding up with 12 points, even an assist. Get mad if that what it takes to get into the game, just do it.
If the officials are on the plane, let them watch the tape. Lots of mysterious calls being made on both David Padgett and Derrick Caracter.
Andre McGee is becoming a marvelous player, keeps on improving and having fun. T-Will is T-Will, just needs to keep T-Will under control. Juan Palacios, always remember you’re a senior. Jerry Smith Mr. Consistency. Stuart Miller and Lee Steiden need to calm down, six minutes of playing time is an eternity.
Still waitin’ for a couple of those dunks that will raise the roof at Freedom Hall. We have come so close. Finally, we killed a team today, knocked the devil right out of them.
Oh man, oh man, what a game! I hope this is not like hitting a couple of great shots in golf, and then being terrible the next time on the links. This is what people knew could happen this year if we got our stuff together.