Floriani: Thought on the Coaches vs. Cancer senifinals

Ray Floriani is an occasional contributor to BIAH.

NEW YORK CITY - A few sights, thoughts and points of note from the semifinals of Coaches vs. Cancer…

Exiting the train and walking up the stairs to MSG someone behind me is carrying a sign. A fan ? No, as the sign read 'Lipitor causes kidney failure'. Only in New York.

Notables are in the building. A number of NBA scouts as well as Bobby Knight, Dick Vitale and John Feinstein.

Maryland and Pitt both brought cheerleaders. For Pitt's squad it's a one game stay as they head to South Florida for football. Busy schedule, besides studies and practice.

Thrilled to see good officiating friend Brian Dorsey working his first MSG game. Had the pleasure of working with Brian on numerous occasions and just pleased to see him on the Garden floor.

Next to our press area is a group of Pitt students. Wearing 'Oakland Zoo' t -shirts, they are booing. Not that they do not have the right to boo but it's an annoying sound. Almost like they read it from a cue card.

I am wondering if the Pitt big men are getting involved enough. Pick up the halftime stat sheet and see 11-3 edge on the offensive boards. They may not be engaged in an 'old school' post up game but they are very much a factor.

Really like Jordan Williams, Maryland's 6-10 sophomore. He's a matchup problem because of his effectiveness down low as well as the ability to move out and hit the mid-range jumper.

A writing colleague who was on press row the first half near the Maryland bench said coach Gary Williams' language would make a marine sergeant blush. Gary is intense. Always has been. That’s his style but he is genuinely a really good person. Just during those 40 minutes, he's quite different.

Both coaches, Williams and Pitt's Jamie Dixon, agree -- tonight's game was for November but with March like intensity.

Read that Texas coach Rick Barnes met with Jerry Sloan over the summer. Barnes wanted a new offensive look so he spent several weeks learning the Utah Jazz system. The motion is evident in the Longhorn attack. The race it up the floor with no outlet is also of note.

Early on in game two it isn't the Longhorn offense. It's the defense that needs attention, for now, as the Illini were getting too many good looks.

The evening eventually ended after midnight. Texas outlasted Illinois 90-84 in overtime.

Texas-Pitt should make a great final. Illinois-Maryland in the consolation is not exactly chopped liver either.

Great matchups for this time of the year. And as Gary Williams said, "we find out a lot about our teams playing these games." Very true indeed.