NEW ORLEANS — Armando Bacot sat on a raised podium with his head resting on his right hand, a dazed look across his face reflecting the disbelief and pain of losing 72-69 to Kansas in Monday’s national championship game.
A right ankle rolled in the Final Four win over Duke on Saturday had not healed 48 hours later. He winced as he walked up the stairs onto the raised court at the Caesars Superdome and moved gingerly during pregame warmups.
“Right before the game I really couldn’t even jump,” he said.
He didn’t on the opening tip, allowing Kansas to take possession as he hobbled down the floor. The Jayhawks took a quick 7-0 lead and Bacot’s first shot was effortlessly blocked by KU big man David McCormack.
But then his ankle began to loosen. It took him just over four minutes to make his first shot. Then another. His confidence grew as the pain blended with the screams of over 70,000 fans.
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