2005 NIT Final: An Instant Classic
by Ray Floriani
NEW YORK – For the record, there is listed a champion and runner-up. In one respect it doesn’t do justice. The finals of the 68th NIT saw South Carolina and St. Joe’s battle it out the full forty minutes. Players expended every ounce of physical and emotional energy. The same could be said for the respective coaches and fans of both teams. The record will show South Carolina emerged a 60-57 champion and takes the NIT trophy back to Columbia. For St. Joe’s, it’s the culmination of a great run, the end of another magical year on Hawk Hill.
The final seconds alone brought a roller coaster of emotions. St. Joe’s Pat Carroll struggled from the perimeter all night but buried a trey from the left side to tie the game with just under ten seconds to play. Tarence Kinsey took the ensuing inbounds pass and pushed the ball up the floor. He stopped from the right of the arc and launched a jumper that found nothing but net. There were nine-tenths of a second left and St. Joe’s could only inbound and not get a good shot off.
The final South Carolina possession was laced in irony. From the four-minute mark on, coach Dave Odom had been substituting Kinsey for defensive purposes with Josh Gonner for offense. Kinsey was on the floor when Carroll hit his game-tying three. Odom contemplated calling time out as South Carolina pushed the ball up court. “I had thoughts,” he said, “but felt St. Joe’s was playing such great defense I didn’t want to give them a chance to set up defensively (following a time out).” Odom went with his gut reaction then added, “it was probably the best move I didn’t make.”
Two big keys in the game were rebounding and post defense. “We didn’t rebound the defensive board as well as we should,” St. Joe’s coach Phil Martelli said. “If we did we would be the champions.”
Post defense was something Odom stressed to his club. “We played (Pat) Carroll straight up (with Kinsey drawing the assignment) didn’t want a post defender to leave his man and try to double him,” Odom said. “Memphis did that and gave up a few easy dunks. Tonight it happened to us once.”
Carroll led St. Joe’s with 15 points but struggled with an icy 2-of-13 mark from beyond the arc. “Pat does not get frustrated’ Martelli said of his senior swingman who played so well all year. “The only shot that is important when you are shooting is the next shot. It is of utmost importance because you have to take that next shot thinking that it’s going to go in.”
Carroll had good looks and didn’t force the issue. Besides, St. Joe’s is far from a one-man club as Dwayne Jones (10 points), Dwayne Lee (13 points) and Chet Stachitas (11 points) contributed offensively.
In normal ‘coach speak’ a game like this will have a coach saying it was unfortunate someone had to lose. Interestingly enough, both Dave Odom and Phil Martelli elaborated on that theme.
Phil Martelli and Dave Odom rang the bell to open the New York Stock Exchange on the morning of the finals. In post-game interviews, Martelli noted the head of the stock exchange must be a financial genius. “He probably doesn’t know a lot about basketball,” Martelli said, “but he told us this game will end in a tie. To be that accurate, he must be a financial genius when he talks about finances which he knows a great deal about.”
In a strange twist of irony, the Garden scoreboard did not list yet South Carolina points until about ten seconds after the final buzzer. Almost as if the basketball gods decreed this one should end knotted up.
Carlos Powell, the South Carolina senior forward who led all scorers with 16 points and was tough in the paint, was the tournament MVP. He spoke on the court amidst the post game celebration. “This is my first championship since little league,” the Gamecocks senior forward said, beaming a wide smile. On that final possession Powell said, “I was right here (about 10 feet from the Gamecock bench). I saw him (Kinsey) come up and release the shot. I thought it looked good and as it got closer I said oh man that’s got to go down.” It did and sent off a raucous celebration by Gamecock rooters who were drowned out by St. Joe’s fans a good part of the night.
Brandon Wallace of South Carolina also played a key role in the victory. The sophomore forward scored eight points but had 9 rebounds, five on the offensive end. He was named to the All-Tournament team and deservedly so.
Notes
- Pat Carroll is a competitor who wants to win as much as anyone on that floor. Despite a disappointing shooting performance and a heartbreaking loss, Carroll fielded every question in the St. Joe’s locker room. Carroll was cooperative, insightful and an engaging interview. Again, this after a tough loss in the finals. Shows you the class person he is and the type kids Martelli has in his outstanding program.
Carroll noted that, “It was a great run. You hope to get in the NCAAs but the NIT gives you an opportunity. It kept our season going and to go this far and finish your career at Madison Square Garden is very special.” As much as the loss hurt Carroll felt the end of his career in a Hawk uniform was the, “Tough to swallow. To realize it’s over.” - Dwayne Lee, who did a nice job running the club, felt seniors John Bryant and (Pat) Carroll were instrumental in providing sound leadership as the team grew. The NIT run was memorable to Lee. “Last year we made the Elite Eight and lost Jameer (Nelson), Delonte (West) and Tyrone (Barley),” he said. “People thought we might not be very good this year. Everyone on the team believed and this was a great experience that can only help this program.”
- Mike Rice just finished up his first year as a member of Phil Martelli’s coaching staff. Before the game we talked about how a few years ago he officiated a few games with yours truly at the Eastern Camp at the College of New Jersey. They were short of officials so Rice grabbed a whistle and being a former player, did a great job. “Experiences at Eastern helped me get this job,” Rice said. “I was one of the directors but coach Martelli saw I would referee, get water, set up chairs, anything. He said that is the type person you have to be at St. Joe’s, be willing to do extra.” Rice is extremely happy for the opportunity of joining the Hawk staff. “It’s been wonderful, “he said, “Coach Martelli is a great person and a great coach.”
- Odom praised St. Joe’s and Martelli for their competitiveness and class. “After they received the runner up awards they stayed on the floor at their bench until we receive ours,” Odom said. “Many times teams get their awards and leave. To stay out there just speaks volumes for Phil Martelli, his program, the university and their fans. It was an honor to compete against them tonight.”
- Martelli summed up the game and effort best by saying, “I just told my team that it was an honor to coach them because every single guy emptied their tank physically, emotionally and mentally. If I coach forever I don’t think I’ll see another 45 or 30 seconds like I just saw. That was them… That was an honor to be part of and an honor to coach that group of guys.’
- Best shirt(s) of the night: Worn by St.Joe’s fans saying, “friends don’t let friends go to Villanova”.
- Two hours before game time St. Joe’s cheerleading coach Renee Poupard had her squad on the Garden floor practicing their routines in sweats. On Hawk Hill, commitment and hard work is infectious.
- Attendance was 11,555, with more than a fair amount making the trip from Philadelphia.
