With March Madness being the best time of March (and the beginning of April) we felt we had to give tribute to the Tourney’s best player and probably one of its youngest, true freshman sensations Carmelo Anthony of Syracuse University.

Anthony was expected by many to go to the NBA last year, instead he chose to go to school, in part to please his mother. I’m sure she would not have disappointed if he just had a great regular season as he lead the team in scoring (22.2 points per game) and rebounding (10 rebounds per game) shot 45 percent from the field and also contributed 1.6 steals while getting his education.

But Anthony did even more than lead his team in statistics as he lead his team, university and Head Coach Jim Boeheim to their first national title. Anthony did this in glorious fashion as he destroyed the competition including three consecutive Big 12 conference teams (Note: The Big 12 was considered the best conference in college basketball) to win the title: Oklahoma (Regional Finals), Texas (National Semifinals) and Kansas (National Final)

Versus East number one seed Oklahoma, Syracuse won 63-47 as Anthony dropped 20 points and 10 rebounds, versus Midwest Seed number one Texas, he knocked the longhorns back for 33 points off 12-19 shooting including3-4 from three-point range and
14 rebounds leading the 'Cuse to a 95-84victory. Then in the final versus a Kansas with senior leadership and a certain hall of fame coach in RoyWilliams, Anthony gave the Jayhawks 20 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists, making key plays when the Orangemen, were resisting Jayhawks' surge securing a81-78 win.

Now speculation goes to whether Anthony will try to go for a repeat performance or will go straight to the pros. Anthony has been said to have really enjoyed the college experience and this will make it a tough decision. The guaranteed money of atop five pick in June’s NBA Draft or books and a chance to do what many have tried but only few (the last being Duke in 1991 and 1992) have done: repeat as national champions. Syracuse has plenty of talent, is losing only one senior, forward Kueth Duany to
graduation, and Anthony can only get better so it is a possibility.

Whatever his decision though, for what is worth he got everything he could of his college experience!

Who is your player of the month?
email me at caar_geoclan@yahoo.com.