The MADness of March: An Old School Point Guard on College Basketball’s National Treasure

It only makes sense that a former basketball player living in Chapel Hill would have lots of thoughts on the 2023 NCAA DI March Madness tournament. Most sports fans turn their attention to the marquee event that draws debates, eyeballs, and money to 17–23-year-old athletes competing for the national title. I am no exception. In Blue Heaven, the conversation never really ends because of the winning tradition for the men’s and women’s programs and UNC being a founding member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Now here is where it got a little dicey in this little country village — the Tar Heel men did not receive a bid to compete for the championship and chose to not accept an offer to play in the National Invitation Tournament. Let the fireworks begin — mine included.

“Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there.”
― John Wooden

My full disclaimer is that I played at Virginia in the late ’70s and early 80s and coached at UNC when hoops back then was just as competitive, scrappy, and intense in post-season play. What is different from that time compared with today is that we did not have the technological advances such as smartphones and social media to draw more attention and interest. In addition, today’s bloggers, influencers, and pundits (who pose as journalists) receive airtime for all the wrong reasons. So, my perspective and reflections may be viewed…