Winning it All

It didn't feel preordained by any means. Wins over a couple of west coast schools by eight and five in the first two rounds. An overtime struggle over the reigning champs by two to get a berth to the Elite Eight. A dogfight win in triple overtime against a game Texas squad to get to the Final Four. But when they got to the championship game, Desean could more than smell the reward at hand. He went apeshit, with 38 points and 25 rebounds, leading his time to a fourth in-game regular season victory over Big Blue to secure the school's first national victory.

Elizabeth could hear her son yelling "Go Cocks" in his loud and effeminate and enthusiastic way, as she found Desean on the floor.

"Well, you did it," she said. "Want your reward tonight."

"Thanks, Mrs. King," he said breathlessly. "But I got partying to do tonight." He didn't say he had three bitches from the school sorority lined up, including her daughter, Katie. "But when we get back to SC, we gonna go someplace ... special. I've earned this shit." Then he went back to celebrating with his teammates, and Elizabeth found her husband so she could celebrate. That night was something special for them both, as well.