John Brady's LSU Tigers had just beaten Texas 72-67 in the second round of the NCAA West Subregional for their 28th win of the season, and the head coach was in a storytelling mood.
"Like I said earlier, there's not a better story in college basketball than the one that's taking place in Baton Rouge right now," Brady told a small collection of media assembled around a table in the bowels of the Huntsman Center."For nine scholarship players to play as well collectively as they've played this season . . . the magnitude of today's win. Our players have showed tremendous resiliency and camaraderie. No other program has faced what we've faced."
What LSU faced was three years of NCAA probation, brought on by a booster's monetary payment to then-freshman Lester Earl and improper help to Earl's family by the basketball staff under LSU coach Dale Brown between 1993 and 1996.
Brady was brought to the bayou from Samford (Birmingham, Ala.) in March 1997 to clean up the mess. Currently in Year 2 of the NCAA sanctions, he's had to make due with only nine scholarships this season and next.
So Brady has taken it upon himself to spread the word.
Up until now, he's had no complaint with the lack of attention his team has received nationally, but now that the Tigers have two tournament victories under their belt, he thinks it's time for the recognition to come.
"These players chose to come to LSU at a difficult time and should be rewarded for their efforts," Brady said.
Those players include sophomore 6-foot-8 forward Stromile Swift, an All-Everything All-American (McDonald's, Parade Magazine, USA Today), who strapped the Tigers on his slender shoulders on Saturday.
Swift, who struggled through a subpar 13-point effort against SE Missouri in Thursday's opening round, bounced back with a signature game against the Longhorns -- 23 points and 10 rebounds. But the key stat in Swift's line were his two blocks -- the second an "in your face" variety against tall Texan Chris Mihm with 1:56 remaining and LSU clinging to a tenuous 62-60 lead.
The 7-foot-1 Mihm went up strong for a dunk, which would have tied the game and shifted momentum, when Swift put on his Superman cape. He blocked Mihm's shot and then raced to the other end of the court, where he scored on a jumper. Mihm seemed befuddled, as did his teammates, and the Tigers went on to stretch the mini-run to five points. Texas never recovered.
"With the game on the line, big players make big plays. That was a big play on the blocked shot," Brady said.
In the media session after the game, having had a few minutes to regain control of his emotions, Swift's version of his heroics was downright tepid: "I don't know if it was the turning point. It just so happened I got the big block and it motivated our team."
But his actions after the final buzzer suggested differently. Swift was seen spiking the ball so hard into the hardwood that it bounced up near the suspended Huntsman Center scoreboard. And in the tunnel leading to the LSU locker room, he bellowed to an LSU fan, "You kidding me!"
Except nobody's kidding you, Stro. You've suddenly been cast as the lead in a compelling script.
Meanwhile, Brady is acting like he's seen the ending and liked it.
"We played extremely hard, played extremely well down the stretch to win today," Brady said. "The win today takes on greater magnitude because it allowed us to advance to the Sweet 16.
"We'll take on all comers right now. Not to sound brash, but we're glad to be here," Brady said. "This team has never over-celebrated its victories. It has an ability to come back to earth and prepare for the task at hand."
Consider your story told, coach.