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| Wisconsin's Josh Gasser runs to the court before the NCAA Final Four college basketball tournament championship game against Duke Monday, April 6, 2015, in Indianapolis. |
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- 9:25 P.M.
The
sexy matchup of the night is Frank Kaminsky, the Badgers' AP player of
the year, against Jahlil Okafor, who many think will be the No. 1 pick
in June's NBA draft.
As expected, the two centers dueled each other early on.
Kaminsky
struck first when he popped to the top of the key to hit a 3-pointer,
then drew a charge on Okafor at the other end. The Blue Devils' freshman
star answered a minute later with an easy basket in the paint, his
first of the night.
Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan
had to go to his bench first when senior guard Josh Gasser appeared to
lose a contact lens in the opening minutes. Traevon Jackson took his
place.
Duke led 6-5 at the first media
timeout. The stoppage came after a ball was tipped out of bounds, not
far from where former news anchor Tom Brokaw was sitting.
---
9:10 P.M.
Wisconsin
was introduced first as the fourth of the No. 1 seeds, running to the
floor through a wall of smoke amid rockets and fireworks. The Badgers
are in their road red uniforms for Monday night's game.
Duke
followed in its home white uniforms, and coach Mike Krzyzewski earned a
roar from the Blue Devils fans when he strode to the floor moments
later.
Badgers fans outnumber Duke fans by about 4 to 1.
The
national anthem was performed by a military band while a 25-year-old
bald eagle - named Challenger after the space shuttle crew killed in the
1986 explosion - soared over the length of the floor. The eagle was
blown from a nest and raised by the American Eagle Foundation.
Next up: Introductions, then the final tipoff of the season.
---
8:40 P.M.
Both teams are sticking with their Final Four starting lineups.
That
means the Badgers will send out seniors Frank Kaminsky and Josh Gasser
along with junior guard Sam Dekker and sophomores Nigel Hayes and
Bronson Koenig.
The Blue Devils will counter
with their trio of heralded freshman - Jahlil Okafor, Tyus Jones and
Justise Winslow - along with sophomore guard Matt Jones and senior guard
Quinn Cook.
The starting lineups are one
thing, but this game could come down to bench play. The Badgers have a
bit more depth than the Blue Devils with Traevon Jackson and Duje Dukan
capable of providing a big lift.
Amile Jefferson and Grayson Allen are among the key reserves for Duke.
---
8:25 P.M.
Hundreds of teams. Thousands of games. It all comes down to this.
No.
1 seeds Duke and Wisconsin are meeting at packed Lucas Oil Stadium in
Indianapolis to determine this year's national champion. Tip-off is less
than an hour away. And in about 3 hours, one of those teams will be
cutting down the nets to the tune of "One Shining Moment."
Both
teams have already been out on the court to get some shots up. The
Badgers were the first to retreat to their locker room, while the Blue
Devils spent a few extra minutes on the raised floor of the indoor
football stadium.
Jahlil Okafor, the Blue
Devils' star freshman, put up a bunch of extra free throws. Good idea,
because a game between such evenly matched teams could come down to the
foul line.
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski is
trying for his fifth national championship, and his third in
Indianapolis. Wisconsin counterpart Bo Ryan is also trying for his fifth
title, though the first four came while coaching in the Division III
ranks at Wisconsin-Platteville.
Judging by the
crowd already in the arena, most of Madison made its way to the game.
There are plenty of blue-clad Blue Devils fans, too.
The
students are close to the floor, but not necessarily in great seats.
The court is raised up enough that those standing toward the back of the
student section have to spend much of the game staring up at the video
board to see the game. Especially, if the action is at the other end of
the floor.
The Badgers' section is located
around the CBS set with Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Clark Kellogg. A
few fans were trying to get Barkley's attention, and the analysts were
giving their phones a check before going on the air.
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