Rogers keeping it all in context
PHOENIX -- You know you've hit the big time when you have to ask your parents' permission to go over the 1,500 text messages your calling plan allows . . . just so you can respond to well-wishers.
So it has gone for Western Kentucky guard Ty Rogers since his overtime buzzer-beating three-pointer sank Drake in the first round and extended the Hilltoppers' season.
Rogers, a senior who averages 6.5 points a game, told reporters this week that he had 172 text messages waiting for him when he took his first post-heroics look at his phone.
Reaction to his shot has come from all corners, and also from very close to home.
Rogers said Wednesday that he had heard from his former Lyon County (Ky.) High principal, who told him everyone at his old school had seen his now-famous shot.
"They had TVs on in each of the classes," Rogers said. "They said when the shot went down my old high school pretty much erupted."
------
You might not think of Western Kentucky when you think of Kentucky basketball . . . but maybe you should.
The Hilltoppers have a .729 winning percentage the past seven seasons, which is better than Louisville (.719) and nearly equal to Kentucky (.731).
Western Kentucky also is no stranger to the NCAA tournament, having made 20 appearances. And this is the second regional semifinal for Coach Darrin Horn, who was a sophomore guard for the Hilltoppers when they made it this far in 1993.
------
UCLA is a 12 1/2 -point favorite tonight, even though only one of Western Kentucky's losses -- by 10 points against Southern Illinois in November -- was by more than six points.
------
The Hilltoppers start three guards and two 6-foot-9 forwards and Horn was asked what his plan was to deal with Bruins center Kevin Love and whether his team had faced a player of his caliber.
"We're hoping he gets sick, that's the main thing we're looking for," Horn quipped before adding in a more serious tone, "We have not seen a guy like him this year individually that is capable of putting up those kind of numbers" -- Love averages 17.3 points and 10.6 rebounds -- "and being that kind of threat."
------
Boris Siakam, a 6-foot-7, 225-pound senior forward for Western Kentucky, is looking forward to introducing himself to UCLA's Luc Richard Mbah a Moute and Alfred Aboya.
