NCAA March Blandness
It’s the final minutes of the 2nd half, the clock winding down, the ball is in the hands of a trailing team from the midwest while the opposing team from somewhere else in the country is counting their collegiate stars that the nonexistent college basketball defense miraculously materializes itself in this final play. 4…3…2…1…buzzer. Who won? Honestly, who cares? At the end of the day, college basketball is more about finding the individual talent in a myriad of mediocrity. And sure, if you are a scout or reporter or someone whose job revolves around research then NCAA b-ball may be your cup of Gatorade. But for everyone else, why not invest your viewership hours in the highest tier of the sport?
Let me first say that I’ve talked to quite a few people who really like the college aspect. Having many of my questions answered, and hearing a good amount of perspectives, I understand the appeal. Objectively, that is. I comprehend that many viewers like watching the up-and-coming NBA players to see them in basketball puberty, and that seminal knowledge tickles their infatuation with the phrase ‘I told you so’. It also makes sense that since many of the states throughout the U.S. don’t have an NBA team, loyalty is easier found within teams that have home-state association. Continuing the train of thought, there is the argument for finding excitement in the perpetual volatility of the outcome. Knowing that skill levels can vary drastically even throughout the course of a game can provide an uncertainty until the final buzzer that creates intrigue. However, none of these points have been the proverbial slam dunk to subjectively sway me into college basketball fandom.
And here’s why… I love basketball, there’s no doubt about that. I also love excellence. In the NBA, those two meet at a wonderful and riveting junction. It is a selection of 30 teams comprised of the best of the best and that is where I want to invest my viewership. If there are potential NBA players on Duke or North Carolina or Kentucky, fantastic! I’ll get to see them if they do actually make it to the professional level. Until then, I have a hard time justifying spending energy watching a group of players who simply aren’t there yet. It's true that college basketball is a necessary stepping stone these days for someone to enter the NBA and I get that. But let it be just that, an intermediary. It’s not the end-all be-all for the sport, even though it may be for some players. I don’t care if Gonzaga is looking strong in a given year, come and talk to me when the one player on there who might get drafted is averaging 25 points, 7 assists, and 8 rebounds on a playoff team in the NBA. Then you can try and convince me I should have spent some time watching their championship game tally to an astronomical 53-51 final score. Until then, you’ll find me watching Igoudala get the long rebound, outlet pass to Curry, dribbling down the court, 4…3…2…quick release from just past half court...1…swish!
P.s. "Bang! Bang! Oh what a shot from Curry!", Mike Breen exclaims as Curry hits a deep three to solidify a win in a beautiful pair of Curry 2s (pictured above). His second signature sneaker, these shoes were debuted for one of the first times at this OKC overtime thriller. Too bad for Nike that they spelled his name wrong when they were offering Curry a sponsorship, because now they have to watch a missed opportunity steal the spotlight in almost every game he plays.