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Make us your home page Men's NCAA TournamentRegionals, Friday
and Sunday,St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa  NCAA basketball debate:
Defend the 3 or foul?  Xavier coach Sean Miller goes over the
situation time and time again in practice.  How could he not,
given how his Musketeers seemed on the cusp of a bracket-busting
upset of No. 1 seed and No. 1-ranked Ohio State in the second
round of last year's NCAA Tournament?  They led 62-59 with 9.3
seconds left, but, after a missed free throw, Ohio State's red-
hot forward Ron Lewis swished a contested, NBA-range 3-pointer
with two seconds to go that forced overtime. With that reprieve,
the Buckeyes went on to win 78-71 and eventually reached the
NCAA final.  What if Miller had told his players to foul before
the shot, denying a chance at a tying 3-pointer? Would the
Buckeyes have been able to make the first free throw, miss the
second intentionally, control the rebound and get off a shot to
tie or win the game?