File photo by D.L. AndersonIs ACC basketball as we knew it over? Here, Duke and UNC players scrap over a loose ball in March 2010. Fooled you—these are NOT thoughts about the Final Four this weekend in Atlanta. Rather, these are my final four thoughts about the state of ACC and college basketball as the […]
Thad Williamson
Link: http://www.thadwilliamson.comTwitter: http://twitter.com/ThadWilliamson
Posted inCulture
The never-ending game: the travesty of TV timeouts in the NCAA tourney
File photo by Jeremy M. LangeBrad Cook, musician, basketball fan and one-time Indy model Well, sports fans, we are down to the final 12 teams standing in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. Only one ACC team remains standing, Duke, and few outside Durham expect the Blue Devils to advance past this weekend. Syracuse and Louisville […]
Posted inCulture
A (partial) defense of March Madness
File photo by D.L. AndersonCameron Crazies in 2010 In April 1 issue of The Nation, “Edge of Sports” columnist Dave Zirin has an article titled “The NCAA: Poster Boy for Corruption and Exploitation” which shines a light on what is described as the exploitation of college athletes by the money-making NCAA “cartel” that brings in […]
Posted inCulture
Mysteries of the brackets: North Carolina schools face tough draws
The state of North Carolina has placed five schools in the 68-team men’s NCAA basketball tournament: Davidson, Duke, North Carolina, North Carolina A&T and North Carolina State. The NCAA committee didn’t exactly hand any of these schools a break. A&T has been forced to participate in what used to be known as the “play-in” game, […]
Posted inCulture
We do the math: The 14 greatest ACC Tournaments ever
Today is quarterfinal Friday of the ACC Tournament in Greensboro. The wheat has been sorted from the chaff and only the top eight teams remain, thanks to a no-upset first round on Thursday. It’s a good time to indulge in some nostalgia, because this is the last iteration of the ACC Tournament in which the […]
Posted inCulture
The global significance of Carolina-Duke (yes, really)
File photo by D.L. AndersonDuke’s Jon Scheyer (right) and Marcus Ginyard clash in this 2010 encounter. A couple of years ago a local radio personality asked me on a pregame show prior to a Duke-Carolina game whether our long-running local hardwood feud is the “biggest rivalry in all of sports.” I hesitated a bit, and […]
Posted inCulture
In search of a close game in Chapel Hill: Carolina-State, Round II
File photo by Jeremy M. LangeAn outtake from a 2008 INDY Week cover shoot featuring Megafaun’s Brad Cook There’s not quite as much buzz about the second installment of Carolina-State’s basketball rivalry as there was prior to the first meeting last month. This could be for several reasons, including the fact that the Duke game […]
Posted inCulture
How good is Miami? P.J. Hairston? And more mid-season ACC basketball questions
Photo by Chris BairdC.J. Leslie of the underachieving Wolfpack, temporarily leaving a Miami player behind during a Feb. 2 loss at PNC Arena Carolina-Duke round one went to the Blue Devils Wednesday night, unofficially marking the end of the first half of the ACC hoops season. All the teams have played at least 11 of […]
Posted inCulture
Dean Smith and the Pluralist Commonwealth vision
File photo by Jeremy M. LangeA view of Franklin Street from 2009 Note: Thursday evening I was a participant in a panel on scale, place, and community hosted by the McConnell Center at the ACC’s newest outpost, the University of Louisville. This blog is an excerpt from remarks at the talk, which begin with a […]
Posted inCulture
ESPN gigs shouldn’t be safety net for coaches who cheat
Tennessee Journalist/Creative CommonsBruce Pearl in 2009 You can’t blame ESPN, a principal promoter and profiteer of college basketball, for wanting to hire studio hosts and game commentators who are knowledgeable, opinionated and bring strong personality to the table. Bruce Pearl, the former Tennessee coach who can often be found opposite former Virginia Tech coach Seth […]