I'm going to just use Tuesday night and Wednesday night as references for this blog, because that's really all I need.
I've been a die-hard college basketball fan my whole life, going to DePaul games since I was 5 and filling out brackets since I learned how to spell. Besides the fact that there's nothing like March Madness, what I love about college basketball is the passion of the kids and the paegentry involved.
Take Tuesday night, Duke vs. North Carolina. Is there a bigger rivarly in sports? Maybe a few, but this game every year is so fun to watch, no matter how good or bad one of the teams is. Even though Duke is ranked much higher than UNC it was a phenominal game with a great finish. Do you get the thrill of watching JJ Redick drain threes from California by watching the NBA? Or the excitment of this heated rivalry. Obviously with an 82 game schedule you're not going to get the big rivalry games in the NBA but thats why college basketball is better and more fun to watch.
Now last night, I got to watch my future school Northwestern upset the 1st place team in the big ten, Iowa. Talk about fun to watch--a Princeton offense and pressing defense that culminates in a huge upset and fans running on the court? Not to mention South Carolina's spirited upset over Florida last night. The upsets are what make college basketball special and miles ahead of the NBA. You don't have to hear players complain about salaries, or watch one player from each team take every play one-on-one and shoot 30% from the field, or watch teams fail to play defense in college basketball. I'm happy the Detroit Pistons are doing so well because they play team basketball and great defense, but that's only one team. What makes college basketball great is this Saturday I'm going to the DePaul vs. Villanova game. DePaul is obviously a huge underdog but with enough student support and if they play their A game they can get the upset and maybe I'll get to rush the court. You don't get that joy from watching the NBA I don't think, you don't get to see North Dakota St.'s kids jump up in excitement after beating Wisconsin or teams like Creighton and Southern Illinois upsetting teams in the tourney.
The gameplay is better, the atmosphere is amazing, and college basketball will continue to reign over the NBA.
Though I have not decided if the NBA is better than the NCAA on Television, I do know the experience of watching Michigan v. Wisconsin 2 weeks ago made me realize going to NCAA games are better than the NBA games. The feeling you get when you're in the arena is like no other. And, I was not a fan of either team going into the game. My buddies and I are looking to head down to Syracuse for March Madness. Hopefully tickets will be available.
There is no question the single greatest rivalry in sports is the Red Sox vs. the Yankees. There is no rivalry that can compare. Every game is a fight to the finish and is more intense than just about anything. There is often a knock on professional sports because the games "lack" the grittiness and hunger that fans associate with college sports. The heated rivalry between the Bosox and the Yankees is the prime example of why that generalization simply is not the case.
Oh, I completely agree that college games are a better experience than NBA. The passion of college fans is so intense and so contagious it affects other fans and absolutely affects the players. Also, I love watching teams made of players that are actually coachable, instead of a collection of spoiled multimillionaires who demand trades and subvert coaches who everyone knows make about as much as newspaper delivery boys in comparison to the players. In college, players play their hearts out for good, old-fashioned reasons such as to impress a girl. Kidding of course.
The thing is, there are some things hold back the college game.
First, that college shot clock has GOT to be shortened. Zzzz.
Second, the college 3 point line is way too easy. Let high school kids keep the line where it is now, but move the college three point line out to where the international (Olympic) three point line is. There are so many good reasons to do this it should be evident.
Third, players turn over too quickly in college. Not only are good players not likely to stick around for their senior years, but chances are they didn't see a lot of playing time their freshmen years as well. That means fans only have about 2 or 3 years to identify with a player. That is how it should be, after all this is college, but the NBA figured out long ago that fans identify much more closely with players than organizations. That realization has been the secret sauce for professional basketball. That's a sauce college basketball may never get to use; more fans will always be able to tell you who plays for the Lakers than UCLA.
Fourth, the way colleges recruit players is really messed up. The college recruitment process takes prestigious coaches who have really proven themselves -- in some cases for decades -- and subordinates them to the egos of immature, self-absorbed teenagers who can barely assemble a coherent sentence much less qualify for college under normal circumstances. Additionally, in the NBA, the teams with the worst records get the first shot at recruiting players. In college, the teams with the best records have
(Continued...) In college, the teams with the best records have the best shot at getting the best high school players. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer.
Fifth, until the big dance, ranking college teams is awfully subjective, and tilts to the East.
Yes, yes, 100 times yes. College hoops are amazing in comparison to Pro Hoops.
For the gentleman or woman who referenced the Red Sox - Yankees rivalry...I get what you are saying and agree to a point, but JJ reddick will never play for the Tar Heels and Jordan would have never transferred to Duke the way Clemens, Damon, Ruth, etc, have all left Boston to play for the Yankees. Has anyone ever gone from NY to Boston besides Fat Boy Wells? Talk about screwing with tradition...He did pretty good when he was wearing #3 as a Red Sox player. He wants to leave pretty bad for Southern Cal from what I am reading.
I agree, but in April the NBA is sweet because these are former CBK greats. And then comes World Champions froms Lithuania and Argentina! 1, 2, 3! And then we have CFA and NCAA BB again.
For me, basketball comes after football and baseball. I am a Laker fan, however. I watch both NBA and College Basketball and for me, the NBA is better. What I would like to see n the NBA is what MLB does and what the NBA does in the playoffs; series. I think the NBA schedule should go by three game series against foes.
Kevo...I absolutely agree with you. I actually attended the Duke/Carolina game the other night..and wrote my own blog on my experience. It's more than just about the actual game..it's about the experience. I invite you to read my blog on that experience. Good Article!!
Its great to see guys out there for the love of the game. I watch the NBA sometimes but i have to say there is nothing like putting yourself on the line for pride and competitiveness. The college players are more entertaining and have less ego problems.
My name is Kevin and I'm a sophomore studying journalism at Northwestern University. I've been a die-hard sports fan all my life, and I'm also one of those hated Cubs and White Sox fans (that's just how I was raised, to be a both fan). I'm also a huge Bears, Bulls, and Blackhawks fan. My favorite sports, however, because of its pagentry and passion, are college sports and I'm a huge Northwestern and DePaul fan.
