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SPORTS Wednesday, February 19,2003 - Page 13 Greg asks the burning sports question! Who is the best team in College basketball, in a off the wall type season? Whos the best team in college satile big man Marques Estill on the the nations top teams. basketball? Everyone seems to interior. The Panthers have struggled at in just Pitino's second year. of experience and talent that I could final four see them as a ver good have a different pick or opinion on It was eye-opening to watch times though, against teams with I doubt that the team is ready pick. the issue. them destroy the former number worse records than theirs. They are this season to go all the way, but With the tournament right one ranked Florida Gators in Rupp led by their star point guard, its hard to go against Pitino and you Before I leave, 1 must discuss around the corner, it looks to be the Arena, making them look like a Brandin Knight, who can shoot the have no idea whats going to hap- the Duke Blue Devils of the ACC. most open march madness in years. high school team in the process. If ball the control the floor with some pen this season. For the last few years, this squad Parity has reached the pinacle of Kentucky'S defense holds up and of the best point guards in the coun- The sleeper of this season might has dominated college basketball, college b-ball, when anybody can their guard play of Bogans and try, but his poor free throw shoot- be the Universuy-of Kansas not just beating teams, but destroy- beat almost everybody in today's Gerald Fitch remains solid, the po- ing could be an achilles heel dur- Jayhawks. They were picked as the ing them by like 40 or more points in their home gym. game. tential for two Wildcats in the final ing March Madness. preseason number one team and The current number one team four in New Orleans is very high. many predicted lhem to be a easy I must admit here that i'm not Longhorns, The Texas are led is the Arizona Wildcats, one of the Speaking of the Florida Gators, by their star sophomore point guard final four team until they struggled the biggest dukie fan in the world, most deep teams in the country. here is a team that is truly an TJ. Ford, who in my opinion is the early in the season. The problem and I'm pleased to see the team , Not only do the Cats' boast a with the criticism is that who cares come back to earth. They actually strong lineup of talented young enigma. with a rosier nations's best signal caller. He led as about how the Jayhawks played in have weaknesses this season and it the nation They are blessed last season in assists players, but they have three expe- the early games when what matters has been refreshing to see other of McDonald AII- Americans with a true freshman, and has done the teams have a chance and also to get rienced seniors in point guard Ja- happens later on in the season. experience and talent like Anthony same this year. He is the old school to see the coaching wizardry of son Gardener and forwards Luke Everybody knew that Kansas Roberson and Brett Nelson, but point guard who thinks pass first Coach K. Walton and Rick Anderson. they can play well one night and and shoot second, but his support- was going to get in the tournament Hes a special coach, and be An X-factor for them might be dissappear the next. ing cast will have to step up to get and they will be a very dangerous their center Channing Frye, a lanky Like alor of teams, they have the the squad to New Orleans. team in it. now has to impart his teaching to a team that but talented very young, big man who can provide inside "potential" to be the best team in Texas has been riding high Not only does their lineup have I'm sure will be on top again very scoring and defend the paint for the the country, but has shown many lately since they defeated the Uni- two excellent seniors in shooting defense. weaknesses in their losses to Ken- versity of Oklahoma Sooners. This guard Kirk Hinrich and foward! After Arizona, the hottest team tucky and most recently, Tennes- center Nick Collison, but they have I know that i left out some in the country right now might be team has a very good point guard excellent role players like point teams, but I just wanted to high- in Hollis Price and made it to the the Kentucky Wildcats. The Gators are similar to the final four last year. guard Aaron Miles and foward light some the teams that will make In contrast to Zona, this Cats' Wayne Simien. this year's march madness one of Panthers of the University of Pins- The team that has surprised alot squad's strength is their ferocious burgh. The Panthers returned their of people is the Louisville Cardi- During the season, Kansas has the most exciting in years. Fans defense thai has been smothering starting lineup entact from last nals, led by their legendary coach been able to improve their depth will have a tough time filling out opponents and feeding the offense Y!i8r'S cinderalla team and at times, Rick Pitino who are off to one of due to injuries and come tourna- their brackets this season so every- that boasts swingman Keith this season have played like one of their best seasons in school history ment time, they have a good mix body has a chance in their office Bogans on the perimeter and ver- You can submit your votes now for the A11-McDaniel Men's basketball team coming to Athletic team. Nominate five athletes that have articipated in any varsity sport since the name change. the close of a difficult season fv1cDanielteam and have their names posted in a later he winners will comprise the first annual Phoenix AII~ GREG LEDERER Phoenix Edition. Submit your opinions to the Phoenix SponsEdhor only 4 seconds left in route to the as they cruised to a 65-49 victory. ox at the Decker College center information desk. It has been a very tough season victory. Senior Adam Hynes led the for the McDaniel College Men's It was a heartbreaking loss for McDaniel contingent with 15 basketball team. the Green Terror who put together points in the loss. The Green Terror have a strong effort. but lost their fifth With two games remaining on struggled with a 5- 17 record, but game in arrow. the conference slate againstlohns look to end the season on a posi- Hill led the way for the team Hopkins University and Washing- tive note as the conference sched- with a game high 20 points, while ton College, the team will look to ule draws to a close. senior guard Erik Larson contrib- finish their tough season on a high Recently, the team looked to uted II points. nore. break their four game losing streak, Freshman guard Mike DiPiero as they hosted tough conference had 8 assists and junior forward rival Gettysburg College. Alan Hoyt hauled down 7 rebounds Phoenix Sports On senior day, the Green Ter- in the loss. ror played welt from the start and On February 12th, the team Trivia took a 37-31 advantage into the traveled to Carlisle, PA to play con- . Who is the all- half, spearheaded by sizzling three ference foe, Dickinson College. point shooting (7 of 10 in the first Despite a record setting night ime leading halt). from Hill, the Green Terror fell in the second. the team ex- again on road 80-64. Hill, who corer in the tended their lead, but couldnft scored a team high 17 points in the shake the Bullets who finally re- contest, passed the 600th point istory of the took the lead with less than five mark for his career, hitting five minutes in the contest. three pointers in the loss. arch Madness? From there, the game became a The team looked to end their close stalemate as no team would losing streak against undefeated take a sizable advantage. conference foe, Ursinus College on Down 66-63, the Green Terror February 8th. broke even when senior point guard McDaniel played well in the Greg Hill nailed his fourth three first half, laking the lead halfway point shot of the day with just 17 through, before the Bears re- corer in seconds left in the contest. sponded quickly and built a ten cdaniel College In the closing seconds, the Bul- point halftime lead 32-22. lets attempted a wild three point The Green Terror refused to go en's B-Ball shot that was wide, but they se- away and chipped the lead down cured the rebound and stuck it back to four points at one point, but Arizona's big man Channing Frye wresles the ball aii'll)' [rom all opponet. inside to take the lead 68-66 with Ursinus's firepower was too much pool.