First Blog

Hello and welcome to the Sports Scoop. This is my first time blogging but hopefully people will read this and leave comments which may spark intellectual sports discussion. I will update this blog as often as possible. Hopefully once a day, but we'll see how it goes.

Today's topic: College basketball.

Over the years I have noticed a few trends of the teams that have success in the March Madness tournament. First, not always does the best team win it all. To win the tournament you must win 6 games. One bad game is all it takes for the mighty #2 seed to lose to that team you've never even heard of before.

To have success you need 3 critical components:
1. Good Foul Shooting- This includes the big fella too. It's not enough anymore to have 2 or 3 good foul shooters. To have success in the tournament your team needs to be able to convert on their free throws in the clutch (Just watch Derrick Rose and Chris Douglas-Roberts).

2. A Floor General Point Guard- You need a coach on the floor executing the plays just as they were drawn up. A guy who, while he may not be the best, is the smartest player on the team. He needs to know where the 9 other players are on the court at all times and anticipate what the next move should be. (See Juan Dixon)

3. A Go-To Big Guy- Well, if your point guard is as smart as he ought to be he will feed your big man down low all day long. A dominant big man can not only create scoring chances for himself but can kick it out for three when he gets double (or if your lucky triple) teamed. He also sets the tone for your team on the glass. Most importantly, however, he must stay out of foul trouble. Opponents feast on a team whose big man is sidelined with foul trouble. (I.E. UConn's Emeka Okafor)

This being said, who are the favorites for this years National Championship, you may ask. Of all the teams I have seen this season, only a few teams stick out as legitimate National Championship contenders.

UNC- North Carolina has all three keys to success. They shoot nearly 75% from the free throw line and are led by their two best players; point guard Ty Lawson and center Tyler Hansbrough. Their fast break offense and tough defense will make them tough to beat in March.

Pitt- While shooting only 65% from the line, Pitt has experience on its side. Senior guard Levance Fields leads the team's three-headed monster attack. Fields, along with sidekicks Sam Young and DeJuan Blair can break down your defense with the fast break or half court offense.

Marquette- With three players averaging over 16 points per game and a free throw percentage in the 70's, Marquette will be a team opponents will not want to face in March. Seniors Wesley Matthews and Jerel McNeal looked to lead the Golden Eagles into the final four for the first time since a guy named Dwayne Wade.


Why not us?
Notre Dame- Luke Harangody is great, Kyle McAlarney is good too, but the team relies on too much on the three ball.

Duke- Kyle Singler is not a threatening big man. Period.

Wake Forest- Too young and inexperienced. Should have much better luck next year.


While I realize there are other good teams (Oklahoma, Texas, UConn) these teams stuck out to me either because I thought that they were either legitimate title contenders or were being overhyped by the media. Oklahoma, Texas, UConn, among other teams certainly have a chance to cut down the nets in March. But when its all said and done, I look for North Carolina to take its second title in 5 years.