It’s time to party and let the good times roll. USADB national championship has finally arrived. This year’s tournament is as wide open as ever. Appropriately so, it’s time to do our homework on the bracket. According to calculations it will be a memorable one when it’s all said and done.
Defending champions East Zone returns with a stronger group this year as the number one seed. Losing Robert Haney, Matt Johnson and Cy Saunders from last year’s team. They simply added firepower with Luther Weedon, Martise Colston, Sekoe White, and John Perry as head coach. Mike Kent is still dancing with the stars after shocking the dance with a coming out party of the legends last year. If Kent can duplicate his championship game performance of 25 points including 9-10 from the free throw line, look for East Zone to finish strongly once again.
Number two seeded GIDC have their most formidable group and expect to finally get over the hump since adding the return of Haney. Haney last played for GIDC in 2002 when he was a raw, yet green 19 year old who was learning the trade of the game. No longer the youngster, he’s poised to help the veteran duo Brian Bippus and Keith Westhoelter capture another championship in the twilight of their careers. With Eldin Dorn patrolling the paint and the new additions this could be the year of the men in black and white.
Third seeded AZDF has much to prove since finishing as runner-up to East Zone last year. Not feeling the selection committee’s decision to seed them at number three this could be adding wood to the fire. AZDF will be sporting two legends, Doc Torres and David Hamilton. Both have combined for over 2,300 points in USADB history. Besides that AZDF has added more athleticism to their roster with Akoma Hopwood. Hamilton, if deemed healthy will manage the team as he always has with his savvy demeanor and floor leadership. The big test for AZDF will be getting by GIDC in the semi-finals. Accomplish this and a return to the finals is eminent.
Returning for the third consecutive year the Austin Deaf Toros hope to dig deeper into the tournament. The last two years the Toros have finished fourth, losing to GIDC and AZDF in the semis respectively. Austin is led by the young Anton Jackson who leads this bunch in scoring and rebounding. Jackson is accompanied by veterans Chris Hamilton, Termiea Bowers and RJ Kaufman. The road to claim the crown will need the Toros to complete potential wins against Bridgeport and East Zone. A bull rush will be needed to in order to make it happen.
Bridgeport the perennial fifth place finisher over the last several years are aiming to get past the second round and continue their flight east on the bracket this year. Led by their big men in the middle, Chad Biskupiak and Ben Demario, this one two punch is probably the most dangerous combination duo in the paint. They’ve beefed up the front court by adding veteran Nick Lalanne who gives them depth with his versatility. Bridgeport will need their guards to step up to make it deep into the tournament this time around. Would you call them a sleeper?
After completing somewhat of an upset in the SEAAD regional Carolina is set to make some noise. After losing Tim Teeters and Randall Bostain to Florida State many thought Carolina was done for. They countered the loss with the addition of Willie Brown. Brown is obviously more nimble as compared to Teeters and it proved to be the case when Carolina walked away with yet another SEAAD crown. They are led by the spunky guard tandem of Mark Hedrick and Fred Thompson. In the past this team only fair as well as the two guards could take them. These Carolinians promise to give a gutsy performance. To reach the finals they’ll have to go through the likes of GIDC or AZDF. Can they do it?
Slotted in the 7th and 8th seeds are St. Louis and Utah respectively. Both these units aren’t star studded by far but will compete whenever they’re on the floor. Utah is known to extend games with their grit and grunt work. They’re up against a scrappy WSAD –Orange team who will test their mettle in that seed 8 and 9 match-up. St. Louis will attempt to ride their upset of Denver in MAAD, tough task.
Expect little to no surprises amongst the lower seeded teams. There hasn’t been a lower seed team to win national tournament since Chicago pulled it off in 2002 where they were a 9th seed and went through the tournament unscathed. Is there a team lurking at the dark end of the party room? We’ll have to wait and see.
See yall at the dance. Bring your ‘A’ game and dance shoes. There’s going to be a ‘Soul Train’ line down the bracket going east. The winner will jig, shimmy, pop-lock, moonwalk, and hip-hop when it’s all over and done with. Let’s get jiggy with it.
