Full-Court Press

You don't have to have attended college to appreciate the thrill and excitement of college basketball. My family, only a small portion of whom have college degrees, is Midwestern and diehard fans of the University of Illinois. We wear the colors (orange and blue) with pride. Go, Fighting Illini! Everyone can, I believe, appreciate this sense of belonging, of ownership for the local university's basketball team.

2K Sports, the alma mater for many sports game lovers, has produced another fantastic basketball game. In the past, they've created such well-loved sports games as ESPN College Hoops 2K5, NHL® 2K6, NBA 2K6, and Amped® 3. College Hoops® 2K6 is their latest sports endeavor. It's not a game for basketball beginners. It's a complex and deep game that will make you feel like you're truly experiencing the pressure of a real-life coach.

Make sure your shoes are tied and your tie is straight, because the game's about to begin. Here are a few tips that just might help you and your team win the conference title.

That's not TV—it's Xbox 360.

Take the Shot
I know I don't have to tell you that the fundamental key to success involves knowing your buttons. I can, however, help you to better understand how you can use some of them with greater efficiency. Perhaps most basic, and most important, are your shots. If they miss, you lose a crucial opportunity to score. Generally, your opponent then steals the ball and gets a chance to score. Make the most of your shots.

The right stick, known as the Shot Stick in the game, controls your shots. To take a jump shot, for example, you pull down on the right stick and hold it there. The player begins a jump shot. Release the stick just as the player reaches the top of his jump. This sends the ball straight to the basket. Free throws work the same way. One thing to remember is that, when executing a jump shot, it helps if you stop moving first. Plant in one spot, face the basket, and then start your jump.

You've made it all the way to the basket and you want to
dunk the ball. You know it makes the girls crazy for you.

Invading the Paint
Your primary goal when on the offense is to get the ball to the basket. No big secret there. The question is "How?" If you manage to move in towards the basket and want to go for a layup, simply keep going for the basket and move the right stick in one of the four directions. Pushing it up directs your player to do a basic layup. Down initiates a reverse layup, and moving the stick right or left causes either a right- or left-handed layup, respectively. The effectiveness of the layup depends on the other team's defense. Do your best to savvy your way around your opponents.

Let's say you've made it all the way to the basket and you want to dunk the ball. You know it makes the girls crazy for you. Dunks work differently. To perform one, pull the right trigger when you get in position. Simultaneously move the left stick (the one you've been using to move so far) in one of the four directions. Pushing it up results in a basic dunk. Down moves you into a reverse dunk shot. Left produces a fancy dunk shot, best when performed by a smaller, faster player. Right gives you a power dunk, best suited to larger, muscle-bound players. Be careful not to initiate the dunk shot until you're at the basket.

There's nothing quite like a great dunk.

Defense! Defense!
Getting the ball to the basket is only half the game. When you're on defense, put yourself between the other team and the basket. Switch between players with the A button. Stay close to the man with the ball. When your opponent is dribbling the ball, swipe at it and attempt to take it away. To do this, get right next to the dribbler and move the right stick in the direction you want to swipe. Don't abuse this move, however. Use it too many times, and the referee hits you with a reaching foul.

The above also works for stealing a ball in mid-pass. Move your player in line with the throw. This is nearly impossible unless you're very close already. If the stars align just right, however, then move the right stick to the side the ball is passing you and capture the ball in mid-flight. If you're feeling desperate and want to go for a distance lunge after a ball in mid-pass, then pull the right trigger and move the right stick in the direction of the ball. The risk, however, is that you will miss and end up out of position to defend the basket against your opponent.

Stay alert to the opposition.

V.I.C.T.O.R.Y.
The game identifies players with buttons so that you can more easily take advantage of player skills and positioning. Hold the right bumper, and the game shows the buttons assigned to each of the positions. Then, push the appropriate button to pass the ball to that player. The left trigger passes the ball to the Center (C). The Point Guard (PG) is associated with the A button. B marks the Shooting Guard (SG). The X button belongs to the Small Forward (SF), and the Y button passes the ball to the Power Forward (PF).

Some players have an icon next to their names when they have the ball. This tells you something about that player. The game calls these icons Ability Icons. The Shoe icon relays that the player is quick on his feet. On a fast break, he makes it down to the other end of the court faster than anyone else. A "3" next to a player's name indicates that he has a knack for three-point shots. If you see crosshairs next to a player's name, you know he performs jump shots well. A star says that the player is a superstar. He's the one you rely on when the going gets rough. He's your offensive ace in the hole. His counterpart, the defensive ace, has a hand by his name. Rely on him to keep the other team from scoring.

College Hoops 2K6 isn't for the weak of thumb. It demands a high level of skill, and you'll find the competition on Xbox Live® cutthroat. I guess it's a darn good thing you're not the type to walk away from a challenge, right?

Article by Angel Leigh McCoy

• 2K Sports Online.