Hakim Warrick: Coming up big late to win championship

• ANDREWS: NBA TV talent shares its tourney experiences • Juan Dixon | M. Camby | C. Douglas-Roberts | L. Head • Keith Smart | Kiki Vandeweghe | Jarvis Hayes | D. Cook • Josh Boone | Mike Bibby | Al Horford | Mario Chalmers • Jordan Farmar | Rashad McCants | Hakim Warrick • Ray Allen | Glen Davis | Rajon Rondo • NCAA to NBA: An in-depth look at some tournament facts

Name: Hakim Warrick, Memphis Grizzlies

School: Syracuse University, 2001-05

Tournament credentials: 2003 national champion, blocked Michael Lee's late 3-point attempt to seal the 81-78 win over Kansas

I Think About My NCAA Trip ...: People are always coming up to me talking about the block. No matter what, no matter where I'm at, I'm always signing that picture.

My NCAA moment: I was playing center and I think Q [Kueth Duany] went out and chased a guy out on the wing and he was the only forward over there. Then Kansas made the extra pass into the corner to Michael Lee. I was under the rim at that time and I went out there and tried to contest the shot. I didn't think I had a chance to block it but once I jumped and I saw that he still had the ball [in his hands] I tried to get the block and make sure that I didn't foul him. I kind of just put my left hand out there and made sure I turned my body going away from him so I didn't foul him.

At Home to Remind Me: I got everything back home [in the Philadelphia area]. I have all my Big East trophies and my rings and my piece of the [NCAA Championship game] net and pictures and videos and things. My mom did a good job of taking all the pictures and video cameras and all of that so every now and then, when I'm bored, I go back to look at it.

Who I'm Watching This Year (Teams): Of course, Syracuse. I'm real vocal with my support with my [Grizzlies] teammates. The whole organization knows that when Syracuse is winning, they know I'm coming in talking and bragging, but if we do lose, they always let me hear it for that same reason. I think [Syracuse] has a good shot though, especially with the draw. I like the draw they got. I definitely think they can beat Oklahoma. I think the tough one is North Carolina. If they can beat North Carolina, I definitely think they can win it all.

I went to dinner with the team down in Memphis the other day actually. I just remember when [fifth-year senior] Jake [Presutti] was a freshman in college [when I was a senior] and now seeing how excited he was, this being his first Sweet 16, it's been a long time coming. It's good to see the program that excited and going in the right direction.

Who I'm Watching This Year (Players): I think [Connecticut's] Hasheem Thabeet, he's playing good. His stock was going down a little bit, but it's going back up with the tournament. I think [Syracuse's] Jonny [Flynn] and the way he's played, he's like a lot of guys out there that are using a good tournament to help their draft status. This is the last thing scouts remember, so I think it's a big stage for all great players: Flynn, [Pittsburgh's DeJuan] Blair ... everybody.