Couple of things: Michigan lost to Duke in the final game of the ’92 tournament. Michigan lost to UNC in the final game of the ’93 tournament. It was in that latter game — when the Fab Five were sophomores — that Webber called the timeout that did not exist.
When Bill Walton made his prediction, a lot of people were astonished — because the Michigan players were mere freshmen. But they made the final game, which was an achievement. And it was the players’ talent that got them that far in the first place.
Of course, you want both talent and experience — that’s the ideal marriage. And, by the way, a reader sent me a quotation from Darrell Royal, the legendary football coach. Asked to explain why he was starting a freshman at a key position, he said, “If a dog will bite, he’ll bite as a pup.” On other occasions, he said, “If they won’t bite as a pup, they won’t bite as a dog.”
Anyway . . . I’m done with sports (for now!).