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'Enjoy today'
Everyone's trying to win at the Final Four. But that doesn't mean players and coaches aren't savoring the moment. Plus, Dan Hurley on UConn's travel to Phoenix, USC makes a coaching move, latest on the transfer portal and Seton Hall's historic win.
Mike Miller
April 05, 2024
After losing in the NIT final, one of the longest rumored coaching moves finally became official: Josh Schertz to Saint Louis.
It wasn’t Thursday’s only notable move, though. Let’s dive in.
1. That Final Four feeling
Maybe the Final Four feels familiar for UConn. The Huskies are playing in the final weekend for second consecutive season, and the seventh time since 1999.
Everyone else? This is a new sensation.
“I couldn’t even imagine,” Alabama’s Latrell Whitesell said. “I couldn’t even put into words what I had envisioned. I’m just blessed to be here. You see this smile on my face? I can’t get enough of it.”
That’s going around. The Final Four is a larger-than-life experience because of the overwhelming media attention and playing on neutral court venue — a football stadium, thankfully, is rare for most players — but mostly, it serves as the culmination of the season, and sometimes of a career.
The teams and players shuffled from practice, to multiple interviews and to photo requirements. And amid all that, most just try to soak everything in. Because there’s no guarantee it’s a repeatable event.
“Right now, it’s making the most of these memories, having a good time with the guys, having a good time with the guys and looking forward to getting two wins,” Purdue’s Fletcher Loyer said.
For the coaches, some have been this far an as assistant. NC State coach Kevin Keatts was on Rick Pitino’s staff when Louisville won it all in 2013. He knows the experience can fly by and doesn’t want his players to miss anything.
“I was here 11 years ago as an assistant coach, not here, but in the Final Four. … Just to see us get off the plane, the look in their eyes, walking into the locker room, having a chance to go out to the floor. That meant everything to me because that showed me how much hard work we put in to get here.
“The other message was, ‘Enjoy today.’ This was the first time we’ve ever went to a practice. I said ‘When you walk out on the floor, bring your cell phone with you.’ They brought their cell phones. I wanted to make sure they got pictures and memories. It won’t happen again. I just wanted them to enjoy that moment.”
The Final Four is not only a significant milestone for Alabama’s program (it’s the first in school history), but also for coach Nate Oats. Eleven years ago, he was coaching high school basketball.
Now? He’s got the Tide going against the coach who brought him into the college game, Dan Hurley.
No matter who you are — even UConn relishes these moments — the next few days are an opportunity to enjoy something most players and teams never get to experience. Playing for a national title.
For the next few days, it’s all about enjoying the ride. Then it’ll be time to get serious.
“It’s awesome,” NC State’s Ben Middlebrooks said. “Now that we’re here, I’m hyped up and ready to go.”
2. Dan Hurley, quote machine
Once UConn’s trip to Phoenix was delayed, it was clear coach Dan Hurley would be in a mood. Hey, no sleep, stuck on a plane? We’d all be annoyed.
But credit to Hurley. He put on a good face and delivered some nice soundbites.