As I have stated before, I am not a big fan of the conference tournaments but there were some wonderful storylines Tuesday night.
Princeton beat Penn to send Harvard to its first NCAA tournament since 1946. Shoot, I was even born for 10 years yet in 1946.
Western Kentucky tallied its 15th win last night. It was a big one sending the Hilltoppers to the Big Dance with a 15-18 record. It looks like a definite play-in candidate but I doubt Western Kentucky cares.
South Dakota State won an overtime game from Western Illinois in the Summit League final. The win earned the Jackrabbits their first NCAA bid ever. SDSU recently moved up from the Division II ranks.
Detroit put on an impressive show in the Horizon final. It thumped regular season champion Valparaiso on its home floor. This team has come a long way since Dick Vitale coached them. The Titans are fun to watch.
The week is young and the games just keep on coming. There will be more close games and more unexpected winners. It’s the beauty of March.
Showing posts with label Harvard. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Harvard. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Jeremy Lin and Tommy Amaker
The whole sports world continues to be enamored with Jeremy Lin’s performance in the NBA.
It has been enjoyable to research Lin’s background. There were Facebook clips the other day where Lin talked about his faith in Jesus Christ. That was interesting and encouraging.
In one of the clips, he also talked about his collegiate coach at Harvard—Tommy Amaker. Lin praised Amaker’s coaching ability. No doubt, Amaker helped Lin become a better player and has played a part in Lin’s NBA success.
Amaker is quieting putting together a solid Harvard program. Amaker has led the Crimson to three straight 20 or more win seasons. Currently, Harvard is 20-2 and 6-0 in the Ivy League. Harvard has visions of the NCAA tournament.
Amaker was a star guard at Duke University. His Division I coaching career took off at Seton Hall where he guided the Pirates to a 68-55 mark and a Sweet 16 NCAA appearance. The Seton Hall success led him to Michigan. Amaker had reasonable success with the Wolverines at 108-84 but was fired. But Harvard has seemingly resurrected his career. I wouldn’t be surprised even if takes another top Division I job sometime in the near future.
But know this: Lin and Amaker are cheering for each other. Both have learned from each other. Both have preserved. Both are great, feel good stories.
It has been enjoyable to research Lin’s background. There were Facebook clips the other day where Lin talked about his faith in Jesus Christ. That was interesting and encouraging.
In one of the clips, he also talked about his collegiate coach at Harvard—Tommy Amaker. Lin praised Amaker’s coaching ability. No doubt, Amaker helped Lin become a better player and has played a part in Lin’s NBA success.
Amaker is quieting putting together a solid Harvard program. Amaker has led the Crimson to three straight 20 or more win seasons. Currently, Harvard is 20-2 and 6-0 in the Ivy League. Harvard has visions of the NCAA tournament.
Amaker was a star guard at Duke University. His Division I coaching career took off at Seton Hall where he guided the Pirates to a 68-55 mark and a Sweet 16 NCAA appearance. The Seton Hall success led him to Michigan. Amaker had reasonable success with the Wolverines at 108-84 but was fired. But Harvard has seemingly resurrected his career. I wouldn’t be surprised even if takes another top Division I job sometime in the near future.
But know this: Lin and Amaker are cheering for each other. Both have learned from each other. Both have preserved. Both are great, feel good stories.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Jeremy Lin and Harvard
Jeremy Lin has made Harvard University famous in the basketball world. And that is quite the accomplishment.
Harvard isn’t exactly known as the hotbed of college basketball. Oh yes, the school does make it into the top 25 rankings on occasion or even the NCAA tournament, but face it, Harvard is known for its academics.
Lin has generated a cult-like following the last week or so as he came off the bench to star for the NBA’s New York Knicks. Of course, people want to know all about this overnight sensation. Who is he? What is his basketball background?
Lin wanted to earn a scholarship from a Pac-10 school but was turned down. He eventually landed at Harvard –a school that doesn’t offer athletic scholarships He developed into an outstanding Ivy League player and garnered first-team league honors both his junior and senior seasons.
And after struggling with his NBA career, Lin is now the talk of New York, the NBA and Harvard University.
I imagine Harvard is basking in the spotlight. There is nothing like some free publicity for your school.
Harvard University and the basketball world are cheering for Lin. This is a great story of perseverance and hard work. It also shows that Harvard can produce talented AND intelligent basketball players.
Harvard isn’t exactly known as the hotbed of college basketball. Oh yes, the school does make it into the top 25 rankings on occasion or even the NCAA tournament, but face it, Harvard is known for its academics.
Lin has generated a cult-like following the last week or so as he came off the bench to star for the NBA’s New York Knicks. Of course, people want to know all about this overnight sensation. Who is he? What is his basketball background?
Lin wanted to earn a scholarship from a Pac-10 school but was turned down. He eventually landed at Harvard –a school that doesn’t offer athletic scholarships He developed into an outstanding Ivy League player and garnered first-team league honors both his junior and senior seasons.
And after struggling with his NBA career, Lin is now the talk of New York, the NBA and Harvard University.
I imagine Harvard is basking in the spotlight. There is nothing like some free publicity for your school.
Harvard University and the basketball world are cheering for Lin. This is a great story of perseverance and hard work. It also shows that Harvard can produce talented AND intelligent basketball players.
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Dave Diles was College Football Scores
One of the joys of following college football on Saturday is watching the scores of various games across the country. Sometimes you are shocked, others are only possible upsets.
Today, you have various outlets for score information, but back in the old days you went to one source. And Dave Diles was that source. He was the Walter Cronkite of college football scores.
Diles hosted the “Prudential College Football Scoreboard Show” on ABC for a number of years. I remember as kid looking forward to that show each week. Diles had a great voice and interesting tidbits along with his scores. I couldn’t believe there were so many college football games played across the country. And if it was Division I school or even smaller, Diles had the score. Even Ivy League games like Harvard-Yale.
College football was a lot simpler back then. Television offered few choices and few games. The television screen wasn’t one giant information outlet with constant visual simulation. You had to really want and find the scores.
That’s why I turned to Diles. And many other people did the same. Diles died last year and although he was long gone as a score host before then, his passing also included the close of an era.
When I think of it, a smile comes across my face.
Today, you have various outlets for score information, but back in the old days you went to one source. And Dave Diles was that source. He was the Walter Cronkite of college football scores.
Diles hosted the “Prudential College Football Scoreboard Show” on ABC for a number of years. I remember as kid looking forward to that show each week. Diles had a great voice and interesting tidbits along with his scores. I couldn’t believe there were so many college football games played across the country. And if it was Division I school or even smaller, Diles had the score. Even Ivy League games like Harvard-Yale.
College football was a lot simpler back then. Television offered few choices and few games. The television screen wasn’t one giant information outlet with constant visual simulation. You had to really want and find the scores.
That’s why I turned to Diles. And many other people did the same. Diles died last year and although he was long gone as a score host before then, his passing also included the close of an era.
When I think of it, a smile comes across my face.
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