Gopher Basketball
I’m going to start off with an article which actually has been bouncing around in my head for the last couple years, but I never fully conceptualized it or knew where to appropriately place it on the Hole until now. Channeling my inner fourth grade girl, I give you 10 reasons why college basketball rules, and all other sports drool (by comparison).
10. The Season
I believe a big reason I fell so hard for college basketball as a young boy and teenager was that it arrived at a time of the year when there just isn’t a lot of other options for entertainment. As a sports-loving youth who possessed an obsession no one else in my family could relate to, college basketball fell at a time when I had a valid excuse (the cold) to remain in the house in front of the television, an excuse that did not exist during the seasons of baseball or football. As I have grown into adulthood, the inner voice that nags at me that I should be doing something better with my time than vegetating in front of the television goes pretty quiet since the sun sets before the nightly news and a foray to pick up the newspaper from the stoop seems like a brave move.
Baseball blowhards have waxed eloquent for years about the beauty of the season, from spring through summer to fall. Especially for those of us in the northern climate, the arc of the college basketball season offers considerable therapy. The season tips off as most of the leaves have fallen from the trees, heats up during conference play as the weather turns most frigid, and ends in late March/early April as spring seems imminent. Without college basketball, with its warmly lit arenas and players sweating through their shorts and tank tops, I’m afraid many of us would begin resembling Jack at the Overlook Hotel.
9. The Non-Conference Schedule
Every year, a team plays around thirty games. Of those thirty games, typically eighteen games are committed to the conference schedule. That leaves twelve to fifteen games where teams can manipulate their schedules. Some coaches decide to line up cupcakes a pastry chef would be envious of; some choose neutral site tournaments for topflight competition and game settings similar to what may come in March; the mid-majors aim to boost their confidence and resumes, while the major conference teams may step up for a grueling test. The NCAA tournament committee continues to rachet up the “œencouragement” of beefing up the non-conference schedule.
Where does it leave the fan? With wonderful, unique games before the calendar turns. Take Memphis as an example. Playing in a weak conference, John Calipari decided he needs the non-conference to challenge his Tigers. So, he’s lined up a Murderer’s Row of opponents: Southern Cal, Arizona, Georgetown, Gonzaga, and Tennessee. Want to argue that Memphis is an aberration because of their weak conference? Look at Arizona, playing in arguably the most difficult conference this year. Before conference play begins, they will take on Kansas, Memphis, Virginia, Illinois, Texas A&M, and UNLV. Hurray to a sport that seeks out tough games as a method to toughen their teams for postseason, rather than tiptoe around formidable non-conference opponents.
8. The Indie Buzz
I’m one of those people that avoids the blockbuster movies or arena concerts because I prefer to discover the small budgeted movie with the great screenplay or catch my live music in intimate clubs. Some may call that snobbery, but it’s a preference for entertainment that the masses haven’t caught on to. I equate college basketball as the major sport that has the “œindie buzz”. Every year I watch the general sports shows ignore college basketball until late February/early March and then I guffaw as they offer their predictions on which teams will reach the Final Four. For some of these “œexperts”, I believe they would pick Duke to win the national championship even if they were playing their postseason in the NIT.
If you consider college basketball, its season overlaps with college football, the NFL, and is blanketed by the NBA and NHL. As we’ve seen in this town, the pro sports leagues garner most of the headlines and attention and then there’s the college football bowls to contend with right as conference play begins.
Should college basketball fans be outraged by the lack of attention? I say enjoy it. It seems that most of the sports are so overexposed these days that much of the magic of the sport is taken away (witness the pre-game football shows which begat the NFL Network, which lead to NBA TV, which I’m surely will lead to MLB 24/7 someday soon). For the college basketball cognoscenti, we can take pleasure in discovering the new phenoms during the early season tournaments, watch that darkhorse team emerge, and see elite teams gel as they work their way through the regular season. When spring rolls around and the average sports fan or talking head tries telling us about Kevin Durant, Washington State, and Florida, we can nod our heads knowingly (and hopefully clean up in our NCAA pools).
7. Floorburns
Whether we’re talking college or pros, every sport possesses players who work extremely hard and push their bodies to limits that fans cannot truly fathom. College basketball seems different in two ways though-the relative shortness of the season and the physical exposure of the players. While football, baseball, and hockey players are often wrapped up in pads, helmets, and body armor, basketball players present themselves in uniforms similar to what one might wear to the beach on a warm summer day. And unlike the pro basketball players who possess guaranteed contracts and play a season schedule that can reach beyond 100 games, the college basketball player will unleash their efforts for thirty or so games for the push of a pro contract or in many instances the pure love of the game.
Does anyone believe that Brian Cardinal threw his body all over Big Ten arenas with purely a future payday in mind? When Kyle Lowry was diving all over the court in his frenetic style, was he merely positioning for a contract? These two hustle players actually parlayed their games into future riches, but there are so many others who harbor no illusion of stardom or even a paycheck at the next level, yet give their overachieving all throughout their college career. As fans, the added flavor offered by the hustle and effort to the game brings out an intensity and fervor that accentuates the three pointers, dunks, and fast breaks that are the main dish.
6. The Coaches
Every sport has its coaching luminaries, those men or women who spend several years at one or two jobs, establishing themselves as institutions in their cities and respective sports. While it occurs in every sport, no sport can boast of the quantity like college basketball can. The pro sports exist in such a cutthroat environment that the Parcells, Gibbs, LaRussas, Bobby Coxes, Joe Torres, and Tom Kellys are few and far between and never that safe from the guillotine. In college football, the burnout rate and lure of the pros is so prevalent that few reach the status of Joe Paterno or Bobby Bowden, and even when they do, they are constantly under the microscope.
Then we come to college hoops, where the landscape is dotted with venerable coaches who likely could have the university towns renamed in their honor if they so desired. The pressure to win is no less in college basketball, as evidenced by our new coach’s last destination, but many coaches are able to cement their status as legends while still roaming the sidelines. Mike Krzyzewski, Lute Olson, Jim Calhoun, Jim Boeheim, Tom Izzo, Roy Williams are synonymous with their universities. Would anyone be surprised if the likes of Ben Howland, Billy Gillispie, Thad Matta, or John Thompson III established similar legacies at their respective universities?
Why do these Mount Rushmore coaches matter? In a time when sports figures seem so transitory and fans truly have to learn to cheer for a jersey rather than players within those jerseys, the bedrocks of college basketball provide a stability that other sports cannot match. Even if you despise a particular coach or two, there’s something reassuring knowing that your villain will likely be manning the sidelines once again this season, and next season, and the season after that.
5. The Freshman
College basketball seems to allow for the talented prodigies to step onto the stage and establish themselves immediately better than any other sport. Critics might claim that’s because the complexity of football or baseball only allows for the most elite talent to establish themselves so early. They can argue that point all they want, but I know how much I enjoy knowing that each year there will be fresh faced newcomers who arrive and cause us to marvel at their talent, athleticism, and acumen.
Thanks to the NBA’s adjustment to their draft rules, we are once again treated to elite freshman plying their trade on college courts for at least one season, as witnessed by Kevin Durant, Greg Oden, Mike Conley, and many others last season. They followed in the tradition of such talents as Carmelo Anthony, Michigan’s “œFav Five”, Patrick Ewing, and so many other freshman who changed the complexion of the game’s history. What other sport can offer such a platform for its newcomers?
4. The Unknowns
Two years ago, when the NCAA tournament was over, several analysts pegged Joakim Noah and Tyrus Thomas as the likely one-two picks in the NBA draft if they chose to elect for the draft. Only Thomas declared, and he was picked fourth overall, but nonetheless it was extraordinary to think about-two players who began the season completely off the national radar (if not their own fan base’s radar) had ascended to the elite of their sport. This example is unique, but each year players and teams emerge in this sport to heights that no one expects.
For me one of the true joys of this game is seeing the likes of Acie Law become elite players or walk-ons like Zach Puchtel become key contributors. Although the exodus of underclassmen declaring for the NBA draft has hit the college game hard since the late ’80s/early ’90s, it has also allowed for the emergence of talent that might have previously languished on their team’s bench.
3. Stylistic Differences
One of the pleasures of the college game is the various styles of play you can catch in one evening. Consider the 2006-07 versions of the North Carolina Tar Heels and Southern Illinois Salukis. North Carolina, noted for sleek athletes and the secondary fast break, averaged 85.7 points per game; Southern Illinois, noted for smothering half court defense and a deliberate offense, averaged 62.9 points per game. Both of these teams were constant fixtures in the Top 25 regular season polls, and both experienced success in the NCAA tournament (SIU reached the Sweet Sixteen, while UNC peaked at the Elite Eight). Successful seasons for both, yet there was a difference of 23 points per game between these two teams; mull that over a bit. . .does any other sport offer such disparity among their elite teams? Certainly not the pro leagues and college football might stake a claim to such disparate styles, but it seems like there are now two types of college football teams: those that run the spread, and those that don’t.
Do you want to see lockdown, suffocating defense? Tune into the Salukis, Indiana, or UCLA. Looking for teams who get up and down the court? Check out the Tar Heels, Memphis, or Tennessee. Want three and four guard lineups? Villanova, Marquette, and Oregon are the teams for you. Looking for big men? Dial into Georgetown and Stanford. And when the regular season ends, we get to see all these different styles mesh together in the most wonderful three weeks of sports, made wonderful in large part to the wide variety that college basketball allows to flourish within its boundaries.
2. Senior Day
One of my favorite days on the sports calendar, the final regular season game at home, where seniors are honored for their years of service to the team. College football really doesn’t allow for the recognition with the sheer numbers of players, and in the pros, such recognition only goes to a team’s true legends and even then a variety of factors have to fall perfectly into place for the ceremony. College basketball recognizes everyone, from the star player to the overrated high school recruit to the practice player who rarely played in game competition. As long as that player makes it through his senior year, the team and the fans recognize him and his family for their contributions. In a sports world shy in genuine, poignant moments, Senior Day ranks pretty high for me.
1. Claustrophobia
It was a couple years ago, during Illinois’ magical run to the national championship game and I believe Michigan State was visiting for a mid-week game. At this point in the season, the Spartans still posed a challenge to the Illini for the Big Ten crown, so it was an important game. When ESPN brought us the live feed from Assembly Hall, it took my breath away-an arena packed with people in orange t-shirts, the crowd noise ready to step up towards deafening, the tension palpably alive through my television screen. Ironically, it brought me back to 1989, when the Fighting Illini were #1 in the nation and brought Kendall Gill, Nick Anderson, Kenny Battle, Steve Bardo and others to Williams Arena. I was listening to the game that night on WCCO, and the electricity that came through the radio made me take notice it might be a special night (which, of course, it was).
Baseball and football were made to be played outside, where the crowd noise escapes into the atmosphere. I won’t even bring pro basketball into the discussion. College basketball brings people in from the cold of a winter night or afternoon and compacts them into tight confines. Add to the mix a vibrant and colorful student section, the university band, and a close proximity to the court and you have an environment unmatched by any sport. The best shows are at the classic venues, like Kansas, Indiana, Washington, and (coming again soon) Minnesota. Regardless, a big game at a modern arena can still bring a suffocating feel to the visiting team, a prime example being the Izzone of Michigan State. I hope for the claustrophobia each time I tune into a college game and am eager to see how the opposing team reacts, if the home crowd can sustain, and the ebb and flow on the court and in the stands.
I’ve just given you ten reasons why college basketball reigns supreme, and did you notice an omission? I made scarce mention of March Madness, the preeminent event on the sports calendar. Everyone, and I mean everyone, mentions that as college basketball’s biggest drawing point and it is, undoubtedly. But there are many other reasons to fall for this wonderful game, and it is time once again to fall head over heels for college hoops.
Coming Tuesday: 20 Questions for ’07-08
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