NCAA Tournament notebook: Wildcats do Bobbi proud

Steve Addy

Tuesday, April 3, 2001 | 10:11 a.m.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Deep down, Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski wouldn't have minded if Arizona won Monday night.

Duke beat Arizona 82-72 for the NCAA championship at the Metrodome, but Krzyzewski took no glee in spoiling the Wildcats' quest to win the title in honor of Bobbi Olson, the late wife of coach Lute Olson.

Bobbi died of ovarian cancer Jan. 1, and her death became a rallying point for the Wildcats. But after winning 21 of 24 games since then, they simply didn't have enough left in the tank to beat the deep Blue Devils.

"I guess there's a little part of me that's sad (Arizona) didn't win, because of the respect I have for what they've done," Krzyzewski said. "If we had lost, I would have been very happy for them, let's put it that way."

Lute Olson, stoic for most of the week at the Final Four, choked back tears and spoke haltingly after the game. He and Bobbi had been married 47 years.

"Life can be tough. It's how you get through it and react to it, that's the important thing," Olson said. "All of us have things happen that we need to be willing to accept. Those memories are going to be there all your life. The pain will start diminishing eventually, not totally.

"Thank goodness for my family and great friends. My family will keep me occupied. They'll make sure the old man isn't by himself too much."

Arizona center Loren Woods said Olson's handling of Bobbi's death has been a powerful example for him and his teammates.

"We've all learned as much as we can learn," Woods said. "He has taught us courage, patience and dignity for the program, yourself and your family."

"That basket was good to me," he said. "I gave it a little kiss, just to say thanks."

Dunleavy scored 21 points to spark the Blue Devils, 18 during a marvelous seven-minute span in the second half. Starting with three 3-pointers in 47 seconds, he scored 18 of Duke's 21 points in that stretch.

In the first half, Dunleavy was cursing the rim after shooting 1-of-6. He made 7-of-11 in the second half, including 4-of-6 3-pointers.

"Going into the second half, I was thinking, 'Stay aggressive,' " the sophomore swingman said. "On my first (3-pointer), I was really open and it went in. That got me going. The two after that, I had guys in my face, but I was in such a rhythm that (the defense) didn't really matter."

Dunleavy's 21 points were his most of the NCAA Tournament and second-most of the season. He scored 24 in the ACC tournament finals against North Carolina.

Duke guard Jason Williams said, "So many times, people say that if you stop Shane (Battier) and me, you can beat Duke. But we're so much more than that."

"They were open shots, but I just couldn't hit anything," the sophomore said. "I guess I was rushing. I was too excited. Sometimes when you keep missing wide-open shots, it gets into your head."

But Olson said Arenas' injury affected him more than he let on.

"It obviously bothered him a lot," Olson said. "Yesterday he couldn't get his hand above his head. But I thought he competed hard."