"This is indeed the definite book on college basketball, replacing the now-dated ALL THE MOVES by Neil Isaacs. HOOPLA contains the complete story of college basketball across its first full century, with all the necessary rich historical detail, plus the colorful oncourt and sideline figures who have made the game one of the nation's leading sports spectacles. Detailed accounts of important games and vital rule changes flesh out the sport's evolution. A highly valuable and nowhere-else-available year-by-year timeline chronicles all of NCAA basketball's highlight moments. There is also an infomative chapter on the evolution of increasingly popular women's college hoops. Perhaps all that is lacking in this attractive book is an index which might have further enhanced an already first-rate effort. This book is an absolute must read for any dedicated or casual college basketball fan."—Anonymous reviewer on www.amazon.com
By virtually any measure, basketball is quickly becoming the nation's favorite sport. More people watch basketball at the high school, collegiate, and professional levels than any other form of athletic competition. Despite increased television exposure of professional basketball, the college game has a firm grip on most hoop fans, as the immense popularity of the "March Madness" NCAA tournament readily attests.
Author Peter C. Bjarkman chronicles over 100 years of the college game that has evolved from peach baskets nailed to the wall of the Springfield YMCA into today's slam dunk, in-your-face, trash-talking version of the new American sporting pastime. HOOPA: A CENTURY OF COLLEGE BASKETBALL is a celebration of the game's rich history, covering the all-time greatest players, coaches, unforgettable teams, and memorable moments that have made Naismith's 1891 invention the exciting and wildly popular sport it is today.
Bjarkman's seminal history of college basketball is also supplemented by two additional titles originally produced for Masters Press:
ACC—Atlantic Coast Conference Basketball. Indianapolis, Indiana: Masters Press, 1996.
Includes histories and records for each conference school, plus a season-by-season account of the fabled ACC post-season tournament.
BIG TEN BASKETBALL. Indianapolis, Indiana: Masters Press, 1995.
Features complete histories and records for each and every conference school, along with portraits of players and coaches of one of college hoops' most legendary leagues.
