Let the Madness Begin...

Making it to the Big Dance involves more than just a talented squad. Don't believe us, ask Syracuse...Punching your ticket to the tourney happens one of two ways, you either play your H.E.A.R.T out all season long, presenting the committee with a resume of hard fought wins; or you win your conference tournament and get an automatic spot.

Either way, the Dance is filled with teams of players who leave everything out on the court. They have to to prepare them for this moment. One loss and you're done. Finished. Finito. It takes a boatload of H.E.A.R.T to walk onto a court and know, not think, but know, that if you lose that's it. There is no running it back. No do overs. No nothing. That's it.

As difficult as it is to get into the tournament, there are two games that allow a few extra teams into the mix. Knowing how hard it is to make it and the chances of them moving on aren't that great, these teams still show up and ball out because they know it's about Having Enough Attitude Resilience and Toughness. And when you play with H.E.A.R.T, nothing else matters. Not how big, fast, smart, game ready etc. The  only thing that matters is the name on the front of your jersey and what's inside your chest.

Don't forget to watch the play-in games March 14th.

Mount Saint Mary's vs. New Orleans

Kansas State vs Wake Forest

#PlayWithHEART

ESPN has NO clue what quitting looks like

I ran across this story just a couple of minutes ago and the title of it absolutely infuriates me.  For ESPN to say this kid is quitting is entirely false.  This kid IS NOT quitting, he is attempting to ensure the rest of his life isn't filled with the effects of post concussion syndrome.  Quitting in the regular Americans mind is giving up when you feel like it or just plain ol' quitting because you CAN'T handle whatever situation you find yourself in.  This kid is looking at his future, not the situation he finds himself in currently.  Tell me if this sounds like a quitter to you...You sign a letter of intent to play for a University that can recruit in its state alone and NEVER...EVER have to recruit outside of Texas.  You have a history of concussions, but still try to play.  You redshirt your Junior year because of a shoulder injury but still come back the next year (*blogger note* redshirting means you sit out the entire year, you get to practice but can not play in the games.  But as you sit and watch, others are getting the chance to play meaning that you have to earn your way onto the field...again).  Does THIS sound like a quitter to you?  ESPN, you are full of people who have no clue of what H.E.A.R.T means...no clue.