MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (AP) — Virginia’s Mamadi Diakite and Kihei Clark haven’t been able to resist watching multiple replays of their season-saving play that helped the Cavaliers reach the Final Four.
Clark ran down a tapped-out missed free throw in the final seconds of regulation in Saturday’s regional final against Purdue. He passed ahead to Diakite for a buzzer-beating shot that forced overtime and ultimately helped Virginia reach its first Final Four since 1984.
The play was a popular topic of conversation during locker-room interviews Thursday in Minneapolis, too.
Diakite said he had received a standing ovation in a class and has been getting many picture or autograph requests. Asked how many times he watched the replay, Diakite said: “I don’t know any more. I lost count after 45.”
Clark said watching the play seems longer now, but “it went by so fast in the game.”