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My first sports story was to cover a girls’ softball game at William Blount High School in Maryville, Tenn. It was cold day in early Spring. The sky was overcast and gray with a constant threat of rain. I paid to get in, not knowing any better, and I sat on the top row of …

By Mark Alewine The United States Basketball Writers Association welcomed four greats of the sports writing industry into its Hall of Fame. It was a Hall of Fame class for the ages, headlined by a giant in world of sports media. Frank Deford of Sports Illustrated is a six-time Sportswriter of the Year recipient by …

It was the size that got me. I was comfortable with writing the story. The terrain was different and I had a lot to learn, but I knew I could follow the game, get the quotes, and tell the story. The size, however, stunned me. With over 77,000 people in University of Phoenix Stadium for …

By Colton Bennett Sports Capital Journalism Program GLENDALE, Ariz. – This North Carolina team insists it is not looking for revenge. The Tar Heels aren’t seeking to exorcise last year’s demons. They want to win the national title, plain and simple. Last year, North Carolina’s dreams of a title were ended by the simple flick …

The scene in the Oregon locker room will stay with me for a long time. Their season suddenly over, the Ducks were coping with the strange reality of how it had ended on Saturday night. With 5.8 seconds remaining and North Carolina’s lead down to a single point, Kennedy Meeks of the Tar Heels stepped …

By Mark Alewine Sports Capital Journalism Center GLENDALE, Ariz. — The McCarthey Athletic Center is the 148,000 square foot home of Gonzaga Bulldogs basketball on the campus in Spokane, Wash. When the Zags are in town, it needs every square inch to contain the Kennel Club. “Most of the fun stuff we do involves half …

By Mark Alewine Sports Capital Journalism Program GLENDALE, Ariz. — When Przemek Karnowski fell to the floor, holding his head with both hands, Gonzaga’s hope for a national championship, at least for a moment, appeared to fall with him. Freshman Zach Collins, however, was there to catch it. The Bulldogs held off a resilient South …

South Carolina (26-10) vs. Gonzaga (36-1) Mark Alewine: Keys For Gonzaga The Bulldogs have swapped with North Carolina all season as the best team in college basketball. Gonzaga has everything to win tonight; elite shooting, dominant post presence, and one of the best defenses in the country. Everything hinges, however, on the ability of 7-1 …

Editor’s Note: When Gonzaga University reached the 2017 Final Four, Sports Capital Journalism Program graduate student Mark Alewine explored the process that elevated the program to a national championship contender. He discovered the dramatic rise could be traced to a commitment made years earlier by a university president with a bold vision. By Mark Alewine …

By Colton Bennett Sports Capital Journalism Program GLENDALE, Ariz. — Everything points to the Final Four matchup between Oregon and North Carolina becoming a bruising game on the inside. North Carolina (31-7) is making a record 20th Final Four appearance. The Tar Heels are averaging 39.9 points per game in the paint this season and …