Where to start...
The college game is exciting, much more so than the professional game. It seemed that nearly every game I watched came down to the final minute, the final shot. Unlike the NBA, where only a few teams really have a chance to win the championship, the parity in the collage game allows that plenty of teams had a chance to win the trophy. The eventual winner, University of Connecticut, was counted out for dead, so to speak, midway through their season. By tournament time they appeared unbeatable...and they were!
These players are really good. The level of play in college basketball makes the game extra exciting. I've lost track of the number of clutch shots that were made during the tournemenet. Many of the players were making three point shots from NBA distance. In many games a 12 point lead wasn't enough. A few stops, a barrage of three-pointers, and a trailing team could move into the lead. And the joy and excitement of the players was contiguous.
Is there a classier broadcaster than Jim Nantz? He is often overlooked because of easy going nature and his "Hello friends," greeting. Nantz doesn't seem as clever as Joe Buck or as knowledgeable as Al Michaels. But the man is a pro. He lets the game take centerstage but is right there with the right call at the right time, all designed to help us enjoy what we're watching. He's retiring from calling college basketball and he'll be missed. But tune in to CBS this weekend where the master broadcaster will be calling the Masters. Tune in early so that you don't miss his "Hello Friends," greeting. It's just as much a part of Masters weekend as the azaleas.
