The Phanatic Magazine: The Game of the Season

Friday, January 19, 2007

The Game of the Season

By Jared Trexler

Mario Boggan isn't a particularly good three-point shooter. Making just 5-of-33 coming into the never-ending game, statistics didn't support a double-clutched heave from the left wing finding the bottom of the net.

But you see. That's just part of the never-ending story.

Inside Gallagher-Iba Arena, winning coaches almost faint because of overwhelming intensity. Losing coaches smile at the game, not the outcome. Students don't lose their voices, don't study for their tests. They sleep in tents to prepare for the atmosphere.

And players just don't miss.

That's what happens when magic hits sports. It happens just once or twice a year, moments ingrained in America's collective culture.

Outside Gallagher-Iba Arena, the magic seems to spread like wildfire with every overtime. The next morning, tired eyes drudge to the water cooler throughout corporate America with no thoughts of stocks, bonds or board meetings.

"Did you see THE game last night?"

You better have.

It was one of THOSE. And it began so innocently, a conference contest between two Top 25 teams headed for an extra session tied at 73.

Let's flash back...

D.J. Augustin converts a reverse layup with 13 ticks left in the first overtime, and when David Monds' shotput attempt from the right baseline doesn't draw iron at the horn, play continues.

At about this time, Andre Agassi has been waiting 10 minutes for his LIVE Australian Open interview on ESPN2. It will come, we are reminded, when the game in Stillwater concludes.

Oklahoma State has a 91-88 lead after Boggan's mid-range jumper, before Kevin Durant -- the ungodly talented freshman who scores 37 points on the contest-- buries a three-pointer to tie the game.

Durant not only doesn't cower in the face of pressure. He doesn't blink. Players are groomed differently in Suitland, Maryland.

At this juncture of the contest, all hell breaks loose. Mind-blogging, edge-of-your-seat bedlam (with all due respect to the OK St-Oklahoma series).

Tyler Hatch, a walk-on surrounded on the floor by Parade All-Americans, converts a layup with 43 seconds remaining to push the Cowboys in front, 93-91. Hatch is only in the game because two other players fouled out, and possibly because head coach Sean Sutton is still suffering lingering effects from nearly collapsing at the end of regulation.

There is no way Hatch expected to play in this game, rather anticipating a courtside seat that could have sold on Ebay for $300. He could have picked up three kegs with that money, possibly a Valentines Day present for his girlfriend.

He could have got a haircut. The guy needed a haircut.

Yet, the Hatch story isn't the end. Of course not. Games that end with Tyler Hatch stories are cute and all, but they aren't Jessica Biel in a hot tub sexy.

Durant ends up flying through the air for an emphatic slam, forcing a third overtime and ruining Agricultural Economics department head Joe Schatzer's pop quiz.

At this time, Andre Agassi is cursing under his breath. He wants to get back to Steffi, his kid, RETIREMENT. Chris Fowler is doing his hair. Rick Majerus, the color man that evening, is missing his 11 p.m. hoagie run -- with double mayo.
In Philadelphia, hockey fans are tuning in. Yes, fans of the frozen ice and 20 guys named Claude flip on the Deuce to watch players they don't know make incredible play after incredible play.

Due west in Stillwater, the third overtime begins. We can only hope it doesn't end with a winner. Who doesn't want to play all night?

Oklahoma State opens a 98-93 lead in the third overtime, and the Associated Press begins typing its lead.

It should know better.

Kevin Durant corrals an A.J. Abrams air ball and scores off the window while being fouled with 10.5 seconds left. His following free throw gives Texas a 103-102 lead.

Back in Australia, Chris Fowler is talking to Lee Corso on AIM. Andre Agassi is transcribing a hate letter to three people -- ESPN's programming guru Mark Shapiro, Durant and America's new tennis hope Andy Roddick. Dude, you are struggling with a nobody. Get your head out of you A%#.

Back in Stillwater, there in a timeout. A crunching sound picked up on microphone is Majerus stuffing his face with Fritos. Dave O'Brien sounds out of breath when play gets set to resume.

Word has it there was a long line at the men's room.

Back in the Land Down Under, Fowler enters a chat room with Corso and Kirk Herbstreit. Fowler tells Herby that Agassi has been waiting an hour because a regular season college hoops game won't end. Kirk's response: LOL.

The ball is in the hands of Boggan, but Texas head coach Rick Barnes expects this and puts two defenders on the forward. They refuse to let him penetrate the lane, as Boggan shakes the first defender and squares his shoulder to the hoop.

The shot doesn't look pretty. But it goes in.

In Aussie Land, Fowler types feverishly to Corso. "FWIW, the game is over. LOL. :) Finally I can talk to Andre. He seems pissed ;). Lata."

Fans storm the court.

The never-ending story finally ends.

You can talk on AIM to Jared Trexler at trrrexler, make a late WAWA run with he and Rick Majerus at the corner of DeKalb and Gulph Road, or reach him at jtt128@comcast.net.