The Good, the Bad, and the Joakim Noah

Getting fully immersed in college hoops around tourney time doesn’t mean just following PRIs, AP Polls, and the scoreboard.  To be a real fan, emotional, moral, and philosophical involvement is key to appreciating and understanding the complex world of NCAA basketball.
 

Of course, sometimes people get caught up in the negative aspects of athletes outside of the arena, like Gonzaga’s ‘shroom habit, or Bobby Knight’s unquenchable hellfire.  So here are some positive things that happened outside the lines.
 

First, sports marketing students at Central Florida have set up a fund raising agency with the intention of helping out hurricane victims in New Orleans.  Awesome, guys.  I like what I’m seeing.
 

Elsewhere, Joakim Noah hasn’t taken a swipe at any women or seniors in over 24 hours.  I like that improvement, bud.  Really showing me something. 
 

Lastly, the Illinois hit-and-run drunk driver has made it clear he intends to give himself up peacefully- although not just yet.  I think we could all take a page out of that guy’s book.
 

If you want to see all of the feel-good stories on the hardwood, though, you’re going to have to get NCAA basketball tickets at StubHub.com.     


 

Permalink - Posted in General on February 21, 2007 - Post a comment

Good Losers

One pervasive strategy when it comes to team sports is that a loss before the postseason, if done right, will fire a team up.  If you go into the tournaments feeling invincible, you will certainly be proved otherwise.  That’s why a good, well-timed loss can be the best thing for a team with championship aspirations.    
 

The same theory can work for wars and passing paternity tests. 
 

Wisconsin and Florida both know this.  The Gators lost to Vanderbilt and they think it will give them just the right amount of fear and urgency to make it all the way.
 

The number ones are getting their losses out of the way before the conference championship tournaments start, so Ohio State really has to buckle down against either Penn State or (preferably) the Badgers on Sunday. 
 

The Wisconsin Badgers took theirs against Michigan State last night in a 55-64 away game.  If they had to loose once before the postseason, Michigan State isn’t the worst place to do so.  The Spartans will probably make the tournament for the 10th straight season, so it doesn’t count as a bad loss.
 

See if Wisconsin got the fear put in ‘em by getting Badgers tickets at your source for smart tourney teams, StubHub.com.


 

Permalink - Posted in General on February 21, 2007 - Post a comment