I know some on here think college hoops is the bees knees

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

but I think this article is a really good one and very accurate and at least represents what I am seeing with the sport. It is horrible. Ski has nailed over the past few years, but it seems to be getting worse and worse....

https://www.kentucky.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/john-clay/article238687793.html

 

[WVUinColumbus]

If you are a UK, Duke, UNC fan then it sucks because your teams aren’t littered with unreal talent (for once). You still have best players but they aren’t as good in this season.

if you are a Pitt, WVU, Wichita, etc fan then it is an absolutely awesome season because anything can happen in this type of season.

 

[DC_Area_Panther]

but I think this article is a really good one and very accurate and at least represents what I am seeing with the sport. It is horrible. Ski has nailed over the past few years, but it seems to be getting worse and worse....

https://www.kentucky.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/john-clay/article238687793.html

So---You think that most of us are that ancient?

The "bees knees" expression (meaning the height of excellence) originated in the 1920's and I expect it might be totally foreign to the vast majority of millenials.

 

[TheSpecialSauce]

There is a huge difference between college and pro sports. The size, speed, and athletic ability is obvious if you attend the game in person.

 

[DC_Area_Panther]

but I think this article is a really good one and very accurate and at least represents what I am seeing with the sport. It is horrible. Ski has nailed over the past few years, but it seems to be getting worse and worse....

https://www.kentucky.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/john-clay/article238687793.html

If I wanted to see perfection I would watch the NBA. In any event, the blue bloods feel threatened because they have become too dependent on one-and-dones and soon that group will disappear and the entire NCAA will become more competitive. That will be a good thing--unless you are a blue-blood used to always putting truly superior talent on the court.

 

[HailToPitt1985]

but I think this article is a really good one and very accurate and at least represents what I am seeing with the sport. It is horrible. Ski has nailed over the past few years, but it seems to be getting worse and worse....

https://www.kentucky.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/john-clay/article238687793.html

I'm sitting here trying to figure out what is so bad about this. Now, coaches will have to coach and develop players who want to be there. I don't want some candy-ass, entitled, primadonnas hanging around college basketball, like these one-and-dones. The only reason many of these big name coaches are even still around is because they had the one-and-dones and just let them play with minimal coaching. Now we'll see if they can really coach. Calipari, Williams, Cronin, Coach K....let's see what you do now.

 

[Ski11585]

but I think this article is a really good one and very accurate and at least represents what I am seeing with the sport. It is horrible. Ski has nailed over the past few years, but it seems to be getting worse and worse....

https://www.kentucky.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/john-clay/article238687793.html

 

[DT_PITT]

So---You think that most of us are that ancient?

The "bees knees" expression (meaning the height of excellence) originated in the 1920's and I expect it might be totally foreign to the vast majority of millenials.

Wasn’t it used in a recent Gieco commercial?

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

If you are a UK, Duke, UNC fan then it sucks because your teams aren’t littered with unreal talent (for once). You still have best players but they aren’t as good in this season.

if you are a Pitt, WVU, Wichita, etc fan then it is an absolutely awesome season because anything can happen in this type of season.

Actually, I was thinking this. Right now, those Pitt teams of the late 2000's would be like UVa, where they just out execute and tough the other teams. I mean we did well then....but I don't think there is enough seasoned, high end talent to knock us off.

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

Wasn’t it used in a recent Gieco commercial?

OK...that's where it has come to my mind. Don't know why I used it.

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

I'm sitting here trying to figure out what is so bad about this. Now, coaches will have to coach and develop players who want to be there. I don't want some candy-ass, entitled, primadonnas hanging around college basketball, like these one-and-dones. The only reason many of these big name coaches are even still around is because they had the one-and-dones and just let them play with minimal coaching. Now we'll see if they can really coach. Calipari, Williams, Cronin, Coach K....let's see what you do now.

Oh but that is in a couple of years. Now, it is still like that. So yeah, maybe it will improve the overall quality (not necessarily the talent) of the game.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

I don't feel like reading the article. Nobody thinks that anyone thinks college basketball players are better than NBA players. We know that the NBA has much better players. However, the fact that they are too good offensively combined with the general lack of defensdef intensity are a turn off for me. No, I dont want to watch UVa win 48-44 but I also find an 120-112 NBA game boring as heck since each basket/possession is worth so little. Also, the absence of offensive rebounding and changing defenses takes a fun element out of it for me.

The NBA has better players, its just not as interesting to me.

 

[upj87]

So---You think that most of us are that ancient?

The "bees knees" expression (meaning the height of excellence) originated in the 1920's and I expect it might be totally foreign to the vast majority of millenials.

bees knees? that is a term for you youngsters...I would have gone with "the cat's meow"...

 

[Ski11585]

I don't feel like reading the article. Nobody thinks that anyone thinks college basketball players are better than NBA players. We know that the NBA has much better players. However, the fact that they are too good offensively combined with the general lack of defensdef intensity are a turn off for me. No, I dont want to watch UVa win 48-44 but I also find an 120-112 NBA game boring as heck since each basket/possession is worth so little. Also, the absence of offensive rebounding and changing defenses takes a fun element out of it for me.

The NBA has better players, its just not as interesting to me.

When was the last time you watched a game? Because your argument about defensive intensity is, shockingly, completely false.

 

[BFo8]

When was the last time you watched a game? Because your argument about defensive intensity is, shockingly, completely false.

Cmon man, it wouldn’t be a pro basketball thread without the “NBA doesn’t play any defense” posts.

 

[sonofabit]

If you ask me coach Cal can flat out coach the game. Imagine him with coachable players, program players if you will.

 

[DC_Area_Panther]

When was the last time you watched a game? Because your argument about defensive intensity is, shockingly, completely false.

Well, in defense (pun intended of the guy) since the NBA plays so so many games each game has relatively little importance to the overall season as compared to college games. As a result, the overall em otional intensity level (at either end of the court) in a regular season NBA game is considerably lower than that seen when the NBA playoffs are on. This makes perfect sense, since a typical NBA regular season game is just "another day at the office" for the players playing that overly long NBA season.

Any hoops fan watching a typical early through mid-regular season NBA game can sense that lack of emotional intensity by the players. After all, you can't expect players to be emotionally up for say, game #37 of an 82 game regular season. They will just come to work and do their jobs.

 

[Ski11585]

Well, in defense (pun intended of the guy) since the NBA plays so so many games each game has relatively little importance to the overall season as compared to college games. As a result, the overall em otional intensity level (at either end of the court) in a regular season NBA game is considerably lower than that seen when the NBA playoffs are on. This makes perfect sense, since a typical NBA regular season game is just "another day at the office" for the players playing that overly long NBA season.

Any hoops fan watching a typical early through mid-regular season NBA game can sense that lack of emotional intensity by the players. After all, you can't expect players to be emotionally up for say, game #37 of an 82 game regular season. They will just come to work and do their jobs.

Sure. I can get onboard with that. But then... there are plenty of college games that lack intensity. So I'm not sure how this is a point in favor of college.

 

[DT_PITT]

Well, in defense (pun intended of the guy) since the NBA plays so so many games each game has relatively little importance to the overall season as compared to college games. As a result, the overall em otional intensity level (at either end of the court) in a regular season NBA game is considerably lower than that seen when the NBA playoffs are on. This makes perfect sense, since a typical NBA regular season game is just "another day at the office" for the players playing that overly long NBA season.

Any hoops fan watching a typical early through mid-regular season NBA game can sense that lack of emotional intensity by the players. After all, you can't expect players to be emotionally up for say, game #37 of an 82 game regular season. They will just come to work and do their jobs.

Talked at length with a Steelers assistant coach in a similar way. He said that the goal of the staff was to have the team prepared for all games, but they would focus on four games during season when they would try to get the team wholly emotionally invested.

More or less, he said this was the most that could be expected.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

When was the last time you watched a game? Because your argument about defensive intensity is, shockingly, completely false.

I don't watch full games but watch bits and pieces. Guys just don't play that hard on D during the regular season. Literally every time I turn on a game, there are possessions where I shake my head and think that would never happen in college basketball.

Your problem is you watch too much NBA to notice.

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

DT though......you have to wonder, after seeing UVa last year and Nova, how would have some of those 2002-2011 teams fair in today's college BB climate. While in some cases one and dones existed then, not like today...not with whole teams of them. I think Pitt would have done some serious damage to some of these teams.

 

[Ski11585]

I don't watch full games but watch bits and pieces. Guys just don't play that hard on D during the regular season. Literally every time I turn on a game, there are possessions where I shake my head and think that would never happen in college basketball.

Your problem is you watch too much NBA to notice.

And you watch too little. And you watch too much college to the point that you justify watching a terrible product "cause they try hard!"

 

[DT_PITT]

DT though......you have to wonder, after seeing UVa last year and Nova, how would have some of those 2002-2011 teams fair in today's college BB climate. While in some cases one and dones existed then, not like today...not with whole teams of them. I think Pitt would have done some serious damage to some of these teams.

Not following you ... do you mean the current Pitt team would have done serious damage?

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

Not following you ... do you mean the current Pitt team would have done serious damage?

No. Opposite. Those teams from 2002-2011, even though they did achieve high levels of success, likely would have been even more of a force today.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

And you watch too little. And you watch too much college to the point that you justify watching a terrible product "cause they try hard!"

They are way worse than NBA players but as I have said, the perfection of NBA players is boring to me. I want to see turnovers, bad passes, bonehead plays. Well, hopefully not a lot of that but SOME. Watching the NBA is like watching my son play NBA 2K. Its so easy for them. I like the variety in the college game.

The NBA is supremely gifted offensive players playing against defensive players who are trying at 75%. No turnovers. No fouls. No offensive rebounds. Just boring. Let me know when the Finals start. I'll watch then.

 

[DT_PITT]

No. Opposite. Those teams from 2002-2011, even though they did achieve high levels of success, likely would have been even more of a force today.

Ok ... I get you ... except our success during those years would have been hard to improve.

We were truly elite during that time, with the critical difference being performance in the NCAA tournament. I don’t know how much better than would have been as this proved to be the sole deficit in Coach Dixon’s acumen.

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

Ok ... I get you ... except our success during those years would have been hard to improve.

We were truly elite during that time, with the critical difference being performance in the NCAA tournament. I don’t know how much better than would have been as this proved to be the sole deficit in Coach Dixon’s acumen.

Yeah but I think now less "talented" teams have upper classmen. That is where maybe we would have an edge.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

Sure. I can get onboard with that. But then... there are plenty of college games that lack intensity. So I'm not sure how this is a point in favor of college.

I don't know. I can't see how anyone who watched that big Pitt - Northern Illinois tussle or the Pitt - Binghamton throw down could think that there are times in the college basketball season when the intensity level dips. And you just know that in that weeknight 9:00 Pitt - BC next month both teams are going to be ready to drop the proverbial gloves at the drop of a hat.

 

[Zeldas Open Roof]

College basketball is an ugly, fragmented product and one and done players are not the reason why.

 

[4Mark_Marty]

College basketball is an ugly, fragmented product and one and done players are not the reason why.

Poor prep and Aau instruction is the reason.

 

[Zeldas Open Roof]

Poor prep and Aau instruction is the reason.

A thousand time outs, over officiating, over coaching is the reason. The second it gets fluid and entertaining, there is a time out and commercials.

the last 25 minutes of air time on a gsme is a free throw contest.

 

[Bethlehemjohn]

I am more excited about this year than I have been in awhile. This year is WIDE open , should be a great tourney.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

A thousand time outs, over officiating, over coaching is the reason. The second it gets fluid and entertaining, there is a time out and commercials.

the last 25 minutes of air time on a gsme is a free throw contest.

People are clamoring for quarters to reduce the number of foul shots but I love the 1 and 1. Its unique to college basketball. They should simply make you shoot the 1 and 1 at 9 fouls. Make the double bonus at 12.

 

[USN_Panther]

I like the moves by players to get paid in an overseas league. If the player has no intent to be at university other than for hoops, why fake it?

 

[levance2]

A thousand time outs, over officiating, over coaching is the reason. The second it gets fluid and entertaining, there is a time out and commercials.

How fluid did that look under Stallings? Want less coaching and fewer timeouts? We had that. It was garbage.

 

[levance2]

Talked at length with a Steelers assistant coach in a similar way. He said that the goal of the staff was to have the team prepared for all games, but they would focus on four games during season when they would try to get the team wholly emotionally invested.

More or less, he said this was the most that could be expected.

For me, this is the difference between college and pro sports. It isn't necessarily that pros care less about their games, if anything, they care more because it is their livelihood, but it's a job and not a passion. There's just no way an NBA player can wear his heart on his sleeve for 82+ games in a season. It wears you down, and rightfully so.

For a college basketball player, you've got at most like 140 games in your career if you're really lucky.