Volume 8

Kyle Whelliston November 1, 2011  15
Prologue: All of Us vs. Each of Us

CHICAGO, October 30 -- About a year ago, George Mason head coach Jim Larranaga called. "Thanks for writing that nice article about our 2006 team," went the voicemail. Five months later, on the morning of the National Championship game, over breakfast in the lobby of the downtown Hilton in Houston, I took the opportunity...                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Kyle Whelliston November 2, 2011  10
800 Games Project: Guidelines

Please at least give a passing scan to the essentials of AP Style, use ten instead of 10, use proper capitalization, familiarize yourself with the concept of Chicago second references, and so on. You will be making your editor's life easier, and ensuring that your recap...                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

John Templon November 8, 2011  3
The Journey Begins

It was a mild, but crisp November evening in New York City as I walked to the 169th Street F train station from Carnesseca Arena on Monday night. It was a brand new experience for me...                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Gary Moore November 8, 2011  6
William & Mary at Saint John's 11/7/2011

Sometimes, I often don't decide to go to a college basketball game untilthe last minute.  I wasn't sure if I was going to the William and Mary vs.St John's game last night, wh...                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Joe Geyer November 8, 2011  3
St. John's 74 William and Mary 59

Growing up in Mid-Majordom, the first games of the year for my team were always my favorites. The pure curiosity of wondering what my team would look like after the eight-month off-s...                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Edward Pelle November 9, 2011  3
I Finally Found You and Then You Were Gone...

It was late season and I had been putting the finishing touches on another ambitious college basketball season. I had been criss crossing the country, sleeping in airports and truc...                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Edward Pelle November 11, 2011  4
Mountain Hawk Season Opener

Wednesday night I returned to St. John's for the second round of the 2k Sports Classic benefiting Coaches vs Cancer. The final four teams in the "tournament" are already being adve...                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Irvin Mintz November 12, 2011  3
Cornell at Saint Bonaventure 11/11/2011

Not even a four hour drive from Toronto through sleet and snow can dampen the excitement of opening night in an NCAA basketball arena. My buddy Jack and I enter the Reilly Centre, past the obligatory old and wise ticket-taker, to see the Bob Lanier court buzzing with activity just prior to tip-off.' Tonight'the...                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Gary Moore November 12, 2011  5
LIU's Long Road

When I last saw a Long Island University game live, it was the NEC championship game at the Wellness Center in Brooklyn on March 9. 'The Blackbirds were hosting the Colonials of Robert Morris, the defending Northeast Conference champions. ' I was standing in one of the LIU student sections behind the Robert Morris...                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Dwight Strayer November 12, 2011  3
It's Basketball Season (My Game 1)

After a long week of work, the moment I've been waiting for has arrived. I get to attend my first college basketball game of the new season. It's a different experience this year for me as the game doesn't involve my alma mater. Nonetheless, I'm still very excited. After grabbing a quick bite to eat, I make...                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Dominic Pody November 12, 2011  4
Lost in Transition

"Well if we take all these things and we bury them fast, And pray that they turn to seeds, to roots and then grass, It'd be all right, it's all right, it'd be easier that way. Or if the sky opened up and started pouring rain, Like it knew it was time to start things over again, It'd be all right, it's all right,...                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Bob Fisch November 12, 2011  3
Rhode Island at George Mason 11/11/2011

My first game of the season took me to the Patriot Center in Fairfax, Virginia, home of the George Mason Patriots.' I wasn't planning on going to the game, in fact, I had planned to make my first game of the season this Sunday at Navy.' But, a friend invited me at the last minute, and I headed out to Fairfax to...                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Matt Cayuela November 12, 2011  4
Covenant at Coastal Carolina 11/11/2011

For as long as I can remember I have always been a basketball fan. I will watch any'basketball be it college or pro, as I used to be a Detroit Pistons season ticket holder for 5 years when I lived in Michigan. When I moved to Myrtle Beach in 2005 I soon learned that I was in the'minority being a'NBA fan'in...                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Mike Miller November 12, 2011  5
For Now, It's OK to Hope

On the first full night of the college basketball season, both Morgan State and Xavier could take the court at Cintas Center full of hope of a great season ahead.Morgan State took the cou...                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Irvin Mintz November 13, 2011  3
Hartford at Penn State 11/12/2011

I'm pulling for Hartford. I don't care that my buddy Jack is decked out in full Nittany Lions' gear and that 4,500 vociferous PSU fans have gotten over Coach Paterno's dismissal long enough to join us at the Bryce Jordan Centre for a basketball game. Hartford's top assistant is my friend Drew Dawson. In 2006...                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Terry Hobgood November 13, 2011  4
Bridgewater College Eagles at High Point University Panthers

Any coward can fight a battle when he's sure of winning; but give me the man who has pluck to fight when he's sure of losing. -George Eliot Nestled on a hill behind a batch of pine trees near downtown High Point North Carolina is the Millis Athletic Convocation Center. Before you enter the arena there are...                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Stephen Smith November 13, 2011  8
Butler at Evansville 11/12/2011

Change. Change is a constant in our game. Each season a new group of incoming freshman become the next great hope to lead the program to one shining moment come March. As those freshman mature into seniors with one last chance at glory, the revolving door of college hoops in every evolving. This sort of change...                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Jordan Freemyer November 13, 2011  3
New Mexico State at Northern Colorado 11/12/2011

The Northern Colorado basketball team that took the court against New Mexico State looked very different than the one I saw take on San Diego State at the McKale Center in the NCAA Tournament in March. Gone were seniors Devon Beitzel, Chris Kaba, Taylor Montgomery and Neal Kingman, replaced in the Bears' starting...                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

John Templon November 13, 2011  3
The Cycle of College Basketball

It happens so fast in college basketball, especially below the Red Line. One season you're up, the next you're down. Players graduate, coaches depart, the game changes. Maybe you've got Brad Stevens on your bench, so it just takes an adjustment period, but Stevens is just one man, and there is only one Butler...                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Matt Cayuela November 13, 2011  4
Methodist at Coastal Carolina 11/12/2011

Two games in two days is a pretty rare occurrence for any college basketball team outside of these early season tournaments, but that is is what Coastal Carolina had today with Methodist University today. On the drive away from the arena last night I was listening to CCU coach Cliff Ellis on the radio post game...