COLUMBIA, S. C. — For perhaps the first time in college basketball history, the biggest draw in an NCAA Tournament is the possibility of a…
COLUMBIA, S. C. — For perhaps the first time in college basketball history, the biggest draw in an NCAA Tournament is the possibility of a single play that may not ever happen.
As much as it is a game between two teams, Duke vs. UCF is also proxy for a made-for-social-media clash between two unique bodies who could potentially meet at the rim Sunday, creating a moment that will cause millions of fans to hold their breath.
“We can’t make it bigger than what it really is,” said UCF’s 7-foot-6 center Tacko Fall, which is only true in the most literal sense. When it comes to the possibility of a 6-foot-7,285-pound highlight reel trying to dunk on one of the tallest humans in the world, it is impossible to make it bigger.
Sadly, neither Fall nor Zion Williamson seems to want to play along — at least for now.
Colossal pain: Washington lives to make opponents miserable
Brink of Sweet 16: This point guard has made difference for Oregon
“He is a very unique player,” Williamson said, “and I have a lot of respect for him because for him to be that size and be able to move the way he does and have as much skill as he does, he’s a great player. I think we’re just going to have to come together as a team and figure out what we’re going to do to try to stop him.”
In a sense, this is the culmination of what Williamson’s entire season at Duke has been like. Though he is now regarded as a complete player and a true force of gravity on both ends of the floor, it is still Williamson’s quick-twitch takeoffs and powerful, above-the-rim finishes that make him the most Instagrammable athlete in sports. Even when we think we’ve seen his best dunks, Williamson usually finds a way to offer up a little more.
So the natural progression that America so badly wants would be Williamson rising up Sunday with Fall blocking the rim, just to see whether Williamson in full flight is capable of punching one on the tallest player in college basketball.
