Over the years we’ve heard folks throw the word destiny around like it was a soda can in the middle of the street. However, on Saturday night we saw first hand what destiny looks and smells like. With 3.3 second left sensational freshman Jalen Suggs took the inbounds pass with all of the composure in the world, stepped over half court and launched a 3-pointer that banked in at the buzzer. Ball game! Zags 93-90 to advance to the national title game on Monday against Baylor!
Let’s back up 39 minutes and 56.7 seconds. They walked into the semifinal 30-0 and an undefeated team hasn’t advanced to the national title game since Larry Bird and Indiana State did it in 1979. Pressure!!
Then UCLA an 11 seed came in the door like some bonafide OG’s and played like they owned the gym and the ball. It was probably the best NCAA Tournament game I’ve seen since Villanova and Georgetown went at it in 1985 for all of the marbles. Nova shocked the world by shooting 90 percent from the field to barely get out of the joint alive with a national title. This game was that incredible.
The fact that UCLA went toe to toe with these dudes for 40 minutes was incredible!!! Yeah…I know that the Bruins have been ballin’ throughout the tournament but keep in mind they had to play in the freakin’ play-in to kick the tournament off. So they’ve been playing over their heads the entire tournament. At some point, you thought, the slipper’s got to come off and it never did. Well…not until ole boy hit the most amazing shot in the tournament thus far. It will be on March Madness highlights FOREVER!!
Gonzaga has been No.1 all season and UCLA knocked on the door like what!!? We don’t care that you’re the Boss of college hoops right now. Undefeated? So!! We’re sitting at the same table playa and you’ve got to earn this one.
Well playas…they earned it. As great of a game as UCLA played, it was destiny that Gonzaga advance and they did. No other way to describe what we all witnessed. The undefeated season on the line and No.1 seeded Baylor waiting in the shadows for Monday night’s title game. The game that EVERYBODY wanted to see when this thing started is now a reality.
The two best teams in America bumping heads at Lucas Oil Stadium after a buzzer beater sends the Zags gliding into the title game like a Spike Joint couldn’t have been scripted any better.
When destiny shows up ain’t nothing you can do about it. I can hear Destiny’s Child singing “No! No! No!” with all four members of the group. In my Terrell Owens voice, “Get Ya Popcorn Ready!” Stop me when I start lyin’!