Traveling companion
Seam May follows in his father's footsteps -- to Final Four
In so many ways, Sean May never imagined his college basketball career would be like this.
He was supposed to play for Bob Knight at Indiana, just like his father, Scott May, who earned national player of the year honors as the Hoosiers finished the 1975-76 season as undefeated national champions. Sean May would dominate immediately, then, like a chip off the old block, lead his team to Final Fours and titles, too.
Instead, there he sat two years ago, watching the NCAA Tournament on television. He had missed 24 games because of a foot injury he sustained during practice. And he was wearing the foreign color of Carolina blue.
"I almost left my freshman year," May said. "I was extremely close to finding another school."
While that low point came just two years ago, it might as well be ancient history. When North Carolina plays Michigan State Saturday in the Final Four, no one will be more pleased to be a Tar Heel than May, the 6-foot-9-inch junior behemoth in the paint who led No. 1 seed North Carolina to victory in the the Syracuse Regional.
"I'm happy to be here," May said. "I always loved Indiana basketball. I grew up watching it, but this is home for me and it worked out great for me. I couldn't be happier right now."
And why not? For all of North Carolina's star players, May served as UNC's catalyst for its return to NCAA Tournament glory, averaging 21.5 points and 11.8 rebounds in helping the Tar Heels win the Syracuse Regional. His run culminated with a 29-point, 12-rebound monster performance in the Elite Eight win over Wisconsin, playing against Mike Wilkinson, one of the Big Ten's best post players.
"He's been unstoppable all year," North Carolina forward Jawad Williams said of May. "When you've got a guy doing work like that down low, it opens it up for everyone else."
This season, one of redemption for May, has been a far cry from his first.
The problems began when May was in high school, and Knight was fired by Indiana. Scott May had kept a close relationship with Knight since his playing days, and had always assumed he would send his son to play for Knight. Scott May still lived in Bloomington, Ind., the home of Indiana University.
Certainly, Sean May had the skills to play there. He was a
But when Knight left, new coach Mike Davis didn't make serious overtures toward Sean May. Scott May didn't feel comfortable with Davis, as he did with Knight. Suddenly, the plan Sean May had known since junior high was in serious doubt.
"I never dreamed of wearing any other jersey but an Indiana jersey," May said. "I never dreamed of following anything but my father. I always watched North Carolina and I always knew they were good, but I never pictured myself playing for them. It's tough."
With Knight out of the picture, May settled on the Tar Heels, largely because of his father's relationship with legendary former Carolina coach Dean Smith. Scott played for Smith on the 1976 United States Olympic team, and the two remained close.
Sean May became a starter right away his freshman season, but he injured his foot in practice after the season's seventh game. He played poorly for three games before retreating to the bench. He missed three months of the season.
May felt out of place, both on the bench and away from home. He had gone from local hero to villain in Bloomington. Making matters worse, as he endured his hellish freshman season, the Hoosiers advanced to the Final Four -- the Final Four he always dreamed of playing in.
"I had to go through a lot of stuff back home with people really looking down upon me," May said. "It was tough. It was tough for my family and my father. There are specific reasons why I'm not in an Indiana uniform. I know those reasons, Coach Davis knows those reasons, my father knows those reasons."
After the season, May considered transferring. He says God told him to stay. It didn't hurt that Kansas coach Roy Williams was set to take over at North Carolina for the maligned Matt Doherty.
May started to feel at home with Williams. Now, even with a game that's ready for the NBA, you couldn't pry May out of North Carolina with a crowbar.
"I love college," he said. "There's no rush to leave right now. The NBA isn't going anywhere."
Growing up, Sean May was often told by his father that even after playing in the NBA, his best basketball memories were of college ball.
"He's why I am what I am today," Sean May said. "He taught me a lot about the game of basketball. You don't have to go find a role model. You can sit down at the dinner table and talk about past experiences. It is great having that backbone of your family to help lead the way."
May relies on his father for advice, always spotting him in the crowd during games for support. The two talk constantly on the phone during the season, father offering son equal parts encouragement and motivation.
Before his son left for North Carolina, Scott May had a message.
"Great players help take their teams to the Final Four," Sean May was told. "If you want to be good and you want to play this game for a long time, that's what you have to do."
And so he has. May is having the college career he expected, just in a way he never envisioned. Now, he hopes this weekend plays out the same way, a chance to follow in his father's footsteps, even if it's not at Indiana.
"I won't be wearing red," May said. "But maybe I can get a championship ring like my dad."
