Rogers keeping it all in context
PHOENIX -- You know you’ve hit the big time when you have to ask your parents’ permission to go over the 1,500 text messages your calling plan allows . . . just so you can respond to well-wishers.
So it has gone for Western Kentucky guard Ty Rogers since his overtime buzzer-beating three-pointer sank Drake in the first round and extended the Hilltoppers’ season.
Rogers, a senior who averages 6.5 points a game, told reporters this week that he had 172 text messages waiting for him when he took his first post-heroics look at his phone.
Reaction to his shot has come from all corners, and also from very close to home.
Rogers said Wednesday that he had heard from his former Lyon County (Ky.) High principal, who told him everyone at his old school had seen his now-famous shot.
“They had TVs on in each of the classes,” Rogers said. “They said when the shot went down my old high school pretty much erupted.”
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You might not think of Western Kentucky when you think of Kentucky basketball . . . but maybe you should.
The Hilltoppers have a .729 winning percentage the past seven seasons, which is better than Louisville (.719) and nearly equal to Kentucky (.731).
Western Kentucky also is no stranger to the NCAA tournament, having made 20 appearances. And this is the second regional semifinal for Coach Darrin Horn, who was a sophomore guard for the Hilltoppers when they made it this far in 1993.
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UCLA is a 12 1/2 -point favorite tonight, even though only one of Western Kentucky’s losses -- by 10 points against Southern Illinois in November -- was by more than six points.
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The Hilltoppers start three guards and two 6-foot-9 forwards and Horn was asked what his plan was to deal with Bruins center Kevin Love and whether his team had faced a player of his caliber.
“We’re hoping he gets sick, that’s the main thing we’re looking for,” Horn quipped before adding in a more serious tone, “We have not seen a guy like him this year individually that is capable of putting up those kind of numbers” -- Love averages 17.3 points and 10.6 rebounds -- “and being that kind of threat.”
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Boris Siakam, a 6-7, 225-pound senior forward for Western Kentucky, is looking forward to introducing himself to UCLA’s Luc Richard Mbah a Moute and Alfred Aboya.
Like the two Bruins, Siakam is from Cameroon. He came to the United States five years ago to pursue basketball, first at Caverna (Ky.) High and then for Western Kentucky.
Like Mbah a Moute and Aboya, Siakam played soccer first before his height drew him to basketball. “We will all have the chance to meet on court during the warmup,” Siakam said. “It will feel good to see those guys from my country. They’re great players and I hear they’re great guys.”
Mbah a Moute and Aboya are from the capital city of Yaounde. Siakam is from Douala, the largest city in Cameroon. “That’s why I don’t know him,” Mbah a Moute said. “I only know the Yaounde guys.”
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Michael Roll sat in the laugh-filled UCLA locker room with his eyes closed and his earphones blocking out the buzz. Roll’s UCLA season was ended Dec. 31 when he ruptured a tendon in his left foot.
Though Bruins Coach Ben Howland hasn’t called an official end to Roll’s season, the junior swingman said his foot still aches and that he is going to see his doctor next week.
Surgery is a possibility. “It depends what the doctor thinks,” Roll said. “It’s still pretty much sore. We’ve got to figure this out.”
Roll played in 11 NCAA tournament games during his freshman and sophomore seasons and has found wearing suits and fetching loose balls during pregame warmups isn’t satisfying.
“It’s real tough,” Roll said. “I know what the excitement is like to get this far in the tournament. I got chills walking into the Honda Center last week with the crowd roaring from the start. Then I don’t get to warm up or do anything. I’m so excited for the rest of the guys, and I look forward to the show they keep putting on. But I miss being out there.”
Bruins junior Josh Shipp went through the same thing two years ago. As UCLA made it to the national championship game, Shipp, who was recovering from hip surgery, was forced to sit and watch.
“The only good thing about it,” Shipp said, “is when you come back the next year it’s even better.”
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Four of Xavier’s top six players shoot 83% from the free-throw line or better. So who is best on the team?
Well, that would probably be Coach Sean Miller, a 90% shooter when he played at Pittsburgh.
“Is anybody a better free-throw shooter than me?” Miller said Wednesday, repeating a reporter’s question. “No. I don’t think that’s close. If I can do one thing in life, I can shoot free throws.”
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diane.pucin@latimes.com
