THE MEN OF MARCH: A Season Inside the Lives of College Basketball Coaches

Nearly everything about this look at four college basketball coaches during the 2002 season betrays the TV background of its author, a former commentator for Fox's cable sports affiliate in L.A. This should not necessarily be a bad thing; the increasing vigor with which television has covered the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament has shone a much-needed light on that complicated world, and Curtis admirably picks up on the interest. But mostly this is a sophomoric effort. The author followed UCLA's Steve Lavin, Iowa's Steve Alford, Notre Dame's Mike Brey and Illinois's Bill Self during the 2001–2002 campaign. He interweaves the stories of their seasons, from the "midnight madness" that marks the first day of practice to their respective tournament runs in March, with background about their recruiting efforts and how they got their jobs. Some aspects of the book—such as the conceit of following around Division I coaches for a season and the subtitle—suggest another Season on the Brink, John Feinstein's remarkable account of Bobby Knight's Indiana University 1985–1986 team. However, this effort falls short. Like most TV commentators, Curtis is given access most fans only dream of. And like many TV commentators, he squanders it. Commentator platitudes like "take it to the next level" pop up repeatedly in what are essentially puff pieces. Instead of using his hours at practice to garner real insight, the author spends too much time apologizing for coaches like the embattled Lavin and steeping his prose in unrevealing anecdotes that confirm his unsurprising thesis: "The responsibilities of a college coach are time-intensive and the job is a never-ending one." (Apr.)

Forecast:Despite its faults, the book, published in time for the Final Four, is sure to get attention from fans of college hoop.