I asked some college basketball observers why they prefer the NCAA over professional hoops. These fanatics mentioned words and phrases like:
- more hustle
- hungrier
- excitement
The regular season and playoffs in the NBA are marathons, versus the NCAA’s sprints. It is no secret that we would rather see Usain Bolt, than Eliud Kipchoge. You don’t even know who Eliud Kipchoge is, do you? I didn’t think so.
Related: One and done?
“Who is UMBC??” That was the question I was yelling at the radio, as the University of Maryland, Baltimore County won their first round game versus top-ranked Virginia. I don’t watch much college ball, and haven’t for a number of years, except by accident.
“TELL ME! Tell me who that is,” I said. But, maddeningly, the announcers kept saying “UMBC” and never the school’s proper name. Speaking the school’s entire name takes time, sure. Use the initials. Just remember that these upstart teams are little-known, even by regular viewers.
At first, I thought that they were saying “U-N-B-C.” UNBC? Maybe the broadcasting had formed a college and men’s basketball team? Well, that is what search engines are for. I went into the Internet to find my answer.Â
The UMBC Retrievers, winners over national #1 Virginia’s Cavaliers. The third point of the tournament, through the first four rounds, was: UVA, the first one-seed to lose to a #16, would never live this down. “U.Va. makes NCAA history it would like to rewrite” read one headline.
Virginia’s 2016-17 squad was going to be discussed for as long as people discuss college hoops. Hours after that historic upset, the Cavaliers were being compared to the Golden State Warriors team that blew a 3-1 series lead. They were the newest incarnation of the NFL’s New England Patriots team which went 18-0 in superb fashion, then lost in the Super Bowl.
[democracy id=”5″]
“He’s a heady player,” college game announcers say in various ways. All the better NCAA players are “heady.” What does it mean to be heady? Google search says that, in this context, “heady” could be anything from “exhilarating” and “stimulating” to rousing.”
More than a few dictionaries online are quick to point to how the word heady is used to describe alcoholic beverages. Liquor is sho’ nuff stimulating and somewhat rousing.
Merriam-Webster says a heady person is “marked by or showing good judgment; shrewd, intelligent.” That sounds like a quality college basketball player. Especially since 18-22 year old men are not known for showing good judgment.
Webster’s 1828 Dictionary is most pragmatic. Probably, the announcers are not thinking of this definition when they use that word about a young athlete:
HEADY, adjective hed’y. [See Head.] Rash; hasty; precipitate; violent; disposed to rush forward in an enterprise without thought or deliberation; hurried on by will or passion; ungovernable.
No matter what you call those opening Tuesday games, it’s no matter. Now the NCAA at one point wants fans to call them “1st Four”, which is meant to stick in our minds as a companion to “Final Four.” Like a bookend. All this renaming and angling to get us engaged just ends up backfiring. Some media and fans were calling these “play-in” games, which really upset the college basketball, I-hate-NBA type purists.
Sports leagues and committees are selling, selling, selling. College, professional? doesn’t matter. It’s business, baby… That’s why they all seem like wanna-be Casanovas, trying to sleep with a slut five minutes before the club closing. They want you, sports fan. Don’t give in to his garbage play every single time. You don’t have to watch JV. Not if you don’t want to. Which leads to our last point to ponder:
College ball is terrible–at least compared to the NBA. That’s why the tournament’s yearly handful of “big upsets” is a big deal to some. They need the attention. Because even media talking heads openly admit they don’t pay attention to the NCAA until the end of January, at best.
Related: I can do anything
The little guy scrapping all the way to the top, for real, is not that much fun. Also, it very rarely happens. The Hoosiers and Rockys are not common. That’s why they sell. We love that story, but the underdog regularly get backhanded around in life and in sports.Â
I compare men’s college basketball to the regularly-excellent UConn women’s team: It’s good for what it is, but excellence in your world is not enough to compel me. Congratulations–now, get your tail on outta here! Men are playing.
The basketball played in college is simply not pleasurable to these eyes. There is talent in the NCAA. However, the best talent is the best to watch.