Hoosiers cut down the net

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- IU coach Mike Davis knew what he wanted to do with the ball as soon as he got it from sophomore Jared Jeffries at the close of the Hoosiers' 81-69 win against Kent State Saturday night at Rupp Arena.\nDavis jumped through two rows of media and headed for the one man he seems to be unable to thank enough for having given him his first shot as a head coach -- IU president Myles Brand. \nBoth Brand and his wife, Peg, were in attendance for both of the Hoosiers' wins in Lexington and they helped kick off the celebration Saturday night after IU won the South Regional.\n"He said, 'I appreciate all that you've done, thank you and here's the game ball,'" Brand said. "Coach Davis did a tremendous job. I'm proud of him; I'm proud of all the coaches and our student-athletes."\nDavis said he had the plan set before the game.\n"It took great courage for him to name me interim coach at Indiana. This is a big-time program," Davis said. "I thought about it last night. If we won, I would give him the game ball for something to always remember the coach that he trusted with the program (that) came through for him."\nAfter Davis had disposed of the game ball and had picked up his youngest son, Antoine, he was joined by his wife, Tamilya and his oldest son, Mike Jr.\nMeanwhile, Jeffries was escorting junior Tom Coverdale around the floor in his wheelchair. Despite having ice taped around his sprained left ankle, Coverdale was helped up a ladder and was the first IU player to cut himself a piece of the net.\nAs he did, Coverdale was named the Most Outstanding Player of the South Region. After Coverdale, all of the Hoosiers had their chance to get their pieces of both nets before they were cut down altogether.\n"This is something I've wanted to do for a long, long time," junior Kyle Hornsby said. "For me, it was a dream. I'm living a dream and hopefully, there's more of the dream left."\nSophomore A.J. Moye received the loudest ovation from the IU fans who stuck around for the post-game celebration. Throughout the game, Moye was cheered every time he jumped off the bench. \nAfter the game, the chants of "A.J. Moye" stirred up again.\n"The reason that I enjoy playing at Indiana, I just don't see a following anywhere else that is as loyal as the Indiana faithful," Moye said with a piece of the net tied to the back of his hat. "When I cut that net down, that was for the (fans). I wish I could have thrown every piece of the net in the crowd."\nA jubilant IU locker room was filled with family members, Athletics Director Michael McNeely and black hats and white shirts proclaiming the Hoosiers' trip to Atlanta and the Final Four for the first time since IU went to the Final Four in Minnesota in 1992.\nBrand stuck around as the celebration wound down, listening to Davis address the national media. Davis reiterated his appreciation to the man who gave him his job.\n"I thank President Brand. You may be tired of me thanking him, but I appreciate the opportunity the administration has given me and this basketball team," Davis said. "To be here where we we're at is truly a blessing."\nBrand said the appreciation is mutual.\n"This is great for the program. The future is ahead of us," Brand said. "They played hard, they played with heart, they rose to the occasion, they played tough, they stayed together as a family. I'm just very pleased."\nLiking what he saw this past weekend, Brand left no doubt as to whether he will be in Atlanta Saturday night.\n"Of course," he said.\nSaturday seemed a long ways away in September of 2000 when Brand was hung in effigy by IU students after Bob Knight was dismissed and Brand hadn't named his replacement yet. Now Brand likes what his student-athletes are doing, and the past seems to be, well, the past.\n"I saw President Brand during the celebration," Hornsby said. "I can remember that we weren't that fond of him at the time (of Knight's firing). I shook his hand, even gave him a hug and told him 'We've come a long way."