Zags done? Go rent ‘Hoosiers’

Yeah, the Zags won’t play on . Syracuse, an early start and a home-crowd setting doomed GU to an early out. So it goes.

Makes me want to compensate by thinking of my favorite basketball movies, which are as follows:

“Hoop Dreams” (1994): Steve James’ documentary about a couple of Chicago kids trying to win college scholarships gives us one of the best inside looks at the pressures of high school ball ever filmed.

“Hoosiers” (1986):Based on the real story of the little school that could, Milan High School, and its improbably victory over the much bigger urban school. Yeah, it’s a “Rocky”-like story, and Gene Hackman’s coach was overly dramatic, but the story is played out dramatically.

“The Basket” (1999):There are a couple two many plot lines in the filmed-in-Spokane movie, but it tells a decent story, and the cinematography is great. Love Jess Walter in a mustache.

“Glory Road” (2006): As real as “Hoosiers,” though far more Hollywoodized, this story of Texas Western’s win over vaunted Kentucky is certainly worth watching. The Miners won pretty much the way Saint Mary’s did over Villanova: with control.

I’m sure there are many more decent basketball films out there. But these are my faves.

Below : The trailer for “Hoosiers.”