There are 351 schools in the country that have an NCAA Division 1 men’s basketball team. Each of these teams is filled with players, coaches, and fans who hoped to be one of the sixty-eight schools making it into this year’s NCAA Tournament. When underdog teams get invited to the “Big Dance,” it’s especially thrilling to see. But the question gets raised as to whether teams like South Carolina, Northwestern, Vanderbilt, Vermont, and Bucknell are just happy to be there or if they actually expect to win? Does winning matter to them…or are they rewarded by “just…
Monthly Archives: March, 2017
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Just Getting In
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A Coach Who Believed it was Possible
Continue ReadingThe 68 teams that made it into the NCAA Tournament have all traveled a unique path to get to this point. Northwestern’s remarkable accomplishment especially stands out. They are playing in their school’s first NCAA Tournament after previously being the only member of a power conference to never get in. Despite the basketball program’s struggles, in 2013 former Duke player and assistant coach, Chris Collins, decided to take on the challenge of becoming the head coach. During his first season, they were 14-19, but a few years later he has turned things around with a…
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Enjoy the Sounds of the Game
Continue ReadingLast Sunday’s game between the Golden State Warriors and the New York Knicks was unlike any other because of Madison Square Garden’s decision to eliminate music, video, and in-game entertainment during the first half. Players, fans, and broadcasters weren’t quite sure how to handle this unfamiliar atmosphere since they’ve grown accustomed to loud music and lively entertainment while watching on-court action. Most of the feedback I heard was negative, but I love what Frank Isola from the New York Daily News tweeted: “No wonder it’s so quiet in here. Thank you…
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UNC Breaks Through the Back and Forth
Continue ReadingThe Duke and UNC rivalry gave us another phenomenal game with the Tar Heels coming out on top 90-83 Saturday night. Both teams have now won a game on their home court this season, with each matchup being tight and competitive. During the exciting game this weekend, we witnessed 24 lead changes and 14 ties. We saw incredible performances from UNC’s Joel Berry II, who dropped 28 points, and Isaiah Hicks, who was hard to stop as he scored 21. Duke also played great with Luke Kennard getting 28 points and four other players scoring…
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The 54-Hole Obstacle
Continue ReadingRickie Fowler, the ninth-ranked golfer in the world, won the Honda Classic last weekend. Winning on tour for the first time since 2015, he also overcame an obstacle he’d been dealing with in previous tournaments. Before this latest win, Fowler was 0-4 in tournaments when having the lead after 54 holes. Starting out on Sunday with a four-stroke lead, this became the big storyline. Would he be able to break through this problematic barrier and pull out the win? With another chance at victory, how could he respond differently to the same scenario he experienced…
