SportsLine.com Report
March 16, 2000

Round 1: Bonnies thrill, but lose in 2 OTs

Playing in its first NCAA Tournament in 22 years, St. Bonaventure became the first team in 120 NCAA games to take Kentucky to two overtimes.

That's something for the Bonnies to take away from their tourney experience, although it's not nearly as satisfying as a victory.

"That's a heck of a way to start the NCAA Tournament," Bonnies coach Jim Baron said. "We fought hard. We fought long. We were one basket away."

From the very start, the first game of the tournament had the look of a memory-maker.

And in the end, it was the Wildcats down to five players -- after two had fouled out, in addition to the suspension of Desmond Allison -- pulling out the game in double-overtime, 85-80, in Cleveland.

St. Bonaventure took a 10-point lead in the early going, then Kentucky rolled to a 12-point lead in the second half. Then the teams settled into a sensational, back-and-forth game that wasn't decided until David Messiah Capers missed a 3-pointer with two seconds remaining in the second overtime.

UK's Tayshaun Prince hit a 3-pointer with 7.1 seconds left in regulation to send it into overtime, and then Messiah Capers -- a 56-percent free-throw shooter -- pulled St. Bonaventure into the second overtime by hitting 3 free throws with 0.4 seconds left in the first extra period.

They played their hearts out," Kentucky center Jamaal Magloire said of St. Bonaventure.

How They Got There

Olean, N.Y., a town that defines the snow belt, was uncommonly warm this winter.

A team that has occasionally struggled to remain competitive in the Atlantic 10, St. Bonaventure went off on one of the most successful runs in program history. Though they started better than they finished, the Bonnies made their case perhaps most of all by defeating one of the best teams in the nation in A-10 East Division rival Temple.

They also beat UNC-Charlotte, Colorado State, Southern California and split with Dayton -- knocking off the Flyers in the Atlantic 10 semifinals in a game that probably locked up their tourney bid. With the sort of perimeter arsenal that can give the Temple matchup zone fits, the Bonnies have been at their best this season when their shooters connect.

Starting Lineup

• PG Tim Winn (5-9, 175, Sr.): He is the catalyst. Winn's ability to torment opposing point guards, in particular, has made St. Bonaventure a feared team.
• SG David Messiah Capers (6-3, 210, Sr.): The shooter. Capers' ability to roam the perimeter and shoot off picks has made this team dangerous, particularly with the big guys doing complimentary work down low.
• G/F Patricio Prato (6-4, 190, Fr.): When's he's hot, Bonaventure can destroy opponents. But he also hit a freshman wall about halfway through the season.
• C Peter Van Paassen (6-11, 250, Jr.): Many believed he was the conference's most improved player and deserved the award that instead went to Fordham forward Duke Freeman-McKamey. His pounding has given the Bonnies a legitimate inside presence that has opened up the perimeter for all of those shooters.
• PF Caswell Cyrus (6-9, 220, Sr.): He's a terrific shot blocker who has always faded in and out on offense. When inspired, he's perhaps the most dangerous scoring power forward in the conference. But his career has been enigmatic.

Keys To Success

For all of the talk about Temple's Pepe Sanchez this season, Bonnies point guard Tim Winn was providing similar leadership up north.

Though he's a pesky offensive performer, with a streaky jump shot and a knack for driving seams for tough layups, the 5-9 guard is best known for his disruptive presence on defense. His steals generally trigger St. Bonaventure's best runs.

But the difference this season was the emergence of center Peter VanPaassen as arguably the best big man in the conference.

The 6-10 Dutchman gave opponents fits not only with his increased strength -- the result of religious off-season weight training -- but also his improved touch under the basket. Van Paassen's post play enabled Caswell Cyrus, a talented but inconsistent low post player, to move out along the baseline into his more natural position of power forward.

The result was the most offensively productive frontcourt tandem in the Atlantic 10.

The Coach

Jim Baron is a beloved figure in Olean. He played for the Bonnies, graduated in 1977, and returned eight years ago to take over the program. He's compiled a 112-117 record over that time, with this season giving his personal mark a significant boost.

The Bench

• G J.R. Bremer (6-2, 180, So.): He's emerged, in a very short period of time, as one of the most dangerous bench scorers in the conference. His offense has become vital to this team.
• G/F Vidal Massiah (6-6, 205, So.): A role player capable of hitting the open jumper.
• G/F Robert Cheeks (6-6, 185, So.): Another role player who fits in a variety of ways.
• F Bob Dziengeleski (6-5, 215, Jr.): When the Bonnies need another banger, they turn to this guy.

Offense

Van Paassen's improvement has given the Bonnies what Baron loves to refer to as "the inside-out'' game. When the big Dutchman is scoring, the perimeter opens up for this team's deep line of shooters, not to mention Cyrus' baseline game.

Defense

Winn is the key here, because of the relentless pressure he places on opposing point guards. The Bonnies are also adept at funneling opponents into the lane, where Cyrus wreaks havoc as a shot blocker.