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Show 10 STATESM FRIDAY APRIL 1,2005 SPORTS I10FF YOUR NOT PURCHASE WITH COUPON EXPIRES APRIL 28, 2005 ^\utficntic Loga n , 8+521 Gabriel B. Tait/The Associated Press PAINTER PETER K. ENGLESMANN puts the final touches on a mural commemorating the NCAA Final Four near the America's Center, Wednesday. Best of the best ready for Final Four Benefit Concert Peter Breinholt Marvin Payne \ Sam Payne April 14th 7:00 pm Kent Concert Hall $8.00 in advance $10.00 at the door Tickets on sale April 1st The Book Table 752-3055 USU Alumni House 797-2055 sft' THE BOOK TABLE Student Alumni Association Getting Engaged? BY EDDIE PELLS The Associated Press ST. LOUIS - Rick Pitino and Roy Williams. Overachieving Michigan State and almost-undefeated Illinois. The Final Four teams will have to put on quite a show if they're going to match the excitement of possibly the best NCAA tournament ever. But these marquee coaches and programs haven't had trouble entertaining thus far this tournament. "I think it's the best ever" said Purdue's Gene Keady, one of the dozens of coaches who came to the Final Four city of St. Louis on Thursday. "The closeness of the games and how what they call the mid-majors really aren't mid-majors anymore. Anybody can beat you." Vermont's upset of Syracuse and Bucknell's shocker over Kansas denned the first crazy week, and the madness continued into an even more dramatic set of region als. Three regional finals went into overtime, the first time that's happened. The opponents in Saturday's first semifinal, Illinois and Louisville, each overcame double-digit deficits to force overtime and advance. "These young people, under the influence of pressure, how they accomplish what they accomplish is amazing," Pitino said. Pitino became the first coach to lead three different programs - Providence, Kentucky and Louisville - to the Final Four, and there's no denying his touch on the bench made a difference. With West Virginia on an unbelievable shooting tear, Pitino somehow kept the Cardinals within reach. He scrapped the 2-3 zone he'd been using to compensate The Final Four Men's matchups in St. Louis. for his team's lack of depth this season, told his players to press and trap and disrupt. The Mountaineers eventually cooled off, and the Cardinals (33-4) found themselves within a couple baskets. And by the time overtime was winding down, Taquan Dean and Larry O'Bannon were celebrating and Louisville was winning going away. "We've seen it all season from this team," Pitino said. "So many times, it looked like we were going to get knocked out. They're very resilient, very tough-minded and they're tough kids. I'm just a pussycat following their coattails. I just sit back and marvel at what they've accomplished." Illinois (36-1) trailed Arizona by 15 with 4:04 left, then Bruce Weber's team staged one of the most stirring comebacks in tournament history. Luther Head made a pair of 3-pointers and had a steal and layup to lead the rally. The Illini survived a tight overtime and made it to where they've been pointed since December, when they moved to No. 1 in the Associated Press poll - a perch they haven't been pushed from since, even when they lost their only game, to Ohio State on March 6. LACROSSE From Page 8 /f you are not, but you know someone that is} tell him about the diamond engagement ring store, Store Hours: Moo - Frl 9:30 - B:0O SaL '9:30-6 :00 141 IV. IVIain 752-7149 Middle of the Block, at the Sign of the Clock www.senccdham.com right now. They've lost a whole bunch of guys and are playing a 17-man roster with first year goalie." The Ags will play another home game Saturday against San Diego State (l6). Two years ago the Aggies split a two-game series with the Aztecs in California - the Ags losing the second game by one goal. "They'll be coming off two games against BYU and Utah," Garner said. "They'll be tired and a little beat up. It's going to be a good game." Friday's game at Romney Stadium will start at 7:15 p.m. Saturday's game will start at 1 p.m. and will be played on Tower Field. Admission to both games is free. -acf@cc.usu.edu flow Renting for FalJv University Pines 400 N. 500 E. $2700 for School Year includes: All Utilities Furnished Wireless Internet Cable TV Dishwasher, Microwave , Private Bedrooms 435-710-5141 Ryan Talbot/rta/bot@cc.usu.ec/u THE USU LACROSSE TEAM takes on Ft. Lewis and San Diego State this weekend in Logan. RUGBY From Page 8 don't really know what to expect. "We'll just come out and play our game," she said. "We know how to play. When we go out and have fun and just play our game we always win." Utah State earned its spot in the tournament after taking first place in its division, the Utah Rugby Union, proving themselves, Lambert said, to be one of the better teams in the Pacific Coast region. Lambert said defense has been the key to the Aggies' success and if the Ags can keep working together. Both Hansen and Lamber said Utah State should have no problem with San Jose. "I'm really very excited and feel pretty confident," Hansen said. "We have a strong team really come together past few games and have been working out some kinks." "We have very good defense, and we work well as a team," Lambert said. "We'll just have to see how it goes. It could go either way, but I really think it's going to depend on who wants it more " Lambert said Utah State has tried to prepare for the game by traveling to California and facing a lot of teams there. She also said the team has been working hard all season, and is ready for this opportunity. Although the team hasn't been prepar- • ing specifically for their games this week- ' end or for nationals, she added that the games have definitely been in the back of the team's minds all season. . I "We're all just really excited for this game," Hansen said. "We're just ready to focus on this weekend, [but] we're taking it one step at a time." ~aedmunds@ccMSu.edu Jen Beasley contributed to the story. |