Say what you will about West Virginia coach Bob Huggins--and many have--but the man delivered the greatest moment to me of the NCAA tourney this year.
Duke won. Again. Beating West Virginia on the way. That's 4 championships for Coach K & Co. from Cameron, and a pretty cool throwback moment for me, when I first started watching March Madness, and remember Christian Laettner's catch of the inbound pass, single dribble and turn-around jumper to win in 1992 against Kentucky in the regionals.
But the real memorable moment of the tourney came in the WV-Duke semifinal, with just over nine minutes left in the game. Da'sean Butler, WV's star player was trying to will his team back within striking distance of Duke with a great physical effort. Driving in on the basket, I watched a sight that is all too familiar for me - Da'sean's left knee buckled. While I've actually never seen it happen before, I know the experience all too well - I've torn my left ACL twice playing basketball. I could almost hear the sickening "POP" and feel the sudden loss of power and gut instinct that there was something seriously wrong with the knee. I even recall a moment of intense pain and me rolling around on the ground as Da'sean did. But with the clock stopped at 8:59 remaining, and any possible hope of a comeback dashed for the players and fans of West Virginia, Coach Huggins gave me an image I will never forget. He held Da'sean in his arms and consoled him, like a father would console his child.
I wouldn't press the resemblance too far, but in that moment, Bob Huggins was one of the greatest pictures of God I had ever seen. So many times I have been down in my life, and have caused more harm to myself and others through my own efforts to make things right. And just when all has gone wrong, God is there to comfort me, to assure me of his love for me in Jesus, to assuage my fears, to say to me "It's going to be alright. I love you."
