When Hewitt looks at his team this season, he sees ingredients that are key to a late-season run.

In the South, too, tournament experience is powering late-season runs.

The Bengals are making their usual late-season run and the team is 9-5 over all in December under Coach Bruce Coslet.

Victor Zambrano might have proved that the Mets are poised to make a late-season run for the playoffs.

But Lawrence, in a subtle way, has played just as large a role in the Nets' late-season run.

Maine's late-season run fell just short.

In the Pacific-10 final, U.C.L.A. brought California's late-season run to an end, 71-52.

Last season, the Blue Jays had an 88-74 record and finished third after briefly making a late-season run at the wild-card spot for the playoffs.

Meanwhile, the Panthers are making their usual late-season run.

In 2004, the Cards made a late-season run and finished with a 41-34 record, but still failed to qualify for the league playoffs.