Category: Student Work

By Frank Gogola | @FrankGogola Sports Capital Journalism Program INDIANAPOLIS — Before 2014, the Orange didn’t have an NCAA tournament victory to their name. They had never advanced to the Sweet 16 until 11 days ago, when they knocked off top-seeded South Carolina on March 25. The wins kept coming. They took down perennial powerhouse …

By Jay Smith |@_SmithJ_ Sports Capital Journalism Program HOUSTON – Thirteen and one-half seconds. Two miracle shots. One national champion. Those 13.5 seconds will forever live in college basketball folklore. As the buzzer sounded, Kris Jenkins’ 3-point shot sent the Villanova Wildcats into a frenzy, their 77-74 victory over the North Carolina Tar Heels one …

By Cameron Stewart |@ThatManCam Sports Capital Journalism Program HOUSTON — When Phil Booth knocked down a pair of free throws to put the Villanova Wildcats ahead by 10 points over the North Carolina Tar Heels with 5:29 remaining in the national championship game, a title seemed secure. The Wildcats had made it to Monday night’s …

By Frank Gogola | @FrankGogola Sports Capital Journalism Program INDIANAPOLIS – The box score will forever read “0+” minutes, but Milan native Shelby Rupp finally played in a championship game and won a title in Indiana. Rupp entered the game for the final 22 seconds of Thomas More’s second consecutive Division III national championship victory …

By Rebecca Harris | @MsRebeccaHarris Sports Capital Journalism Program INDIANAPOLIS — It was nearly impossible to talk to players in Lubbock Christian’s locker room after its 78-73 win over Alaska-Anchorage on Monday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Every few seconds, as players, coaches, and staff members entered and exited the room, new screams of excitement and …

By Jay Smith |@_SmithJ_ Sports Capital Journalism Program HOUSTON — The late Andrew Smith of Butler University and his widow Samantha were honored by the United States Basketball Writers Association with the organization’s Most Courageous Award on Monday. The presentation marked the first time that the award, which was created in 1978, has honored two …

Sports Capital Journalism Program By Jay Smith |@_SmithJ_ An NCAA champion will be crowned on Monday as Villanova is set to square off against North Carolina.  The Tar Heels will be playing for the sixth national championship in their program’s storied history, while Villanova looks to earn its second title, and first since the historic …

By Frank Gogola | @FrankGogola Sports Capital Journalism Program Maybe UConn’s presumed fourth consecutive national championship won’t be as easy as many predicted. The Huskies (37-0) cruised part Oregon State, 80-51, in what was supposed to be the tougher of their two potential games this weekend. However, Syracuse easily dispatched Washington with its combination of …

By Cameron Stewart | @ThatManCam Sports Capital Journalism Program HOUSTON — When Villanova seniors Ryan Arcidiacono, Daniel Ochefu, Patrick Farrell and Henry Lowe arrived on Villanova’s campus as freshman, it seemed unlikely that they’d be ever be 40 minutes away from winning a national title. The season prior to their arrival was a dark spot in …

By Jay Smith | @_SmithJ_ Sports Capital Journalism Program HOUSTON — Roy Williams hasn’t been the most laid back coach in the country.  And the past two years have been anything but laid back for the North Carolina Tar Heels and Ol’ Roy.  Williams is coming off of two offseason knee surgeries.  He’s had a shoulder …