Inside I’m dancing
With Madness in the air this month, we asked four British Basketball League stars about playing college ball in the States and their memories of the big dance.
Tell us what you remember about the impact of March Madness as a young basketball fan / player growing up.
Cameron Rundles – When I was a kid growing up watching March Madness the impact it had on myself and everyone around me was simply that the best players in the World that play in the NBA play in March Madness first so I was determined to be a part of that… I was fortunate enough to play in the NCAA MM two years in a row, junior and senior year and the experiences changed my life.
Tommy Freeman – Growing up I could not wait to hear the matchups announced. I filled in my bracket and always tried to pick more right than my Dad. I knew every matchup by heart and what seed every team was. I hardly left the TV all March while the games were on. I think there were a few times I even faked sick to stay home and watch games during the day instead of going to school. Each game I updated my bracket highlighting games that I had picked correctly. I loved the month of March and could not wait until Selection Sunday.
Joe Chapman – My first memory of playing in college is that it was four years of hard hard work!
Adam Brown – You’d watch it and there would always be a lot of people talking about it. As a young player, you’d see it and obviously want to play at the top level. It showed me how good I needed to get and how hard I would have to work.
Which college did you play for? Tell us one interesting fact about them.
Cameron Rundles – I played for the University of Montana for 2 years and Wofford College for 2 years… A interesting fact about Wofford is that before I came they had never won 20 games or had a NCAA bid and I got 2 bids including 2 20+ winning seasons (26) the highest. And Wofford is the 3rd smallest Division 1 school in the nation
Tommy Freeman – I played for the Ohio University Bobcats. We are the #1 party school in the US.
Joe Chapman – Marquette, we went to final four and had three NBA players on that team and 8 European pros!
Adam Brown – I played for Houston Cougars. We got to the conference tournament the year I was there, my junior year and won four games in four nights – the only time it had been done in Conference USA history, and it was the first time we’d reached the NCAA Tournament in 18 years.
What was the biggest adjustment you had to make taking your high school game to playing at collegiate level?
Cameron Rundles – The biggest adjustment was the speed of the game and how big/strong and athletic these athletes were, had to learn as a little guy how to play with not only the bigger guys but the huge guys
Tommy Freeman – The speed of the game from high school to college is a monumental jump. I had to make decisions quicker, get my shot off quicker, and have an even better handle. Guys were bigger and stronger so it took a while of playing with the guys and getting in the weightroom to be able to compete with the upperclassmen.
Joe Chapman – It was really hard work. I had great time playing for Coach Cream who is now at Indiana.
Which player is your former college’s ‘one to watch’ this season?
Cameron Rundles – Brad Loesing, Kevin Giltner and Drew Crowell
Tommy Freeman – The player to watch from Ohio U is DJ Cooper. Chicago born little fella but runs the show and everything goes through him. Recognized as one of the best guards in all college basketball.
Joe’s picks are in his potential breakout players of the tournament below.
Adam Brown – It’s pretty hard because the team was so well-balanced. If I had to pick though it would be Alandise Harris or Jonathon Simmons. Both players have the potential to be NBA stars if they work hard at their game.
Tell us what it felt like to take part in the NCAA tournament and your memories of that time.
Cameron Rundles – To take part in the NCAA tournament and to appear on “one shining moment” meant everything to me… The only other basketball accomplishment as of now that could beat that experience is playing in my first NBA game! It was a dream come true and was on the biggest stage I’ve ever played on.
Tommy Freeman – The NCAA tournament is amazing. There is no experience like it. Everything is amplified. Every possession, every shot, every call could push you through or bring your season to an end. I will remember the chartered jet that our team took to get to Providence, Rhode Island and the snacks that the stewardesses brought around during the flight. When we arrived at our hotel, the lobby was decked out with Ohio signs and all the staff had on Ohio t-shirts. We had a police escort any time our bus traveled to and from the arena or to practice. It was an amazing experience seeing all of the commentators and coaches that you watch all year.
Joe Chapman – We were a 3 seed and had to play some powerhouses to make final four. We took down Missouri, Pitt and Kentucky who they all picked to beat us so it was a magical run that ended in the Superdome in New Orleans! Playing with Dwyane Wade taught me a lot about how special and talented some people are, but if you not the hardest worker skills don’t matter.
Adam Brown – It was awesome, we were pretty much underdogs in every game we played. I remember playing a very important role in terms of intensity for my team coming off the bench for guys like Kelvin Lewis and Aubrey Coleman, two of the best guards to have played in the Conference USA in my opinion. I remember the excitement we had and the celebrations in the last game, but my best memory is when I hit a three to win the Championship game..
Which player or players in the NCAA do you think could have a breakout tournament this year?
Cameron Rundles – I think *Burgess from VCU will have a breakout tourney, and also *Jamar from Montana will have a good tourney!! 2 underdogs… I love the mid major teams and underdogs ’cause I was coming out of Wofford.
Tommy Freeman – My two players to watch are Harrison Barnes from North Carolina and William Buford from Ohio State. I think if these teams advance both will have a big part in the reason that they do.
Joe Chapman – The break out people for me in this year’s NCAA are of course the Marquette players, Jae Crowder and Darius Johnson-Odom. I know those two personally and they work their tails off.
Adam Brown – I think the whole of the Kentucky team, I think everybody on that starting five will have a breakout season. Every one of those players could have a great impact on the history of basketball in this tournament.
Who are your picks for the final four?
Cameron Rundles – UNC, Michigan St, Syracuse and Indiana (Big 10 fan).
Tommy Freeman – My picks for the Final Four are *Missouri, Kentucky, Ohio State, and North Carolina.
Joe Chapman – My Final Four pick is Kentucky, UNC, *Vanderbilt and Marquette.
Adam Brown – Kentucky, North Carolina, Michigan State and then right now there could be room for a Cinderella, so it’s just a case of sitting back and see what happens.
Who will win the NCAA Championship for 2012?
Cameron Rundles – Indiana (boom).
Tommy Freeman – Kentucky is my national champion.
Joe didn’t give us his Champion but we’ll let you guess that one.
Adam Brown – Kentucky are definitely my pick. They played last night [Saturday] at what was like NBA-type level, I felt they could’ve even beaten teams in the league the way they played.
*picks were made before these teams said goodbye to this year’s tourney.
