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11pm. Saturday.
Now we know how Tennessee feels. On Thursday night, the Vols had the Boilers beat when they fouled Carsen Edwards with two seconds left. The game went into overtime and Purdue wound up in the elite eight.
It's an exact turnaround tonight. Purdue had the game won at the end of regulation, then Chad Hunter hit a miracle shot for Virginia to send the game into overtime. Officials are big in a game like this and they made two big calls early in the overtime to give the ball to Virginia.
Now we know how Tennessee feels. On Thursday night, the Vols had the Boilers beat when they fouled Carsen Edwards with two seconds left. The game went into overtime and Purdue wound up in the elite eight.
It's an exact turnaround tonight. Purdue had the game won at the end of regulation, then Chad Hunter hit a miracle shot for Virginia to send the game into overtime. Officials are big in a game like this and they made two big calls early in the overtime to give the ball to Virginia.
The game just ended in front of me here at the YUM! Center. Virginia 80, Purdue 75. It is very disappointing to watch Ty Jerome and Kyle Guy scale the stage that they have set up at center court. It could have been Purdue.
I'm thinking of my dad sitting in his living room watching this. I can't imagine his disappointment. In our lifetimes, there has not been a bigger Purdue fan. I really wanted Purdue to win and go to Minneapolis... for myself, Purdue nation... and my dad.
I was born down there, you know, in West Lafayette. Before the big Munster flood of 2009, there was a photo of my mom in a dress and red lipstick. She's sitting on a blanket outside Married Student Housing. She's holding a baby and she's smiling. I miss that moment. I miss that picture.
"Winners of the South Regional - the Virginian Cavaliers." The crowd of orange erupts.
Alexis keeps reminding me what we taught our oldest daughter, Jeanie, when she was two years old.
"Jeanie, what does coach Keady do?"
Jeanie would puff up her rosy little cheeks and huff and puff around the living room. She's 26 now. She probably wouldn't do that. But the memory's real and I suppose that's enough.
For many years, my dad held season tickets right behind the visitors bench in Mackey Arena. We could spit on Bobby Knight, which my brother Brian did once, attracting a number of black-jacketed security personnel.
Once, on the day that Purdue played Indiana, I threw my back out shoveling snow. I couldn't walk. I couldn't stand up. So my brother-in-law Mark and my brother carried me to the car and, when we got down to Lafayette, guided my arm down to the seats. I can't remember who won.
Right now, Virginia coach Tony Bennett is talking on the loudspeaker. A bunch of people in orange are jumping around. No one in black is. I share your disappointment. Maybe tomorrow we'll be able to appreciate an amazing season that Matt Painter and the Boilers gave us - especially the very special play of Carsen Edwards. He scored 42 points tonight, just as he did against Villanova. Once in a generation.
"And the most outstanding player of the South region - Carsen Edwards." Big deal. We lost. We're all driving up I-65 tonight or tomorrow with our tails between our legs. I share your disappointment. Let's talk about it on Monday. For now, I am signing off from the floor of YUM! Center in Louisville, Kentucky, as Virginia players take turn walking up a ladder to cut down the nets.
I'm thinking of my dad sitting in his living room watching this. I can't imagine his disappointment. In our lifetimes, there has not been a bigger Purdue fan. I really wanted Purdue to win and go to Minneapolis... for myself, Purdue nation... and my dad.
I was born down there, you know, in West Lafayette. Before the big Munster flood of 2009, there was a photo of my mom in a dress and red lipstick. She's sitting on a blanket outside Married Student Housing. She's holding a baby and she's smiling. I miss that moment. I miss that picture.
"Winners of the South Regional - the Virginian Cavaliers." The crowd of orange erupts.
Alexis keeps reminding me what we taught our oldest daughter, Jeanie, when she was two years old.
"Jeanie, what does coach Keady do?"
Jeanie would puff up her rosy little cheeks and huff and puff around the living room. She's 26 now. She probably wouldn't do that. But the memory's real and I suppose that's enough.
For many years, my dad held season tickets right behind the visitors bench in Mackey Arena. We could spit on Bobby Knight, which my brother Brian did once, attracting a number of black-jacketed security personnel.
Once, on the day that Purdue played Indiana, I threw my back out shoveling snow. I couldn't walk. I couldn't stand up. So my brother-in-law Mark and my brother carried me to the car and, when we got down to Lafayette, guided my arm down to the seats. I can't remember who won.
Right now, Virginia coach Tony Bennett is talking on the loudspeaker. A bunch of people in orange are jumping around. No one in black is. I share your disappointment. Maybe tomorrow we'll be able to appreciate an amazing season that Matt Painter and the Boilers gave us - especially the very special play of Carsen Edwards. He scored 42 points tonight, just as he did against Villanova. Once in a generation.
"And the most outstanding player of the South region - Carsen Edwards." Big deal. We lost. We're all driving up I-65 tonight or tomorrow with our tails between our legs. I share your disappointment. Let's talk about it on Monday. For now, I am signing off from the floor of YUM! Center in Louisville, Kentucky, as Virginia players take turn walking up a ladder to cut down the nets.
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