The road to March Madness starts in November.
Sports Curious presented by Last Night's Game, is here to help you join the sports conversation, even if you don't know the first thing about sports. We breakdown what's happening in sports in an easy to understand, fun way without all of the statistics and jargon so you never have to exit stage left when the chatter at the office, dinner table or a networking event switches to sports.
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[Transcript]
1. Remind me where we left off? Last season, Virginia won its first championship title in school history. In the off-season head coach Tony Bennett (not to be confused with Grammy award winning Tony Bennett) turned down a big raise, insisting it instead go to his assistant coaches and improving the school. (FYI - Michigan State is the favorite this season). APPARENTLY NICE GUYS DO FINISH FIRST
2. Baylor took home the championship on the women’s side last season. But the player to watch has nothing to do with the school in Texas but one in the northwest. Sabrina Ionescu from the Oregon Ducks is undoubtedly the best player in women’s college basketball and dare we say, best in college basketball. Last year she broke records but decided to forgo being the likely #1 pick in the WNBA (Women’s National Basketball Association) draft to return to school in Oregon. SMART AND TALENTED
3. The conversation of paying college athletes is unavoidable and the NCAA (governing body of college football) recognizes that a change needs to happen. You might remember that they gave the directive for each division in college sports to look into what the rules and structure might be to pay athletes. These rules aren’t due until 2021 so until then, it’s all lip service. But while athletes aren’t getting paid, their coaches are. And they’re getting paid well. PUT ME IN COACH
4. If inspiration is more of what you’re looking for, look no further than Andrew Jones from Texas. The Longhorn was the team’s best player when he diagnosed with leukemia. He missed most of last season for treatment, but Is expected to take the court this season alongside his teammates. FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT
5. If you want to be in the know about what's happening on the court, the big rule change for the season is the moving of the three-point line. This season it will be moved back to the international basketball distance, which is still closer than the NBA (National Basketball Association) line. We’ll see if it’s a game changer. HOOP DREAMS
