We Are United - Coach AJ Green

A staple trainer of The Basketball Movement, AJ Green is ready for his role as Assistant Coach for We Are United prep.

A trainer for The Basketball Movement for some time now, AJ Green is taking on more responsibility as an Assistant Coach for We Are United. While the breadth of his tasks has expanded, he says that much of the job content remains similar.

“I’m really just making sure that these guys are taken care of,” Green tells The Basketball Movement. “I am just doing my part to make sure that things flow smoothly for everybody else.”

That selfless dedication to the players is a big part of why AJ was named Assistant Coach in the first place.

Green says that things are going well with the team. “We have seen a lot of growth from day one ‘til now,” he says. “There is still a long way for these boys to go, but we have already seen improvements as players as well as young men in general. I’m excited to see where we’ll be when the season officially starts.”

With the players and coaches, many different personalities are coming together at We Are United. Green believes that they will all grow from each other into a well-oiled machine.

“I am just really looking forward to seeing the growth of the team - where they start to where they finish,” Green says. “Any coach wants to see a different team compared to what they started with.”

Coach Green is not a rookie in what he describes as “The Movement culture.” The Basketball Movement is home to We Are United, which means that the tried-and-true philosophies still apply.

“What we bring is not just basketball,” Green says. “As these players go from us to other coaches or even out to the real world, we want people to see more mature young men and women than they would have seen before. In the next few years, we want to make sure these guys are ready for life outside of basketball as well.”

The mission of We Are United shines brightly through Assistant Coach AJ Green. The product everyone will see on the court soon will have his imprint on it, and we are proud of that.

Stay tuned right here for more on We Are United and the world of hoops.

We Are United Prep - Jake Martin

The Basketball Movement recently caught up with We Are United’s man in the middle, Jake Martin.

A seven-foot-one center, Jake Martin is a commanding presence for Robert Yanders’ We Are United Prep. Or at least, that is the goal. The words “seven-footer” are magic in the hoops world. Coach and recruiter ears perk up, opponents double-take, and the word big comes with the territory.

For Jake Martin, size is just one piece of the puzzle as he takes things one step at a time.

A product of the Phenom U AAU club, Martin hails from White Water, Wisconsin (about an hour out of either Milwaukee or Madison). His coach, Jose Winston, is a friend of Yanders going back to high school.

Last year, Martin attended The Basketball Movement Invitational, so he was already familiar with the facility and atmosphere. Once Winston mentioned Rob’s new prep school, Jake gave it a shot.

“I came down and liked it,” Martin says of his visit to We Are United. “Next thing I knew, I was moving down last month.”

Having seen Yanders in action during The Invitational last year was likely helpful in bracing Martin for the intensity of We Are United. “It is tough,” Martin says. “There are definitely times where I am feeling weak and want to quit. But at the same time, I know it is for the best in the long run. I know Rob wants the best for me.”

Currently, Martin says that his focus is on improving in the paint. “I am working on being strong and aggressive,” Martin says. “I want to dominate the post.”

As for the team dynamic, Martin says that things are coming together. “We have 12 new people that have not played together,” Martin says. “We are figuring out roles and finally figuring out each other’s strong suits. By our first game, we will be a pretty good team.”

Asked to describe the atmosphere at We Are United prep, Martin gives a slight shrug. “Not to sound cheesy, but united,” Martin says. “We are all here for the same goal. We are standing up for each other and pushing each other. Making each other the best athletes and also the best humans we can be.”

Stay tuned as We Are United’s inaugural season draws closer!

We Are United schedule, roster, and more

Looking for more information on Robert Yanders’ prep school, We Are United? The Basketball Movement has you covered.

Since announcing his prep school, Rob Yanders has been fielding questions about We Are United. The Basketball Movement and We Are United are in an exciting time, in which we can show as well as we can tell. The team does not have closed practices - anyone is welcome to come marvel at their leisure.

More excitingly, official games will be starting soon enough. The schedule is shown below:

Screenshot 2021-09-28 3.13.48 PM.png

This schedule has been pulled from weareunitedbasketball.com, where you can also find the complete roster, list of coaches, information on the school, and more.

The Basketball Movement has been conducting interviews with a few of the student-athletes of We Are United. Keep clicking around this blog to check them out.

There are more interviews coming as well, highlighted by coaches such as Sly Yanders. So keep an eye out here and across our social media as we cover We Are United and all other movement around the world of hoops.

We Are United Prep - John Lovelace

Another big baller from Milwaukee, John Lovelace Jr., is ready to up his game with We Are United.

Robert Yanders’ Milwaukee connections have paid off in a big way once again, helping We Are United prep to land 6’7” combo forward, John Lovelace Jr., who is looking great with the fall semester underway. Classes have started, and intense practices have been firing on all cylinders. We Are United is looking game-ready with guys like Lovelace ready to roll.

“Classes are going good,” reports Lovelace. “It is different, but I was mostly doing remote work due to COVID until the end of my senior year anyway.” On the court, Lovelace is seeing plenty of growth as well. “Basketball is going well. I’m getting better and more confident each day I’m here.”

Lovelace says that becoming more confident has been a point of emphasis as he works on his game. “I’ve also been working on getting to my spots and scoring consistently from them.”

In a previous interview with The Basketball Movement, Lovelace noted that he has dreams of playing basketball professionally. With his size and skill, it certainly seems like he can go as far as his work ethic takes him.

Of We Are United, Lovelace says that he likes it here a lot. “(Coach Yanders) is training us not just to be great basketball players, but men as well.”

With a good head on his shoulders and all of the physical tools to succeed, the sky is the limit for John Lovelace Jr. Stay tuned to The Basketball Movement for more on We Are United prep.

We Are United Prep - Jeremiah Dotson

Another up-and-comer for We Are United prep, Jeremiah Dotson, is elevating his game.

Jeremiah Dotson is a 6’6 forward for We Are United prep. With a demeanor that screams hooper, Dotson has spent his time at We Are United wisely, getting better on and off the hardwood.

Classes are going great, according to Dotson. Basketball is going well, too, though expectations are at an all-time high. “It is definitely different from high school,” Dotson says. “It is way more intense, way more work.”

Consistency has been a point of emphasis during that work for Jeremiah so far. “I am working on being more confident shooting the three,” Dotson says. “I’m focusing on keeping the same form every time.”

For the second interview in a row, a player described the atmosphere around We Are United as being family-like. The Basketball Movement and now, by extension, We Are United, has always focused on rewarding hard-workers with camaraderie and a place that they feel they belong. We are excited to see that bleeding through into this young program.

Originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Dotson comes from the same neck of the woods as Head Coach Robert Yanders. Milwaukee crafted Yanders into the relentless worker that he is. Dotson sees that in his coach and can use it to grow.

“(Rob) is going to push us to our limits,” Dotson says. “Well… past our limit. Everything is going great here overall.”

We are excited to see Dotson and his teammates in action soon. Stay tuned to The Basketball Movement for updates and follow We Are United on Twitter and Instagram!

We Are United Prep - Isaiah Davis

We Are United Prep is in full swing at The Basketball Movement. We sat down with student-athlete Isaiah Davis to see how things were going.

Isaiah Davis is a 6’6” guard/forward for We Are United Prep. Originally from St. Paul, Minnesota, he brings plenty of skill to bolster the We Are United team, preparing to enter its first season in just a few short weeks.

Davis says that classes are going well. He confesses that doing work online and communicating with instructors seemed difficult at first but is mostly just different. His on-court experience has been a change as well.

“We have been working hard,” Davis says. “But it has been really good. We are getting ready to compete at the highest level.”

In particular, Davis says that he has been focusing on off-the-ball work more than ever before. “I've been focusing on moving without the ball, setting hard screens, and creating for my teammates,” Davis says. Working with his teammates and coaches has established what he describes as a “family-based” atmosphere.

“Everyone at We Are United is hard-working,” Davis says. “Work hard or go home, really. It is all or nothing here - no one can come with half effort.”

The hard work is already paying off as Isaiah Davis and his We Are United teammates visibly improve with each passing day. They still have a few weeks of preparation before games begin and apear to be right on track.

We Are United prep is underway

We Are United prep is underway in its inaugural school year, with all young men reporting for duty.

NIXA, Mo — Monday afternoon, August 23rd at The Basketball Movement. Following a four-mile run this morning and a break for lunch and online classes, the first-ever We Are United prep team files back into The Basketball Movement facility.

Some light stretching and shooting later, and Head Coach Rob Yanders divides the players into teams for 5-on-5 runs. Expectations are set as always, and play gets underway. Kanon Gipson (6’3 G) penetrates and makes the offense go for skins, and Jonathan Dunn (6’7 F) bangs a quick outside J for shirts. Yanders observes closely.

Some of these guys have been coming around The Basketball Movement for years. Others are still acclimating to Yanders’ relentless style and level of expectations. The expectations are for these young men to experience on-and-off court growth.

“We are happy they’re here and excited to show them the culture and let them know what we expect,” says Assistant Coach Craig Smith. “Opportunities here are earned. By working hard every day, they can be successful. That is one of the best lessons you can teach a man.”

Rob is the Head Coach, his brother Sly Yanders is Assistant Head Coach, and Craig Smith and Emmanuel Brookshire are the assistants. Rob says that people can expect a hard-working group this season.

“We are excited for these guys to be part of a great community,” Yanders says. “This is not just historic for myself or The Basketball Movement, but for basketball in our area with the addition of this prep school.”

Players are being housed by We Are United in a gated community on the south side of Springfield. Yanders is setting a standard for his program that is unlike anything the area has seen or is likely to see again. Coach Rob takes pride in every bit of his work with basketball and the community; We Are United will receive the same treatment.

September 9th will be an open day for college coaches to evaluate this crop of guys. Yanders reports that he has been fielding calls from programs around the country that are taking interest. We will keep you up to date right here on developments, offers, and chatter.

For everything We Are United - keep it locked to The Basketball Movement.

Yanders Law at UAA Finals

Yanders Law (boys 17u) wrapped up their UA Rise Circuit and UAA Championship bracket tour with several impressive wins.

Going 3-2 in the UAA Championship bracket, Yanders Law Basketball has proven that it belongs among the elite. At the UAA Finals, the 17u Yanders Law squad toppled WE R1 before suffering a pair of unfortunate losses to D Premier and Nebraska Supreme. However, the team got to finish with a couple of wins over Atlanta Xpress and Houston Superstars.

To make it to the UAA Finals, Yanders Law had to rise above the competition and earn the right, besting big-market teams in UA Rise. After successful stints in Atlanta and Dallas, the team was ready to face the tough competition that awaited in Indianapolis.

In many ways, things went as planned. Zach Howell (6’5 G/F) has officially broken out as an alpha dog on offense and has expanded his repertoire in ways even he may not have believed possible only a few years prior. In addition, Jonathan Dunn (6’7 F) and Sincere Malone (6’8 G/F) have been proven monsters on the boards and got the opportunity to showcase their all-around game.

Cam Liggins (6’4 G) showed he is the capable offensive weapon he always has been but has also broken out as a defensive stud. Logan Applegate (6’2 G) and Kanon Gipson (6’3 G) were steady as ever with their playmaking while keeping defenses honest with their shooting strokes. Elijah Whitley (6’3 G) punished opposing guards with his athleticism, Corey Williams Jr. (6’2 G) showed he could do a lot more than shoot, and Tyler Harmon (6’2 G) proved to everyone that he belongs with his defense and range.

You cannot win every game, but the showing in the Under Armor Circuit this summer by Yanders Law can only be considered a victory. This has been a building block for the program, which continues to grow and impress with each passing year.

Yanders Law alumni are flourishing, the up-and-comers are gaining more exposure than ever, and the future remains blindingly bright.

Stay tuned to The Basketball Movement and Yanders Law going forward. These players were able to play in front of nearly one hundred collegiate programs over the past few weeks, and we anticipate a few phone calls in these young men’s futures.

Jonathan Dunn accepts Missouri State offer

Jonathan Dunn (6’7 2022 F) of Yanders Law and We Are United prep has accepted an offer to play for Missouri State University.

Since arriving in Southwest Missouri to finish up his high school basketball career in Logan-Rogersville, Jonathan Dunn has impressed. He was still a bit raw before his time with The Basketball Movement but has proven to be an absolute gym rat, and that work has paid off.

During his time here and with the Yanders Law AAU program, Dunn has gone from athletic forward to a complete player, capable of knocking down the long ball, rebounding at an elite clip, and defending multiple positions. And, yes, he can still put opponents in the rim as well.

After graduating high school, Dunn reclassified to 2022, giving himself more time to gain exposure following a challenging recruiting year due to the pandemic. Dunn has committed to playing for We Are United this fall, and his spring and summer play was all he needed to show what he was truly capable of. Look for Dunn to continue expanding his offensive repertoire and overall feel for the game, working with Rob Yanders this upcoming semester.

Dunn held outstanding offers from Mizzou and Texas Tech before ultimately deciding to attend Missouri State University. Coaches Dana Ford and Corey Gipson know to expect an established rim-runner and high motor guy. But, as he continues to work, the sky is the limit for Dunn.

Congratulations to JD and also congratulations to Missouri State. This pairing should yield impressive results from the get, and we are excited to be able to see it right down the road. Go Bears!

NCAA rule changes - NIL

In one of the most impactful changes to college sports in history, the NCAA has announced that athletes may now profit from their NIL.

NIL or name, image, and likeness, rule changes in the NCAA mean that athletes may finally begin earning money from their personal brand, sponsorship, and deals. This step has been multiple years in the making, with only a handful of states coming around to the idea in recent years.

The new rules are still intentionally ambiguous. The NCAA is leaving things open to interpretation in the coming weeks. Hopefully, more details and a more straightforward blanket set of guidelines are in the pipeline as athletes enter this uncharted territory. Congress is expected to step in and assist with uniform guidelines as the national scale of these changes brings widespread implications.

Several athletes have already begun announcing brand partnerships as the ruling took effect at the start of July. Many previously prominent college athletes such as JJ Redick, Johnny Manziel, and Joe Burrow have commented about what they missed out on, but also their satisfaction that change is taking place at last.

It is an exciting time for NCAA athletes across all sports. As the players help their respective schools and teams succeed, they will now also have the opportunity to grow their personal brands and make money that they rightly deserve.

Will we see college basketball superstars sporting signature shoes from big brands during March Madness? Will NCAA video games come back in a big way? The breadth of the changes may be unclear, but change is here nonetheless.

The Basketball Movement will continue monitoring the changes and updates and passing along the info right here. Stay tuned as we keep the breakdowns coming on the NBA Finals and USA hoops down through local updates and player movement. See you again soon!

Jonathan Dunn receives offer from Texas Tech

We Are United and Yanders Law standout Jonathan Dunn has received an offer to play at Texas Tech University.

Whether at Logan-Rogersville high or with his Yanders Law AAU squad, Jonathan Dunn has been putting players, coaches, and scouts on notice. With offers from Mizzou and Radford and interest from Purdue, Marquette, South Dakota, and K-State, Dunn now has another big one on the table.

Dunn has now received an offer to play for Texas Tech, and his hard work is paying off in major ways. Now wanted in the Big-12 and SEC, the scramble to sign Dunn is in full swing.

Committed to Robert Yanders’ We Are United prep this fall, Dunn has the opportunity to advance his impressive game even further.

In our recent article on Yanders Law standouts, The Basketball Movement had this to say about Jonathan Dunn:

“Always a threat to bully players inside, Dunn has recently seen his perimeter game takeoff as well. For his muscular frame, he has no issue keeping up with 2s and 3s on the perimeter, and he is evolving into a 3-and-D guy in addition to his rebounding and attacking style. One of the best rim-runners in the Midwest, he has developed the ability to put the ball on the deck and is an ever-evolving threat.

With a motor that just does not stop, Dunn has earned high praise from coach Robert Yanders. “J Dunn is a dawg,” Yanders says. “He has displayed so much growth on both ends of the floor.”

Congratulations on the offer, JD. This is yet another impressive achievement and testament to the work you have put in, but this is not ever yet. Stay tuned to The Basketball Movement for more on our guys!

Kanon Gipson receives D1 offer

We Are United and Yanders Law point guard Kanon Gipson has received a D1 offer from UW Milwaukee.

A rock-solid 6’3 point guard, Kanon Gipson’s stock is on the rise as he continues to impress with his AAU squad, Yanders Law. Gipson wrapped up an impressive senior season at Logan Rogersville before committing to We Are United Prep this fall.

This offer from Coach Patrick Baldwin and UW Milwaukee marks the first D1 offer for Gipson. He has also received interest from UC Santa Barbara and Santa Clara.

Following an impressive stretch with Yanders Law this spring, we recently said this in our 2021 Yanders Law standouts (17u) article:

“Like another notable Santa Clara guard, Kanon Gipson is 6’3, crafty, and has a knack for winning. As steady as they come, Gipson has done a great job leading the club this spring and has drawn praise from coach Rob Yanders.

“Kanon has played against high-level guards all spring and has held his own on both ends of the floor,” Yanders says. “Three-star guys like Jaden Schutt and Sean Jones - Kanon defeated them. He isn’t flashy, but he consistently just gets the job done.””

Gipson is improving daily and is primed to turn heads this fall at Robert Yanders new post-grad school, We Are United. For more on Yanders Law standouts, We Are United, and all things hoops, stay locked to The Basketball Movement.

We Are United Prep - Jonathan Dunn

JONATHAN DUNN IS OFFICIALLY COMMITTED TO PLAYING POST-GRAD HOOPS WITH WE ARE UNITED PREP.

With school ball behind him, Jonathan Dunn is looking forward and focusing on working out and getting better this summer. If his spring performances with Yanders Law Basketball are any indication, things are going incredibly well.

Dunn recently received offers to hoop with Mizzou and SIU-Edwardsville and is currently drawing interest from Iowa State, Purdue, Murray State, Maryland, and more.

Dunn attributed his strong play in AAU ball to his teammates. “We play well together,” Dunn says. “We do a good job playing off the ball. Whoever is hot gets the ball in their hands; when I’m having a good day, they get me the ball.” With Yanders Law, Dunn has certainly had plenty of “good days,” most of which is due to his willingness to run the floor, a nose for the ball, and vicious rack attacks.

He has already come a long way, but Dunn knows there is already room for improvement. He says he will work on his jump shot mechanics this summer, focusing on backspin and having a consistent stroke. “I also want to make sure I’m attacking off the dribble more,” Dunn says. “I also want to use my length to score over the defense.”

Polish_20210517_071158713.jpg

Asked about his decision to continue his hoops career at We Are United, Dunn says he simply needs to continue to get better. “I want to get better, and I want to work with good people - people who are in my corner,” Dunn says.

Since Dunn initially came to The Basketball Movement and began working with Rob Yanders, he says that their similarities have allowed the relationship to strengthen. “He is competitive on-and-off the court, just like me,” Dunn says of Yanders. “He pushes everyone to be the best they can be and still makes sure they continue to work.”

Dunn has been coming to The Basketball Movement and working with Coach Rob long enough that he knows what hard work looks like. The strides he has taken in his time here cannot be understated, and his arrow is pointing straight up.

For more on We Are United’s upcoming inaugural season and all things basketball, keep it locked to The Basketball Movement.

We Are United Prep - Sincere Malone

CHICAGO NATIVE, 6’8 SINCERE MALONE HAS COMMITTED TO PLAYING POST-GRAD HOOPS WITH WE ARE UNITED PREP.

Currently holding offers from Chicago State and Southern U., Sincere Malone is coming from Chicago to We Are United prep in hopes of raising his stock further. Robert Yanders’ new post-grad school will allow Malone to improve rapidly and do just that.

Malone says that school ball ended quickly and mostly felt like a scrimmage environment with no fans being allowed to attend. Making a visit to We Are United, Sincere liked the atmosphere quite a bit, saying that he made his mind up on the spot.

“It is a family environment,” Malone says. “I feel like I am at home. I know that it will be a good place to hoop and develop.”

Polish_20210516_090646822.jpg

Development, hooping, and family are significant areas of emphasis at We Are United and The Basketball Movement, so we are pleased to hear these words. Development starts early, as Rob Yanders is putting his recruits through rigorous workouts already. “I thought IU was in shape before I came here,” Malone told Yanders after a recent workout. Yanders’ patented toughness can mold players in a hurry if they have the correct mindset.

“He’s a hard-knock coach,” Malone says of Yanders. “He knows what it takes to get to the next level. I am self-motivated, but everyone can use that extra voice in their ear. He’ll give me that edge.”

Sincere says that this summer, he will spend his time striving to improve his athleticism, shooting, and rebounding. He also notes that he has work to do to become a better off-ball player, slashing and cutting. With We Are United using The Basketball Movement as its home base, he will get plenty of opportunities to improve every aspect of his game.

Keep an eye out as we highlight more players committed to We Are United and keep it locked to The Basketball Movement for news, player updates, and more.

We Are United Prep - John Lovelace Jr.

Milwaukee native 6’8 John Lovelace Jr. has committed to playing post-grad hoops with We Are United Prep.

Robert Yanders’ new prep school, We Are United, is set to have its inaugural hoops season this fall. Commitments are heating up, including 6’8 John Lovelace Jr. out of Milwaukee, WI.

Lovelace Jr. already boasts offers from Mizzou, DePaul, Western Illinois, and Grambling State. He has received interest from Wyoming and Illinois as well, and his stock is on the rise.

Polish_20210515_171654872.jpg

Lovelace Jr.’s high school coach, Jose Winston, was the connection with Rob Yanders. Coach Winston explained to John that he and Rob would be an excellent fit. “Rob is a great guy,” Lovelace says. “I like that he’ll push me and expects everybody to work hard. He treats the 15th guy like he treats the best players.”

With professional aspirations, Lovelace Jr. knows he has plenty to work on to make his NBA dream a reality. “I’ve been pushing myself in practice ‘til I can’t go anymore,” Lovelace says. “I’ve been working on my athleticism, conditioning, ball-handling, shooting, and creating plays on both sides. I always try to guard the best player too.”

John says that this seems like a great area, and he seems ready to go to work this fall. He says that he is prepared to be pushed, which is music to Rob Yanders’ ears.

“I think the world of John,” says Yanders. “It’s always good to have guys here from where I’m from. The pieces are coming together and the talent level of We Are United is going to be very, very high.”

Stay tuned for more from We Are United and The Basketball Movement.

Tracking interest, offers, and commitments

In what has likely been the strangest recruiting and scouting year ever, The Basketball Movement is keeping you up-to-speed on our athletes.

Different athletes naturally have different goals, all of which are respected at The Basketball Movement. Some young players just want to get a feel for the game, some may want to crack the varsity squad, and others may have dreams of going pro. While we work with players from every stage of the game, we have recently been fortunate to be a part of a large wave of high school players committing to play NCAA basketball.

Every player is responsible for their own destiny, so work with The Basketball Movement will only take individuals as far as they will let it. We are confident in saying that we know what it takes to help any player reach their next level if they let us.

Recently, many athletes that work with The Basketball Movement (most of which also participate in Yanders Law AAU basketball) have received offers to play Division 1 hoops. Some have already accepted those offers, and others are still deciding as they continue to elevate their level of play.

We track offers and commitments of our players on our social media platforms, so make sure that you are following The Basketball Movement.

Despite a challenging year for scouting and recruitment, this has been the strongest crop of young local talent in recent memory. Some players are choosing to reclassify and wait for more exposure as they continue to develop. Many of those players have committed to attending the new prep school, We Are United, this fall (more on that later).

For any parents or players - let us know if we are missing anything also. If you frequent The Basketball Movement or are part of #LawNation, DM us or shoot an email to basketballmovement@yahoo.com to tell us about any recruiting news you think we should know about.

In addition to news about recruitment, The Basketball Movement has been pumping out player highlights, news, and more on our social media sites. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook as we monitor all of the movement!

NCAA March Madness: Final Four preview

After taking a year off, March Madness is back in a big way and we are already down to the Final Four.

The 2021 NCAA March Madness tournament has been different this year, all taking place in or around Indianapolis. The national pandemic has reared its ugly head a few times, but overall, things have gone smoothly. About any way you slice it, this has still been an incredible stretch of hoops.

One of March Madness's most exciting aspects is getting to watch underdogs go out and prove themselves against the best teams. The upsets started early and no brackets escaped unscathed.

UCLA is no stranger to March Madness, but they are playing the part of the underdog this season. Starting their tournament having to win one of the “First Four” games, UCLA (11-seed) is a talented squad that has battle the whole way.

On the other side, Houston is a more unfamiliar program than the others that remain. To the casual observer, they would be big underdogs as well. Houston is a 2-seed for a reason. Their consistency and defensive aggression have put pressure on all levels of opponents this season and have led to a 28 and 3 record.

Unfortunately for both of the above squads, for all of their success, the trials are far from over.

Awaiting Houston is Baylor (1-seed), who looks as strong now as they have all year. For most of the NCAA season, if you had to pick the two teams most likely to make the finals it would be Baylor and… the Gonzaga Bulldogs.

Gonzaga (1-seed) was the overall favorite heading into March Madness and they have done absolutely nothing to cast doubt on that expectation.

Having rolled through each of their opponents to this point, Gonzaga just needs to continue to play within themselves and not get overconfident, even though it feels a bit like a Baylor-Gonzaga championship has been in the making all year.

This is still March Madness and we have seen a few wild happenings in the big dance. Nothing is set in stone and Houston’s consistency or UCLA’s underrated talent and scrappy defense could still win the day.

Houston and Baylor tip-off Saturday (4/3) at 4:14 pm CT (don’t ask us why) on CBS.

UCLA and Gonzaga go head-to-head right after at 7:34 pm CT on CBS.

Women’s Final Four

The table is set for the lady’s Final Four as well with three 1-seeds advancing and some unsurprising programs hoping to build on their already impressive histories.

UConn (1-seed) plays Arizona (3-seed) Friday (4/2) at 8:30 pm on ESPN. With a coaching staff that has been here time and time again and the AP Player of the Year, freshman Paige Bueckers, the Huskies suddenly find themselves as national title favorites once more. Arizona must find a way to rattle Bueckers or they may need to keep the bus running.

South Carolina (1-seed) and Stanford (1-seed) face off Friday (4/2) at 5:00 pm. This will be an epic showdown between teams that have been powerhouses again this year. Stanford was the team that finally put an end to Missouri State’s great season and will likely be favorited in this one. Their talent and size will be tough to overcome, though the Gamecocks defense is elite. It will be a great battle.

Stay tuned to The Basketball Movement as we follow the action and keep you up to speed. Your bracket may look ugly, but there is plenty of beautiful basketball on deck.

NCAA March Madness: First round recap

The first round of the men’s 2021 NCAA Tournament has concluded and the madness is certainly underway.

Dominant performances, upsets, Cinderella stories, drama, and hungry young hoopers; this is why we watch and this is what we are being treated to already. The men’s 2021 NCAA March Madness Tournament is underway and the first round did not disappoint.

Part of the “madness” is due to the sheer number of contests being played, especially in the early rounds. That is certainly part of the fun. The other part comes from dramatic finishes and surprising upsets - we got those too. In fact, this is the first time that four teams seeded 13th or worse are moving on to play in the Round of 32.

In 2018, Virginia became the first 1-seed to lose in the first round, dropping their game to UMBC. This year was not that bad, though the 4-seed Cavaliers did make an early exit with a loss to 13-seed Ohio.

A bigger upset came in the form of Abilene Christian (14-seed) toppling a Texas team (3-seed) that was supposed to lead the Longhorns back to basketball prominence. Instead, it will be North Texas representing the Lone Star State as a 13-seed taking down Purdue (4-seed). (Okay, Texas Tech is also moving on, but we are trying to get in on the drama as well)

The largest upset seeding-wise was 15-seed Oral Roberts knocking off 2-seed Ohio State. Oral Roberts will play Florida and Yanders Law alum, Tyree Applebee tonight at 6:45 pm central time. A few other smaller upsets were sprinkled in for good measure: Rutgers over Clemson, Syracuse over San Diego State, Oregon State over Tennessee, Wisconsin over North Carolina, and Maryland over UConn.

Mizzou lost a heartbreaker to Oklahoma by four and Creighton narrowly escaped a loss to UCSB by one point. Gonzaga remains undefeated and still has the looks of the team to beat in this year’s tourney. Really, all the 1-seeds still look very strong with Iowa (2-seed) and Kansas (3-seed) also playing nice ball.

Oregon moves on to the Round of 32 due to unfortunate circumstances, as VCU had to forfeit due to issues with COVID-19. Tough way to go out for those guys.

That should have you caught up through the first round! Don’t blink, as the Round of 32 starts today. The women’s tourney kicks off as well, so keep an eye out as we update you on both. Keep checking back here as we keep up with the movement!

NCAA: March Madness 2021

After taking a year off due to the pandemic, March Madness is back in 2021.

The 2021 tournament brackets are set for the NCAA’s big dance. March was mad last year for very different reasons than we are used to, but things are on track for a (mostly) normal NCAA tournament this season. The “First Four” games tipoff this Thursday, March 18th.

Multiple men and women’s teams have had to withdraw from conference tournaments due to health concerns including the Missouri State Lady Bears, who are all but a lock to make the tournament and want to keep it that way. Notably, Kansas and Virginia are having COVID issues in the men’s bracket.

Four teams: Louisville, Colorado State, St. Louis, and Mississippi did not make the cut but are on standby, ready to fill in and ensure the bracket starts with a full 68 teams. Any team that must miss essentially forfeits and their opponents move on.

Kansas and/or Virginia missing having to withdraw could have big implications for overall number one seeded Gonzaga, who looms in their same bracket. Gonzaga is a flawless 26-0 heading into the tournament. The other 1-seeds are; Baylor (22-2), Michigan (20-4), and Illinois (23-6).

This also marks the first year since 1976 that neither Duke nor Kentucky made the tournament. Hello, fresh faces.

Beginning March 18th and concluding on April 5th, March Madness is always one of the best stretches of the year for hoops fans and we at The Basketball Movement are excited to have it back. Games will be televised on TBS, CBS, TNT, and truTV. Click the below link to see the full, printable bracket:

Check out the 2021 NCAA March Madness bracket here

Good luck to all the athletes participating (especially those we have had the pleasure of working with)! Basketball is close to a full recovery from a tough year or so. Keep checking back with The Basketball Movement blog as we break down the action round-by-round. Remember to follow us on Twitter for updates as well. Let the games begin!

NCAA: Year-end update

As 2020 comes to a close, The Basketball Movement gives a quick rundown of the state of NCAA hoops.

College basketball is in full swing, despite a year of uncertainty amidst the national COVID-19 pandemic. Conferences and teams set out on the paths they deemed best and, for the most part, things have been sailing fairly smoothly to this point.

Top teams around the country have started testing their mettle against one another, so we are able to draw some early conclusions. Meaningful games mean standings and rankings are popping up. Below is the AP rankings for men’s hoops as of December 8th:

1. Gonzaga
2. Baylor
3. Kansas
4. Villanova
5. Houston
6. Wisconsin
7. Tennessee
8. Texas
9. West Virginia
10. Iowa
11. Creighton
12. Missouri
13. Texas Tech
14. Rutgers
15. Illinois
16. Michigan
17. Michigan State
18. Florida State
19. Northwestern
20. Duke
21. Oregon
22. Minnesota
23. Virginia
24. Virginia Tech
25. Ohio State

Gonzaga is the runaway leader so far. Baylor is the only team other than the Bulldogs to have garnered any first-place votes from the Associated Press. It is early, but to have such a clear standout at any point in the NCAA season is a bit unusual. They have easily handled some great squads so far this season and will remain an interesting team to watch for the remainder.

The Big 10 boasts nine teams in the top 25, which is wild as well. While that number is staggering, the Big 12’s five teams on the poll may represent the most impressive collection of talent with Baylor, Kansas, Texas, West Virginia, and Texas Tech all in the top 13.

Missouri is not going anywhere, hanging just outside the top ten while their SEC rival, Tennessee sits at seven. Duke is currently number 20, while North Carolina has been removed following a loss to NC State.

NCAAW

In women’s college hoops, the top headline recently was Duke canceling their season. These are strange times and it will be interesting to see if any other schools follow suit.

The top five teams early are Stanford, Louisville, NC State, UCONN, and South Carolina. So, no real surprises early. Several conferences have yet to begin interconference play, so expect full rankings soon. The Pac-12 has started and is looking strong with Arizona and Oregon joining Stanford in the top 10, with UCLA knocking on the door.

The Missouri State Lady Bears are currently ranked number 24 and will start their conference play early in 2021.

That is as brief as we can keep an update about a nation’s worth of college hoops! Keep checking back for updates on the NCAA, professional ball, local stuff, and all the basketball movement around the world.