Destiny

"Don't lose your grip on the dreams of the past..."

Dave Bickler - Eye of the Tiger

Last year UNC won the national title and all was well and good again in college basketball...tonight their ACC rival captured the crown, and the mood around the nation is bittersweet.

Everybody Hates Duke

I'm not going to write a recap of the NCAA tournament, or the championship game for that matter, however I will say that this has been one of the best March Madness brackets in years...and while the Cinderella Butler University didn't win...it still had a storybook ending.

Two summers ago I ventured to LaSalle University to watch Michael Beasley workout prior to the 2008 NBA Draft. Beasley wasn't there when I arrived, however there were a few familiar faces including Hakim Warrick, Mardy Collins, Wayne Ellington, Gerald Henderson Jr., Kyle Lowry, and Nolan Smith. Anyone that knows me personally will laugh at what I'm about to tell you...after watching several pickup games and drills I walked over to Smith and introduced myself. He was very down to Earth, and after accepting some friendly advice on how he could improve his game...I kindly asked him why he was wearing Pro Model adidas?

He gave me a puzzled look, as to say what does that have to do with anything...and I informed young Nolan that he attends an Elite Nike Basketball school and that he should wear his Nike tennis shoes with pride.

It was a typical me moment, but what I didn't tell him was that as a child I cheered for his dad when he played for my hometown 76ers. Tonight I thought about Derek Smith, as his son won college basketball's ultimate crown. 30-years ago Derek won it all with Louisville, and enjoyed a solid career in the NBA...in August 1996 he died from a massive heart attack leaving his family and young son with a huge void.

Basketball is an interesting sport that mirrors life...I continue to use it to this day as a catharsis, and if anyone has found solace on the court...it is Nolan Smith.

Everyone loves to hate Duke, however if they understood some of the stories within the bigger picture...I would hope they would be more caring. Butler was the quintessential underdog, however unbeknownst to the rest of the world...Duke was too.

Photo: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Final Destination

"This Philly cat back at it..."

Beanie Sigel - Guess Who's Back

I always talk about how sports are a metaphor to our lives, and every now and then I'm fortunate enough to watch an athlete grow and chase their dream.

Destiny's Child

The beginning of this story begins with Candice Dupree...advances to Kyle Lowry...then on to Wayne Ellington.

I have had the opportunity to watch, and write about each of these players over the years as they now have careers within the professional ranks. I saw Dupree at Temple University, Lowry at Cardinal Dougherty H.S./Villanova, and Ellington as a prep at Episcopal Academy.

Wayne was drafted by the Timberwolves last June, so seeing him play has been difficult, however he made a great name for himself as an NCAA champion, so I know its only a matter of time before his name is back in the headlines. On Friday his team defeated the Mavericks in a rare road win, as he clinched the game with a 3-pointer from the right corner...pushing the lead to 115-108 with 32.3 seconds to go. This could be a sign of the times, as he prepares for his first NBA homecoming on Tuesday.

As a pure shooter, he will have longevity, and if and when the T-Wolves start winning more games, you can be sure that his name will be somewhere near the top of the box score.

Photo: David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images

Second Semester

Basketball IQ

"I wish for you 100-years of success, but it's my time..."

Jay-Z - Roc Boys

Whenever ACC oppents matchup, it's usually a great contest, so last night when #9 Clemson visited Tobacco Road, and the #6 Tar Heels, Wayne Ellington and company didn't disappoint crowd, or the national ESPN audience.

Student Athlete

This time last year I was living in Oregon, and while the PAC-10 is a great college basketball conference with the likes of UCLA, Arizona, and Arizona State...there is no place like home. I would catch the Big East, ACC, and Atlantic-10 sparringly, but one game stood out, and that was UNC vs. Clemson, as the 'Heels traveled to South Carolina for an important conference battle. That game went down to the wire, as sophomore Wayne Ellington made a 3-pointer at the buzzer to seal the victory.

Ellington's heroics against the Tigers remained in tact as he led his team on Wednesday to an impressive win 94-70. He played a team high 32 minutes, scoring 25 points, while handing out 7 assists, and grabbing 6 rebounds. His only mistake was leading both teams in turnovers with 4...but I'll take that at this stage in his career now, because it means two things. First and foremost, he was being aggressive, and next, this is how he will learn the valuable lessons for the next level.

The Philadelphia native is a big Kobe Bryant fan, so in KB24, he has one of the best to look up to. It's only a matter of time before he joins him on the big stage.

Tonight I'm headed to Temple University for some more college basketball action, as I'm sure Dionte Christmas will leave me with something to write about tomorrow.

Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images