Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Kent Williams NCAA Tournament Journal
03/16/2002 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
CHICAGO, Ill. -
Friday, March 15
I sat in my room getting focused and visualizing the game. It took forever to get to the game because of traffic. When we took the floor to warm up before the game, I could feel the electricity in the building. Then the man came out. At first I didn't know what was going on when the crowd was both cheering and booing. Then I realized Coach Knight was walking out.
When the ball was jumped up, I was a little nervous, but it quickly went away. The game was like a dream. I got hit with a couple of cheap shots right away, but I stayed calm. As the game went on, I felt more confident. Even though I wasn't hitting real well, I felt relaxed. This was the game I've been waiting my whole life for, and I wasn't about to lose it.
When the horn went off, it hit me that we finally won. The game felt like it took forever. I was exhausted. We were all going nuts in the lockerroom.
Me, Rolan, JD and Coach went to the press conference. That's the most media I've ever seen in a press conference. It was pretty cool. We had a bunch of interviews in the lockerroom, which made it feel like we were a pro team. Then while I was doing a phone interview for a radio station, Coach Knight came up behind me and grabbed my arm. I didn't know who it was when I turned around, but once I saw it was Coach Knight, my eyes got wide open. I quickly dropped the phone. Knight told me I played a great game, and that he loves my style. He said I could play for him any day. That was the best compliment I've ever received coming from a man of that importance in basketball. I had just spoke and shook hands with a legend, and it took a while to calm back down. Then I realized I needed to finish the phone interview!
After the game, I ate dinner with my family. It was nice to celebrate with them. I finally got back to my room, and me and Carney talked about the game and watched SportsCenter.
I laid there thinking about the win. It was the game I played in my backyard my whole life, and that dream came true. Now I'm dreaming about the Sweet 16.
