10 - The Michigan Daily - Tuesday, April 8, 2003 ORANGEMEN Continued from Page 9 The Orangemen built their lead to 18 during a breakneck first half. But things ground to a halt in the second, aiid it was Boeheim's famous 2-3 zone that closed out the game. When it was over, bad free-throw shooting killed the Jayhawks (30-8). They missed an amazing 18 of 30. They also never really found the outside touch to force the Orangemen to guard them up high. Hinrich shot 6-for-20 - 3- for-12 from 3-point range, and missed twice with a chance to tie in the closing seconds. Inside, Boeheim's 'D' came close to turning Kansas into a one-man show. All-American for- ward Nick Collison was valiant - he finished with 19 points and 21 rebounds. But in the end, he simply didn't have enough help against the tall and long Syracuse players and that well- coached defense. Of course, there are some things you simply can't coach, and McNamara, Anthony, Warrick - the whole team, really - played a one-on- one style of offense in the first half that looked as if it came straight from the playground. McNamara was relentless, unabashedly hoist- ing shots from 23, 24, 25 feet and making almost all of them. By the end of the first half, he was 6-for-8 - his season high - and the Orangemen led 53-42. The 53 were the most points scored by one team in the first half of a title game. But was McNamara the best player out there? Ask any of the three or four players who had the task of guarding Anthony, the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player, after he took passes at the top of the key. A ball fake here, a dribble between the legs there, a spin or a pull-up 3- pointer - nothing was out of the question with this guy, and very little of it was stoppable. Before his back started acting up, Anthony look destined to join Dwyane Wade of Mar- quette as the second player with a triple-double in this year's tournament. As it was, he finished three assists shy. Even with Anthony struggling down the stretch, Kansas couldn't play catchup well enough to tie or take the lead. A great chance came with 14 minutes left when, trailing 61-58, the Jayhawks picked off a bad pass and started rushing downcourt. But Kansas turned it right back over, and Anthony made a 3-pointer to keep the Orange ahead. Syracuse stretched it to 12 with 7 1/2 minutes left, and KU could never overcome after that. It was another bitter defeat for Williams, who stayed without the one victory that would round out an otherwise impeccable resume. Now, his next job is to decide whether he's interested in the opening at North Carolina, his alma mater, or wants to return to Kansas to try to complete his still-unfinished business. Boeheim, meanwhile, improved to 1-2 in title games. Nine years after the 1987 loss, Syracuse fell to Kentucky in the final. He insisted he would coach the same as he always does in the final, and by the looks of things he did. He also called "foolishness" the notion that a win in this game would make him a better coach. That, for now at least, is still open for debate. A PrPOO Syracuse's Craig Forth (51) and Kansas' Jeff Graves fight for a loose ball in the first half of the championship game yesterday in New Orleans. ,- KLEMPNER Continued from Page 9 "Personally, I could give a shit what people think," said Williams when asked if he was thinking about taking the North Carolina job. While a win might have kept him in the homely town of Lawrence, Kan., the loss will likely send Williams, who did- n't say he wouldn't take the job, to Chapel Hill, N.C., where he will be able to bury himself in all of the "Timeout" fried chicken he can handle. That is why it is curious that CBS had a camera in the Carrier Dome filming celebrating Syracuse students when it should have been in the Dean Dome shooting elated North Carolina boosters. The peopleof Kansas weren't the only big losers last night - actually there were a whole bunch more in Vegas. But Ann Arbor had its own big loser in the form of Engineering senior Bob Kender. Kender managed to lose the MichiganDaily.com/Pizza House Challenge by scoring just 30 points and having his entire bracket out of the run- ning by the second weekend of the tour- nament. The Troy native picked Dayton (his father's alma mater) to win the champi- onship and Mississippi State to be the runner-up. Unfortunately, No. 4 Dayton couldn't even fly into the second round, suffering a first-round loss to Tulsa. "I am positive there was no drug use involved with my pool, but based on my picks, it makes you wonder," Kender said. "I thought I knew a lot about col- lege basketball, but obviously not." Fellow engineer Dave Kaplan faired better than Kender. Kaplan won the Daily's pool by selecting seven of the Elight Eight teams and all four Final Four teams. Kaplan, however, was unable to share his secrets with his fel- low dancers. And"when the techs in the CBS pro- duction van hit the button on "One Shining Moment", the books on the 2003 NCAA Tournament were closed (until the NCAA Infrations Committee reopens them 10 years from now), informing college basketball fans on dance floors throughout the nation that it isn't time to go home, but they can't stay here. , r r it r r r r it r e t r i f t 1 t i 1 I 1 i 7 1 i 1 i 1 4 1 1 i 4 1 i 1 l i \ t t t 1 1 4 1 Now it's time to put on yourthinking cap. At Ernst & Young, the opportunities to use your mind are endless. Welcome to our in-coming class from University of Michigan. 0 Matthew Brody, intern John Carter Teresa Chen Lauren Decker, intern Catherine Fuimano Rachael Hines, intern Johnny Hwang Ahmed Jamil Moses Lee Sharad Mangalick, intern Brian Pavona Naweed Sikora, intern James Stork Jeff Sukach Brent Van Leeuwen AP MUI Syracuse's Kueth Duany raises his arms in jubilation last night in New Orleans. HORN Continued from Page 9 Michigan sports experience, these were the thoughts and images that captured my attention. My col- leagues on this sports page and I are often condemned by students, fans, alumni and often the athletic depart- ment for our criticism of Michigan athletics. They ask, "Where's the love?" Let me assure you: We criti- cize because we want to make it bet- ter. We criticize because we want so badly to see these programs not just succeed, but to succeed with the honor and respect woven into the Leaders and Best mythology. We criticize because we love. After four years as a writer and columnist and fan and student, we can't help but love. These four years have brought me to extraordinary, overwhelming highs and unthinkable, unanticipated lows. Michigan athletics has been a learning experience for me, and the f0 I rxrvn tY~ri n. r