By Jay Smith |@_SmithJ_ Sports Capital Journalism Program HOUSTON — TAR…HEELS…TAR…HEELS! The crowd of 75,505 inside NRG Stadium appeared to be split evenly between the four teams competing in Saturday night’s Final Four. But if you closed your eyes as the horn sounded, you would’ve sworn you were in Chapel Hill. North Carolina defeated Syracuse, …
Read MoreBy Cameron Stewart |@ThatManCam Sports Capital Journalism Program HOUSTON — Villanova senior Daniel Ochefu couldn’t stand still. In front of his locker after the Wildcats’ shocking 95-51 victory over Oklahoma, the most one-sided national semifinal game in history, the combination of exuberance and shock wouldn’t allow his oversized limbs to stop fidgeting. “I definitely was …
Read MoreBy Frank Gogola | @FrankGogola Sports Capital Journalism Program INDIANAPOLIS — Vonn Read was ready to deploy during the Gulf War. He had been stationed at Fort Drum, New York, since 1989, and was preparing for field artillery work until he transferred to Fort Lee, Virginia, two months before his former unit shipped out. Since …
Read MoreBy Rebecca Harris | @MsRebeccaHarris Sports Capital Journalism Program INDIANAPOLIS — Each member of the 2016 WBCA NCAA Division I Coaches’ All-America Team received cheers and applause, yet Oregon State senior Jamie Weisner heard a deafening roar. Waiting only a few feet away from the OSU pep band for her name to be announced, Weisner …
Read MoreBy Rebecca Harris | @MsRebeccaHarris Sports Capital Journalism Program INDIANAPOLIS — Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma brought levity and emotion to his remarks after he received the Associated Press Coach of the Year award for the eighth time, and the first since 2011. “I want to be sure my name’s there,” he said to laughs …
Read MoreBy Rebecca Harris | @MsRebeccaHarris Sports Capital Journalism Program INDIANAPOLIS — Connecticut senior Moriah Jefferson led laps around the court at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, followed closely by sophomore Kia Nurse. Open practice meant that with each pass, the crowd cheered. With each cheer, the 5-foot-7 Jefferson cracked a grin as she shook her head, glanced …
Read MoreSports Capital Journalism Program By Jay Smith | @_SmithJ_ North Carolina is set to face off against Syracuse on Saturday in the Final Four. Carolina enters as the prohibitive favorite to cut down the nets, while Syracuse enters in a position you don’t hear a program with the prominence of the ‘Cuse usually fall under, the …
Read MoreBy Cameron Stewart |@ThatManCam Sports Capital Journalism Program HOUSTON — Before the season that would turn Oklahoma guard Buddy Hield into a household name, he set some goals. Not satisfied with the Big 12 Player of the Year accomplishment he earned last season, Hield raised his expectations up a notch. Hield set three goals: win …
Read MoreBy Frank Gogola | @FrankGogola Sports Capital Journalism Program INDIANAPOLIS – Washington head coach Mike Neighbors took a minute to be serious. His answer came out of the blue given the course of the day, but it was real and unique. While other coaches and players responded that their goal is to win the national …
Read MoreBy Cameron Stewart |@ThatManCam Sports Capital Journalism Program HOUSTON — For many McDonald’s All-Americans, being handed the keys to a program from the moment they arrive on campus is a given. The Villanova Wildcats are fortunate that freshman guard Jalen Brunson isn’t like most McDonald’s All-Americans. Two of Villanova’s three leading scorers from last season, …
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