Max Turrini

In a tournament full of star power and prolific scorers, Jerome Dyson led them all. Dyson’s 54 combined tournament points led #4 Sassari to its second consecutive Italian Cup, including 27 in a championship win over #1 seed Milan. The Italian Cup is a professional basketball competition between the top 8 pro clubs from the Italian Basketball League. The winner of the Italian Cup then plays the league winner in a single game to determine the winner of the Italian Supercup. It is the NCAA equivalent to the winner of the conference tournament, facing off with the winner of conference play, to determine an ultimate champion.

In a highly entertaining game featuring multiple former Big East stars- Dyson, Edgar Sosa (Louisville), Rakim Sanders (BC/Fairfield) and eventual MVP David Logan (Indianapolis) got the best of the Euroleague team from Milan boasting MarShon Brooks (Providence), Samardo Samuels (Louisville) and Daniel Hackett (USC) behind 14 three-pointers. In a game of runs, Brooks (18 points) sparked a furious comeback in the final minutes, but it was not enough to unseat the defending champions. In typical Dyson fashion, Rome sliced and diced his way to the free throw line 16 times- more than the entire Milan team! It helps, of course, when you can make shots like this…

Also, check out this cool behind the scenes look at the championship game below.

The Italian Cup win gives Sassari a chance at their second Italian Supercup- the first coming earlier this season with Dyson earning MVP honors. I have always wondered what could have been in 2009 had UConn not lost Dyson to injury…this certainly doesn’t help.