A March to Madness: A View from the Floor in the Atlantic Coast Conference

Feinstein gives us some privileged looks at the lives and thinking of ACC basketball coaches. There are a few interesting tidbits, and he gives us a few good insights into the psyches of individual coaches and what coaching is like at this level. He depends a bit too much on the idea that this "insider information" is fascinating. I found some of it interesting, some I already knew, and some was more detailed than i cared for. The writing is journalistic and appropriate to the subject matter. It's a good book to read in small doses, and of interest to those who want to know more about the men who were coaching in college basketball's top conference in 1997.

Jeff McGinnis was a freshman during Derrick Phelps's Senior year.

Derrick Phelps was a "pass-first, shoot-second" player, and Duke's Grant Hill knew that.

Hill would give Phelps some space to shoot and said: "Come on, Derrick, shoot the ball"

After McGinnis rotated in, Hill gave the Freshman even more room (because he knew the inexperienced point guard wouldn't know what to do with it).

Hill was right. McGinnis couldn't hit the shots he took.

When Phelps came in for McGinnis, McGinnis said to (his opponent) Hill.

"Keep riding Derrick."

What a dick move!

shows how march madness came as a tournement