So tough he prefers eating glass.(basketball player James Thomas)

Michigan State freshman Paul Davis watches Texas' James Thomas play and thinks: "That guy's just a junkyard dog."

Connecticut star center Emeka Okafor says simply, "He's a big, strong, tough man."

Michigan State strongman Aloysius Anagonye: "He's a mini-Ben Wallace. I hear that's his idol; it's fitting."

So how would Thomas, a raging rebounding addict who wears his socks to his knees, his hair in patterned braids and a facial expression that causes his eyes to squint and his lips to purse, describe himself? "A momma's boy," the baddest man in the tournament says as his scowl sweeps up into a smile. "I'm proud of that."

Ask teammates or opponents what makes Thomas perhaps the best rebounder in the nation, and they'll say: "His desire." Ask Thomas where that comes from, and he credits Rachael Thomas. "My mom told me that once I got good at something, that's when I needed to start working on becoming great at something."

Before every free throw attempt, Thomas rubs his chest, where he has a tattoo honoring Mom, and whispers that he loves her. But his real on-court tribute to her is when he leaps high--with his legs kicking and knees reaching that tattoo--and vise-grips a ball after it has bounded off the rim. That is when he is great.

Thomas is to rebounding as T.J. Ford is to passing. Despite a disdain for lifting weights, Thomas has great strength, quickness and jumping ability. He makes team toughness the Longhorns' No. ...