Giving Thanks

Giving Thanks

by Bill Thayer

It’s late November which means its time for turkey, stuffing, potatoes
… yes, it’s Thanksgiving. So, here’s a list of thanks from a college
basketball fan:

Thanks for the Preseason NIT, which has given us such gems as Henry
Domercant’s first round effort against Boise State, the breakout games
of Matt Walsh, the return of Carolina hoops and a pair of upsets in the
Garden.

Thanks for the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic, which has given us good
basketball, but more importantly raised money to fight cancer.

Thanks for the fabulous freshmen who turned down the money and lure of
the NBA to go to college, players like Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh,
Jason Frasier and Shavlik Randolph.

Thanks for all the great point guards who have helped pump up the tempo
in the college game, especially those pass first guys like T.J. Ford,
Steve Blake and Mo Williams.

Thanks for the players who continue to play at a level much higher than
they get credit for, as they are buried on bad teams in big conferences.
Players like Washington State’s Marcus Moore, Kansas State’s Pervis
Pasco and Providence’s Ryan Gomes.

Thanks for Anthony Glover, a warrior who has been in college forever and
never gives less than 100 percent.

Thanks for Cameron Indoor Stadium, the toughest road game in the
country.

Thanks for Jerry Tarkanian, for paving the way for Steve Fisher.

Thanks for Dwyane Wade’s explosiveness and much improved defense. A
pure joy to watch at both ends of the floor.

Thanks for Luke Walton’s unselfish play.

Thanks for Evansville’s new uniforms. No more sleeves!

Thanks for the Bracket Buster day, Feb. 22 will give us some great
matchups.

Thanks for Bradley’s Danny Granger, who not only pulled down 20 rebounds
in a game last week (Notre Dame’s Torin Francis did that also), but
grabbed 11 on the offensive end!

Thanks for Creighton, the team nobody will want to play in March, as
they’ve shown thus far.

Thanks for Alaska-Fairbanks reminding us why the games need to be
played, as they become the first Div. II school to win a Div. I
tournament. Sure, they didn’t knock off a ranked team, like Chaminade
did, but they did run off three in a row, a huge accomplishment.

Thanks for bands and cheerleaders, who add to the atmosphere that is
NCAA basketball.

Thanks for the BCS, which makes March Madness look brilliant.

Thanks for the beginning of the season, football was really starting to
get to me!

Bill Thayer is a Hoopville Senior writer living in New York. He can
be contacted by clicking
here.