Around the Hoops World: Three Important Stories

—Seventh-graders are now classified as “prospects” according to NCAA basketball rules. This will only could for men’s basketball, though. The story here is that coaches and trainers have been going younger and younger in their search for talent. However, with the current rule book set only to regulate contact with ninth grade students, those who are younger are, in a way, more susceptible to quasi-dubious recruiting tactics. Now that younger players are under regulation, the industry of recruiting should be more controlled… or so is the stated intent.

—North Carolina got its first ACC win, beating Virginia 83-61. The Tar Heels, who had been reeling from a couple of ACC losses (Wake Forest and Boston College), were falling in the Polls and losing some of their glimmer. This win was classic UNC, though, as Psycho-T and Ty Lawson were their usual, dominating selves.

—UCLA is on fire right now. They’ve won 10 in a row overall, and 15 in a row at home, with their latest win coming in a blowout versus their former rivals, the Arizona Wildcats. UCLA, although dismantled over the offseason due to players leaving for the NBA, is proving to be a legit contender to reach the Final Four again this year. If they do, it will be their fourth time to the Final Four in a row.

To get NCAA basketball tickets, go to StubHub.com.

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