By Chris Speckman | March 21, 2006

Which is what makes David Harrison’s tournament tale rather unusual.

“There was a blizzard in Colorado, so we got in the night before the game,” Harrison said. “So, we literally got off the plane, went to bed and played a basketball game.”

During Harrison’s junior season, Colorado ended up losing to seventh-seeded Michigan State 79-64 in the first round of the 2003 NCAA Tournament. Although the snow made the trek to Tampa a little more trying, Harrison refuses to use the wintry weather as an excuse.

“They had another whole day of practicing,” Harrison said. “But you don’t make excuses. It was a wonderful game.”

In that game, Harrison, the Pacers’ first-round pick in 2004, was outscored by Michigan State big man Erazem Lorbek, the Pacers’ second-round pick in 2005, 17-13.

Even though Harrison lost, he still considers carrying Colorado into the tournament one of his greatest accomplishments so far. The wide-bodied Harrison shouldered the brunt of the load for a team that was supposed to go out like a lamb at the end of the winter.

“It was huge,” Harrison said. “I think we were picked to finish ninth (in the Big 12) that year. We ended up undefeated at home in conference.”

Colorado’s 2003 tournament appearance was the university's first since 1997. Besides taking pride in the historical significance of his team’s run, Harrison has to be happy his Buffaloes were able distract students in Boulder from the surprising spring snowstorm.

“It’s something that not a lot of people at Colorado have ever done,” Harrison said.

Tomorrow: Jamaal Tinsley's two memorable tourney runs at Iowa State.