This isn’t a rerun: Sherrod Wright wins it at the buzzer (Recap of George Mason vs Richmond)

The first game of the inaugural (Virginia) Governor’s Holiday Hoops Classic doubleheader this past Saturday in Richmond, Va., provided a finish that more than validated Governor Bob McDonnell’s vision in creating what will hopefully be an annual four-school, all-Commonwealth event.

With 5.8 seconds left, George Mason and Richmond found themselves knotted at 64-all. The Patriots retained possession after a Spiders foul, and guard Sherrod Wright inbounded to point guard Corey Edwards, who drove the right side of the lane, then suddenly spun and passed out to Wright.

The redshirt junior has become known for hitting big shots, and he rose and fired, absorbing a collision with his defender, to swish a three-pointer as the horn sounded. With the soft smack of leather against nylon, a long streak of futility at the Richmond Coliseum ended for the Patriots.

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By way of introduction, I'm a George Mason student and diehard Patriots basketball fan. I'll be writing about George Mason and the CAA here for the rest of the season. This is the holiday-delayed first installment of what I hope will be a regular contribution. Thanks, Gary!

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The city of Richmond, and especially its Coliseum, has not been kind to the team from Fairfax. Mason has won many games in the Coliseum against other out-of-town guests, but when faced with a hometown squad, they always seemed to lose. The CAA tournament has been held at the Richmond Coliseum every season since 1990, with Richmond participating up until 2000, and VCU participating from 1996 until last March. In that entire time, Mason never won a single game against either school in conference tournament play.

Even in their best years, playing the Coliseum has been a struggle. The two best teams in Patriots history, the 2006 Final Four team and the 2011 Round of 32 team, both earned at-large NCAA bids after crushing conference tournament losses (to Hofstra, and to VCU, respectively).

The Patriots had fared slightly better at the Coliseum in the regular season, most recently defeating VCU in February 1999. However, with the Spiders departing for the A-10 after the 2001 season (not to face Mason again until this past Saturday) and with the Rams relocating to the Siegel Center for 2000-01, the futility streak expanded to regular season play.

After a decade of painful losses, Mason finally broke through at the Siegel Center in February 2011, with a 71-51 shellacking of the Rams on national television (improbably, this loss awakened a sleeping giant, and Shaka Smart's squad went to the Final Four barely a month later).

But the Coliseum streak continued, right through the 2012 CAA tournament. Mason went home early from Richmond last March, falling to VCU on a supposedly neutral court for the fourth year in a row and the sixth time in the last nine tournaments. With VCU departing in the offseason for the A-10, and the CAA tournament shifting to Baltimore after one final hurrah this coming March, that could have been the end of the story. However, one last opportunity presented itself, with the establishment of the Governor’s Classic. The Patriots were chosen to face Richmond (for the first time since 2001!) in the early game, with Old Dominion versus Virginia to follow.

The pregame scouting reports should have been fairly simple. Richmond came in having taken 32 three-point attempts earlier in the week against Kansas, and shooting 38% from long range for the season. The Patriots, meanwhile, entered having consistently been ranked as one of the top teams in the country at defending two point field goals, yet one of the worst at defending against the three.

Richmond took full advantage, hitting two treys in the first minute and sinking eight of their first ten attempts from beyond the arc. Darien Brothers was especially hot, beginning the game five-for-five. In fact, with all their hot shooting from the outside, the Spiders did not score a two-point basket until over 15 minutes into the game.

On the Patriots side, leading scorer Sherrod Wright (Mason’s only double figure scorer at over 16 per game) kept Mason in the game early. The junior accounted for 11 of Mason’s first 21 points, including a sequence in which he made a layup, stole the inbound pass right under the basket, and dunked to tie the score at 11.

Offense was in style early, and after about 9 minutes of trading baskets, the game was tied at 21. Each team began to make defensive adjustments, and Mason’s offense bogged down as Wright faced additional pressure, while Richmond was forced to start to look inside for points. Sloppy play and turnovers on both sides slowed the pace, with Richmond pulling away late to lead 41-32 at the half.

With the final seconds ticking down for Mason, in a foreshadowing of coming events, Sherrod Wright forced up a long three-pointer, which missed everything, and may have been tipped. It dropped into the arms of freshman Patriot Marko Gujanicic, who alertly laid it up, albeit milliseconds too late to count.

The second half was defined by three major runs. First, Mason came out with a renewed focus to defend the three, especially against leading scorers Darien Brothers and Derrick Williams. Defensive intensity and some timely hot shooting fueled an 11-3 Mason run to cut the deficit to 44-43 with 16 minutes to play.

Momentum shifted as Mason’s offensive ground to a stop again, victimized by turnovers and poor shooting, while the Mason defense fouled Richmond five times in about a minute and a half. The run was finally stopped by a Patrick Holloway jumper and a Corey Edwards uncontested layup, but not before an 12-2 run had given the Spiders a 12 point lead with 7:31 to play.

It seemed likely that Mason had expended all their energy in closing the initial gap at the start of the half, and that the game was now slipping away. Instead, Richmond opened the door, as over the next few minutes Edwards drew a charge, then Trey Davis missed a pair of free throws, then Richmond committed four turnovers against Mason’s full court pressure and missed two rushed three-point attempts.

Mason took what they were given, as Wright’s three-pointer made it a seven point game, then Edwards and Anali Okoloji scored in transition cut the deficit to three. Back-to-back turnovers by Wright slowed the comeback, however Richmond got only a single Darien Brothers (20 points) made free throw from the miscues. With two minutes to play, the Spiders still clung to a four point advantage, 62-58.

The sophomore Edwards, who has emerged as Mason’s new starting point guard in recent weeks (an ever-revolving position for the Patriots, dating back to the beginning of last season), came up with a big steal for the Patriots. The ball found it’s way into the hands of the sweet-shooting Holloway, who promptly knocked down a trey, cutting the Richmond lead to one, 62-61, with 1:53 to play.

Spiders forward Alonzo Nelson-Ododa promptly turned the ball over again, and Jonathan Arledge stuck back Edwards' miss for the Patriots first lead of the game, 63-62. Spiders coach Chris Mooney called timeout, but he was powerless to stop his team’s collapse, as Greg Robbins lost control of the ball on a drive to the basket seconds later.

Robbins fouled Edwards in the act of shooting, and the point guard converted one of two free throws for a 64-62 Mason lead with 54 seconds to play. Richmond walked the ball up the court, running as much clock as they could. Derrick Williams (14 points) missed a three-pointer, but teammate Cedrick Lindsay was there to put it back and tie the score with 19.8 seconds to play.

Mason had been in these tight end game situations many times already this season, with mixed results (a blown five point lead to New Mexico in the final 12 seconds looms especially large), and inconsistency in such situations surely played a role in the demotion of former starting point guard Bryon Allen. This time, the Patriots could not be denied. The Spiders had a foul to give, and they used it with 5.8 seconds to go. Paul Hewitt used Mason’s final time out, and from there, Edwards (career-high 13 points) ran the designed play to perfection.

Mason’s defensive pressure, compounded by unforced Spiders miscues, allowed the Patriots to  close the game on an 18-3 run and win the contest at the buzzer, as Wright (22 points) replicated his walk off heroics from last February’s win over VCU. If there had been any question previously, it was now crystal clear: Sherrod Wright is The Man for Mason.

For me personally, and for a lot of Patriots fans, a burden was also lifted that afternoon. A regular season win, even such an important and exciting one, can't undo all those years of conference tournament heartache. Only cutting down the nets this March, on what should finally be a truly neutral court, can begin to do that. But we don't have to dread the Coliseum anymore.

Despite Six Million Reasons to Stay, VCU Leaves for the A-10

The news came quick through the CAA world today. First, there was the news that VCU was holding a news conference at 1:30 PM.  Then news came that the Atlantic 10 Commissioner was holding a press conference at 2:30 P.M.   What had been rumored for sometime - VCU heading to the A-10, was now coming true.

Then Mike Litos made the bombshell over Twitter.  VCU was heading to the A-10 immediately.  Not for the 2013-14.  Immediately, as in the 2012-13 season.

That was stunning news.

One of  three poster childs for CAA Basketball (along with George Mason and ODU), VCU looked to be staying for at least one more year, especially after outgoing AD Norwood Teague had recommended to the VCU president, Michael Rao, to stay in the CAA for the 2012-13 season.

But as someone noted on Twitter, Teague's last day was May 11.  Five days later, Rao announced the  decision at the news conference to move to the A-10. Somehow, Rao had no intention of listening to Teague.

However, the decision comes with a price.  As a result of leaving the CAA, VCU will forfeit $5 million in win shares from the NCAA Tournament over the next six years that it had earned with its Final Four run from 2011 and its first round win in the 2012 Tournament.

To that, President Rao replied "The expected returns are far greater that the short-term losses."

That was even more stunning news.

Not only did VCU forfeit the five million in NCAA Tournament win shares, they also had to pay a $250,000 exit fee, a  $700,000 entry fee to enter the Atlantic-10 and Rao noted that their travel expenses would increase by $150,000 per year by joining the A-10.

So you could say in the first year alone, VCU is losing more than $6 million in revenue from joining the A-10.  That's a significant short term loss for a public university.

As for expected returns, to break even from their initial $6 million short term loss, VCU not only needs to make the NCAA Tournament, but win several games in the NCAA Tournament to break even.

It's the kind of gamble you expect from JP Morgan/Chase investment executives.  We know the result of that gamble.

Notice I am not saying the A-10 isn't better than the CAA.  The fact that the Atlantic Ten has received twenty at large bids since 2000 to the CAA's four is clearly evidence that the A-10 is a superior conference.  So yes, you can certainly say VCU improves their stature by joining the A-10.

Here's the kicker though.   VCU doesn't need the A-10.  They made the NCAA Tournament the last two seasons.  They were at an large in 2011 and had they not won the CAA Tournament this season, they likely would hav received an at large bid again based on their non conference schedule.  In the last two seasons, the Rams have won six games in the NCAA Tournament.  That was done as a CAA team.   They were considered the favorites to win the CAA again in the 2012-13 season.

The A-10 needed VCU more than VCU needs the A-10.  After losing Temple and Charlotte, the A-10 clearly needed to restock their conference. The Atlantic 10 badly needed VCU to even out their conference.

Yes, by getting Butler and VCU, one could certainly say that the A-10 is actually even better than they were a year ago.  They have plucked the two best mid major basketball teams in the past three years.  It's a definite coup for them.

But as for VCU, their work to get to the NCAA Tournament  has got much harder now.  Had they stayed in the CAA, the Rams only significant challenger was the Dragons of Drexel.   Now VCU has to face Xavier, Saint Louis and Saint Bonaventure, three teams that made the NCAA Tournament last season.  Throw in four teams - UMass, LaSalle, St Joseph's and Dayton that made the NIT and you are looking at seven teams that made either the NCAA or NIT.  Compare that with just Drexel that made the NIT this past season.  

VCU is also giving up their huge advantage in the CAA - The Richmond Coliseum, host of the CAA Tournament.    It's a major plus to literally be in walking distance from your university to the arena that hosts your conference tournament.  

And having been at the CAA Tournament for nine of the past ten years, I can personally tell you what an advantage that is for the Rams.   When VCU went up 32-4 early on George Mason during this season's CAA Tournament Semifinals, from my press row courtside seat, I honestly thought the roof was going to cave in.  It was deafeningly loud.

The large VCU fan base has always been an intimidating factor for the Rams for the past several years and the CAA Tournament is being played at the Richmond Coliseum through 2014.   Had the Rams stayed, the CAA Tournament likely would have been at the Richmond Coliseum for the forseeable future.

That advantage is gone now.  The Rams will have to play true "neutral site" games in the A-10 Tournament.  I will be curious to see how this plays out for the Rams in the conference postseason.

The CAA is definitely on the losing end here, but it will survive.  Tom Yeager, in a terrific, timely interview by Defiantly Dutch, stated that as a result, they will have a three day tournament in March (Towson and UNCW are ineligible due to their APRs and Georgia State is ineligible since they are leaving for the Sun Belt).  He's going to look for the best fits to replace VCU and Georgia State.

Yeager has been through this scenario before in 2000.  After losing several members, including Richmond, he got the core of the America East - Towson, Delaware, Drexel and Hofstra to join the Colonial (and eventually Northeastern as well).  He still has Mason and ODU, the other two of the big three still in the fold.  The CAA will be fine.

However, the biggest loser in all this is the city of Richmond, which is ironic, since it's the home of VCU.  There was an option for the CAA Tournament to play in the Richmond Coliseum through 2016.  That likely won't happen now, because it will only be a reminder to the CAA folks that their two former members are in Richmond (the University of Richmond left the CAA for the A-10 several years ago).  There is no need for the CAA also to be headquartered in Richmond now that it doesn't have a member school there

In a couple of years, this will result in a loss of jobs, as the CAA likely moves away, and moreover, a significant loss in the Richmond economy come the first weekend of March.  The CAA Tournament has had record crowds the past few seasons.  But no more.  The loss of VCU will cut that in half for the next two years. Then in two years, no more CAA Tournament.

This is all due to what one university president believes is "expected returns" from their move to the Atlantic 10.  That's really great of Rao to look out for his university's home city in that way.

The fact is, VCU didn't need to leave.  They were one of the two favorites in the CAA for the 2012-13 season.  The Rams have a great coach in Shaka Smart, who has proven his VCU team can beat anybody, no matter what conference his team is in.  They already had five million dollars coming their way in the next six years.  The Rams already proved they could make the NCAA Tournament as an at large through smart non conference scheduling.  They proved that a CAA team can win in the NCAA Tournament in consecutive years.  Plus, they had the home court advantage in the CAA Tournament.

That's all gone now.  They are hedging their bets that they can have similar success in a tougher conference with a truly neutral site conference tournament,  If they don't make the NCAA Tournament in the next couple of seasons, those expected returns will look similar to the losses JP Morgan Chase just had.

Sometimes, the short term losses turnout to be quite long term.

Planes, Trains and Defiantly Dutch

In less than thirty minutes from now, I will be heading on the Road to Richmond for my ninth CAA Tournament.  Can't believe it is now the ninth time I am heading down the New Jersey Turnpike to I-95.   It's the first time without my dear friend Tony Terentieff, who couldn't make the tournament this year.

But I have a special guest for this road trip, the John Candy of road trips, Defiantly Dutch.  So we are heading down together for a 2:00 AM run.  If it was a Midnight Run, I would be traveling with these two men.  We are here for three days, because I have to get back for Monday for a trip out west on a family matter.

If you are looking for CAA previews, well, the best I can do is to link to others.  Dutch has an interview with Mo Cassara.  The Grand Master of CAA Hoops has his "Coach Speak" preview.  Phog Woodnight, aka Brian Mull, has his preview of the ten best players in the CAA, otherwise known as Colonial X.

As for my prediction of the CAA Tournament, all I can say is the following;  Expect at least two upsets in the CAA Tournament.  I really believe Delaware knocks off Old Dominion in the quarterfinals and George Mason is getting taken out by the winner of Georgia State/Hofstra.  Other than that, as always, figure on a lot of exciting basketball.

Oh, one last thing, I have a surprise for all of you, which I will post on my Twitter feed @gmoore21566 when I get to Richmond.  It's a first for me and for this site.  Again, remember to follow my Twitter feed later this morning for the big surprise.

And, Let's Go Krogering!

Six Years, Seven Seasons, A Man's Life - It's All Relative

Saturday evening after Hofstra had defeated Cleveland State, I was presented with a choice.  Originally, I had planned to stay and cover the Boston University vs. Rhode Island game for the 800 Games Played Project on the Mid Majority Site.  But I was very tired, under the weather, lonely for my family and I had my nephew's baptism the next morning.  So instead of watching and recapping a game on my wish list, I took the three hour drive back to New York.  

For someone who has driven ten hours to Wright State for a basketball game, staying two extra hours in Kingston seemed like child's play.  And normally, it would have been.  But there wasn't just the cold I that I had and my nephew's baptism involved in my decision to head back.  Driving home, I knew I had to be back in Mineola for sure for Monday morning.  

For the past two plus weeks starting on November 14 until this past Tuesday morning, I have been on jury duty in Mineola.  Specifically, I have been a member of a twelve person jury deciding the fate of a man charged with murder in the second degree, three counts of robbery and two other counts of criminal possession of a firearm.  We had a break over Thanksgiving weekend, so I was able to go up to Rhode Island to watch the tournament.  But I was mentally beat from the week's proceedings and still trying to recover from a cold that I had for the better part of a week.

That's why I when I wrote my recap of LIU vs. Iona, I couldn't go into details of why I was exasperated on Monday.  I was exasperated by the slowness of the proceedings, the wheels of justice.  It wasn't our jury deliberations whatsoever.  Our jury actually did an excellent job deciding the counts and there was no acrimony whatsoever. It was all the other processes, the long delays to find an open courtroom and jury room every morning.  The delays to hear testimony replayed.  When a man's life is at stake, justice should be a lot more streamlined and not have the person have to wait out their fate due to overlengthy procedures.

On December 4, 2011, it will be exactly six years that I have written this blog.  What began on a dare has become a wonderful journey to various gyms and arenas in the United States.  I have seen parts of the country that I might never have gone to had it not been for college basketball.  In the past six years, I have been to places such as Worcester, Massachusetts; Lawrence, Kansas; Charleston, South Carolina; Dayton, Ohio and Charlotte, North Carolina to name just a few to watch basketball games. It's been a lot of fun, but at times, like the trip to Dayton, it's been a long and winding road.  I still don't know how Kyle Whelliston did it all these years

For eight of the past nine years, I have taken a pilgrimage to Richmond every first weekend in March to watch the CAA Tournament.  I got to see an unforgettable NCAA regional in Raleigh in March 2008.  And this past March, I got to see live my first conference championship game since 2001.   

More importantly, I have made so many friends along the way.  I consider Defiantly Dutch, aka Jerry Beach one of my good friends, even if he still won't get back to me with his answers for my blog post (yeah, Jer, I am calling you out!).  And he's a damn good writer too.  I consider Kyle Whelliston a mentor, friend and the best college basketball writer there is, outside of John Feinstein.  His work has inspired me beyond measure.

And there are others.  There's Joe Suhoski, Mr. ODU.  It turns out also he is a very good college football writer as well. Brian Mull and Mike Litos are two very good college basketball writers and I have been following their work for years.  John Templon is as good a writer as Kyle told me he was and his Big Apple Buckets site is awesome. I even have two Mid Majority mentees in Julia Prior and Michael Hadley, Mr Red Zone IUPUI, both terrific, hilarious people.

And there's good people I have got to know somewhat like Travis Mason Bushman (you are a legend and a leader, so to speak), Garrett Wheeler, Mike Greiner, Dominic Pody, Kraig Williams, Matt Cerilli, Brendan Loy (the man behind #PANIC), Guy Falotico of IonaHoops.com, the folks at CAAZone and last but not least, Gheorghe The Blog. If you are one of my followers on Twitter, I truly appreciate the support.

Writing about college basketball has opened up an entire new world for me. Though I am not accredited media, I no longer just watch games.  I cover them.  And when the official Iona Gaels twitter account acknowledges your game tweets along  with Jon Rothstein's. Matt Norlander's and Adam Zagoria's tweets, all terrific college basketball analysts and writers,  I consider it a great honor.

Six years ago, I had no idea that I would be doing any of this today.  I still don't know how long this will continue, as I noted in November of last year.   But this is now my seventh college basketball season. And this season is special.  I am now writing for two sites.   And when that 800th game recap is written, I will celebrate with everyone else who is contributing to the Mid Majority Site.

And so far, I have written nine game recaps for the 800 Games Played Project, which have been posted here as well due to Creative Commons license.   I figure I have another thirty five to forty to write this season, if all goes well. 

But last Saturday,  my better judgment overruled staying to recap another live game.  There were bigger obligations.  Deadlines and commitments as I noted last year.  

On Tuesday, we found the defendant not guilty of murder, guilty of three counts of robbery and not guilty of two counts of criminal possession of a firearm.  I truly believe our jury was thoughtful, measured and certainly unanimous in our judgment.   We epitomized the term "civic duty".

As much as I love it, college basketball is just a game.  In the grand scheme of life, six years and seven seasons pale in comparison to the past two weeks.  It was an experience that everyone should have once in their life.  And one I won't ever forget.

NBA Lockout Got You Down? How About Being A College Hoops Junkie?

With the lockout potentially canceling the entire season, NBA fans are looking for other avenues to fill their sports fix.  For those of you who want to see some quality hoops, it's time you joined the rest of us fans of the college hardwood (and I mean the sport, not my blog, though I certainly will gladly take more readers and followers on Twitter at gmoore21566).  Thus, for those of you pro basketball fans new to following college basketball, here are some suggestions for you.

1. Pick a Team to Follow - I certainly have no problems with people who love college basketball in general.  And of course, I will drop whatever I am doing if there is a good game to watch.  But what makes college basketball more fun is if you pick a team/college to root for whether it's live or on TV.  Now for those of you living in many NBA cities, you often have a lot of choices (especially for us in New York, more on that in a second), but some NBA cities don't have that many college basketball team alternatives (hello, Orlando!).
2. When Picking a Team, May I Suggest a Mid Major Team  - Now for many pro basketball fans in big market cities, many Lakers' and Clippers' fans likely will trend to USC or UCLA , while Knicks' fans will likely tend to veer towards St John's and Celtics' fans may go down the road to Chestnut Hill for Boston College.  However,  Bobcats' fans, you don't have to venture far to support the 49ers of Charlotte or Davidson, or even for those Bobcats' fans on the coast, UNCW over the more traditional staples of UNC and Duke.
   
   But if you are the supporter of a NBA team and have no particular allegiance to any big conference schools, there are plenty of mid major teams in your local area that you can support.   Pacers fans have Butler right down the road, or IUPUI, which is not the former mascot of the Expos, but the home of Michael Hadley's Jaguars of the Summit Conference.  Sixers' fans have plenty of choices besides Villanova.  There is Saint Joseph's, UPenn, Temple and my pick to win the CAA this season, Drexel.
   
   Nets' and Knicks fans have lots of mid major teams to choose from besides the usual duo of St John's and Seton Hall.   First, you have potentially the best mid major team in the country in New Rochelle in the Iona Gaels.   For those Nets' fans craving Brooklyn basketball, there are the entertaining Blackbirds of LIU- Brooklyn, the defending NEC champions who love to put the ball in the hoop.  If you are on Staten Island, the Hurley brothers are quickly turning Wagner into a contender. In the Bronx, there is Fordham and the underrated Rose Hill gym.  And out here on Long Island, you have two choices; Hofstra and Stony Brook, two programs definitely on the rise.
   
   And you have lots of other mid majors in NBA cities.  Detroit could be the favorite for the Horizon in Pistons' land, but UW Milwaukee might have a say about the Horizon in Bucks' land.  Jazz fans may finally have a chance to see the gem of a team Stu Morrill always has at Utah State.  Cavaliers' fans probably are glad to see the NBA lockout and now they can enjoy another good Xavier team this season.
3. Go to Live College Basketball Games -  Yes, watching college basketball on TV is fun. But it seriously pales in comparison to live games.  Live games are so much more fun.  You get a better appreciation for the skill level of talented college basketball players.   You have lively,often creative student sections and animated coaches like Bruiser Flint that will entertain you for two non stop hours.  It's also one of the most inexpensive outings you can find, plus some tasty food selections (see further down for Delaware BBQ).  Thus I recommend...
4. Bring a Friend or Better Yet, Bring Your Children to a Live Game -  There is never a better outing to hang out with a good friend or with your children than a college basketball game.  For almost ten years now, I have had Hofstra season tickets with my good friends Mal and Tony.  It's quality time with two longtime friends.  You can catch up on each other's lives, comment on the play of the game and throw in a good natured barbing of quality CAA officiating.
   
   But better yet, if you have a young son into sports, like my older son Matthew, college basketball is a very exciting sport to a child.  It also helps if your son's first game of the season with you is the game where Charles Jenkins ends up on SportsCenter....on your birthday no less.  There is no better bonding with father and son than a sporting event.  And a two hour college basketball game is the perfect sport for young children.  Matthew is now hooked on college basketball.
5. Take a Road Trip to See a Game  - One of my favorite things the past several years is taking a road trip.  Whether it was a pre-season tournament in Charleston, South Carolina, or a weekend trip to Atlantic City, then Philly for some good food and a Drexel-Hofstra Basketball game with Bruiser Flint at his foot stomping finest, a jaunt down to Newark for some bball and barbecue, or a long road trip to Dayton for a BracketBuster game and a terrific national museum, college basketball road trips with a good friend in support of your team are memories that you will treasure for years to come. But for the best college basketball road trip...
6. Go to a College Basketball Conference Tournament - Sans one year due to my younger son's surgery, I have been going to the CAA Tournament since the 2002-03 season.  Especially since 2005-06 when the Colonial became twelve teams, there is nothing better than seeing ten games in three days (alas, I have never been able to stay for the CAA Championship game).  I have also been to several Big East Conference Tournament games.
   
   There is nothing like a conference tournament live. The games are incredibly exciting, the atmosphere is often raucous and the level of play is tremendous.   I can't even begin to tell you the history I have seen at the Richmond Coliseum and MSG over the years.  You can not truly call yourself a college basketball fan if you have not gone to a conference tournament.
   
   And there are so many conference tournaments to choose from if you are a fan.  Especially for those in the Northeast/Atlantic in 2012, you have the MAAC Tournament in Springfield, Massachusetts, the CAA in Richmond, the Atlantic 10 in Atlantic City and yes of course, the Big East Tournament at the Garden.  You can't go wrong by attending any of those tournaments.
7. Go to a Mid Major Conference Tournament Championship Game -  Now what I mean by this is that several mid major conferences have their tournament championship game at the highest remaining seed's home court.   The America East, the Patriot League, the NEC and the Horizon are several conferences that have this in effect.
   
   I have been fortunate to see two of these games.  In 2001, I saw Hofstra defeat Delaware in the Mack Center in Hempstead for the America East Championship (in what would also be the swan song for both teams in the America East).  And this year, I was fortunate to see LIU win at home over Robert Morris to win the NEC Championship.   Talk about an incredibly amazing atmosphere in front of sold out, mostly partisan crowds.  And of course, you have fans storming the court at the end of the game.  Now that's fun.  But if you really want an event to remember...
8. Go to a NCAA Tournament Regional - In 2008, my friends Mal, Tony and I went to Raleigh for the first round regional.  It was the experience of a lifetime.  This was of course where Stephen Curry became a national star for his performances vs. Gonzaga and Georgetown.  You also had North Carolina basically playing home games as well in the same regional.  Talk about raucous. When the Wildcats made their historic comeback vs. the Hoyas, the place was rocking.   A NCAA Regional is definitely something a fan should see for themselves.

Now you have eight reasons to become a college basketball junkie. You can start by looking at various team's schedules.   The best place to go for that is Basketball State and click on Schools.  There you will find "Schedule/Results" on the left hand side.  And if you really want your fill of hoops, like me, you can plan out an entire year's schedule around several teams (that's my assignment for this weekend).

And if you follow my advice and pick a mid major team to follow, you can share your experiences by tweeting them.  You would be surprised on how few tweeters there are of mid major teams or of the CAA in general.  By tweeting some of the action, you will gain followers, trust me on this.

So NBA fans, do not despair.  You can get your fill of hoops by joining us in the world of the College Hardwood.  And yes, this time, that was a plug.