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Holy Cross
Road to the Final Four.............................................................................................
In two words: Ralph Willard. The former assistant of Rick Pitino at Kentucky and head coach at Pittsburgh made it back to the NCAA Tournament by transforming the Crusaders into the Patriot League's undisputed best team in 2001. Holy Cross, celebrating the 100th anniversary of its basketball program, won the NCAA title in 1947 with Bob Cousy, and the NIT title with Tommy Heinsohn in 1954, when that was the nation's top tournament. But Holy Cross, a program that won just 33 games over the previous four seasons, won 22 games and the automatic bid by beating Navy in overtime. Staying healthy was the key to the season. Jared Curry and Ryan Serravalle each missed the bulk of last season, but were around all season to lead the Crusaders' surge to the regular season title (the 12-game turnaround is the biggest in school history). Kentucky ended the Crusaders' season in Round 1 of the NCAAs, but not before Holy Cross put a big scare into the No. 2-seeded Wildcats.Player to Watch Jared Curry is the heart and sole of the Crusaders. He's also a big body inside and leads by example. After a back injury kept him out of 16 games last season, Curry played in all but two games this season, averaging 8.4 points and 4.4 rebounds a game. He doesn't lead the team in the stat sheet, but will provide a spark when needed.With the Ball Holy Cross isn't going to run with anyone in the first round. The Crusaders will, however, run a deliberate offense that sets the tempo of the game. Look for the ball to go through 7-1 Josh Sankes, who averages nearly a double-double with 12.8 points and 9.6 rebounds a game. Tim Szatko is a 6-8 forward who can get hot (23 vs. Harvard; 25 vs. Colgate) and averages 11.4 ppg. In the backcourt, Ryan Serravalle (11.3 ppg) hit big shots down the stretch against Navy and shoots 39 percent from behind the 3-point arc. The Crusaders go only eight deep and the first one off the bench is Brian Wilson, a high school teammate of Duke's Jason Williams.Defending the Ball Holy Cross will defend the 3-point line and double down low to help Sankes defend the paint. Serravalle, Jave Meade and Juan Pegues harrass guards and average just under four steals between them a game.Seed Analysis Exceeding the Seed None. Playing to Expectations Falling Short None. BRACKETOLOGY SCORE: 1.000 (1.000 is playing exactly to a team's historical seeding) Bracketology Report 1985-2000: The Crusaders won the 1947 national championship. The were a regional runner-up in 1953. And they have not won an NCAA tournament game since. Ralph Willard will likely change that now that Holy Cross is offering scholarships again, but not this year as a No. 15 seed. Holy Cross will undoubtedly go where its previous nine Patriot League predecessors have, namely home after one game. Roster
 NCAA Basketball Championship Week It's March, which means the madness has started and invitations are being reserved throughout Championship Week.  Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories |  |
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Late GameNight: Holy Cross forward Tim Szatko says didn't want his season to end.
