College Basketball Sucks
by Rand on Mar 19, 2009 2:12 PM CDT
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PrintLet me preface this by saying: as of now, I'm a perfect 3-0 in my bracketology - so nobody can accuse me of writing this post out of bitterness. And don't get me wrong, March Madness is a blast. It's just ... well, it's a blast the same way dating a cokehead is a blast. Fun, crazy, unpredictable? No doubt. But once the novelty wears off, you've pretty much got to recognize that you're dealing with an inferior product that will bore, then anger, and finally depress you.
Most of all, I'm tired of hearing weekend-warrior fans get sniffy about how "college teams play better defense than the professionals." Wrong, wrong, wrong. College teams hustle, and they do it against crappy ball-handlers and poor shooters; that, plus the relatively lower game scores, can be used to create the illusion that the NBA is a lackadaisical dunk-fest in comparison. Never mind that college games are 17% shorter, or that the college shot clock is 46% longer. That means that there will be a minimum of 120 possessions in a non-overtime pro game, compared to 68 in a college game. "Only" allowing 65 points - against pissant offensive players, at that - doesn't sound like such lock-down team defense now, does it?
If I wanted to be entertained by a competition amongst losers, I'd watch Wheel of Fortune or Survivor: Whogivesacrap. I watch sports to be entertained by a competition among the best and most talented athletes - and sorry, Charlie, that ain't college basketball.
Update: 7-for-7 so far, and college basketball still sucks. Not as much as LatinD's bracket, though.
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Agreed…
The only time I ever even get into it is when UT is in the mix and the homer in me decides to make an appearance. My co-workers always do backets but since I don’t really follow college basketball (other than the handfull of ‘Horns games) I don’t join in. (something about giving my money away just doesn’t appeal to me)
Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. - Confucius
Geez, if you’re this bitter now, I can’t imagine how you’ll feel when I pwn you with my leet bracket, d00d.
Straight from the No-Stat Zone to your computer!
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Yeah, I can’t imagine how a crazy counterfactual time-travel scenario would make me feel either. Slightly seasick, I would imagine.
Do the Laws of the Rock have a position on the permissibility of the term ‘bizzatch’?
*biznatch. And I wouldn’t use it if I were you. :)
Straight from the No-Stat Zone to your computer!
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Woah, and I thought I disliked college basketball.
The defense thing is true though, just because everyone runs around doesn’t mean they’re playing defense. Shooters in college basketball are horrible compared to the NBA, and the defenses in are either very simple or non-existant.
In fact, that’s what most rookies have trouble with when they first start playing in the NBA, the defense. They find that its very rare that you have an open shot, so a lot of times they end up taking very bad , forced shot. It’s a whole other level from scoring in college basketball.
Though I will say, that college does wonderful things for those poor, oppressed white people that are just trying to play some hoops.
When you look like I do it's hard to get a table for one at Chuck E. Cheese- Zach Galifianakis
I have this argument with people all the time. I can’t stand it when people say that college play is better or more intense or more fundamentally sound than the NBA. Most college offenses run some version of “pass it around the three point line for thirty seconds, ostensibly to locate a post man being triple teamed, and then jack up a three.”
Nearly every college player, when asked, says the biggest adjustment going from college to pros is the intensity they need to bring on defense on every possession (or, as Hipuks mentions, the difficulty of getting a shot off on offense against the superior defenses).
Plus, you add the jackass loudmouth coach factor… people complain about spoiled stars in the NBA, but to me the coaches in college are ten times worse.
Plus, you can’t get around the fact that the players are just not as good. Nearly everyone in the NBA, even end of bench guys, were once college stars. If you like watching poorly prepared teams of inferior athletes, why not watch high school? Heck, why not go down to the YMCA and watch third graders play?
</end rant>
college basketball is definitely not one of my favorite sports
for the reason of the low scores. If i wanted to watch low-scoring basketball, I’d watch the WNBA, no matter how unattractive the players are.
"Voilà! In view, a humble vaudevillian veteran, cast vicariously as both victim and villain by the vicissitudes of Fate. This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is a vestige of the vox populi, now vacant, vanished. However, this valorous visitation of a by-gone vexation, stands vivified and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin van-guarding vice and vouchsafing the violently vicious and voracious violation of volition. The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous. Verily, this vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbose, so let me simply add that it's my very good honor to meet you and you may call me V"- V from "V for Vendetta"
Actually, I think a lot of the WNBA players are reasonably attractive, and certainly a higher percentage than in the population at large. The baggy shorts and bulky shoes combo definitely makes them look more manly. If you see them in non-athletic gear, they look like tall, slender, athletic women—qualities that are generally considered attractive.
BTW, I think this discussion may be getting close to violating one of Powell’s rules…
true
let’s hush and return to god old wholesome basket-bazizzle
"Voilà! In view, a humble vaudevillian veteran, cast vicariously as both victim and villain by the vicissitudes of Fate. This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is a vestige of the vox populi, now vacant, vanished. However, this valorous visitation of a by-gone vexation, stands vivified and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin van-guarding vice and vouchsafing the violently vicious and voracious violation of volition. The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous. Verily, this vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbose, so let me simply add that it's my very good honor to meet you and you may call me V"- V from "V for Vendetta"
You're right and wrong
Yes, college basketball is an inferior product. As is every college sport compared to the pro version of the same sport. I don’t think it sucks. You have good talent that competes hard and it makes for an entertaining game. Is it as good as the NBA? Not most of of it, perhaps the lower half of the Eastern Conference could be challenged by some of these teams.
My point is, the NCAA doesn’t have the talent level of the NBA, but that doesn’t mean it sucks. That’s like saying Bill Simmons sucks ‘cause he’s not as good as Stampler…oh wait…he does. Anyway, I like college ball. I like the Spurs more, but I enjoy the college game as well.
College basketball does not suck, but its not professional basketball. Thats for sure.
I love how the first thing that a Pro ball hater says about the League is how the guys are over paid cry babys…
Is Bradd Pitt overpaid ? What about NIcholas Cage? Of course they are overpaid. But are you going to stop watching them just because of that?
Get over jealousy, NBA haters…
If you dont like watching Pro basketball, you do not love the game.
You can make the case that these guys are just going through the motions in the regular season…
But is there any basketball on earth that is more compelling than the NBA playoffs? Of course not….
and if they had decent looking faces
some are yeesh!
But seriously this feels like it goes against one of Powell’s rules. I suggest we hush.
"Voilà! In view, a humble vaudevillian veteran, cast vicariously as both victim and villain by the vicissitudes of Fate. This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is a vestige of the vox populi, now vacant, vanished. However, this valorous visitation of a by-gone vexation, stands vivified and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin van-guarding vice and vouchsafing the violently vicious and voracious violation of volition. The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous. Verily, this vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbose, so let me simply add that it's my very good honor to meet you and you may call me V"- V from "V for Vendetta"
I will KILL for something like this to be available for the NBA. I’m watching Miss / Wash and the quality of the feed is AMAZING.
All the games will be there. Bookmark it.
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Dunkin' Cheerleaders
Thanks, jolly. You’re the best too. *huggles
Straight from the No-Stat Zone to your computer!
Dunkin' Cheerleaders
I only watch professional basketball, and am always glad/excited when March is over, because that means it’s REALLY crunch time in the NBA. To each their own, though. :-)
"Just make up your mind at the very outset that your work is going to stand for quality... that you are going to stamp a superior quality upon everything that goes out of your hands, that whatever you do shall bear the hallmark of excellence." - Orison Swett Marden
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No, we’re tied for last. Trust me, we’ll truly be in last place by the end of the night. Keep your chin up little buckaroo!
I am happy. I am proud. - Manu Ginobili
I’ve been so busy at work this week, that I didn’t get a chance to submit a bracket. I’ll just think in my head that I’d have won! As a college b-ball lover, I love the craziness of March Madness and think that college sports offer something pro sports don’t. Is the pro game a better product with better athletes? Yes. They are two separate games, though. But I think the passion of the college fans generally surpasses that of the pro fans (with the exception of the crazy people who support the Spurs!). Denver is a “pro sports” town, but most of the fans don’t really know the game or the players (once again, not applicable to the Spurs). I grew up in OK, a definite “college sports” place, where I was constantly amazed at the amount of knowledge the average college fan had (not applicable to the bandwagon, idiotic OU fan). I like both games, but realize that I’m in the minority. I think they both offer something, but just don’t ask me to watch the Big Ten+1 – that’s just too much to ask!
Good people drink good beer - Hunter S. Thompson
The NBA is better quality, no doubt...
But I’ve had way more fun at college games than I’ve ever had at pro games. Plus, I’ll feel more affiliation to A&M sports than I ever will to Spurs basketball.
nobody has said...
anything about how the dimensions of the college court are smaller than that of a pro court. I’ve had a long day, and will thus not be bothered by researching any of this redundant architecture, but I’m sure I don’t have to, because everyone should know this.
I’m sure that in any game of Sim City any of us have played, we all remember noticing a chart on the side bar that tracked “population density”. Back then, I was too busy playing the role of a vengeful god, eviscerating my cities via fires, earthquakes, and purple monsters, to care about what population density was. Now, I am older. The loose definition of population density refers to the amount of people within any certain area. These areas, not unlike the confines of any sporting court or field, are often confined by strict boundaries (we will, for the sake of science, exclude the gerrymandered district lines often associated with high school football)
During these apparently hated college hoops games, we’ve all noticed the teams playing on a smaller court, complete with shorter three point lines, baselines, etc. Still, the games are of the five on five variety, so one must factor in that what we are seeing is the same amount of people, playing in a decidedly much smaller space. This would create the ILLUSION of tougher defense.
Most college teams employ a man to man defense, with which they will accompany a standard zone, usually a 2-3 or 3-2. Basic stuff. Given that you typically don’t see these zones, or any of the more complex presses in your average pro game, one could be easily led to believe that college teams ARE actually playing better defense. After all, players in the college ranks seem to have a more difficult time maneuvering through the oppositon. I will, for the sake of simile, refer to this as “The Bristol Syndrome”.
NASCAR races consist of a standard 43 car field. All of these cars are expected, to the best of their ability, navigate the track and hopefully finish in a favorable position, if not with a win. The length of the average NASCAR has to lie somewhere between 1.5-2 miles. On these super speedways, comparable to our NBA courts in this case, there is usually one or two packs of cars, and a large, empty, “no man’s land” type area. On the shorter track however, like Bristol, the same 43 car field is forced to navigate in a much smaller area. This reduction in size forces the cars to take each other into greater consideration, seeing as how the void found on the super speedways has disappeared, leaving the cars bumper to bumper throughout. This however, does not mean that the drivers are “playing better defense”. If anything, the track is just being an asshole.
In suffering from “Bristol Syndrome”, college players who once were alleged to be playing such staunch defense, find themselves actually playing only rudimentary defense while the dimensions of their play area take care of the rest. When you take into account that the average college player is usually no better than those who we play pick up games against, the plethora of accompanying missed shots should ALSO not be attributed to good defense. They just suck, is all…
Furthermore, it should be noted that since there is no such thing as a lane violation, and that the three point line is closer to the rim, and STILL the scores are lower on average than a pro game, my point should only be reinforced.
If Lebron played college ball, he’d score seventy hojillion million points a game.
The only thing I can say about college ball that has any bearing on anything, is the point that Powelly made above. I feel more affiliation to my school’s team than I ever could towards my pro team of choice.
Other than that, it pretty much sucks.
"I like to use my pump fake to make them come hard, that's when I use my penetration." -Manu Ginobili
i pretty much agree with what everyone says about how the NBA is a better product and all that, but you’re second to last sentence is why the college game is about 1000X more interesting to me than the NBA.
it was: I feel more affiliation to my school’s team than I ever could towards my pro team of choice.
and another thing – the longer shot clock and shorter game makes every possession way more important. you had better be focused and playing hard every time down in the college game. the time to win in college ball is NOW, as opposed to the NBA when teams can just keep it close until mid fourth and turn it up a notch then.
im not saying thats necessarily a bad thing about the NBA, its just one thing that makes college ball more compelling IMHO.
if you cant see the beauty of the recent purdue/washington game and the gonzaga/western kentucky game, then you are missing the boat.
I don’t understand how “pro team” are chosen. Where I come from, you’re fan of a team because your father/mother is, or because it’s your neighborhood’s team.
Straight from the No-Stat Zone to your computer!
Dunkin' Cheerleaders
That’s the case here as well. The exception to that is if you are from a city without a pro sports team, and you move to a city with a team, it is permissible to bet caught up in the excitement of the new city’s team, and eventually adopt them after a few years. If you have a hometown team, but you move, you are allowed to root halfheartedly for the new team, but must retain a deep allegiance to your original team.
As an example, my brothers and I all grew up in SA. The two of them eventually ended up in the Dallas / Fort Worth area. One of them retains his allegiance to the Spurs, even though his son became a Mavs fan (which is acceptable, since he grew up there). The other brother, we shall not speak of, for we have parted ways.
+1
Forever and always….
Silver and Black………
Spurs for life
Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall. - Confucius
by raynorschiene on Mar 24, 2009 6:33 PM CDT up reply actions
Silver and Black
My Raiders and my Spurs having the same color scheme made it easy to decorate my house. Also was the Sharks old color scheme except they also had teal in it.
V- "I'm not questioning your powers of observation. I'm merely remarking on the paradox of asking a masked man who he is."
Well, there’s no loser thread today, so…..
Anyone watching Blazers @ Cavs? OT now.
The Spurs: Destroying other franchises since 1999.
Yes – this loser is switching between the NBA and NCAA. The CLE – POR game has been crazy!
Good people drink good beer - Hunter S. Thompson
blah, the LeBrons won. But now I’m more confident than ever that Portland is capable of beating the Fakers. Please slip to 8th, Blazers.
The Spurs: Destroying other franchises since 1999.
Yea…..only problem is they can beat us, too. I’m conflicted.
The Spurs: Destroying other franchises since 1999.
I’ll be more scared of the Blazers when they have another year or two of playoffs experience. Granted this was only one game, but when I saw them play the Moonmen, only Roy was capable of creating offense. The rest of the time, they would have been jealous of the Spurs’ offensive prowess!
Good people drink good beer - Hunter S. Thompson
I know I got here very late ...
But Rand, I couldn’t agree with you more.
Sabre
"Your sig dominates threads, forcing everyone to scroll past you’re multiple posts. Seriously, look at your thread and scroll down and see how annoying that is. And forget the fact that people asked you nicely to trim it down.
It’s all about you."
- CMoney (Edited for Length)
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