Quote:
Originally posted by A Pennsylvania Coach
Way too much importance is placed on winning championships. Like Coach Wooden said, "it's not about winning, it's about the pursuit of winning." You could tell by the way Boeheim and Williams carried themselves the past couple of days that they understand that as well.
|
Wooden was right, but he could also afford to say that having won many championships
Having come just shy of the league championship and league tournament championship again this year, I really appreciate how hard it is to win the whole thing. In our league, we lost a close game to the league champion, who also had one loss but took us in head to head (1st tiebreaker). We were on the lowest point of a slump when we played that team, and any other day we probably beat them. In our tourney, we lost in the semifinals when we had a 5 1/2 minute scoreless streak to start the 4th quarter - 1st quarter you can bounce back, 4th quarter you are out of time. Most of the problem was just failure to finish easy plays. And the players weren't even nervous - just couldn't hold onto the ball - bad time to start fumbling, but it happens.
To win it all, everything has to come together just right - your off days have to be against the right team and not too far off. And when one game can determine everything, there is no margin for error. A series of one and out games, it is a minefield.
And sometimes you just have luck on your side (right Mr Boeheim?!). I think we had it both ways this year, a little lucky at times, way unlucky a couple of times. Being there with a reasonable chance and putting the best forward you can is what it is all about. Keep doing it, and someday things may line up right and you can win one or two!