MINNEAPOLIS -- Texas Tech's Tariq Owens started in the NCAA championship game against Virginia despite an injured right ankle.
The 6-10 senior forward, who set a school season record for blocks, suffered the high ankle sprain in the national semifinals against Michigan State. He still wasn't 100 percent. He arrived at US. Bank Stadium in a walking boot after rehabbing the ankle with athletic trainer Chris Williams every two hours.
Tech coach Chris Beard told CBS before the game that Owens would not have played under normal circumstances. The championship game changed the equation, he said.
"This is the last Monday in college basketball, so he's going to try," Beard said.