Udonis Haslem

Last week's ranking in parentheses 1. Lakers (2): What, them worry? Won't even put first unit on floor for another week or two. 2. Hawks (8): Shot heard 'round East wasn't Cavaliers over Magic but Hawks' victory in Boston. 3. Celtics (1): Seeking defense like '85 Bears, Doc Rivers may go Mike Ditka on them soon. 4. Suns (3): Who knew Steve Nash was still an MVP without Shaq? 5. Nuggets (4): Smith goes back to his name - Earl - scores two in debut, says he's J.R. again.

Bruce Springsteen was blaring through the speakers. "Come on up for the rising," the Boss crooned. And in the middle of a packed Dallas hotel ballroom early yesterday morning, Pat Riley, sore hip and all, danced with joy. That was the song played in the Miami Heat's home arena just before tip-off of every NBA Finals game, a song Riley referenced often around his team, part of the never-ending motivational ploys that, at long last, carried the Heat to...

INDIANAPOLIS -- The final episode of "The Flintstones" signed off with a magical ending. Carried by Flint, Mich., seniors Mateen Cleaves and Morris Peterson, Michigan State carved out another piece of basketball history with an 89-76 triumph over Florida in the men's NCAA tournament final last night at the RCA Dome. It was the largest margin of victory in the championship game in eight years. The Spartans (32-7) achieved their first national championship since the Magic Johnson-led team won in 1979, but Michigan State didn't require any special tricks last night.

East 1. Duke (27-4) Location, conference: Durham, N.C., Atlantic Coast. Conference finish: First, won conference tournament. Tournament record: 65-21, 23 years. Coach: Mike Krzyzewski. Last 10: 9-1. Top scorers: Shane Battier 17.7; Chris Carrawell 17.5; Jason Williams 14.4; Carlos Boozer 12.7; Nate James 11.0; Mike Dunleavy 10.0. Top rebounders: Chris Carrawell 6.1; Carlos Boozer 6.1; Shane Battier 5.5; Nate James 4.3; Mike Dunleavy 4.2. Scouting report: A key for the Blue Devils will be whether Dunleavy will be at full strength for the tournament.

At PhoenixNo. 10 Gonzaga (27-6) vs. No. 6 Florida (22-8)Time: 7: 55 p.m.Line: Florida by 1Conference records: Gonzaga won the West Coast Conference with a 12-2 record. Florida finished third in the SEC East with a 10-6 record.Coaches: Dan Monson is 51-16 in two years at Gonzaga, while Billy Donovan is 49-40 in his third year at Florida, 84-60 in five years overall.Starting lineups: Gonzaga -- G Richie Frahm (14.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg, .431 3FG pct.), G Matt Santangelo (13 ppg, 5.3 apg), C Jeremy Eaton (11.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg, .537 FG pct.)

INDIANAPOLIS -- Morris Peterson may lack some focus today, but not emotion. Michigan State's leading scorer rejoined the team yesterday, a day after attending his grandmother's funeral in Mississippi. She died at the age of 72 following complications from a stroke suffered a year ago. "It's been like an emotional roller coaster," said Peterson, whose Spartans meet Wisconsin in the first Final Four semifinal today. "I think about the game, my family, my grandmother. I talked to my family a lot yesterday, and they told me to go out there and concentrate on my game."

INDIANAPOLIS -- As strange as it sounds, Florida coach Billy Donovan was talking like a man who wanted his team to run even more than it usually does in tonight's second NCAA tournament semifinal game against North Carolina. In essence, he was asking a team that already presses more than any other team in the tournament to one-up itself, if possible. All because his starting center, Udonis Haslem, is 6 feet 7, while power forward Brent Wright is 6-8. Compare that with the Tar Heels' Brendan Haywood (7-0)

INDIANAPOLIS -- When North Carolina was forced to do what Florida likes to do last night, it was a sure sign that the lone remaining Atlantic Coast Conference team in the NCAA tournament was in trouble. Down by eight with two minutes left, the Tar Heels went to a version of the press, shot three-pointers and tried desperately to muster enouging the threes -- which included air balls and bricks from senior guard Ed Cota and freshman forward Joseph Forte. As for the press, that caused nothing more than a host of fouls, prolonging the inevitable.

NEW ORLEANS - Penn State fretted about the defensive ability of Providence's John Linehan and how he might disrupt its Joe Crispin-led attack. It turns out that the Friars should have worried about where they were going to find their own points last night. Penn State, the seventh seed in the South Region, shut down 11th-seeded Providence in the second half at the Superdome, as the Friars shot 31.3 percent from the field after the break and the Nittany Lions cruised to a 69-59 first-round win. Coach Jerry Dunn's club will face North Carolina or Princeton in tomorrow's second round.