ATLANTA -- What a brilliant performance from Indiana, beating an outstanding Oklahoma team 73-64 in Saturday's first semifinal game. Once again we found out why they play the games, baby!

	Indiana's Jeff Newton, blocking a shot by Oklahoma's Jason Detrick, led the Hoosiers with 19 points.

In the past there have been surprises and shocks in the march to the national championship. Think back to 1983 when my late buddy, Jimmy Valvano, cut the nets down in dramatic fashion when no one gave N.C. State a chance. Think of 1985 when Rollie Massimino pitched a perfect game with Villanova against Georgetown. Think of 1988 when Danny Manning and Kansas shocked the nation.

No one gave Indiana a shot except its coach, its fans, and -- most of all -- its players. But the Hoosiers got superb efforts from players off the pine. The bench play was as good as it gets.

Start with the performance of Jeff Newton, a local kid from Atlanta playing in front of his family and friends. He put on a show in the post, scoring a career-high 19 points. He set the tone and made a big play with three minutes to go. After Oklahoma tied the game at 60 apiece, Newton scored in the post on a lob inside to gave the Hoosiers the lead -- and they were never threatened again.

Also off the bench, people wondered if diaper dandy Donald Perry could handle the pressure of playing in a big-time game, but you couldn't tell if Perry was nervous. He performed brilliantly and tallied 10 points. A.J. Moye gave a solid contribution before getting a hamstring problem. George Leach came off the bench to block shots on the interior early in the game.

Don't forget the steady passing ability of Mr. Versatility, Jared Jeffries. He didn't score big (eight points), but he distributed the rock and his presence created problems for the Sooners.

It was a great season for Oklahoma's Kelvin Sampson, the NABC coach of the year. But his team had a tough night shooting the rock. The Sooners shot 2-of-18 on trifectas, and Hollis Price -- their clutch player and heart and soul all season long -- went 1-for-11. That won't get it done in championship play.

When everyone including me talked about the Sooners suffocating Indiana's 3-point shooting ability, all the Hoosiers did in the second half was go perfect -- 6-for-6 from beyond the arc. What makes Indiana so successful shooting the 3 is discipline, movement of the basketball and shot selection.

If it were the NBA and the Hoosiers had to win a seven-game series, they wouldn't march on. But the one-game shot is the beauty of the NCAA championship and what makes it so special. On one given night, anything can happen if a team plays 40 minutes of basketball.

It is celebration time now in Bloomington, Ind., as the Hoosiers march on to the national title game. But knowing Davis and the kids, they aren't satisfied yet. I just wonder if anyone will pick them Monday.