#arc uiuc

My Relationship with Summer Pick-Up Basketball and a Baller named David

I have a sort of love-hate relationship with summer-time pick-up basketball. Even though the weather is great in central IL during May, June, July, and August, I still play indoors. I love the wood floors, the convenience of being able to lift and sometimes swim right after I’m done playing, not to mention being able to take a shower when I’m through. Since I work at the University of Illinois…

A Peak Pick-Up Experience

They were 3 down on the best court –I could have 4 down if I wanted it, they said. Like all pickup ballers, I like playing way more than waiting so I moved down to what is usually the second best court at the ARC at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign (UIUC) and picked up with the team that had two down. I had played with three of them before. The guy whose game it was reminded me of some…

Who’s Afraid of an Open Shot?

I love to pass, I try to hit guys when they are wide open so we as a team can take a higher percentage shot. I love the Chris Paul quote about his job being to make the other team think he’s going to shoot it, drawing an extra defender to him so he can make a pass leading to a dunk or an open jumper. I’ll post up just to hit a cutter with a no-look or someone out on the 3-point line once their…

The Algebra of Scoring and The Calculus of Keeping Score

One of the first things a pickup baller does when coming to a new court (after they’ve found out who’s got next and if they have five) is to find out what scoring system they use. Watch a few possessions and you know if the cats can play, watch a little while longer and you notice who can shoot, and who (if anyone) passes. You can tell if they prefer turn-taking, clear-out, iso-style pickup–the…

Understanding ‘The Noon Game’

The ‘Noon Game’

Two weeks ago I was stuck. Between late afternoon meetings and more than a few comments from my girlfriend about getting out of work and the gym at a decent hour I came to the realization that I was either going to have to go a week without playing ball or be forced to join the ‘Noon Game.’ Of course I played ball, but the decision was harder than you might think.

Now, I’m not…