ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Richard Hamilton slowly climbed up the 8-foot ladder, savoring every step. Hamilton slowly snipped the net, savoring every slice. Hamilton slowly wrapped the net around his neck and waved to the delirious fans, savoring every wave. Hamilton was savoring a trip to heaven, hoops heaven.
Actually, Hamilton and the Connecticut Huskies savored every moment and deserved to after they shocked favored Duke, 77-74, to win their first national championship at Tropicana Field. It was a dramatic game that was not decided until the final possession. And after Trajan Langdon had turned the ball over for the second time in six seconds, the Huskies did their impersonations of Jim Valvano and hustled around the court searching for someone to hug. They looked like 5-year-olds dancing through sprinklers on a humid day.Everyone wanted to hug Hamilton and Ricky Moore, the two dominating reasons the Huskies performed the unimaginable in stopping a team that was being called one of the best in college history. But Moore, the defensive whiz, turned offensive with 13 critical points in the first half and Hamilton poured in 27 for the game to spark an inspired attack that ruined Duke and raised UConn's program to another echelon.
"UConn is No. 1," Moore declared. "No doubt about it."
Precisely. Hamilton made some amazing shots for the Huskies. With the score tied, 68-68, and 4 minutes 7 seconds remaining, he made two free throws to put the Huskies ahead to stay. But the shot that was more incredible than any other followed next as Hamilton nailed a 23-foot 3-pointer to push the lead to 73-68 with 3 minutes 38 seconds left. Duke never got closer than one point the rest of the game, making Hamilton seem like a prophet after having predicted that the Huskies could win it all before the tournament started.
"I think we can accomplish it as long as we come together, stay together and play as a team," Hamilton said. "Every guy on this team wants to get to the Final Four. But we don't just want to get there. We want to win the national championship."
They did, and they did it in style. There was a wild celebration after the victory as Khalid El-Amin mugged for the cameras and then slammed the ball down so hard that it landed in the third row of press seats about 20 feet off the court. Hamilton and El-Amin stood back to back with their arms folded while photographers clicked away. The savvy and faithful UConn fans, flooded in sections 106, 108, 110 and 112, shouted to Hamilton, "One more year," He just smiled and lowered his head. There has been speculation that Hamilton, a junior, might leave for the National Basketball Association. That speculation will surely increase for Hamilton and perhaps El-Amin now that the Huskies have won the title.
As devastating as Hamilton was while scoring 16 in the second half, Moore was almost as devastating in the first half. The senior guard is known for defense, but he scored 13 of UConn's first 28 points. In fact, with about three minutes remaining in the first half, Moore glided around two Duke defenders and was fouled before he could even attempt a shot. The Blue Devils looked weary and worried as they had suddenly devised a way to stop Moore. How did Moore look? He just looked like this was his backyard.
That was how Moore sounded, too. After the foul, Moore swaggered toward half court at Tropicana Field, peered above the press table and pronounced, "They can't guard me. They can't guard me." It was quite boastful, but it was also quite true. Duke could not guard Moore in the first half and the Blue Devils could not guard Hamilton at all.
"We had Ricky Moore," said Kevin Freeman. "No one could stop him."
Ditto for Hamilton. Moore's 13 and Hamilton's 11 in the first half were important because they helped the Huskies stay close with the Blue Devils and informed them that this game would be a game, not a mismatch. Moore's scoring was just an appetizer for the Connecticut fans, who got the main course in the second half from Hamilton.
Still, it was Moore's defense that helped the Huskies shock Duke in the end. With the Blue Devils trailing, 75-74, Trajan Langdon tried to spin past Moore and barrel to the hoop for the go ahead points, but, perhaps because he was pestered by Moore, he took an extra step and traveled with 5.4 seconds left. UConn took control, El-Amin made two free throws and Langdon fumbled away the chance to get off a late three-pointer.
"You know, we've waited on this all season long," said Moore. "We just want to have the chance at playing them. I know they feel the same way. It's going to be exciting. Everybody is going to enjoy it."
"We wanted to prove we are the best team in the country," said Freeman, "and we did."