Division II Championship Notes: Aggies' title is no laughing matter now

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Chris Vlasic could hardly believe his eyes.

As he watched his UC Davis teammates pass around the NCAA Division II trophy and saw the "UC Davis 1998" banner being raised to the rafters, Vlasic marveled at what the Aggies had accomplished.

"I knew we had a talented team coming in, but when (assistant) coach Trevor Shickman told me he came here to win a national championship, honestly, I laughed," Vlasic said.

Shickman came from Georgia Tech to join Aggies coach Bob Williams' staff at the beginning of the season.

"I don't think anybody else gave us a chance either, at that time," Vlasic said. "And once we got back here, nobody gave us a chance to win this. We were hearing things like 'nonscholarship school has no chance. . . not very well known. . . California Dreamin.' The papers back here, with all their headlines, said we didn't deserve to be on the floor with Kentucky Wesleyan.

"When you don't give anybody respect, that's when they come up and bite you."

Don't forget school -- The NCAA Tournament fell in the middle of finals for UC Davis students.

Aggies players Jonathan Surface and Jason Cox had to take a final exam Friday. Coach Bob Williams received the tests via fax and proctored the final.

As it turned out, Surface and Cox, played key roles in the Aggies' winning the national championship. But a head coach administering a final to his own players? Any chance Williams could have been of assistance to the two?

"It was a biology and economics final," Williams said, laughing at the notion. "The professors knew there was no way I was going to be of any help."

Justis' injustice -- When it came to the all-tournament team and most outstanding player award, the Aggies' Justis Durkee received a major slight, not gaining any honors.

On the all-tournament team were Jason Cox and Dante Ross for the Aggies, Dana Williams from Kentucky Wesleyan and William Davis from Virginia Union. Kentucky Wesleyan's Antonio Garca, a 6-foot-8, 252-pound sophomore center, was the most outstanding player.

But it was Durkee, who at 6-4 took control of the game against St. Rose's 6-10 Damon Reed in the waning minutes of the Aggies' semifinal game.

Against Garca, Durkee had nine rebounds and 11 points while keeping Garca away from the basket most of the time.

"Justis Durkee is probably the most underrated player in America," Williams said. "When you look at what he brings to the floor, night in and night out. . . he doesn't make all-league, he doesn't make regional, and he doesn't make all-tournament here.

"Yet, he's 6-4 and goes against guys 6-8 or bigger. . . it's a real shame he doesn't get the recognition he deserves."