Time for hoops! (Photo credit: Tulane Publications)
The NBA season began today! College Hoops are coming! Hooray more sports to talk about- and basketball is a great sport to follow because unlike football it isn’t as complicated for a beginning but there is a ton of strategy for a seasoned follower.
Plus basketball is so much fun period. Here are some of the reasons why it has a special place in my sports life.
I grew up in ACC country
Growing up within the boundaries of the ACC you have to at least acknowledge basketball- and for good reason. Historically the ACC is the conference for both men and women’s basketball. And boy do they take bball seriously. The ACC is the only Division I college basketball conference that doesn’t recognize a regular season title- it only recognizes the winner of the ACC tournament as the league championship. This means that while a team may have been amazing all season if they lose one game in the tournament they won’t be champions.
That’s serious gals and pals.
Plus ACC has had 12 NCAA men’s basketball championships-= UNC has five; Duke has four; NC ST two; and Maryland has one. Eight of the 12 members have made it to the Final Four at least once.
In Women’s basketball the ACC has won two championships- UNC and Maryland. And this is the only conference to have three teams from the same conference advance to the Final Four which resulted in Maryland’s winning the championship.
As a Virginia grad and fan I love basketball- especially because we are better at it than our rival which is great after a very long and frustrating football season.
The pace is quicker
Another great reason to catch a basketball game is the pace is quick. It is almost none stop action which a ton of fans appreciate. While football is hard hitting- there are lulls because of penalties, injuries, and setting up for the play. And baseball can creep along- really creep. Basketball keeps going- and even with lining up for a foul it’s still quick.
The College Tournament is the best in the NCAA
March Madness is my favorite sporting event all year. The brackets, the polls, and the upsets. Unlike college football which has a computer telling us who belongs in the championship game, the NCAA men’s and women’s tourneys are a you win the game or go home situation. Every single game matters and sometimes the little guys win. It’s a rare chance to see a ODU play a Kansas and could win. It makes for incredible drama and some amazing story lines.
I am going to admit right now- I am way more comfortable talking about college hoops than the NBA- so I’m going to be learning along with all of you. That should be fun. So welcome basketball to the Gal Pal universe. I’m excited to see tip off.
Related articles
- Duke picked to win ACC women’s basketball title (journalnow.com)
- Duke, UNC athletes exceed national graduation rates (newsobserver.com)
- Transfers in college hoops hit U.Va. hard (timesdispatch.com)
- So the Fighting Irish Heading to ACC: What does it mean? (sportsgalpal.wordpress.com)
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