Why NBA but not NCAA?

[Voodoo Child]

Alright, this is a little bit of self-promotion here, but I also have a serious question: why do so many of you love the NBA but not college ball? It's intense, the fans are passionate, and the players give their all every game. The games matter so much more too because instead of having an 82 game schedule and then a playoff, each team makes their own schedule and then has their season hinge on whether or not the NCAA Selection Committee picks them for the NCAA Tournament --- unarguably a way more exciting way to pick a league champion than the NBA playoffs.

Not only is it more fun to watch and the games mean more, but you're watching the superstars of tomorrow. If you've never watched the NBA Draft knowing who the players are, then you owe it to yourself to start watching college ball. I've personally seen live in person players like Dwyane Wade with Marquette, Carlos Boozer with Duke, Tayshaun Prince with Kentucky, Chris Paul with Wake Forest, Jason Richardson and Zach Randolph with Michigan State, Joe Johnson with Arkansas, Kenyon Martin with Cincinnati, Quentin Richardson with DePaul, David West with Xavier, Adam Morrison with Gonzaga, etc... and those are just the players I've seen live.

If you've never followed the NCAA but have always been an NBA fan, you simply owe it to yourself to give college ball a test run this year. The season starts a little bit later than the pro season (it officially kicks off this weekend), so you'll be able to get in on the season right at the start.

Stop by the JBB College Forum. We have a lot of great posters who you may have never even seen because they post mainly in the collegiate forums. Hope to see you around...

 

[Trip]

Shameless.

 

[Voodoo Child]

<div class="quote_poster">Locke Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Shameless.</div>

Go **** yourself.

 

[hustler]

It's because everyone has their own opinion. This is like asking people, do you like comedy movies, or horror movies?

 

[Voodoo Child]

<div class="quote_poster">hustler Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">It's because everyone has their own opinion. This is like asking people, do you like comedy movies, or horror movies?</div>

Not really... basketball is basketball... the game is still the same...

 

[Shapecity]

<div class="quote_poster">hustler Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">It's because everyone has their own opinion. This is like asking people, do you like comedy movies, or horror movies?</div>

Why can't people like both?

If you enjoy learning the fundamentals and watching players give all effort every game, college is the better brand of basketball. They have a shorter schedule so every game has a lot more importance placed on it. There's also better rivalries in college hoops.

It's also nice to get a look at who some of the up and coming players are, and which guys could help your pro team on draft day.

 

[bbwSwish]

There is only one reason why I hate NCAA Basketball. Michigan State.

In all seriousness, I have been wanting to give college basketball a chance for awhile because everyone has been telling me it's so much better than professional basketball and all the points they bring up make sense. I always find it hard at first since I go into the season not knowing who any of the guys are. I'm used to watching the NBA where I can see a guy and know his strengths and weaknesses. I guess this is one of the reasons why a lot of people love college basketball because it's more about the game and coaches than it is the superstars. Also, the players are each trying to make a name for themselves so they can play on the next level.

This season, I'm going to give college basketball a chance. I know I said that last year and I've tried to get into it in the past but this year I'm seriously going to watch games and stay interested all season long.

 

[Voodoo Child]

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">
In all seriousness, I have been wanting to give college basketball a chance for awhile because everyone has been telling me it's so much better than professional basketball and all the points they bring up make sense. I always find it hard at first since I go into the season not knowing who any of the guys are. I'm used to watching the NBA where I can see a guy and know his strengths and weaknesses. I guess this is one of the reasons why a lot of people love college basketball because it's more about the game and coaches than it is the superstars. Also, the players are each trying to make a name for themselves so they can play on the next level. </div>

Really, I think that's one of the great things about college basketball. The players change every four years, so it's not like it'll take a while to get to know all the stars, because there's a new group of All-Americans every year. You get to know them just as the rest of the nation's casual fans get to know them.

BTW - Here are JBB's initial NCAA rankings: http://www.justbball.com/forums/showthread.php?t=61791

 

[bbwSwish]

<div class="quote_poster">Voodoo Child Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Really, I think that's one of the great things about college basketball. The players change every four years, so it's not like it'll take a while to get to know all the stars, because there's a new group of All-Americans every year. You get to know them just as the rest of the nation's casual fans get to know them.</div>

Yeah, that's true. I'm reading a book called 'The Last Dance' by John Feinstein right now and it talks about the NCAA Tournament's history and profiles a lot of the great coaches. It's a really good book and has gotten me interested in college basketball. It also talks about the behind the scenes things at the Final Four and it's a pretty interesting.

 

[P.A.P.]

I love it. I don't watch it during the weekdays unless I get to catch it at a friends on ESPN or something, but I usually watch it on the weekends. It's so intense, and the fans cheer through the whole game non stop. The atmosphere is great.

I've been watchin College basketball since like 97, when I was a fan of the Tar-Heels with Jamison and VC (I was actually mad that the Raps made the draft day trade at the time). Though, I'm not as hardcore as some of you guys because of the fact that I can only catch saturday games most of the time, and see ESPN game highlights on occasion on the major Canadian sport networks.

 

[Voodoo Child]

<div class="quote_poster">P.A.P. Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I love it. I don't watch it during the weekdays unless I get to catch it at a friends on ESPN or something, but I usually watch it on the weekends. It's so intense, and the fans cheer through the whole game non stop. The atmosphere is great.

I've been watchin College basketball since like 97, when I was a fan of the Tar-Heels with Jamison and VC (I was actually mad that the Raps made the draft day trade at the time). Though, I'm not as hardcore as some of you guys because of the fact that I can only catch saturday games most of the time, and see ESPN game highlights on occasion on the major Canadian sport networks.</div>

Yeah, it's great to associate yourself with a team like the 'Heels. I can't imagine watching the game and not associating myself with a team to be honest, and I think that's why many fans don't get into it - they just don't know who to root for.

The rankings give a real importance to every game when you're a fan of a particular team, because you always want to see your team move up and always want to see other teams ahead of them move down, so you always have a motive when you're rooting for a game. Every game takes on such more meaning than NBA games because of that.

 

[bbwSwish]

Like VC was saying, I'm in the group of people who don't have a team to follow. While Gators wants me to root for Florida, it's hard because I'm far from Gainesville and I can't watch all of the games.

South Florida is the closest team to me and well, they suck ass. It's hard to get excited when your team has never been ranked and your a better point guard than the one starting for your local team.

 

[Voodoo Child]

<div class="quote_poster">Swish15 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Like VC was saying, I'm in the group of people who don't have a team to follow. While Gators wants me to root for Florida, it's hard because I'm far from Gainesville and I can't watch all of the games.

South Florida is the closest team to me and well, they suck ass. It's hard to get excited when your team has never been ranked and your a better point guard than the one starting for your local team.</div>

Do you have a good idea of where you'll go to college?

Do you have any family members that graduated from 'name' schools (that's how I became a Michigan State fan)?

Do you like any coaches or players particularly?

 

[Chutney]

It's really a matter of coverage for me. In the past, I'd only get a couple of games every weekend, so it was hard to really get an interest and pick up enough knowledge to comment on it. This year I got RaptorsNBATV, which shows more college games, so hopefully I can pick up a bit more information.

I also had a hard time watching, because I couldn't get attached to any team like I did with the Raptors, but that's changed now that I follow the NBA draft more. Now I just like watching the players that have a chance to be drafted.

In terms of the college forum, I read it regularly, but don't have nearly enough knowledge to say something insightful.

 

[Nasty]

Cus MSU suck major balls.

 

[bbwSwish]

<div class="quote_poster">Voodoo Child Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Do you have a good idea of where you'll go to college?

Do you have any family members that graduated from 'name' schools (that's how I became a Michigan State fan)?

Do you like any coaches or players particularly?</div>

I hate to clutter this thread with me deciding on a team so I'll just finish this through private messaging.

 

[phunDamentalz]

1. There are too many teams.
2. Zone is boring.
3. The athletes aren't as good.
4. Less stylish players.
5. It's hard to know where all these colleges are. nba teams identify with a city. these college teams identify with a college, which if you're not in that college, doesn't mean much. it's hard to get behind some college team for a school that you didn't attend
6. NBA players have more love for the game
7. Manu, AI and Kobe don't play in college.

Are those enough reasons?

 

[umair]

<div class="quote_poster">Voodoo Child Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Go **** yourself.</div>

I barely watch NCAA, I have always been a NBA fan because I know the players. In college its too many timees and too many players to know and follow up with.

 

[Shapecity]

<div class="quote_poster">phunDamentalz Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">1. There are too many teams.
2. Zone is boring.
3. The athletes aren't as good.
4. Less stylish players.
5. It's hard to know where all these colleges are. nba teams identify with a city. these college teams identify with a college, which if you're not in that college, doesn't mean much. it's hard to get behind some college team for a school that you didn't attend
6. NBA players have more love for the game
7. Manu, AI and Kobe don't play in college.

Are those enough reasons?</div>

1. There are a lot of teams, but if you keep up with the top 30 or so, that's not anymore than the NBA fields. The top 25 Rankings are a fairly accurate indicator of who to follow.

2. The NBA also plays zone defense, and not every college uses zone.

3. The athletes are equally as good, just not as physically developed.

4. For me substance is > style

5. That's a fair point.

6. That's a laughable point.

7. AI played for GTown and was very popular. Kobe would have played for Duke, and Gino played for a college basketball equivalent with his team in Argentina.

 

[Voodoo Child]

<div class="quote_poster">phunDamentalz Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">1. There are too many teams.
2. Zone is boring.
3. The athletes aren't as good.
4. Less stylish players.
5. It's hard to know where all these colleges are. nba teams identify with a city. these college teams identify with a college, which if you're not in that college, doesn't mean much. it's hard to get behind some college team for a school that you didn't attend
6. NBA players have more love for the game
7. Manu, AI and Kobe don't play in college.

Are those enough reasons?</div>

1. Not really. There are only 30 or so that matter... that is, the ones vying for a Tourny at-large bid. Besides, once you pick a team, and conference play starts, your team will, for the rest of the regular season, play one of about ten or eleven teams.

2. Fair enough, but every team doesn't play zone.

3. Not true at all. Some of the greatest athletes are actually allowed to showcase their games more on the collegiate level but can never get playing time on the NBA level because they lack some sort of other quality. Like Shannon Brown and his lack of height. He's undeniably one of the league's top athletes, yet most NBA fans will never realize that because he's a 6'1" wing who plays on a team with LeBron James, Larry Hughes, David Wesley, Damon Jones, Eric Snow, Ira Newble, and others. (LINK) By the way, ever heard of James White? (LINK)

4. Stylish, like clothing-wise? Like having flare to their game? Go watch And-1 for that... the NBA's exactly not the home for 'style' either...

5. It's pretty much common knowledge. Duke = Durham, North Carolina; UNC = Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Michigan State = East Lansing, Michigan; UConn = Storrs, Connecticut; Indiana = Bloomington, Indiana; Florida = Gainesville, Florida; Kansas = Lawrence, Kansas; Texas = Austin, Texas; etc. Most of them are pretty self-explanatory though, like Pittsburgh is in Pittsburgh, Memphis is in Memphis, UCLA is in L.A., Louisville is in Louisville, etc.

6. If anything, it's the other way around. College players are playing just for the love. They don't get paid, they don't get shoe deals, and they don't get half the fanfair. Their sole motivation is winning.

7. Who's this? Almost all the pro's go through college, especially now with the NBA age limit. You'll always have stars too. This year the whole Redick/Morrison Player of the Year race was huge.

 

[J_Ray]

<div class="quote_poster">phunDamentalz Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">1. There are too many teams.</div>

There's only so many teams that matter, sure there's tons but only the top 25 and some mid-major sleepers are teams to watch.

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">2. Zone is boring.</div>

It shows the coaches IQ, using what works.

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">3. The athletes aren't as good.</div>

Andre Iguodala, Nate Robinson, Hassan "Hot Sauce" Adams, Rudy Gay, Vince Carter, and many others were just about the same athletiscm wise were the
same in college practically, you see more guys that have insane athelticsm like Ishma'il Muhammad or Jameel Pugh (Ranked as best dunker in world by Dime)

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">4. Less stylish players.</div>

Did you see guys like Ronnie Brewer, DW Jr., Hassan "Hot Sauce" Adams, or Rashad McCants in recent years? They were really flashy with some moves they did.

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">5. It's hard to know where all these colleges are. nba teams identify with a city. these college teams identify with a college, which if you're not in that college, doesn't mean much. it's hard to get behind some college team for a school that you didn't attend</div>

Most teams either have a name after a state, or their conference tells you the area their in. Like Creighton is in the Missouri Valley Conference, now you know they're in the Missouri area. Does somewhere like Golden St. tell you they're in Oakland?

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">6. NBA players have more love for the game</div>

Are you serious, this is plain out ridiculous. How many players in the NBA do you see cry when they lose like Morrison did last year? None, most of these guys play like it's the last game they'll ever play, look at guys like Patrick Sparks, Beulein (SPL? West Virginia's coach's son), or Tim Coverdale (Indiana PG during runner-up year) those guys play with all heart, they're undersized, unathletic, and really have no reason to be playing basketball, but they play with heart & all effort, they are guys people will forget about even though they will always be legends to their colleges IMO.

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">7. Manu, AI and Kobe don't play in college.</div>

Kobe would of gone to Duke, AI was @ Georgetown, and Manu was a unknown from Argentina until the Spurs picked him. Guys like Melo went to college, but people forget about that. It's funny you bring this up, now that they put in the age rule, you'll see more talented guys that would of skipped college in college. Something you usually wouldn't see, guys like Greg Oden, Kevin Durant, or Thad Young playing in college.

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Are those enough reasons?</div>

You better get some more better reasons because they were pretty sorry excuses. Like my teacher, Mr. Wilkins, says "Excuses are like buttholes, everyone has them and they all stink"

Like VC said, you guys should watch more college Basketball, it has to be the best sport there is IMO. The crowds get into it the whole game, the coaches are just as dedicated as the players and sweat like they're actually playing (Bruce Pearl), once you make the tourney the season restarts for you leaving 65 teams with a chance for the title instead of 16, team efforts is more important than just 1 person, you can see future NBA stars before people even know about them, and the game is more about fundamentals than physical attributes.

 

[Chutney]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting J_Ray:</div><div class="quote_post">How many players in the NBA do you see cry when they lose like Morrison did last year?</div>
You probably miss them, because they wait until after the game has ended. lol.

 

[NTC]

I like College Ball, I just find it too hard to keep up with, so many teams, and so many of them a crap, I only really get into it once it gets down to the final 16 or what ever it is.

 

[Legacy]

<div class="quote_poster">NTC187 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I like College Ball, I just find it too hard to keep up with, so many teams, and so many of them a crap, I only really get into it once it gets down to the final 16 or what ever it is.</div>

Same here. There are just way too many teams. I have to know like who the star is on each team.

 

[Voodoo Child]

You guys should pick a team and follow them through the season. Get to know their coach and their players well, and you'll learn the rest without having to make an effort to really look anything up.

To know who the 'stars' are, just read a preseason article. There are plenty of opinionated writers out there who have come up with preseason All-American lists, preseason top 25's, etc.

The great thing is that the stars are never the same in college basketball every year... or at least, that's usually the case. Last year was all about Redick and Morrison, but this year will be all about center Tyler Hansbrough (North Carolina), shooting guard Brandon Rush (Kansas), center Joakim Noah (Florida), and center Greg Oden (Ohio State), when he comes back from his injury. It should be a year mostly dominated by bigs.

Here is the official A.P. Preseason All-American team by the way -

G - Ron Steele (Alabama, PG)
G - Brandon Rush (Kansas, SG)
F - Glen Davis (LSU, PF/C)
F - Joakim Noah (Florida, PF/C)
C - Tyler Hansbrough (North Carolina, C)

Runner-ups: Arron Afflalo (UCLA, SG), Aaron Gray (Pittsburgh, C), Josh McRoberts (Duke, C), Jeff Green (Georgetown, F), Alando Tucker (Wisconsin, SF), Jared Dudley (Boston College, SF)

 

[NTC]

I'm in the loop with most of the big names, mainly the guys you mentioned, just dont keep up with the actual games.

 

[Run BJM]

The reason I prefer NBA is because college is sloppy as hell, very slow, talent level is very low and diluted, a ton of teams to follow but limited coverage and they play alot when I'm busy. I watch alot of March Madness and big games with elite teams competing as well as gamed with a star that just dominates and is fun to watch. Games like Maryland vs. Vermont are literally unwatchable to me, they're so boring, slow, sloppy. One thing I do like is that the refs in the NCAA are generally very good (sans Duke games) while in the NBA they are absolutely horrible and by far the worst officials in any major sport.

 

[J_Ray]

<div class="quote_poster">Chutney Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">You probably miss them, because they wait until after the game has ended. lol.</div>

BS, the players don't even play with emotion in the NBA. The game would be more exciting if it was.

<div class="quote_poster">Run BJM Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">The reason I prefer NBA is because college is sloppy as hell, very slow, talent level is very low and diluted, a ton of teams to follow but limited coverage and they play alot when I'm busy. I watch alot of March Madness and big games with elite teams competing as well as gamed with a star that just dominates and is fun to watch. Games like Maryland vs. Vermont are literally unwatchable to me, they're so boring, slow, sloppy. One thing I do like is that the refs in the NCAA are generally very good (sans Duke games) while in the NBA they are absolutely horrible and by far the worst officials in any major sport.</div>

College is sloppy as hell? Very Slow? Talent Level very low? What you talking about, the Warriors are more sloppier than a team like Duke. The college game isn't very slow, have you've watched teams like Zona, Tennessee, or UW-Milwaukee? Full court press speeds up the game, doesn't slows it down. The very low talent level comment was very stupid, I bet I could put together a team of each conference and they could beat the Warriors probably. I keep hearing there is too many teams or you can't watch games across the U.S. but you simply don't need to. Like me I usually just watch the games on ESPN then the ones on my local channels. I mostly get to know teams like Zona, UCLA, Stanford, Cal, and I get on channel that carries random games from different conferences, mostly Nevada. Sure, I usually don't know much about these mid-major until before the tourney, but you get to know a few by just keeping track of what has happened on the other side of the the U.S. Like last year I knew NW St. was an ok team because they beat some good teams like Ok St. It doesn't matter if you get the games or not, you get games from teams in your area. Follow them, like for you, you get fox bay area right? That's the channel I watch for Pac-10 B-Ball. You should get a double header Pac-10 every Thursday, Saturday, and on Sunday they show an ACC matchup. It's on tons of channels, people just don't notice it, hell on CBS and ABC there's always games on Saturdays until about 5 EST.

 

[Shapecity]

If you live in the US there is an abundance of college basketball coverage. ESPN has various packages you can order, and there's plenty of local coverage. Fox sports shows most of the Pac-10 games and ESPN also has games on ESPN and ESPN2, plus games on the weekend.

I keep reading "there's too many teams to follow." You don't have to follow all the teams, most people just follow the teams in their conference or conferences.

I like following the Pac-10 conference, because there's a lot of teams from California who play in it, and the conference has some of the best coaches, talent, and a rich history of basketball.

 

[Run BJM]

<div class="quote_poster">J_Ray Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">College is sloppy as hell? Very Slow? Talent Level very low? What you talking about, the Warriors are more sloppier than a team like Duke. The college game isn't very slow, have you've watched teams like Zona, Tennessee, or UW-Milwaukee? Full court press speeds up the game, doesn't slows it down. The very low talent level comment was very stupid, I bet I could put together a team of each conference and they could beat the Warriors probably.</div>
That's a joke, you're kidding yourself if you think the NCAA is in general less sloppy than the NBA. An all-star team in the NCAA couldn't beat any team in the NBA, it wouldn't even be close. The talent level is lower in the NCAA, its a fact, the best of the best go to the NBA while the NCAA has alot of talent but its so spread out that most teams are lucky to have one good player and the rest are scrubs who couldn't make the D-League. Obviously there's some loaded teams who are fun to watch and easy to watch but its rare that I get to see a close, clean game between 2 loaded teams.

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I keep hearing there is too many teams or you can't watch games across the U.S. but you simply don't need to. Like me I usually just watch the games on ESPN then the ones on my local channels. I mostly get to know teams like Zona, UCLA, Stanford, Cal, and I get on channel that carries random games from different conferences, mostly Nevada. Sure, I usually don't know much about these mid-major until before the tourney, but you get to know a few by just keeping track of what has happened on the other side of the the U.S. Like last year I knew NW St. was an ok team because they beat some good teams like Ok St. It doesn't matter if you get the games or not, you get games from teams in your area. Follow them, like for you, you get fox bay area right? That's the channel I watch for Pac-10 B-Ball. You should get a double header Pac-10 every Thursday, Saturday, and on Sunday they show an ACC matchup. It's on tons of channels, people just don't notice it, hell on CBS and ABC there's always games on Saturdays until about 5 EST.</div>

I can't even follow my favorite team, Cal, because alot of the games aren't shown and the games come on at bad times. Sometimes I watch the ACC games on Sunday mornings and they're fairly entertaining because that conference is rather saturated with talent. Don't get me wrong, there's alot of good games in college bball but alot of the games I see aren't that great because my favorite team isn't an Arizona, Duke, UConn, LSU, etc. who is stacked with NBA talent level guys. The NCAA tourney is unlike any other tournament or playoff in any sport because you can follow the storylines of the cinderella teams or the powerhouse teams consistently while in the regular season you get a ton of decent teams thrown at you and you can't even keep track of one team (unless its a Duke, UConn, Gonzaga w/ Morrison because of all the coverage those teams get).

JMO, you don't have to like it or agree with it but I like NBA more.