college-basketball
Forget Draft Day. Who wants to deal with the hype, the speculation, the money… the hat lady? You just made the best decision of your life. You, my collegiate friend, get to play another season in an arena that presents some of the most exciting and memorable competition in sport. Welcome back to the world of college basketball.
By Ryan McGowan
On Monday night, somewhere in Rockland County, New York, my old college roommate Jim Daly was probably putting a tape into a VCR and recording the NCAA championship game and the subsequent “One Shining Moment” montage of highlights that followed the contest. I am not entirely sure he still takes part in this ritual, but as of our senior year of college in 2000, he had every NCAA title game and “One Shining Moment” on tape since at least the Kansas win back in ’88. The rest of his video collection sometimes caused us to reassess our friendships with him (with movies ranging from “Copland” to “Sixteen Candles”) but the NCAA tapes were a constant for years and years.
A year ago this Saturday, on April 3, 2004, UConn beat Duke by one point, and a 3-point shot made by Duke at the buzzer meant nothing to the outcome of the game, but everything to me. When UConn won 79-78, half the bar I was at erupted into cheers; half threw their hands up and collectively groaned, “NOOOOOO.” I was in the latter half, and not because I was rooting for Duke, but because that long bank shot in the last second prevented UConn from covering the spread.
Come this Saturday, I’m going to need to make up for last year’s Final Four betting disaster. I’ll be honest, I haven’t been having a stellar run so far. I’m 3 for 9 in individual game bets, and I’d sooner admit to possessing a Clay Aiken CD than own up to the choices in my office pool bracket. And yet a mysterious man in a hotel elevator tipped me off, and now despite my track record, I feel like I’ve been given a second chance to prove myself. I’m like the Norman Dale of gambling, and I’m going with MICHIGAN STATE.
There is no better (extended) weekend in sports than the opening two rounds of the NCAA Mens hoops tourney. Hell, there probably isn’t a better day in all of sports than the first Thursday of March Madness. If I were President, I’d declare those first two days as national holidays. And I’d make gambling on the tournament legal in every state. Could I run on that platform? Considering that about $2.5 Billion is wagered across America, I think I’d have a decent shot. Somehow, family values as it relates to March Madness wagering goes out the door. I know I’d at least have Rick Neuheisel’s vote.
By Sean Quinn
Looking for someone to aim your anger and cast your finger towards for Syracuse’s first round upset? Don’t dare flap your fingers at Hakim Warrick for his 10 turnovers. And don’t you even think about directing your blame at Gerry McNamara for his 4-18 shooting performance. Don’t blame anyone who was suited up for the loss to Vermont on Friday. Blame Billy.
By Sean Quinn
Bracey Wright, Chris Thomas, Gary Williams are now the equivalent of that group of kids who line the back wall of the middle school gymnasium during a Saturday night. They showed up for the party, but no one is asking them to dance. And they have no one to blame but themselves.
It finally happened.
No, I don’t believe it either.
Florida defeated Kentucky. A Billy Donovan-coached team defeated a better team late in the season in a close game!
I bet you all thought nobody was going to write a preview for the Pac-10 conference tournament. Well, here I am, writing a preview for the bastard stepchild of the power conferences. The Pac-10 is definitely the Ashlee Simpson of college sports, everyone thinks we’re cute but once we get on the national stage everyone wishes that our hotter sister (any other power conference) was there instead.
How can any sports fan not love college basketball’s March Madness? Unless you always root for the front runner, hate upsets, and enjoy the status quo in the world of sports (Yankees fans) you have to love this time of year. It brings heated rivalries, buzzer beaters, do or die games, and upsets galore. All of this madness takes place before the NCAA tournament even begins.
By Sean Quinn
Gerry McNamara hit six threes in the first half of the 2003 National Championship game against Kansas. He was a freshman. Saturday against Connecticut, the junior guard looked like he couldn’t throw a ball into the ocean, let alone the basket, shooting 2-10 from beyond the arc. McNamara should have played better, but it’s not entirely his fault.