By BILL HAISTEN Sports Writer on Jun 12, 2012, at 10:03 AM Updated on 6/12 at 10:07 AM
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OKLAHOMA CITY – As scores of NBA Finals media members poured onto the Chesapeake Energy Arena court on Monday, Oklahoma City Thunder forward Nick Collison was reminded of his experience with the Kansas Jayhawks during the 2003 Final Four.
It’s not a pleasant memory. During an 81-78, national championship loss to Syracuse, Collison was 3-of-10 on free throws. Overall, Kansas was 12-of-30 at the foul line. Otherwise, Collison was great – 8-of-14 from the field, 19 points, 21 rebounds.
“I wasn’t a very good free throw shooter. In that game, it hurt us,’ Collison said. “I worked on it, but I wasn’t very confident with it. I’m much more confident with it now.”
For the Thunder this season, Collison has been a 71 percent shooter at the foul line.
At the age of 22, Collison came up short in his bid for a title. Now, at 31, he gets a second chance at a grand prize – the NBA championship.
The Syracuse disappointment “is always with you. It’s always with me, anyway,” Collison said. “The physical pain you feel in your gut – I’m over that. Every March, it’s difficult. It’s always in the back of my mind, for sure. Playing here in the Finals, it’s on my mind. I’ve wanted a championship for a long time.
“I think it was a good experience, going through that in college. It’s a similar stage in terms of media and all that. It’s easier to handle at this age. I’m more secure with myself as a player and a person.”
-- Bill Haisten
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