NCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL FINAL : NOTES : Rose Lets Everyone Know Who’s the Boss

Michigan point guard Jalen Rose had BOSS tattooed on his chest recently.

The tattoo suits Rose because he runs the Wolverines on the court, averaging a team-high 17.9 points and 4.1 rebounds.

“ ‘Boss’ being tattooed on my chest was nothing more than being my own person,” Rose said. “When you’re the boss, you call your own shots.”

Was Rose’s mother, Jeanne, angry when he got the tattoo?

“What could I say?” she asked as she lowered her blouse to reveal a rose tattooed on her right shoulder. “Everybody I know has a tattoo now.”

Rose’s father, Jimmy Walker, is a former NBA star. However, Rose’s parents were never married, and Rose, who was raised by his mother, has no relationship with his father.

“I haven’t seen or heard from him in years,” Rose said. “I hear a lot of stories about how good he was and what kind of player he was in his time, but that’s about it.”

Rose’s mother said she named Jalen by combining the first names of his father (James) and her brother (Leonard).

This marks the seventh season in a row that Duke guard Bobby Hurley has played in a championship game.

Hurley played in four consecutive New Jersey state high school championship games, winning four titles in a row at St. Anthony’s High in Jersey City, and this is his third consecutive NCAA championship game.

“I don’t know what I would do if I wasn’t playing in that last game at the end of the season,” Hurley said. “That’s something I’ve always done, and I hope I can continue to do it.

“The biggest lesson I learned was in my first Final Four (when Nevada Las Vegas beat Duke by 30 points in the championship game). I’d had success for four years in high school, and I guess a part of me relaxed and just felt it was going to happen because it’s always happened. I didn’t put as much into it as I should have.”

Michigan forward Chris Webber is the only member of Michigan’s freshman class who was recruited by Duke.

“Coach K (Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski) is a very nice person, and I had a real good time when I visited,” Webber said. “I thought about going there seriously. But when I didn’t decide to go there, (Krzyzewski) wished me luck.”

Krzyzewski said he didn’t think he would sign Webber.

“I never thought we were in the lead to sign Webber,” Krzyzewski said. “Chris is an exceptional young man that you would want in your program. Chris has to be one of the 10 most talented college players.”

Michigan freshmen Rose, Webber, Jimmy King and Ray Jackson said they were disappointed when UNLV failed to defend its NCAA championship last season, losing to Duke in a semifinal game.

“When I was in high school I had a lot of faith in UNLV,” Rose said. “I felt I was a part of the team, and it hurt me when they lost almost as much as it hurt them.

“So I think (avenging UNLV’s loss to Duke) will be a factor (tonight).”

Said Duke center Christian Laettner: “That’s great. They’ll have to win for two people out there. Hopefully, they are very upset that we beat UNLV, and hopefully we can make them more upset this year.”

Michigan center Juwan Howard missed practice Sunday because he had stomach cramps and a fever, but he is expected to play tonight.

“You’d have to shoot Juwan with a gun to keep him from playing,” Michigan Coach Steve Fisher said.

Howard was sick Saturday, but played 33 minutes and had 12 points and eight rebounds in a 76-72 semifinal victory over Cincinnati.

“We’re hopeful that it’s a 24-hour bug,” Fisher said. “He’s back at the hotel in bed.”

Michigan reserves Rob Pelinka, Eric Riley and Michael Talley are also ill but are expected to play.

Michigan swingman James Voskuil was late for a news conference Sunday because he was attending church. “I think James is praying for us all,” Fisher said. . . . USC assistant Charlie Parker is being interviewed for head coaching positions at St. Louis and Cal State Fullerton.