A sports photographer’s dream is to cover a major national sporting event. On March 20–23, I had the privilege of shooting courtside at the NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament for the MATC Times. I covered practice rounds on March 20 and games on March 21 and 23.
The marquee game was #6 Illinois vs. #11 Xavier. Sitting with national media under the basket and shooting some of the biggest names in college sports was a professional opportunity for which I am grateful. Members of the media were granted access several hours prior to the first game. With the later games starting at 9pm, the days were long but filled with excitement. I shot over 12,000 photos, the best of which will end up in my portfolio. Thanks to the MATC Times for this unforgettable experience, and thanks to MATC Photography Instructor Kirsten Schmitt for showing me the ropes.
