SPORTS
April 5, 2013
11
Tension, excitement tiniids: ifs finaiiy March Madness
BY ALLISON DEBUSK
Staff Writer
This year, the NCAA Divison I men's
basketball season has seen the rise and fall of
powerhouse teams. The number one team,
as ranked by the Assodated Press, changed
six times during the regular season. Indiana
University, Duke University, University
of Louisville, University of Michigan and
Gonzaga University have all held and lost the
coveted spot.
"It's been a really rocky season," said Writing
Director and Tar Heels fan Parag Budhecha,
"The top 10, even top 20 teams, keep doing
really well and then not doing so well."
The madness began with the conference
tournaments. University of Miami topped the
Atlantic Coast Conference for their first title.
Louisville dominated the Big East. Ohio State
University triumphed in the Big 10. University
of Kansas conquered the Big 12. Gonzaga
prevailed in the West Coast.
After the conference tournaments ended, the
country anxiously waited for Selection Sunday.
Louisville in the Midwest, Gonzaga in’^tbe
West, Kansas in the South and Indiana in the
East were given number one seeds. However,
this position did not promise smooth sailing
to the Final Four. Only Louisville survived the
first five rounds.
"You're going to see a lot of teams that
might not be seeded too high win, let's say a
two seed playing a ten seed or something,"
said PE Center Manager Michael Merkel. "I
think it's really balanced. Seeds won't be that
important."
Merkel's prediction proved true in the
second round. Second seed Georgetown
University fell to 15th seed Florida Gulf Coast
University and third seed University of New
Mexico fell to 14th seed Harvard University.
"FGCU over Georgetown and Harvard
over New Mexico (were the most shocking
games)," said Vice President for Student
Affairs and Dean of Students and Indiana fan
Aaron Fetrbw via email.
The third round dangled a spot in the Sweet
16 in front of hungry teams. Some games
were hard fought, like the game between 12th
seeded University of Mississippi and 13th
seeded La Salle University, won by La Salle
who scored with two and a half seconds left
on the clock.
Other highly ranked teams crushed their
opponents, like Louisville, Michigan State
University and University of Arizona, while
University of Oregon upset Saint Louis
University and Cinderella Wichita State
University knocked out Gonzaga.
"Gonzaga's flop wasn't a real surprise," said
Fefrow. "I think Miami should have been the
other number one seed as the ACC regular
season and conference champ."
In the Sweet 16, two of the remaining
number one seeds fell to fourth seeds. The
University of Michigan surprised Kansas.
With two and a half minutes left, Michigan
had a 14-4 run, concluded by a three pointer
by Trey Burke, to send the game into overtime.
Michigan prevailed by two points in overtime.
Syracuse University defeated Indiana by 11
points to advance to the Elite Eight. Wichita
State, Duke, Ohio State, University of Florida
and Marquette University completed the Elite
Eight.
In the next round, Louisville's Kevin Ware
jumped up to block a shot, but when he landed
awkwardly, his leg snapped right out of the
skin. After Ware was removed from the court
and taken to a hospital, an emotional Louisville
triumphed over Duke.
In a Cinderella story, Wichita State
dominated Ohio State, advandhg to face
Louisville in the Final Four.
Michigan easily advanced past Honda,
and Syracuse's length was the difference over
Marquette. The battle of Michigan's offense
versus Syracuse's two-three zone set up a final
like atmosphere.
"Syracuse's defense is psycho," said
Instructional Technology Librarian and
Indiana fan Jessica Sender. "Syracuse is just
the tallest team. They stand around and people
just run into them."
With four teams remaining and brackets
destroyed, it is time to predict who will reach
the championship game.
"Wichita should win it all because they're
the underdog," said senior and Tar Heels
fan Traynham Larson. "Whoever wins the
■Louisville-Wichita game will beat Micliigan in
the final."
"I have Louisville winning it all," said
Fefrow. "I had to pick with my head instead of
iny heart in the final game."
"I think Louisville is going to have a lot of
momentum coming off this big injury, so that's
going to overshadow any Cinderella story,"
said Sender, who has picked Lousiville to
defeat Syracuse in the final game.
As for me, I have picked Michigan to beat
Syracuse. Wichita State had an impressive
run, but there is no stopping Louisville. At
last, Louisville will be the only team to survive
March Madness.
Athletes bond during spring break
BY SYDNEY HAWKINS
Staff Writer
While students were renting beach houses, invading
Austin, Texas for the South by Southwest music festival,
and visiting family, some unlucky spring athletes were left
behind.
Squads practiced and competed in games, abandoning
their spring breaks, but numerous athletes were more than
willing to stay on campus knowing that it benefits the
team.
Spring sports such as baseball, men and women's
lacrosse, golf, and men's and women's tennis teams all
sacrificed their party week for their team obligation.
Head baseball coach Nick Black said that his athletes
recognized the commitment to stay on campus for break.
"If they wanted to go home for spring break, they
probably wouldn't play a spring sport," Black said.
It is important for students to realize the life of a varsity
competitor.
"They know that we have games and practices scheduled
over spring break going into it," said Black.
Du^-season athletes missed spring break, fall break,
and remained on campus throughout J-Term as well.
Junior Emily Carter swims and plays lacrosse for
Guilford.
"I've been here since Jan. 12, so I really did regret not
being able to visit home during break," said Carter.
However, dedication to the team wins out in the end.
"I had to honor my commitment to my team and my
sports as a priority," she continued.
During spring break, athletes were not provided meals
at the cafeteria during the week because the cafeteria was
closed.
"We would order pizza and have it together or go out
somewhere to eat," said Black. "It was hard to be able to
feed 40 players without spending a huge sum of money."
Team budgets made it hard to feed everyone for a week,
but teammates grew closer since they were constantly
together.
"The women's team went to the lake a few times to play
games and relax," said Carter. "We had a movie night and
pasta dinners or went out for meals. Our team is pretty
close so we made the best out of it, won both our games,
and practices improved the team."
The men's lacrosse team organized team-bonding
events.
"We ate dinner together aind had cookouts, so I feel a lot
closer with the team," said first-year lacrosse player Nick
Caputo.
The women's softball team traveled to a tournament at
Myrtle Beach, S.C., and enjoyed waves and sunshine.
"It was nice being at the beach with my team, and it
helped me not miss home as much," said sophomore and
softball player Marty Wilcox.
Some athletes missed home, as they had been here for
so long.
"It would have been nice to see my family, but really I
would have just been happy to relax with my pets," Carter
said.
Although family and pets were missed at home, the
commitment of sports at Guilford came first. Maximizing
stewardship, that is what Guilford is all about.
Sophomore Nick
Huckfns celebrates
on the field with his
team.The lacrosse
team is one of many
teams who bonded
over break.
Are you mad for Madden?
BYJOHN KLUEPFEL
Staff Writer
Madden NFL, formerly known, as John Madden Football,
is one of the most sought-after video games since created
by Electronic Arts Sports. Millions of gamers purchase the
game. Waiting in lines until midnight release has turned into a
national event like Black Friday.
In honor of the 25th anniversary releasing on Aug. 27,2013,
it's time for my All-Madden team. I've played this game every
year since 1999. Using my analysis as an avid Madden fanatic,
I comprised my own All-Madden team.
Quarterback: Michael Vick - *04 Madden Rating: 95
Vick is a perfect example of why this is an All-Madden
team. He was dominant.
Vick was on the cover for Madden 2004, which might explain
his reign over everyone else. Vick possessed lightning speed
(94 speed) mixed with crazy arm strength (97 throw power).
Vick was the equivalent of Bo Jackson in "Tecmo Bowl."
Vick basically broke the game and was nearly a cheat.
He is the reason why the game has limited running-style
quarterbacks.
My friends and I would constantly fight over who would
get to run all over the defense with Vick. It was that simple.
Junior track runner C.J. Green agreed with the Vick
selection.
"Man was a god," said Green. "Plus accuracy didn't matter
in old Madden. Throw tihe ball deep, and it was game over."
Running Back: Adrian Peterson - * 12 Madden Rating:
97
Adrian Peterson, or "All Day," is so good in Madden '12 that
it makes playing with Christian Ponder (73 overall) tolerable.
Peterson combines crazy speed (97 speed) with amazing
strength (90 trucking power). I quit on numerous occasions
while playing against the Vikings because of the unstoppable
beast.
To see all of John’s Madden picks, check out:
WWW.GUILFORDIAN.COM