NCAA D1 Men's Basketball Championship's Report

Finally, the game we've all been waiting for. Every D1 basketball player's dream. The ultimate make-or-break for everybody's bracket. The March Madness NCAA Men's Basketball Championship game. This year's game took place in Indianapolis at the Lucas Oil Stadium. The Duke Blue Devils vs. the Wisconsin Badgers. Going into this game, Duke was projected to win under the leadership of the famous Coach K. (Krzyzewski) Coach K has been coaching as Duke since 1980. Growing up watching him take his team to the sweet sixteen year after year, he is truly an inspiration and idol to basketball players across the board. While Duke's head coach is somewhat of a legend, he still had his work cut out for him when he faced Coach Ryan in his 31st season coaching the Badgers Men's team. With countless coach of the year awards, national championships, final four, sweet sixteen etc...Coach Ryan is that of a legend as well. These two big shots couldn't have made it this far without their phenomenal players. Each team put u an impressive, yet extremely equal fight in the first half ending tied 31-31. The only difference being, Wisconsin had an embarrassing two turnovers (can't have that at this level!) and Duke gave up several easy buckets! Going strong after the first, Wisconsin's Giant center, Frank Kaminsky, averaging 8 rebounds and 19 ppg, he opened up the second half with two baskets off the bat. Putting Wisconsin in the lead.  Coming off of the first time-out in the second half, the real game changer was Duke's starting freshman point guard, Tyus Jones. Jones pulled out an impressive number of assists, steals, 3 p%, and FG%. In the End, the talent of Jones and his fellow freshman starters were stronger than that of the Badgers.   

Jones was ultimately named, "Player of the Game". He's now committed to the NBA draft which will take place in June. His teammates accompanying him will be, Jahlil Okafor Justise Winslow along with Wisconsin players Sam Dekker, and Frank Kaminsky.

Big congratulations to both of these teams and their honors this season. They're truly an inspiration to all athletes across the nation and good luck to them in their future careers, wherever it may take them! 

To learn more about players being drafted,

http://insider.espn.go.com/nbadraft/results/top100/_/year/2015

See how others felt about the games outcome,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GE3OjNXURc4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WouY8oTSNg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aluT-VpxrM

To follow more college sports,

https://plus.google.com/u/0/s/college%20sports%20ncaa/people

As our regular season nears the end, the SUU Lady Thunderbirds will be honoring our Seniors tomorrow night, 7pm at home against North Dakota. We will be honoring our veterans for the hard work, time, blood, sweat, and tears they've put into playing this game we love so much. Senior nights, for all sports, are always bittersweet. During the seasons toughest practices or losses, seniors may be reluctant knowing that this is the last season they will have to endure that kind of pain. Still, time and time again, graduates always find themselves wanting one more chance to suit up and play. A chance to be in this great of shape again. A chance to hit a game winning shot. A chance to win a game in over-time. A chance to be a college athlete again because those were some of the best years of their lives. That being said, it is my hope for our Seniors to feel in their hearts the love and passion for our sport in full force; because in a blink of an eye it will all be over.

I'm sure this message has been said countless times to athletes across the board...yet without a doubt we will still cry because no words can prepare us for the loss we will soon be facing. In this case we will be losing four of our teams greatest players. Yet the team will not be sad for the loss of talent. We will be sad for the loss of four great friends. Throughout the year our friendships have only grown to be stronger, and rather irreplaceable. Seniors cannot be thanked enough for the lessons they've taught us youngsters; for the tough love they gave to us on the court; and most importantly, for their dedication to the sport that brought us all together.
A team only exists for one year. Next year we will have new faces and we will lose faces. Thank you Seniors for making this team so memorable and for being the wonderful role-models that you are. Your beautiful smiling faces will be very missed. 

Basketball Lady T-Bird Introduction

For our very fist public appearance as a team (above) we marched in the Parowan Town Parade. (Names starting from top left; Jessica, Emma, Sydnee, Madi, Donna, Desiree, Sarah, Marquelle, Brenna; bottom left; Taylor, Hailey, Ashleigh)

To start this Blog off, I'd like to give a brief description of the SUU Women's Basketball team. Basketball season is well on it's way and the defending Conference Champs are working as hard as ever to defend their title. This group of girls is highly competitive. Even from the very beginning during the, "getting to know you" phase, friendly games or relay races were hardly friendly. Although vicious in the competition, this is a great group of girls off the court who have proven to make great companions and wonderful teammates. Spending so much time together has caused the team to form automatic relationships, similar to that of a brother or sister. Just like you cannot change who your bother or sister is, we're all on the same team. There's no changing that. Even when times get hard or frustrating, we make it work. Many community members/youth's adore the bight, and strong young women that represent this team. Each player is a wonderful role-model for young athletes. All smiles off the court and nothing but fierce competitors come game time. That's what this team is all about! The Basketball Lady T-Birds are a wonderful asset to the SUU community.