March Madness 2013

[Brando70]

Didn't see an NCAA basketball topic so thought I'd start one before America's greatest sporting event begins.

Crazy weekend of college hoops. Indiana-Michigan, while sloppy at times, was amazing in the second half. I don't know how Michigan's final tip didn't go in, but as an Indiana fan, great to see it roll out.

Going to be harder than ever to fill out a bracket this year. There are probably 10 teams I could see winding up in the championship game without being a surprise.

[fsquid]

will be mediocre basketball being played, but the tourney is really wide open.

[bdunn13]

will be mediocre basketball being played, but the tourney is really wide open.

Agreed. The state of college basketball is really bad right now. Calling college hoops these days mediocre is being really kind.

[Murph]

will be mediocre basketball being played, but the tourney is really wide open.

Agreed. The state of college basketball is really bad right now. Calling college hoops these days mediocre is being really kind.

Also agreed....and I'm not just saying that because my school is ineligible for post-season play this season.

[pk500]

will be mediocre basketball being played, but the tourney is really wide open.

Agreed. The state of college basketball is really bad right now. Calling college hoops these days mediocre is being really kind.

Indeed. I find myself more attracted to NBA hoops than ever.

[dbdynsty25]

Indeed. I find myself more attracted to NBA hoops than ever.

Funny you say that because, what, four years ago you hated the NBA and my main argument against college hoops was that it's just bad basketball. Sure there are isolations and star players going one on one half the time in the NBA, but at least there is more talent and the teams stay together a bit. If I want to watch a bunch of 19 year olds throw brick after brick up at the rim, I'll hit up the Y.

That said, its all about the U. Too bad they've fallen off a cliff in the last week.

[Spooky]

For someone who doesn't follow the sport - what's so bad about college hoops now-a-days?

[Teal]

Nothing that the NBA will ever satiate in me, personally. I hate the NBA. Any associative like/respect for it retired with Jordan, Bird, Mutumbo, Magic, Pippen, Barkley, etc.

I don't think it's been necessarily mediocre...just crazy. And I like crazy. The term "March Madness" has seldom ever had the meaning it does this year. Madness, indeed! It's wide open, and I love that.

On another great note, I just found out that I will be attending the Final Four this year with my dad, and I'm stoked, because I have absolutely no expectations of who will be there. For me, that's a great thing. Haven't gotten close to the FF since 07 when dad and I worked security for it, and I got to stand on the floor, courtside, and got the privilege of escorting Oscar Robertson, Coach Smith, and Bill Russell onto the court to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Awesome, awesome moment.

[dbdynsty25]

For someone who doesn't follow the sport - what's so bad about college hoops now-a-days?

Fundamentals have long since been forgotten. It's the MacDonalds All-American games fault. It's all about dunks and highlights and less about teamwork and camaraderie like it used to be in the past. One and done superstars jumping to the NBA only because they HAD to go to college for a year (per the NBA's rule). Makes it really impossible to have a good "team" and develop chemistry...which is what makes a team like Gonzaga so good. Not really NBA worthy guys, but they play together and they are ranked #1 because of it right now.

[RobVarak]

For someone who doesn't follow the sport - what's so bad about college hoops now-a-days?

It's a combination of factors that have generally brought down the quality of the game, mostly by eroding the technical abilities of the players. The most common villain is AAU basketball, the ascension of which has empowered players to bully or ignore college coaches in a manner that had previously been reserved for seasoned pros. Moreover, given AAU's focus on recruiting over coaching fundamentals or tactics, we now see kids entering the game who are bigger and stronger but who lack the building blocks necessary to become solid players.

Others, including (persuasively IMO) Jay Bilas, who have said for at least the last 4-5 years that the systematic change in officiating has created a game where defenders are free to use as much body on a shooter as they want as long as they keep their arms vertical. This was a conscious choice by the NCAA as a remedy to the longstanding inconsistency of calls on shooting fouls. The unintended but foreseeable consequence is that college coaches are teaching their kids to "lead with their chests" and maintain a physical presence on shooters, driving down FG% while not exposing themselves to fouls because their arms remain vertical.

Finally, the refusal to go to a realistic 3-pt distance continues to incentivize putting up lower percentage shots at a fast rate as the easiest route to success. A fine strategy given the circumstances, but not one that leads to cosmetically pleasing basketball.

There's also the ongoing problem of kids leaving early and coaches focusing more on recruiting than on coaching (understandably so for the most part). The end result is a game with more athletic but less skilled players chucking up 3-pointers early in the shot clock and defenders muscling shooters into lousy shooting %, i.e., ugly basketball.

[sportdan30]

IMO, there's a dozen or so teams that are enjoyable to watch. Indiana, Michigan, Duke, Ohio State, my senior laden KANSAS Jayhawk squad, just to name a few are fun to watch when they are on their game. Here in St. Louis, SLU plays fantastic defense can really put even the top offensive teams in to slumber.

I still much prefer the college game to the NBA. You'd be hard pressed to say that a college team playing in November isn't putting out the same effort as that same in March. However, the NBA is a totally different game come playoff time or at the very least, they're playing a rival. Which is why I casually watch the NBA during the regular season, but know effort is going to be 100 percent in the playoffs. Just my take from an outsider who has no rooting interest in a NBA team. I follow former KU players, but even then if you're not in the starting five, you're getting less than fives minutes played, coaches decision to not play him, etc etc.

With that said, they need to change the college game but have cooperation from the NBA. Let the high schoolers jump straight to the NBA, but if they commit to college, you have to stay 3 years.

[pk500]

Indeed. I find myself more attracted to NBA hoops than ever.

Funny you say that because, what, four years ago you hated the NBA and my main argument against college hoops was that it's just bad basketball. Sure there are isolations and star players going one on one half the time in the NBA, but at least there is more talent and the teams stay together a bit. If I want to watch a bunch of 19 year olds throw brick after brick up at the rim, I'll hit up the Y.

That said, its all about the U. Too bad they've fallen off a cliff in the last week.

I have seen the light, my friend. You were a sage.

NCAA hoops has pageantry and drama. But it's simply bad basketball compared to the NBA.

Sh*t, Syracuse is one of the top 20 teams in the country, and it scored only 39 points in a 40-minute game. Can't see an NBA team scoring 47 points in a regulation game. And the defense in the NBA is far better than the defense in college, another point of light I've finally seen in the last two years.

[Danimal]

Indeed. I find myself more attracted to NBA hoops than ever.

Funny you say that because, what, four years ago you hated the NBA and my main argument against college hoops was that it's just bad basketball. Sure there are isolations and star players going one on one half the time in the NBA, but at least there is more talent and the teams stay together a bit. If I want to watch a bunch of 19 year olds throw brick after brick up at the rim, I'll hit up the Y.

That said, its all about the U. Too bad they've fallen off a cliff in the last week.

I have seen the light, my friend. You and DB were sages.

Um you're quoting DB. Did band practice get out early tonight?

[pk500]

Others, including (persuasively IMO) Jay Bilas, who have said for at least the last 4-5 years that the systematic change in officiating has created a game where defenders are free to use as much body on a shooter as they want as long as they keep their arms vertical. This was a conscious choice by the NCAA as a remedy to the longstanding inconsistency of calls on shooting fouls. The unintended but foreseeable consequence is that college coaches are teaching their kids to "lead with their chests" and maintain a physical presence on shooters, driving down FG% while not exposing themselves to fouls because their arms remain vertical.

This is the biggest difference I've noticed in my last two years of watching and enjoying the NBA. College hoop has become a wrestling match. The amount of contact allowed on all areas of the court is appalling compared to the NBA, and it neuters the skill of top players.

NBA officiating allows great players to soar, literally and figuratively. NBA basketball is so much more fluid and beautiful to watch, even in half-court sets.

[Brando70]

The NBA is better basketball, no question, but the beauty of the tourney is that you get to see a lot of teams that have to rely more on execution to be good than athletics. I agree with Sportsdan that many of the top teams are sound teams -- Indiana in particular is a throwback to a top team having a couple NBA-caliber guys and a lot of solid role players. The small conference teams are also very fun to watch. It's the mushy middle -- your Minnesotas or this year's Kentucky squad -- where you really see the problems.

[sportdan30]

Let's go Jayhawks!!!!!!!!!! Let the Madness begin!

Looking forward to watching St. Louis play in about an hour, along with Mizzou later this evening.

Wish the wife would understand my excitement and interest....

[warnerwlf98]

Today and tomorrow are the best days of the year. You don't get 16 tournament games a day at any other time. Too bad I won't be home to watch most of them

[RobVarak]

The end result is a game with more athletic but less skilled players chucking up 3-pointers early in the shot clock and defenders muscling shooters into lousy shooting %, i.e., ugly basketball.

Ex. A: Pitt vs. Wichita St. are, at this moment, a combined 3 for 40 from the 3-pt arc.

[MizzouRah]

Mizzou sucks

[fsquid]

Memphis won

[RobVarak]

Ex. B. Illinois-Colorado has featured scoring droughts of 11:00, 9:00 and 7:00.

Atrocious basketball.

[snaz16]

Today and tomorrow are the best days of the year. You don't get 16 tournament games a day at any other time. Too bad I won't be home to watch most of them

Amen brother,,you can't compare Min. or Cleve. beating the Heat like Fl. Gulf Coast U. taking out Georgetown in their 1st ever tournament game in thier 2nd yr of eligbility.Nothing like the 1st weekend of B-ball tournament.

[sportdan30]

KU barely survives.......they looked like crap! Thank the heavens for Jeff Withey!

What a great day of hoops!!! Great win by Florida Gulf Coast over G-Town.

Looking forward to SLU vs. Oregon tomorrow along with Michigan vs. VCU. Some great match ups ahead.

[sportdan30]

Mizzou sucks

Colorado State is good. Not great to lose in the first round, but that team came to play. Mizzou...not so much.

[Teal]

I LOVE this craziness! It would be boring as hell if everything went according to plans and predictions. THIS is why I love March Madness. (It's also why I haven't put one thin dime on any of the games this year...lol)