Is college basketball that good of a product?

DesMoinesHawki

DesMoinesHawki

Well-Known Member
Maybe it is because Iowa has not been very competitive in recent years. Maybe it is because kids make the jump to the pros after only one season. I am sure it is a combination but overall, I just think college basketball is really not that exciting to watch anymore.

I enjoy watching the Hawks but other than that, I have yet to watch a full college game that did not include Iowa. I used to be able to name most starters for at least the teams in the Big 10. Honestly, besides the Hawks, I don't even think I can name two starters on any Big 10 team. I can't even name two starters for Iowa State. It just seems like the game has been watered down. You rarely have teams with players who actually play together for four years. Now, many lineups include true freshmen and sophomores, something you did not see a lot of in the 80s and 90s.

As a kid, college basketball ruled my world. And now, college basketball is a distant third to college football (by far, No. 1) and pro football.

Teams like Michigan State and Purdue are decent teams but not as good as the Purdues and MSU's of the 80s and 90s. I still enjoy everything associated with March Madness. What about you? Has your interest in college basketball waned? Is the product still as good? Why?
 
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Disagree. Still think college basketball is one of the best sports to watch live or on television. Can only watch NBA finals, though.
 
My interest in college hoops is tied directly to how well the Hawkeyes play. I'll try and watch every game but to be honest the product is watered down nationally and knowing we have zero shot at the dance diminishes my passion for the game overall.
 
All those are certainly issues. I love the college game due to the atmosphere in which they play. NBA games in contrast have massive luls during which the atmosphere more resembles a cocktail party. That being said the NBA game is light years ahead of the college game athletically.

I also miss knowing all the players on the opposing team. Growing up you got to watch the stars for teams play at least 3 years, and usually 4. You got invested in them as players because you knew you would see them. You realized Lawrance Funderburk would torment you for the next four seasons....

It's just not like that anymore.
 
DesMoinesHawki said:
Maybe it is because Iowa has not been very competitive in recent years. Maybe it is because kids make the jump to the pros after only one season. I am sure it is a combination but overall, I just think college basketball is really not that exciting to watch anymore.

I enjoy watching the Hawks but other than that, I have yet to watch a full college game that did not include Iowa. I used to be able to name most starters for at least the teams in the Big 10. Honestly, besides the Hawks, I don't even think I can name two starters on any Big 10 team. I can't even name two starters for Iowa State. It just seems like the game has been watered down. You rarely have teams with players who actually play together for four years. Now, many lineups include true freshmen and sophomores, something you did not see a lot of in the 80s and 90s.

As a kid, college basketball ruled my world. And now, college basketball is a distant third to college football (by far, No. 1) and pro football.

Teams like Michigan State and Purdue are decent teams but not as good as the Purdues and MSU's of the 80s and 90s. I still enjoy everything associated with March Madness. What about you? Has your interest in college basketball waned? Is the product still as good? Why?
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If you're comparing the product to the mid 80's-early 90's, then no it's not even in the same ball park. But compared to the early 2000's, I think it's improved. With the one and done rule, you at least get to see guys like Durant, Rose and Wall play for one season. You're never going to see the top talent stick around for three-four years like you used to, but I wouldn't be too surprised to see the rule changed to having to stay two years before you're eligible for the draft sometime in the near future.
 
I'm not as big of a fan as I was before the 1 and done rule was put in. I enjoyed watching much more when those star freshmen actually stuck around for a few years. Let the ones who are good enough to go pro out of high school go (if they want to). Forcing them to take a semester of classes (honestly, they don't go after winter break) and calling them student-athletes is ridiculous. It's guys like Tyler Hansborough and Nolan Smith that make the Duke-UNC game special: it's the same guys going at it year after year, not just the next Fab Five all the time.
 
It hasn't been a top-shelf product since the mid to late 90s. That's the last we've seen of deep, talented teams with guys that had played together for 4 years. Since then (and because of the success of guys like Kobe and KG) the best players have either jumped straight to the NBA (when it was still possible) or stayed 1, maybe 2 years in college.

March Madness is still fun to watch, but for a largely different reason that it used to be. It used to be all about the supremely talented squaring off with a few upsets mixed in. Nowadays, the lack of top-shelf talent staying in school for 4 years has caused wide-spread parity and an environment where a veteran team like UNI can knock off a more talented Kansas or veteran mid-majors making deep runs in the tournament.

This environment could actually work in Iowa's favor if Fran can be the coach we all hope he can be...bringing in his guys, developing them and keeping them on campus for 4 years. It's easier to make a run with a veteran team now than it used to be.

As an aside, I have to say one thing that watching more college basketball this year (due to my excitement for Coach McCaffrey) has done is make me appreciate the NBA even more. The talent of the players in the NBA is simply astonishing.
 
I can't stand NCAA basketball. There is very little athleticism, the shot clock is too long, the offenses are very simplistic, the three pointer is too easy and too prominent, the officiating is often shakey, and the biggest stars in the sport are men in their 50's.

Honestly, I can (and often do) watch any NBA game I come across, but I don't watch NCAA basketball outside of March or games Iowa plays where I think they have a chance.
 
For me I think it has everything to do with Iowa not being relevant for too many years. I used to be a college hoops junkie...even after the game had declined. It's no where near where it was in the 80's, not even close.

But with Iowa being an afterthought right about now, it's really hit my give a darn for the sport as a whole until March.
 
JonDMiller said:
For me I think it has everything to do with Iowa not being relevant for too many years. I used to be a college hoops junkie...even after the game had declined. It's no where near where it was in the 80's, not even close.

But with Iowa being an afterthought right about now, it's really hit my give a darn for the sport as a whole until March.
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Ditto. College BB used to be my favorite sport by far. I don't even know if it makes my top 5 now.
 
college basketball currently sucks. no athleticism, too many kids chucking threes, horrifically inconsistent officiating from conference to conference and refs that decide games. Purdue would have their entire team fouled out in 5 minutes of play back in the 80's. i think they should institute a rule like MLB...either come out after high school, or stay three years.
 
9YRPLAN said:
college basketball currently sucks. no athleticism, too many kids chucking threes, horrifically inconsistent officiating from conference to conference and refs that decide games. Purdue would have their entire team fouled out in 5 minutes of play back in the 80's. i think they should institute a rule like MLB...either come out after high school, or stay three years.
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MLB is only 3 years in college if the player goes to a 4-year school (That's why a lot of the better players come from JUCO's. They're eligible to be drafted at any time that way.).
 
tm3308 said:
MLB is only 3 years in college if the player goes to a 4-year school (That's why a lot of the better players come from JUCO's. They're eligible to be drafted at any time that way.).
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i know but that doesnt apply to this argument really. i doubt that too many top hoops prospects would go the JUCO route to avoid the 3-year rule.
 
tweeterhawk said:
Disagree. Still think college basketball is one of the best sports to watch live or on television. Can only watch NBA finals, though.
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agree. Its also the best to watch in person. There's more swings in emotion in a shorter amount of time than FB. The players aren't covered up by helmets and there is only 5 of them so it is alot easier to have players that you really hate.

Obviously with the rules in place now there will never be another early 90's period where multiple teams have multiple NBA pick type upperclassmen like Duke, UNLV, Kentucky, etc. had back then. Throw in the tourney and its still the best/most fun college sport.
 
tm3308 said:
MLB is only 3 years in college if the player goes to a 4-year school (That's why a lot of the better players come from JUCO's. They're eligible to be drafted at any time that way.).
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This isn't true. Occasionally you'll have a kid come from a JUCO (Harper did it to get drafted before he would have graduated from HS, not college. I think Pujols might have gone to a JUCO). However, the vast, vast majority of high draft picks are either HS kids or 4-year college guys.
 
I really enjoy watching college basketball but it is a bit sad what has happened to it over the last 15 years.

Kids have the right to make a living. I can't fault them for going to the NBA ASAP. I just wish there was a way to keep some talent in college awhile longer.

To answer the OP's question:

No, I don't think the product is very good or anywhere close to the level it was in the 80s and early 90s. I just like it too much to stop watching.

The cut-off for me was the 2001 Final 4. Duke, Arizona, Maryland, & Mich St. All teams were loaded with NBA talent. Great althletic match-ups, up and down tempo, just great BB.

IMO, NCAA BB has never recovered from then.
 
I watch far more NBA games than college games. I love the NBA.

Other posters have said the same thing- part of it for me is the fact iowa is insignificant.
But.... if Iowa was poor in college football I would be fired up for college football games.


The 1 and done in college basketball has hurt it's overall talent level. Cheapens the sport IMO. Many of the major programs are feeder programs for the NBA instead of actual college teams anymore.

I am really starting to be turned off by college athletics with the coaching carousels, coaching salaries, and how aware I am now of the business of the sport.

Takes some of the fun out of the college game for me. Might have been that way 20 years ago- I just never realized it until I got a bit older.


1 and done players, coaching carousels, the dirtiness of recruiting.... a lot of things that take away from my interest of college athletics.
I can handle the pro guys acting that way. :p
 
storminspank said:
I can't stand the NBA. It hasn't been good since the mid-90s.
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Speaking of the NBA Spank- Kobe needs 1 more ring and you owe me something.

Used to be under a different name, posted more often 3 or 4 years ago.

We made a bet about Kobe and how he wouldn't win anymore titles. I said he would win 3.

I can't remember if you owe me $1,000..... or just some tasty suds. :p just kidding.

I don't remember what it was- I just remember you, jimmbain...... fun and heated debates on the NBA and Kobe bryant. lol

Can't remember what we bet though!
 
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