The Turtles vs. the Heir

This book was not for sale, unlike the stacks of Bob Knight autobiographies the former Indiana coach signed at a local bookstore as part of Final Four festivities.

This was the Hoosiers’ book on Oklahoma, penned by Coach Mike Davis, and it was as engrossing as Dane Fife’s defense on Hollis Price, as inspiring as hometown hero Jeff Newton’s play off the bench.

And it leads right into a sequel, a national championship game for Indiana, the team so many said didn’t belong here, the team that ignored the ambivalence of Knight-loving legions, the team that outmaneuvered Oklahoma, 73-64, Saturday in a semifinal before 53,378 at the Georgia Dome.

The book went like this: Work the ball inside against Oklahoma’s extended man-to-man defense and put Sooner big men in foul trouble. Then, when Oklahoma falls into a matchup zone, unleash a torrent of three-point baskets.

“Our game plan went exactly according to script,” Fife said.

Although Indiana (25-11) trailed by four at halftime, the Hoosiers forced Oklahoma (31-5) to abandon its man-to-man defense by penetrating into the key, making four layups, two dunks and three short jump shots.

Sooner center Jabahri Brown picked up three fouls in the first half and forward Aaron McGhee, who scored a game-high 22 points, picked up two quick fouls in the first two minutes of the second half and fouled out with 4:40 to play.

In the second half, Oklahoma went to a zone and the Hoosiers responded by making six of six three-point shots--all by different players--calling to mind the eight in a row they made at the beginning of their Elite Eight victory over Kent State.

“We loosened up and relaxed after a while, when we realized we could win this game,” forward Jared Jeffries said.

Oklahoma, in contrast, was as tightly wound as the tape on Tom Coverdale’s ankle. The Hoosier guard was questionable because of a severe sprain, but he played 29 minutes and made a three-point basket that gave Indiana its first second-half lead.

The Sooners shot only 36.4% and missed all but two of their 18 three-point shots. Nobody was colder than Price, the most valuable player of the West Regional and the Big 12 Conference tournament.

Fife, Indiana’s 6-foot-4 senior bulldog defender, made like a human Price tag, forcing the All-Big 12 guard to miss 10 of 11 shots and score only six points, matching his season low.

“Fife did a great job,” Price said. “He was so physical. I usually get around that, but I just didn’t overcome it.”

Others took Fife’s cue, especially Hoosier reserves, who combined for 41 points.

Newton, a 6-10 junior from Mays High in Atlanta, had a career-high 19 points, grabbed six rebounds and blocked four shots. Thirteen points came in the second half when he took advantage of the timidity of the foul-plagued Brown and McGhee.

The play of Newton and Leach (two blocked shots and a dunk off a pass from Coverdale in the first half) was especially important because Jeffries, Indiana’s best player, sat out the last 12 minutes of the first half after picking up his second foul.

Jeffries, who averages 15.4 points, scored only eight.

A.J. Moye, another reserve with Atlanta roots, made four of six shots for nine points before leaving because of a pulled hamstring with 8:20 to play.

And freshman reserve point guard Donald Perry scored 10 points, boldly driving through the Oklahoma defense for a layup that extended Indiana’s lead to 64-60 with two minutes left and coolly making five free throws in the last 1:04.

Perry was in the game only because Coverdale lost his temper after getting pulled to the floor and turning the ball over with three minutes to play and the score knotted, 60-60. Oklahoma had just scored seven points in a row, and when Coverdale verbally sparred with the officials and Sooner Daryan Selvy, Davis replaced him with Perry.

“It really wasn’t time for that, it was a time for calmness,” Davis said.

Newton scored, then Perry scored, then Newton made two free throws and the Hoosiers were on their way to their first final since 1987, their last national championship season.

And no one appeared calmer than Davis, a former Knight assistant who replaced the volatile Hoosier legend 18 months ago amid turmoil and questions of loyalty.

With about a minute to play, Fife noticed Davis on the bench with his head buried in his hands, and he said, “Coach, get your head up, man, we’re going to the national championship.”

Davis was counting his blessings, reflecting on the difficulties of replacing the enormously popular and controversial Knight, who now coaches Texas Tech when not signing his autobiography.

“I handled things poorly at the beginning because I took things personally,” Davis said. “And it’s not about me. It’s about Indiana, a great basketball program, and it’s bigger than anyone or anything.”

Now the Hoosiers can become the first fifth-seeded team to win a championship. This is his book, and there is still a chapter to be written.

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A Lot in Reserve

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