As he sat in the Wisconsin locker room in Albuquerque, N.M., Kelley was given ample opportunity to wax poetic about his defensive exploits. To gloat - if only for a moment or two. Instead, Kelley revealed having mixed feelings about denying Purdue's senior-dominated team its first trip to the Final Four. I have so much respect for them. I wish we didn't have to play them and they could be in the Final Four as well.
Someone call a timeout.
But when it is all said and done, I have a lot of respect for almost all of the guys I play against. Those are two guys who have been through a lot. I know what they've been through, even though I've only been here for three seasons. Wisconsin junior forward Andy Kowske, Kelley's roommate and longtime friend, says the compassion is genuine. When Mike competes and loses a game, he knows that he feels bad.