College Basketball Tag

Whoa!  The sports world is going crazy right now!  So much going on and it is all too exciting to miss.  To catch up with the sports world I have harnessed all the major news/results from the recent events.  I am going to briefly hit on each sport and give a few predictions for the Masters, MLB, NBA, and NHL.  Ready?  Lets go!

NHL

Seems like the season just started but it will shortly be coming to an end.  But I guess that's what happens when you are in a shortened and compressed 46 game season.  Thanks lockout.  The story early on in the season was the winning streak by the Chicago Blackhawks and then both the Anaheim Ducks and Pittsburgh Penguins went on their own winning streaks.  Although no one has matched a start like the Blackhawks, it seemed for a while like the Penguins might be the best team.  Now that Crosby is out the battle for best appears to be between the Ducks and Blackhawks.

Seriously, is there anything better than the NCAA Tournament?  Throughout the world there are sporting events that capture excitement and majesty in the performance of excellence.  Some say the Super Bowl is the greatest event.  Others might contend that the Olympics or the World Cup represents the best that organized sport has to offer.  A fan representative from every major sport could file an argument for their sport's top event.

Most times we are consumed with professional athletes and for good reason.  Pro athletes are at the top of their game and talent levels across the board are much higher than that of any amateur league.  However, there is just something special about college basketball.

Sure some of the pageantry has been lost over the years from players leaving college early.  And yes there are a litany of dirty coaches in college but at the end of the day these players should be allowed to receive compensation.  Tax friendly of course.  The only obvious problem is the disparity between schools and the pocket books of their boosters.  But until the NCAA cleans up their act that is a conversation for another day.  For now we just get to enjoy the amazingly competitive basketball we have had the pleasure of watching all season.

Early season tournaments are all over and the non-conference schedules will be coming to end for college teams across the country.  The road to the Final Four truly begins in January when all schools enter conference play.  We have witnessed some great basketball in the early going but any good coach would tell you that nothing compares to games played in conference.  Your conference opponents are the teams that know you the best and vice versa.  Conference play is also a true measuring stick for those who have national championship aspirations.

The real season begins in January and the students will be returning from their break to their designated sections in arenas throughout college basketball.  For Duke its the "Cameron Crazies", for Michigan State its the "Izzone", and for the University of Illinois its the "Orange Crush".  The lifeline of college basketball is the crazy atmosphere created by student sections like the ones I just mentioned.  The cheers, the slams, and the creative signs give these student sections character in the chaos.  As a fan I love what each student sections brings to the arena and I can't wait for conference play to begin.

Last week we ushered in a new season for the pro's and tonight we open the 2012-13 collegiate campaign.  Fans have longed for a night with an identity, a night in which we can truly deem as the "season opener".  Well, tonight we get exactly that.  Last year Michigan State played against North Carolina in what is now known as the Carrier Classic.  Over 8,000 fans watched the Tar Heels beat the Spartans 67-55 on the USS Carl Vinson air craft carrier.

The event received overwhelming support and attention so they have brought it back for another year.  This time the event will be a double-header that features both the Men and Women squads from Ohio State.  The Buckeye Men will take their number 4 ranking onto the court to challenge Big East opponent Marquette.

Along with the Carrier Classic there will be dozens of games across the country and one in Germany.  Yeah that's right.  I said Germany.  The MSU Spartans (14) will once again open their season with a military theme.  The boys from East Lansing, MI will take on the recently upturned UConn Huskies.  Two marquis programs in a rare over-seas game.  In fact, it will be the first college basketball game ever held in Europe.  Guess Tom Izzo just loves to be the first team to play basketball on courts not inside of a gym.

Before each team heads to the Final Four, they must survive the Regional Finals. Be there in Phoenix, Boston, Atlanta, or St. Louis to see each team punch their ticket to the 2012 Final Four!

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Congratulations to Duke and Butler for an incredible finale to the 2010 Final Four. Next year the Final Four heads to Houston, Texas and the fantastic Reliant Stadium.

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