basketball
The world of Basketball detailed by the voices of the unathletic. Discussing play, culture, and, of course, who's the best. Trust the Process.
#24.. Top Story - March 2021.
I will never forget that day. I was three weeks out of my surgery that took place on January 7th 2020. Jaw surgery to correct my bite. God, it was the worst thing in history for me at the time. I was forced to have my mouth wired shut for three weeks and had to stay on a liquid diet for that entire span. Soup went from delicious to, “Oh my God. If I eat this again, i’m going to throw up.” I couldn’t brush my teeth. I couldn’t sleep properly. My face still had a bit of swelling. On the 25th, my surgeon said that my wires could come off. Finally, it’s over! For celebration, me and my mother planned to celebrate the next day by having brunch at our favorite spot in Warren.
By Sierra Ginae.5 years ago in Unbalanced
Winners Only: All-Big 12 Awards
First Team Natasha Mack - Oklahoma State - Senior - Forward This 6-4 senior is the most dynamic player on both sides of the court in the conference and maybe all of college basketball. Natasha Mack led the always tough Oklahoma State in scoring at 19.8 points per game. She was first in the nation with an average of four blocks per game and sixth in the NCAA in rebounds per game at 12.3.
By Winners Only5 years ago in Unbalanced
2 The Rack
From the day I was born all I wanted to do was play basketball. All day and all night I would play, working on my game, dribbling, shooting, trying to be a combo version of Michael Jordan and Allen Iverson. I got to be pretty good if I say so myself, ranked top 10 in the nation and number 1 in the state. I was set to go the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill after my senior season of High school. I was so excited to attend the same school as Michael Jordan, my idol. It was the state championship we were up by 2 with 10 seconds left we just needed one defensive stop. As the opposing team inbounded the ball, I shot the lane to get the steal to go down court and slam dunk the ball with so much authority, BOOM! we were state champions but I was on the ground holding my knee. I won and lost that day, I couldn't even celebrate with my team because I was rushed to the hospital to learn I had a torn ACL and MCL and my knee would have to be restructured. To make matters worse I lost my scholarship and my dream died..3 months later my mom became suddenly ill and died. I was so depressed but the last thing she game me was a little black book and said to write down everyone's name that doubted me and that my career was over and make them eat their words. That inspired me so much that I started to push harder in my rehab. Five days a week twice a day, I was determined to get back to my old self and even better than before because I knew my mom was watching me and I had to make her proud. She was my motivation my inspiration and even though I couldn't see her physically I could feel her, some days it was if she was talking to me "You've got more in you" "dig deeper" "what is your dream son?" and that would get me to the finish line. In the evenings I would go home and pull out that little black book and review the names I wrote in it and sometimes adding new names to the list. staying connected to my mom was the only thing I had at the time. My girl broke up with me because she said she didn't know how to be there for me and felt I should be alone, I honestly believe that she didn't believe in me anymore so wanted to create and new path..so what did I do? I let her go and I added her name to the list. My pops wasnt doing to well since my mom passed he had fallen into a deep depression, I would here him crying at night and drinking was his only way of coping, that's how he fell asleep most nights. It got so bad that it affected his work, he ended up being layed off because his productivity decrease so much which just made the situation worse. Not only did I have to rehab but I had to get a part time job to help bring money into the house but that little I did make didn't do much and bills were piling up. We were so behind on out mortgage the bank kept calling and we kept begging for an extention, they lets us slide for a while but finally said no and if we didn't pay the entire 18,000 in the next 30 days we would lose the house. Where am I going to get 18,000 dollars from in the next 30 days?! I make 15 dollars an hour!! I was pacing back and forth, losing my mind as I walked to work. The only good news I had gotten was my rehab was almost done. I was about 90 percent and could get back on the court soon. It had been a full year and four months. As I walked by a flyer on the store door it said 1 on 1 basketball tournament grand prize 20,000 dollars! In my mind I shound enter but I was thinking could my knee handle it, was I ready? I haven't played in so long, would my doctor clear me? could I even win? Then I heard my mom say in my head " boy shut up! what have you been training for? go save our family". The next day and called my doctor and asked if it was ok if I played, he was aganist it so what did I do? I added his name to my little black book and signed up anyway. The day had finally come and I had about a week before the bank threw my father and I out on the streets so I had to win! but the other players looked focused..some saw me and laughed, they knew who I was but know I had a career threating injury so I guess they thought it was smooth sailing. I looked one last time at my little black book of names of haters and non believers and now it was time to prove the doubters wrong. It was been a long day and I was headed to the finals. One more game I kept telling myself but my knee started to hurt and swell a little bit but there was no way I wasn;t going to play in this game. It was back and forth the final game was to 11 and you had to win by 2. The score was tied 9 to 9 and I was on defense.. I kept telling myself one stop, dig deep! as my opponent drove the ball, I poked it away and layed the ball up.. the score now 10 to 9 my way, my ball suddenly a kid yells take it to the rack!! with every ounce of energy I have left in my body I jab step right and go left and take off and slam the ball down!! I was so excited that I won the 20,000 and was going to save my family that I didnt realize that was the first time I dunked since my injury but this time I was still on my feet!! There was another level of joy!! Then the final thing was there was a scout from the G league that game me his card to call him about a tryout.. eventually I make it to the NBA and I still use my Little back book to this day, so never give up on your dreams just go Hard 2 the rack!
By Deverin Deonte 5 years ago in Unbalanced
Crossing the Theshold to Greatness
Crossing the Threshold to Greatness “Every time I step on that basketball court my focus is to win the game… it drives me insane when I can’t”-Michael Jordan. We all at one point in time or another fanaticize about our role models who we consider to be great.
By Ethan Holloway5 years ago in Unbalanced
Women's Hoop Report 55
Feb. 22, 2021 Butler 73 - Xavier 61 Above: Upe Atosu Butler won its second game behind a strong second half. The Bulldogs outscored Xavier 37-24 to capture a home win improving to a record of 2-15. The victory stopped an eight game slide as Butler got 23 points from guard Upe Atosu, who made 10-of-11 free-throws. Guard Genesis Parker hit seven-of-14 shots, scoring 18 points. Both Atosu and Parker led their team with four assists each.
By Winners Only5 years ago in Unbalanced
Winners Only: All-Horizon League Awards
First Team Macee Williams - IUPUI - Senior - Forward/Center Macee Williams averaged 17.9 points per game and 9.3 rebounds, both career highs. The 6-2 post player led the conference in field goal percentage with a clip of 52.4. Williams was also the top rebounder in the conference as she led her team to a regular season conference championship.
By Winners Only5 years ago in Unbalanced
Women's Hoop Report 51
Feb. 19, 2021 Cleveland State 76 - Youngstown State 73 Youngstown State (8-7) got a strong performance from freshman forward Nneka Obiazor, who led all players with 29 points but Cleveland State had a stronger fourth quarter outscoring YSU 27-11 in the final stanza to steal the road win.
By Winners Only5 years ago in Unbalanced
