SACRAMENTO — Derrick Low looked like he didn't know what exhausted him more: helping Washington State rally past Oral Roberts yesterday to win its NCAA Tournament first-round game, 70-54, or answering the seemingly endless stream of questions from about 30 newspaper and TV reporters in an ARCO Arena locker room afterward.

"I've never had this many interviews before," said Low, a 2004 'Iolani School graduate and former three-time Advertiser State Player of the Year.

Welcome to March Madness, bruddah.

Low, a 6-foot-2 junior guard, was not even one of the three Cougars assigned to attend the post-game press conference.

But being a team co-captain, and after scoring 12 points, grabbing four rebounds, dishing three assists and making one steal in 29 minutes, Low was a media magnet nonetheless.

The (Spokane, Wash.) Spokesman Review. Seattle Times. Oregonian. Even a TV crew from "East L.A. Sports Scene."

"We have a lot of young basketball players in East Los Angeles," the reporter told Low, "and they like your style."

Low's media attraction actually began Wednesday, when most of the questions during a 15-minute press conference — including one about surfing — were directed at him. He was quoted in USA Today and was the subject of a column by Marcos Breton in yesterday's Sacramento Bee, which described Low as "an engaging, Hawaiian-born guard who is a beacon of wonder for an island state ... a sweet kid ... (with) shyness, inner warmth and (an) island accent."

Low also was described as a "March Madness Every Man."

In a good way, of course.

Low's media magnetism also stretched to back home, from where phone interview requests filled his cell phone mailbox Wednesday.

"I had to ignore all of them," he said, apologetically. "I don't want to be rude and I want to share my thoughts, but I've just been so busy, with practices and the media (press conferences) and all the interviews. I had to take a nap, because I was so tired. Now I gotta go take a drug test, and I don't even have to use the bathroom, so I don't know how that works. Plus we're so swamped with schoolwork, because we've been traveling so much."

After spending last week in Los Angeles for the Pac-10 Tournament, the Cougars returned to Pullman, Wash., Saturday, attended a campus party with about 700 fans to watch CBS' "Selection Sunday," had a "normal" day Monday and then flew to Sacramento Tuesday.

Low finally had some down time late yesterday afternoon, which he spent eating a barbecue ribs plate lunch at an L&L with father, Ken, older brother, Dustin, and eight other Hawai'i visitors.

"He was craving it," Ken said.

Good thing there are 10 L&Ls in Sacramento, including one near ARCO Arena.

Low's Uncle Pat and Aunty Pam from O'ahu also were at the game, waving fresh ti leaves whenever he scored a basket. Two schoolmates from Washington State — one a McKinley High School grad and the other from Kamehameha — made a 14-hour drive from Pullman to cheer on their fellow local boy.

"This is an amazing atmosphere," Low said. "It's where every team wants to be. And we don't want to stop here, either."

Reach Wes Nakama at wnakama@honoluluadvertiser.com.