2017-18 Around the Nation columns

February 16, 2018 Turnaround is fair play Amherst and Wooster are perennial powers that dropped off the national radar after slow starts. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps entered the season highly ranked, then lost seven of its first 10 games. As we head down the stretch toward the NCAA Tournament, all three have played themselves back into the postseason picture. Ryan Scott has the story in Around the Nation.

February 9, 2018 Committee finds strength in numbers The job of building the NCAA men's and women's basketball tournament brackets falls on the shoulders of 16 coaches and administrators who volunteer their time, despite often having their own teams to lead. Ryan Scott takes you inside their process in this week's Around the Nation.

February 2, 2018 Public service powers Atlantic stars SUNY-Maritime center Patrick MacDonald is ready to embark on an exciting career after graduating. Staten Island's Tim Shanahan had a remarkable career before becoming a head coach. Their public service experiences give them a special kind of leadership and perspective on the game. More in Around the Nation.

January 25, 2018 Seeking a level playing field While Title IX increased opportunities for women to play college sports, there are actually fewer women's head coaches in college now than before the law passed. Why is that and what can be done to level the playing field for women in the coaching profession? Ryan Scott explores in Around the Nation.

January 19, 2018 Nothing lost in translation for Gibbs Jeff Gibbs was an undersized, overpowering forward who pushed Otterbein to the 2002 Division III national championship. Years later he's still grabbing boards and blocking shots in Japan. We check in with Division III basketball's version of Charles Barkley in Around the Nation.

January 11, 2018 On the move to find their groove Choosing a school is one of the most important decisions in a college athlete's life. What happens when that first choice ends up not being the best fit for academic, athletic or other reasons? Ryan Scott shares the stories of some Division III transfer athletes who have found a better fit the second time around.

December 8, 2017 The secret to their success What does it take to be a successful coach? Good players, of course. And preparation. And all the things you hear about in post-game press conferences. But what about trust, flexibility and consistency? What makes the "soft skills" of coaching so hard? Ryan Scott talked to some of the best in the business to find out.

December 8, 2017 Persevering to go pro Making the leap from college to pro ball is tough. It's even tougher if you're moving to a new country. Now imagine competing with players from the best league in the world for a small number of slots. That's the path that Division III women's players face. Ryan Scott talks with three all-time D3 greats about what it takes.

December 1, 2017 Bringing Rezball to Division III There's a whole level of basketball most people never see. Those who do, fall in love with it. We're not talking about Division III basketball, though we could be. We're talking about Native American basketball, which is a growing part of Division III thanks to players like CooXooEii Black. Ryan Scott has the story.

November 17, 2017 What's old is new again The Christopher Newport women and Whitman men return nearly everyone from their final four squads a season ago. Meanwhile defending champions Babson and Amherst will look very different. How are they and women's top pick Tufts preparing for another run? Ryan Scott has the story.