Don't watch the replay. Don't read the papers. Want to know what really happened in Thursday's most wonderful, preposterous, hair-pulling finish? Read on.

:06 Seconds Left

Nate Burton, who to this point has shot 2-for-7, is holding the ball at the left top of the three-point line with the score tied at 61. His job is to wait for fellow Georgetown teammate Kevin Braswell, who's been G-town's star so far, to circle through some screens.

:05

Braswell circles, is open, and looks for the ball. Burton, still crouched over, refuses to dish the rock. He waves Braswell off. He wants to go one-on-one. Somewhere, ESPN The Magazine winter league hoops star Chris Palmer smiles.

:04

Braswell continues his circle and whispers something under his breath. This play was designed for him. He's supposed to get the ball. When pressed for details, Braswell won't spill what he mumbled, but when asked if it rhymes with masspole, he doesn't argue.

:03

G-town coach Craig Esherick is now mumbling something himself. There are three seconds left in the biggest game of the season, and not only has his star player not gotten the ball, the one who does have it hasn't moved yet. "We wanted ball movement," he said later. "There was none."

:02

Burton decides to put the ball on the floor. He moves to his left, which anyone who follows G-town knows is something like Luke Skywalker opting for the blaster. It's not the weapon you want. Esherick is beside himself.

:01

Burton reaches the foul line. Most of the 11,085 in attendance are searching for one of two things: 1) Unchewed fingernails or 2) Unused four-letter adjectives to holler at players who are loyally follow the Kobe Bryant Guide to Ball Distribution.

:00.5

Burton takes a leap, shakes off Arkansas guard Brandon Dean, who's draped on him like a robe, brings the ball up to his shoulder, throws a shot up in that herky-jerky, Magic Johnson push style. The ball is not happy -- it turns around the rim, and then, as if Adam Sandler told it, "Go home!", harmlessly drops.

:00

Burton is swallowed by teammates. Esherick can't believe it. Razorbacks coach Nolan Richardson looks like someone picked his pocket. The refs huddle. The P.A. announcer sitting at the scoretable, who is also more or less shaped like the scoretable, asks for silence from the crowd. Did Burton beat the shot clock, which was .08 seconds ahead of the game clock?

Pause.

Shot good. Game over.

The Hoyas bolt the court. The 'Backs collapse. When asked if he ever thought of passing the ball, Burton says no. In the locker room, players are both in elated and in awe. Jokes one player, "Some days, God finds a place for selfish people."