The Final Four

January 1, 2016

Gr 4-8-Each chapter of this NCAA basketball overview explores a different facet of the competition, such as the history of interscholastic college basketball from the first match-up in 1895 (Minnesota's School of Agriculture defeated Hamline University nine to three) to the current 68-team March Madness spectacle. Another chapter is devoted to the greatest games, such as University of North Carolina's triple overtime victory over Kansas and the great Wilt Chamberlain in 1957. A chapter on "Memorable Moments" highlights the first team to start five black players, the Texas Western (now UTEP) Miners, who defeated Kentucky for the championship in the face of brutal racial hostility during and after their appearance. Sidebars outline related subjects such as the history of winning teams cutting down the nets or the significance of tournament brackets. Ample photographs span both the contemporary (the 2015 semi-final between Kentucky and Wisconsin) and the archival (a 1968 rebound by UCLA's Lew Alcindor, who would soon be known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar). Though brief mention is made of the women's tournament, the focus is strictly the men's game. VERDICT Though the book's appeal will be limited to serious basketball fans, the historical perspective and engaging presentation make it a solid choice.-Bob Hassett, Luther Jackson Middle School, Falls Church, VA

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 15, 2015
For basketball enthusiasts, an overview of the NCAA's championship, highlighting the Final Four contestants. It starts with 68 teams and proceeds by loss and elimination until two collegiate basketball squads square off in the finals. But, as Doeden has wisely estimated, it is often in the semifinals that the most memorable games are played: the Final Four. He starts this survey with the birth of modern basketball, its evolution from a rather flat-footed contest to its current electric wizardry, and on to the inevitable desire to crown a national champion at the end of the season. Doeden is clearly a sports enthusiast, capable of investing the most hackneyed phrases--"thrills, chills, and more than a share of heartbreak"--with total sincerity. Three-quarters of the book, which is saturated with glossy color photographs, is given over to memorable games, and the picks are almost a given. But Doeden still imbues them with considerable romance, especially when underdogs make it to the closing brackets. He also introduces important issues facing the sport today, such as player compensation and the potentially deleterious effects of the one-and-done model: players putting in one year of college (or one year after high school, period) before their eligibility to turn professional. A solid collection of choice basketball nuggets, "from the thrill of Cinderella teams to breathtaking, game-winning buzzer-beaters." (sources, glossary, further reading, index) (Nonfiction. 12-16)

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February 1, 2016
Grades 5-8 Arriving just in time for March Madness is this fresh look at the NCAA men's division I college basketball tournament and, in particular, the Final Four championship games. The book opens with a quick historical overview, from an interesting account of the sport's first intercollegiate game in 1895 to an action photo taken during a 2015 semifinal match-up between Duke and Michigan State. Next, Doeden recaps the greatest Final Four games of all time, followed by the most memorable moments in Final Four history. Finally, he discusses recent changes and hypothetical future developments in intercollegiate athletics. The book's wide format allows the text and photos to appear side by side. The older photos are in black-and-white, while later pictures are in color. With vivid, play-by-play descriptions of pivotal games and final points, basketball fans will find plenty to enjoy here. Drawing on his years in sports journalism, Doeden writes colorful accounts of the action, while filling in background on important players, past and present. An informative, enjoyable addition to the sports shelves.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)