A Growing Hunger for the Season...

    Whether it's a crossover dribble, an And 1 play to send a team ahead, or a last second buzzer shot in the face of a rival team.  It seems to be that time of year when Dicky V is calling all the night games on ESPN gettin' wild and crazy yelling all into his mic and loving every minute of it.  When the pigskins stop flying, most college students shift their enthusiasm for the hardwood and begin to prepare for the transition from hail mary deep pass, to the long range trey from way beyond the stripe, from the all out blitz to the full court press.  Basketball teams have recruited, trained, and conditioned the entire year for these next couple of months, and its becoming reality that basketball is preparing to take over the tubes during the week.

   The 24 hour basketball marathon starts all the enthusiasm tonight when tipping off at twelve midnight November 16th.  Although their have already been many games played this weekend, tonight will be the official beginning of the NCAA Mens Basketball season.  The excitement is gaining excitement as fast as Usain Bolts 100 meter dash, and even with more football still to play the world will focus on the hardwood during the weekdays.  The NCAA is having tournaments over the Thanksgiving holiday to try and equal the college football as that season roars to a much anticipated end.  With big conferences represented this year, such as the Big 12, SEC, PAC 10, Big 10, and ACC participating both the 76 Classic in Anaheim CA and the Old Spice Classic in Orlando Fl, it should add up to be a extremely entertaining tournament.  People should also consider viewing these tournaments because of all the immense talent on the floor so early in the season.  This is a year of Freshman Phenoms in John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins of the Kentucky Wildcats and Xavier Henry of the Kansas Jayhawks.  Wall and Cousins were the numbers 1 & 2 ranked players coming out of high school and both just happened to attend John Calipari 's inaugural season coaching for the Wildcats.

    Some people watch the game to support their own beloved teams, and other people watch to see the "Toughest Gyms" to play in such as the Kansas Jayhawks home in Fogg Allen Field House (Left Picture), and one of the most notable student sections of all time in Duke University's  Cameron  Indoor Stadium (Right Picture).  Two of the biggest names in basketball history have gained much respect over the years, not just on the floor, but  in the stands with their highly representative student sections.  In Cameron Indoor Stadium, it has been said that the students will reach out and touch players while they are trying to pass the ball in bounds creating an insanely close for fans to be next to the players.    Fogg Allen Field House has been notably one of the toughest places to play over the years, in the last fifteen they have only lost a total of 12 home games, and only one game to the Big Twelve South division.  The fans are remembered for their slow chant of  "Rock Chalk Jay Hawk K-U..." a slow,deep, held out tune that reverberates itself through the rafters of the Fog.  Having a loud, intimidating student section is a valuable key to a teams success.  Whether it is a white-out crowd, or stomping on the bleachers during opponents free throws, or the big momentum shifts to the home teams advantage after a big basket.  Players are always giving credit to the fans, and most players build their game off of the crowd and how loud they can become during the game.  It most definitely is one of the greatest advantages in college basketball.

    Student, fans, players, and parents spend many hours in front of the T.V.with eyes glued,waiting,  for that special moment.  A Larry Bird and Magic Johnson battle for the ages, a skinny Durant's tremendous leaping slam from the cheap seats, or a couple missed free throws to give away the National Title.  This is the season when anything can and will happen, and year in and year out kids from across the country gather together in one sport to entertain a nation with their own talents.  By the end of the year it comes down to sixty four teams, and by the time people fill out their fifth bracket, placed their bets, and get into all the games...  It is over and the nation is put on hold until the next season comes through.  Believe it or not this is one of the most exciting 3 to 4 months Americans get the privilege to view, and should be prepared for anything to happen.  It is that time and you better watch!