‘Big Baby’ guides LSU back to Final Four
Davis scores 26 as Tigers outlast No. 2 Texas, end 20-year drought
 Streeter Lecka / Getty Images LSU's Glen Davis gets ready to cut down a piece of the net. Davis scored 26 points as the Tigers beat Texas in the Atlanta Regional final on Saturday. |
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ATLANTA - With a trip to the Final Four at stake, LSU’s baby Tigers turned to the biggest Baby of all.
Glen Davis found a clearing at the top of the arc, lifted his hefty body off the court and softly spun the ball toward the hoop.
His only 3-pointer of the NCAA tournament hit nothing but net.
The portly but nimble player known as “Big Baby” scored 26 points, including the decisive shot in overtime, to lead LSU to its first Final Four since 1986 with a 70-60 victory over Texas in the Atlanta Regional final Saturday.
“It’s called thinking without thinking,” he said. “The opportunity was there to make the shot. Most of the time when I’m shooting 3s, I’m thinking about it too much. I was just in rhythm, I felt it was a great shot and I made it.”
Freshman Tyrus Thomas added 21 points and 13 rebounds. Like Davis, he’s a homegrown Tiger, raised practically in the shadow of the LSU campus.
When the horn sounded, Davis marched to the front of the press table, faced the gold-and-purple-clad contingent and saluted. Then he let out a huge scream, pounded his massive chest and was mobbed by Thomas, who was named the region’s most outstanding player.
The final margin wasn’t indicative of a game that was close all the way. The lead changed hands 11 times, and there were seven ties. No one had a double-digit lead until the end.
But No. 2 seed Texas (30-7), which was trying to become the first Division I school to win national titles in football and men’s basketball in the same academic year, fell apart in OT. The Longhorns were down seven by the time they got off their first shot of the extra period.
Fourth-seeded LSU (27-8) turned to Davis — the Southeastern Conference player of the year — to finish off Texas. The 6-foot-9, 300-plus-pound sophomore does most of his work bangin’ on the inside, but he stepped outside to make just his sixth 3-pointer of the season.
“He’s got such a feathery touch,” Texas coach Rick Barnes said. “He’s physical, but it’s his skill that really impresses you.”
The Tigers led 59-52, and Texas never got closer than five the rest of the way.
“When Glen hit the 3, that was the turning point,” said Darrel Mitchell, the only senior in the youthful LSU lineup.
Indeed, Davis’ nickname is most appropriate for this group, which includes three freshmen starters. Most of them have known each other since they were kids. They grew up together, went off to school together and now they’re heading to the Final Four together.
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“We’re like brothers,” Mitchell said. “Brotherhood and togetherness.”
LSU, which has never won a national title, will face UCLA next Saturday in the national semifinals.
In regulation, Davis hit a soft, turnaround jumper in the lane just before the shot clock expired to give the Tigers a 52-49 lead with 1:04 remaining.
“Big Baby, he’s just a load down there,” said Texas forward Brad Buckman, who spent part of the game guarding Davis. “Some of his moves are incredible.”
Texas tied it after a wild sequence that epitomized the frenetic pace of the game, which was sloppy at times but thrilling all the way.
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