MARCH MADNESS GLOSSARY
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man-to-man defense:
the defensive style where each defensive player is responsible for guarding one opponent.
March Madness:
see NCAA Tournament.
match-ups:
any pairing of players on opposing teams who guard each other.
MVP (Most Valuable Player):
an award recognizing the NBA player who contributed most to the regular season or to the Finals.
NBA (National Basketball Association):
a professional league created in 1949 that now has 27 teams in the U.S. and is adding 2 Canadian teams in 1995.
NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association):
a voluntary association of over 1,200 colleges and universities in the U.S. whose role is to establish standards and protect the integrity of amateurism for student-athletes.
NCAA Tournament:
an annual competition between 64 college teams to crown a national champion; also called March Madness because the three-week-long event is held during March; see also Final Four.
NIT (National Invitational Tournament):
the oldest college tournament, in which 32 teams not selected to the NCAA Tournament compete each year.
off the dribble:
a shot taken while driving to the basket.
offense:
the team with possession of the ball.
offensive rebound:
a rebound of a team's own missed shot.
officials:
the crew chief, referee and umpire who control the game, stop and start play, and impose penalties for violations and fouls.
1-and-1 or 1-plus-1:
in college, a free-throw attempt awarded for certain violations that earns the shooter a 2nd attempt only if the first is successful.
open:
when a player is unguarded by a defender.
out of bounds:
the area outside of and including the end lines and sidelines.
outside shooting:
shots taken from the perimeter.
over the limit:
when a team commits 5 or more team fouls per NBA period (4 in each overtime); 8 or more per WNBA half; 7 or more per half in college; this team is also said to be in the penalty.
overtime or OT:
the extra period(s) played after a regulation game ends tied.
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