1.
Basketball
–
Basketball is a non-contact team sport played on a rectangular court by two teams of five players each. The objective is to shoot a ball through a hoop 18 inches in diameter and 10 feet high that is mounted to a backboard at each end of the court. The game was invented in 1891 by Dr. James Naismith, a team can score a field goal by shooting the ball through the basket being defended by the opposition team during regular play. A field goal scores three points for the team if the player shoots from behind the three-point line. A team can also score via free throws, which are worth one point, the team with the most points at the end of the game wins, but additional time is mandated when the score is tied at the end of regulation. The ball can be advanced on the court by passing it to a teammate and it is a violation to lift, or drag, ones pivot foot without dribbling the ball, to carry it, or to hold the ball with both hands then resume dribbling. The game has many techniques for displaying skill—ball-handling, shooting, passing, dribbling, dunking, shot-blocking. The point guard directs the on court action of the team, implementing the coachs game plan, Basketball is one of the worlds most popular and widely viewed sports. Outside North America, the top clubs from national leagues qualify to continental championships such as the Euroleague, the FIBA Basketball World Cup attracts the top national teams from around the world. Each continent hosts regional competitions for teams, like EuroBasket. The FIBA Womens Basketball World Cup features the top womens basketball teams from continental championships. The main North American league is the WNBA, whereas the EuroLeague Women has been dominated by teams from the Russian Womens Basketball Premier League, in early December 1891, Canadian Dr. He sought a vigorous indoor game to keep his students occupied, after rejecting other ideas as either too rough or poorly suited to walled-in gymnasiums, he wrote the basic rules and nailed a peach basket onto a 10-foot elevated track. Basketball was originally played with a soccer ball and these laces could cause bounce passes and dribbling to be unpredictable. Eventually a lace-free ball construction method was invented, and this change to the game was endorsed by Naismith, dribbling was not part of the original game except for the bounce pass to teammates. Passing the ball was the means of ball movement. Dribbling was eventually introduced but limited by the shape of early balls. Dribbling only became a part of the game around the 1950s
2.
Berlin, Maryland
–
Berlin is a town in Worcester County, Maryland, United States which includes its own historical Berlin Commercial District. The population was 4,485 at the 2010 census, and has grown in population. It is part of the Salisbury, Maryland-Delaware Metropolitan Statistical Area, the town of Berlin had its start around the 1790s, part of the Burley Plantation, a 300-acre land grant dating back to 1677. The name Berlin is believed to be derived from a contraction of Burleigh Inn and this may be why the traditional pronunciation of the towns name is /ˈbɜːrlən/ BUR-lən, as opposed to the more modern pronunciations /ˈbɛərlᵻn/ BAIR-lin and /bɛərˈlɪn/ bair-LIN. Berlin incorporated as a town in 1868, just to the north of the town center of Berlin is Ocean Pines, Maryland, a waterfront census-designated place that shares the same ZIP code as Berlin. Since the late 1980s, the town has undergone considerable revitalization of its historic downtown commercial district, berlins historic residential areas feature nearly two centuries of architectural heritage from three distinct periods, Federal, Victorian, and 20th Century. Forty-seven of these structures have been noted in the National Register of Historic Places, Berlin has also been designated as a Main Street Community by the State of Maryland in recognition of its revitalization progress. Former U. S. Vice-President Spiro Agnew died at Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin, Berlin is located at 38°20N 75°13W. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has an area of 3.15 square miles. As of the census of 2010, there were 4,485 people,1,688 households, the population density was 1,423.8 inhabitants per square mile. There were 1,953 housing units at a density of 620.0 per square mile. The racial makeup of the town was 68. 8% White,23. 3% African American,0. 6% Native American,1. 4% Asian,2. 7% from other races, hispanic or Latino of any race were 5. 5% of the population. 25. 9% of all households were made up of individuals and 12. 8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older, the average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.07. The median age in the town was 38.4 years. 25. 8% of residents were under the age of 18,7. 3% were between the ages of 18 and 24,25. 1% were from 25 to 44, 24% were from 45 to 64, and 17. 7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 45. 5% male and 54. 5% female, as of the census of 2000, there were 3,491 people,1,347 households, and 880 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,587.2 people per square mile, there were 1,427 housing units at an average density of 648.8 per square mile. The racial makeup of the town was 63. 74% White,32. 03% African American,0. 20% Native American,1. 52% Asian,0. 03% Pacific Islander,0. 97% from other races, and 1. 52% from two or more races
3.
Old Dominion Monarchs basketball
–
The Old Dominion Monarchs basketball team represents Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, United States in NCAA Division I mens competition. The schools team competes in the Conference USA. They were the Division II national champions in 1975, champions of the inaugural CollegeInsider. com Postseason Tournament in 2009, the team last played in the Division I NCAA Tournament in 2011. The Monarchs are currently coached by Jeff Jones, Old Dominion University has enjoyed an impressive basketball tradition. Since fielding its first team in 1930, Old Dominion has won 1,240 games in 81 years, founded in 1930 as the Norfolk Division of the College of William and Mary, the institution gained independence in 1962 and became Old Dominion College. In 1969, University status was granted and the name was changed to Old Dominion University, sonny Allen was named head coach at Old Dominion in 1965, following athletic director Bud Metheny’s outstanding career. In ten years, Allen led the Monarchs to 181 wins, in 1975 his Monarchs took the ultimate prize with the Division II National Championship. Paul Webb took control in 1975–76 and led the Monarchs to a finish at the NCAA Division II nationals. Webb successfully guided the Old Dominion program to one of the nation’s premier Division I basketball programs, in ten seasons, Webb won 196 victories and took the Big Blue to nine national postseason tournaments. In 1985, the reins were turned over to Tom Young and he guided the Monarchs to a 23–8 mark in 1986, the Monarchs advanced to the second round for the first time ever. In 1987–88, Old Dominion was 18–12 and earned a NIT bid, in 1991–92, former captain Oliver Purnell returned to his alma mater and led Old Dominion to the CAA title and a trip to the NCAA. In 1993 and 1994 the Monarchs advanced to the round of the NIT. Jeff Capel took over in 1994–95 and guided the Monarchs to the round of the NCAA after a stunning victory over third seed Villanova. Capel gain guided Old Dominion to a CAA title and NCAA Tournament play in 1997, in April 2001, Blaine Taylor became the Monarchs fifth Division I head coach. He guided ODU to the school’s most wins in a season in 2004–05, winning the CAA crown. The following year, ODU won another 24 games and reached the semi-finals of the NIT at Madison Square Garden, the 2007 Monarchs won another 24 games and advanced to the NCAA tournament as an at-large team. In 2008, ODU reached the quarterfinals of the inaugural College Basketball Invitational, in 2008–09 the Monarchs won the championship of the inaugural College Insider. com tournament with a 25–10 record. In 2009–10, ODU captured its fifth CAA title andadvanced to the round of the NCAA tournament after beating sixth seeded Notre Dame
4.
Maryland Terrapins men's basketball
–
The Maryland Terrapins mens basketball team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I competition. Maryland, a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference, left the ACC in 2014 to join the Big Ten Conference. Gary Williams, who coached the Terrapins from 1989 to 2011, led the program to its greatest success, under Williams, Maryland appeared in eleven straight NCAA Tournaments from 1994 to 2004. He retired in May 2011 and was replaced by former Texas A&M coach Mark Turgeon, the game was instrumental in forcing the expansion of the NCAA Mens Division I Basketball Championship, thus allowing for at-large bids and the inclusion of more than one team per conference. That Maryland team, with six future NBA draft picks, is considered by many to be the greatest team not to have participated in the NCAA tournament, games were played sporadically during the 1904–1905, 1910–1911, 1913–1914, and the 1918–1919 seasons, going a combined 4–32. The Old Liners, as they were known, joined the Southern Conference in their inaugural season. The team met with success that year at 5–7 and also played its first games against future ACC rivals North Carolina. The Old Liners had their first sustained success over the four seasons, finishing at or above.500 in each of them. The Aggies also played their first games against what would become their two other biggest rivals in the future during time, North Carolina State and Duke. The schools biggest success during its formative years took place in the early 1930s, around the time it adopted its current nickname, the team also had its first individual star in Louis Bosey Berger who was named to All-America teams both seasons. It was during this stretch that the school erected a new home for its teams, Ritchie Coliseum. Shipley tallied just one winning season in his last seven years before stepping down to focus on coaching the baseball team and he was succeeded by Flucie Stewart. The 1950s began with a new head coach leading the way, a disciple of legendary coach Henry Iba, Millikans emphasis on defense and fundamentals would become hallmarks of the program over the next two decades. Maryland quickly reels off seven straight winning seasons under Millikan and that season was perhaps the finest the Terrapins had experienced to date, finishing with a 23–7 record and a conference mark good enough for second in the league. Maryland experienced its first games as a team, spending the final nine weeks of the season ranked in the AP Top 20. It also featured the schools first win over a team when it beat local rival George Washington. The team was led by its second All-American, Gene Shue, after that season, the team remained the only school outside of the North Carolina Big Four – Duke, UNC, North Carolina State, and Wake Forest – to consistently field competitive teams. The Terps had another season during the 1957–58 season
5.
Radford Highlanders men's basketball
–
The Radford Highlanders mens basketball represents Radford University in NCAA Division I intercollegiate mens basketball competition. A member of the Big South Conference, the current head coach is Mike Jones, the Highlanders play at the Dedmon Center, which has a capacity of 3,000. The Highlanders have appeared in two NCAA Tournaments, the Highlanders have appeared in the College Basketball Invitational two times. Steve Robinson was one of the first scholarship athletes ever at Radford University, Robinson was a two-year starter and co-captain for the mens basketball team from 1978–80, averaging 10.8 points and 5.8 rebounds in 54 games. Robinson averaged 11.5 points and 6.8 rebounds during one of Radfords greatest seasons ever and he hit 51.7 percent of his field goals, and later distinguished himself as an assistant coach at RU from 1983–86. The Roanoke native earned both his bachelors and masters degrees from Radford, and has gone on to success as a collegiate head coach. Robinson led the University of Tulsa to three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances before landing the coaching position at Florida State University. At Florida State, Robinson led the Noles to 3 NCAA tournament appearances, Robinson is currently an assistant coach with the University of North Carolina Tarheels. Smith finished his sterling four-year basketball career from 1981–1985 as the schools leading scorer and rebounder. In the process, the 6–5 Amherst, Va. native keyed Radfords move from NAIA competition to NCAA Division II play, a fierce competitor, Smith started each of Radfords 107 games during his career and shot 52.7 percent from the field. He scored 1,313 points and pulled down 739 rebounds, leading the team in rebounding, remaining active at his alma mater, Smith has served on the Athletic Association Advisory Council and on the National Alumni Association Executive Council. Shelburne, a native of nearby Snowville, Va. became only the fourth Radford mens basketball player to more than 1,000 points. A three-time team Most Valuable Player, he led the Highlanders in scoring in 1989–90 and he never missed a game during his four-year career, playing in 116 consecutive contests. He averaged 11.5 points per game and shot 51.8 percent from the field, shelburne finished in 1991 as the schools all-time leading scorer with 1,332 points. Doug Day completed his Radford career as the NCAA Division I career leader in three-point baskets made and he sank 401 three-pointers during his career from 1989–1993, and left RU as the schools all-time leading scorer with 2,027 points. Day led the nation in three-point baskets per game with 4.03 per contest and he averaged 17.3 ppg for his career, and left Radford ranked second on the Big South Conference career scoring chart. Days offensive prowess helped RU to back-to-back 20-win seasons in 1990–91 and 1991–92, Day earned a degree in education from RU in 1993. Despite only playing two seasons at Radford, Artsiom Parakhouski won the Big South Player of the Year twice and his senior season he led the nation in rebounds per game with a 13.35 rebounds per game average
6.
Dayton Flyers men's basketball
–
The Dayton Flyers mens basketball team is a college basketball program that competes in NCAA Division I and the Atlantic 10 Conference representing the University of Dayton in Ohio. The Flyers play their games at University of Dayton Arena. Dayton is one of the 50 winningest Division I college basketball programs, a 2015 study of college basketball team valuations placed Dayton #23 in the nation with 2014 adjusted revenues in excess of $16.6 million and a valuation of nearly $84 million. The first collegiate basketball team play at Dayton, then known as St. Marys Institute. Early rivalries with Notre Dame and Miami began in the 1908–09 season, william OMalley is recognized as the first coach of the Saints, but the team had no coach for the first six seasons. Harry Solimano, believed to be a former Saints player, succeeded OMalley in the 1910 season and coached the four seasons. In 1920 the school changed its name to the University of Dayton, also in 1920, the school began playing nearby Xavier University, a rivalry that has spawned 156 meetings as of 2014. Games were originally played in a gymnasium, but later moved to the nearby University of Dayton Arena. Harry Baujan became both the football and basketball coach in 1923 and later became the athletic director. Through the 1920s and 1930s, the program was subordinate to the football program with respect to resources. In 1939, Baujan hired James Carter as both an assistant football coach and head basketball coach, Carter moved to expand Daytons national profile by issuing basketball scholarships and scheduling trips to east coast basketball powers such as St Johns and St Josephs. Carter is also recognized as the first Dayton coach to play an African American student-athlete, world War II brought a two-year hiatus to the basketball program between 1943 and 1945. In 1947, Tom Blackburn succeeded Carter as the schools first full-time head basketball coach, Blackburn would recruit future NBA player Don Meineke, along with local standouts Junior Norris & Chuck Grigsby in 1948 to form the nucleus of the schools first nationally recognized teams. The 1950–51 Flyers reached #13 in the AP Poll and the finals of the NIT before bowing out to Brigham Young, the following year, the Flyers also reached the NIT Finals, while also participating in the NCAA Tournament for the first time, finishing in the regional semi-final. In light of the growing national stature and increasing fan base. The foundation established by Blackburn led to Dayton being the most successful Division I basketball program through the 1950s and 1960s, Tom Blackburn became ill with terminal lung cancer during the 1963–64 season. Don Donoher, a former Dayton player and assistant coach took over for the three games of the 1963–64 season. Donohers 1967–68 squad began the season ranked #6 in the country in the AP Poll, nonetheless, Donohers Flyers made a successful run through the 1968 NIT field, besting Kansas in the championship to win their second NIT crown
7.
Clemson Tigers men's basketball
–
The Clemson Tigers mens basketball team is a college basketball program that represents Clemson University and competes in the NCAA Division I. Clemson is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Clemson sponsored its first mens team in the 1911–12 season, winning its first conference championship in 1939. The Clemson basketball programs have won roughly 75% of their games played in Littlejohn, Clemsons current head coach is Brad Brownell. Clemsons basketball history had an unusual beginning, the Tigers first two basketball games were both played in Greenville, South Carolina on February 9,1912, a 46-12 win at Furman, followed by a 78-6 victory over the Butler Guards later that evening. Clemson won its first seven games in the history, the longest streak to open a program among the current 15 ACC schools. Former Pittsburgh Nationals player Frank Dobson was Clemsons first basketball coach, Southern Conference, The Tigers began play in the Southern Conference in 1921, and in 1922–23 had an 11-6 finish. Josh Cody, coached for five seasons, the longest tenure for a Clemson Basketball coach in the first 25 years, in 1928–29 the Tigers won 15 games, a school record, and then followed that with a 16-9 mark. Cody pulled off the first huge upset in Clemson basketball history when the Tigers defeated Adolph Rupps 10-1 Kentucky Wildcats, 29-26, from 1931–40, Joe Davis coached Clemson to 101 victories, including 44 wins on the road. Davis still has the best winning percentage in Clemson history on the road, in the 1938–39 season, the Tigers won 10 of their last 11 games to close the regular season. Banks McFadden, eventual All-American in both football and basketball averaged 11.8 points per game to lead the team as the pivot to four victories. It was a run in the tournament as Clemson beat North Carolina, 44-43, Wake Forest, 30-28, Davidson 49-33. McFaddens best year as coach was the 1951–52 season when the Tigers were 17-7 overall, in 1953, Clemson became a founding member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. In the 1954–55 season, Bill Yarborough averaged 28.3 points per game, 4th best in the nation, Press Maravich, father of basketball legend Pete Maravich, coached the Tigers to a 96-94 double overtime victory against a #8 NC State team. In 1963–64, coach Bobby Roberts guided the Tigers to an 8-6 record in the ACC, the season included the only regular season sweep of North Carolina in school history. Roberts beat the Tar Heels and Dean Smith, 66-64, in overtime at Clemson to open the season. Clemson won seven straight ACC games including wins over Wake Forest, #14 Duke, North Carolina State. It was the first sweep of the North Carolina ACC schools in ACC history, Clemson finished with a 17-8 record and 9-5 record in the ACC
8.
DePaul Blue Demons men's basketball
–
The DePaul Blue Demons mens basketball program is the NCAA Division I intercollegiate mens basketball program of DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois. The team competes in the Big East Conference and plays their games in the Allstate Arena in Rosemont. DePaul was independent for much of its history and has enjoyed success with such great players as George Mikan in the 1940s. Ray Meyer coached at DePaul for over 40 years, from 1942 to 1984. After going to the Final Four of the 1979 NCAA Mens Division I Basketball Tournament, success continued with multiple NCAA appearances under his son, Joey Meyer, throughout the 1980s. DePaul joined the Great Midwest Conference in 1991 which later merged with the Metro Conference in 1995 to become Conference USA, the Blue Demons advanced to the second round of the 2004 NCAA tournament before being eliminated by eventual national champion Connecticut. DePaul left for the Big East Conference for the 2005–2006 season, the most recent mens basketball coach was Oliver Purnell, with Dave Leitao returning for the 2015-16 season in his second tenure as the Demons coach. The coach prior to Purnell was Jerry Wainwright, who joined DePaul in 2005, in the 2006–2007 season, the Blue Demons beat powerhouse #5 Kansas 64-57, pulling off one of the greatest upsets in school history. They also beat 2007 NCAA tournament teams California, Northwestern State, Marquette, Connecticut, the team made it to the NIT and lost in the bracket final to Air Force 52-51. The Demons opened up the 2008 season with two of their star players gone to the NBA, Four games into the 2007–2008 season, Wainwright logged his 200th career win as a head coach. The 2007–08 season saw the Demons with a 10–19 record, DePaul had upsets over Villanova, then ranked #15 nationally and ultimately a member of the NCAA Sweet Sixteen, and Northwestern. However, things took a turn for the worse during the 2008–2009 season, DePaul went 0–18 in Big East play, setting a school-record for longest losing streak. DePaul, however, has not had a record in any season since 2006-07. The Blue Demons have appeared in the NCAA Tournament 22 times and their appearances in the tournament from 1986–1989 have been vacated by the NCAA thus their official record is 15–21. * Vacated by the NCAA The Blue Demons have appeared in the National Invitation Tournament 16 times and they were NIT Champions in 1945. NCAA Mens Division I Final Four appearances by coaches NCAA Mens Division I Final Four appearances by school Official Site of DePaul Blue Demons Basketball
