March Madness: New book is a must-read for college hoops fans
A new March Madness book published on the most memorable NCAA Basketball Finals ever represents a future staple of college basketball literature.
There is a reason why “One Shining Moment” is so popular for fans of March Madness. The closing montage to each college basketball season epitomizes the magic of the NCAA Tournament and what it means to hoops fans around the country.
The eye-widening, heart-stopping moment of that game-winning shot soaring through the air as the buzzer sounds, the bittersweet ending of an outstanding season, and the culmination of a dream for young men around the country are all represented in that three-minute commemoration.
It has truly become a staple of college basketball lore and it looks like another is now on bookshelves. With the release of the book, Madness: The Ten Most Memorable NCAA Basketball Finals by Mark Mehler and Charles Paikert, a new must-read for college basketball fans around the country is available.
An honest reflection on the best championship games of all-time, the book details not just what happened in each game but the emotions and personal recollections that went into each of the matchups.
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The book goes more in-depth than just reporting on each game. With nearly 90 interviews with players and coaches and seven months of work by Mehler alone, the book compiles way more than just box scores. Some of the most memorable athletes and coaches are present throughout the book’s pages as it journeys through time.
In regards to his favorite chapter in the book, Mehler mentions NC State’s Cinderella run of 1983. Despite being a No. 6 seed out of the West Region, the Wolfpack went on a miraculous journey to the Final Four. In recent years, we have seen many underdogs make runs to the final weekend of the tournament but none have been as memorable as Jim Valvano’s team.
In an interview with FanSided’s Michael Collins, Mehler explained his love for that Wolfpack run.
"“That was a special group, a special coach, and a special time. It’s a love story, I think, and a story of faith.”"
This was the inaugural college basketball story of the missing slipper fitting. NC State came out of nowhere to roll through Pepperdine, UNLV, Utah, and Virginia on their path to the Final Four.
Instead of wilting under the pressure of the final weekend, the Wolfpack rose to the occasion by knocking off Georgia and Houston to cut down the nets.
This story epitomizes the wonder of college basketball and its national championship. I do not want to give away too many of the top-10 title games discussed in the book but I can assure you that the text encompasses all eras of college hoops. The top champions date back as far as the 1950s and as recent as the 2010s.
As many remember, another one of the top games covered in the book was the 2010 National Championship between the Duke Blue Devils and the Butler Bulldogs. This was, of course, the battle that ended with Gordon Hayward’s halfcourt shot catching rim before falling out and giving Duke the championship. Mehler speaks on this, stating, “It was an incredible game. The story of Brad Stevens and his kids was a great story.”
As many remember, one of the greatest stories in college basketball history was Texas Western’s national championship in 1966, which is included in the book. Willie Worsley, a member of that team, is described by Mehler as “loving to talk about 1966 and Don Haskins and talking about that game.”
During the interview with FanSided, Mehler (a lifelong St. John’s fan) professes his love for the Red Storm.
"“I’ve been rooting for them since Joe Lapchick’s second-to-last year. What really got me going was the NIT final in 1965 when I was 16 or 17-years-old. That was Lapchick’s last game when they beat Villanova with Bill Melchionni. That was one of the most exciting things I had ever seen in terms of the sporting event. I was there, sitting in about the eighth row.”"
This is a must-read for all sports fans as it deals with arguably the most exciting event in sports. The NCAA Tournament championship game is the culmination of a year of hard work and the crowning of the lone champion out of 351 teams. It is a special event that Mehler and Paikert do an excellent job analyzing and drawing on primary sources to explain.
Next: 2018 March Madness buying guide
For more information on the book, be sure to check out the website. In addition, the writers are active on Twitter under the handle @madnessthebook1. For purchasing information, you can find the book on Amazon.