Josh Benner

Tag: Basketball

  • March Madness: one champion, but many winners

    March Madness: one champion, but many winners

    It’s the start of one of the most beloved traditions in the American sports calendar: March Madness. We’re a little bit past the midpoint of the first day. There have already been some upsets. Many people already probably have a team (or two) who they thought would go deep into the tournament already headed home.

    For me, one of the reasons why I appreciate the tournament is that I feel like there is always more than one winner. Yes, there’s only one champion. But lots of teams can come away from March Madness feeling like winners. Not every school is Kansas, or Duke, or Kentucky who expects to be in the tournament every year. For many schools, just getting into the dance i already a big win. Kennesaw State University is in the tournament for the first time in program history.

    I think of Princeton’s win today over Arizona. A 15 seed over a 2 seed. That’s Princeton’s first tournament win in 25 years. Regardless of what happens in their next game, they’re playing with house money.

    Earlier today, Furman who’s a 13 seed upset Virginia. This is Furman’s first appearance in the tournament since 1980. And there will be more upsets to follow. Obviously every team is always going to win their next game, but for the teams who pull off an upset (and if history is an indicator, there are usually about nine upsets in the first round alone), they’re already winners.

    I think of the teams who make it to the final four. Even if you’re a one seed and only make it to the final four, you’ve accomplished something special.

    I feel like we tend to judge a lot of sports based on championships. We’re like Ricky Bobby in Talledgea Nights and think “if you’re not first, you’re last.” Perhaps it’s because the tournament is so long, but in March Madness, more so than other team sports, I feel like we can appreciate the teams that overachieve, the teams that find some magic, the teams who get a game further than the experts thought they could. And in that, I feel like it’s a celebration that much more closely resembles life than how we talk about other sports.

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  • Kobe Bryant dies at 41: the life lessons we remember in tragedy

    Lakers at Wizards 12/2/15
    Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons @Keith Allison

    NBA legend Kobe Bryant, his 13 year old daughter Giana, and seven others died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California today.

    I’ve been struck by the widespread response online.

    Undoubtedly, it’s a tragedy that nine people died. But Bryant’s death has seemed to strike a cord with our society, even from people who aren’t basketball fans (or sports fans). (more…)

  • LeBron’s historic finals: greatest player of all time

    lebron
    LeBron James – Photo by Keith Allison, Wikimeia commons

    No one thought Cleveland would win this series. Golden State had had the winningest season of all time. They had won last year. Cleveland was overmatched, didn’t have the depth. It was the best player in the game (Steph Curry) vs LeBron, who’s past his prime, a shadow of his former greatness.

    And the series began as many expected. Golden State up 2-0. Cleveland responded well at home but lost a hard fought game four. The series was effectively over. Many expected the team to roll over. In game 5, without Draymond Green, the Cavs dominated. In game six, with Green back, Cleveland wouldn’t be able to keep up. But the won again. (more…)

  • March Madness 2014 – My bracket

    my bracket

    I know it could be said of any year’s tournament, but this season’s field is wide open. It’s interesting how many people have picked Michigan State and Louisville in the Final Four, both as 4 seeds.

    Of the 1 seeds, Florida seems to be the most complete team. While Wichita State made a great run to the Final Four last year, they have played a horrible schedule this year. That’s not to say that they’re not good, but they’re not going to surprise anyone this year. They have a potentially tough second round matchup with Kentucky. While Kentucky has struggled this year, they’re an extremely talented team. (more…)

  • March Madness: my bracket

    I have decided to switch up my strategy this year. In past seasons, I’ve tried to pick upsets. They can make you look like a genius, but the odds are against you picking the right ones. If you tend to stay with favorites, and they lose, the loss will hurt most other people as well. One exception to this is if there is a star player whose not going to be with his team. Syracuse big man Fab Melo is not eligible to play in the tournament. I think that this will really hurt the Orange and that they are an attractive upset pick for the second round. They play a Kansas State team whose beaten Missouri twice. A lot of pools reward you for picking upsets, and I think that this pick is worth the risk. Even if Syracuse wins this game, I don’t see them making it much further and picking it wrong probably won’t hurt you that much.

    Indiana had a key senior tear his ACL in the Big Ten tournament which will affect a team that is under experienced in the tournament. I only like them to win one game.

    As an Ohio State fan, I’ve said earlier in the season that this team has been a huge disappointment at times and I think that the region breaks down well for the Bucks.

    Everyone seems to be picking Kentucky. They’re a great team, but when everyone seems to lean one way in pools, I struggle to go with the rest of the crowd. I can put them in the national championship game, but I just can’t pick them to win it all.

    jrb