College basketball

'Horns get hooked on basketball

AUSTIN, Texas -- Walk down East Sixth Street, the social hub of this eclectic city, and the clamor of live music fills the seemingly endless strip of bars and clubs.

From the twang of country and bluegrass to the thumping bass of contemporary rock, the bustling area offers a club for virtually every style of live music. It also serves as a microcosm for Austin itself, as the city's music scene is as vast and diverse as the city's views on politics and sports.

The home of President Bush when he was governor from 1994 to 2000, Austin also has been the scene of some of the staunchest protests against the war in Iraq.

But as the numbers of protesters here dwindle, from thousands March 20 to hundreds this week, there's a hand gesture being flashed around town more often than even the peace sign. It's the signal for "Hook 'em, Horns," which University of Texas fans flash by making a fist, then sticking out the index finger and the pinkie.

For years, the gesture was most strongly associated with Texas football. But since Rick Barnes arrived as basketball coach in 1998, the basketball program has emerged.

"Texas basketball is everywhere now," athletic director DeLoss Dodds said. "On the golf course, people pass by in a cart and talk about basketball. You go out to eat, and people come up to your table and talk basketball."

Now, Texas is two victories from its first modern Final Four berth. Texas, seeded No. 1 in the South Region, faces fifth-seeded Connecticut tonight in San Antonio, about 75 miles down the road.

The excitement can be felt on campus, where the junior forward Brian Boddicker became quite popular with his Biology 301 classmates. His professor delayed a test because the team was playing.

"We've made Austin people turn their heads," center James Thomas said. "That was our plan when we first came in here as freshmen. We made a pact and said this was going to be a basketball school."

When Barnes arrived five years ago, basketball jerseys were not sold in the bookstore. Now, T.J. Ford's replica jersey is a top seller.

"In Houston, you just say 'T.J.' and people know who you're talking about," Barnes said. "You don't have to say T.J. Ford. I think it's like that around the country now."

East Region

BUTLER: Jed Hanawalt is making the 800-mile trek to Albany, N.Y., in a minivan loaded with the hottest item in college basketball -- 500 Butler Sweet 16 T-shirts.

The manager of the university's bookstore is going from the private school's Indianapolis campus to the site of the 12th-seeded Bulldogs' game against top-seeded Oklahoma tonight.

Butler, like Gonzaga before it, has the chance to become a little-known school that turns getting hot at tournament time into cold cash and a bigger share of the $2.5-billion college licensed-merchandise market that is dominated by national powers.

'It's a long drive, but I think it'll be worth it," Hanawalt said.

Hanawalt said the first shipment of 144 Sweet 16 T-shirts arrived Tuesday morning and quickly sold out. He's ordered 500 more.

OKLAHOMA: Hollis Price says he's healthy again and ready to go all out against Butler tonight.

Price took part in a spirited 50-minute practice Thursday, running, passing, dribbling and cutting with no apparent pain from a left groin injury that hampered him in the Sooners' first two games.

"It's good ... probably 99.9 percent," Price, smiling throughout the session, said.

Apart from easing back during stretching exercises at the start of practice, Price didn't let up during the rest of the drills.

FOCUS ON ANTHONY: Syracuse freshman Carmelo Anthony is the focus of every defense he faces. Tonight, it's Auburn's turn.

"What makes him great is he can hurt you outside and in," Tigers coach Cliff Ellis said.

The 6-foot-8 Anthony, the Big East's freshman of the year, was clearly the star of the open practice, drawing the biggest cheers from fans -- whether it was for an outside shot or a power dunk.

Derrick Bird likely will guard Anthony. The Tigers' best defender, Bird held Josh Howard to 4-of-10 shooting in a win over Wake Forest at the St. Pete Times Forum.

"It should be a great matchup," Bird said.

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