Has anyone else lost interest in college ball?

[NMSooner'80]

Great atmosphere in ABQ right now.

Last year's OU team frustrated me so much that I couldn't even really enjoy that dream season for my employer (UNM). This year's team is just sad - and I really feel bad for the kids on the team.

Even some of the nine-win teams of roughly 30 years, when they had coaching changes, had some hope when the players matured. The '76 team probably had less talent than this OU team, and they pulled it together and beat some nationally ranked teams, and Tubbs' first OU team's problems were more of an indication of losing its best player (Whitley) in preseason. And even that team beat Stupo and Mizzou (somehow).

 

[Big Old Booger]

Last year's OU team frustrated me so much that I couldn't even really enjoy that dream season for my employer (UNM). This year's team is just sad - and I really feel bad for the kids on the team.

Even some of the nine-win teams of roughly 30 years, when they had coaching changes, had some hope when the players matured. The '76 team probably had less talent than this OU team, and they pulled it together and beat some nationally ranked teams, and Tubbs' first OU team's problems were more of an indication of losing its best player (Whitley) in preseason. And even that team beat Stupo and Mizzou (somehow).

I wish you came around more often to help me convince the younger crowd on this board that the 80 team was far more competitive than this team and even last years team. They lost a lot of games, but at the end of the season they were getting it put together and you could see some promise for the next season. At this point, I see nothing but another abysmal season next year if a coaching change isn't made.

 

[NMSooner'80]

I wish you came around more often to help me convince the younger crowd on this board that the 80 team was far more competitive than this team and even last years team. They lost a lot of games, but at the end of the season they were getting it put together and you could see some promise for the next season. At this point, I see nothing but another abysmal season next year if a coaching change isn't made.

Tubbs' first OU team was about as competitive as it could be, once Whitley went down to an ACL injury. They got better and even beat Mizzou and K-State in the conference, at the LNC. But since it was my first year after college, I didn't see that much of them, other than that fun OU-MU game in person. I think they had some injuries late in the year and finished rather poorly, though.

But, Big Time Jones redshirted, and Tubbs loaded up on some JC's and got some decent play out of hold-overs Chuckie Barnett, Lester Pace and Bo Overton to make the NIT that next year. Barnett and Overton were both sophomores on the '80-81 team. David Little also sat out that '81 season as a transfer from Texas Tech. They did miss Whitley, though, and his fifth-year senior season was a bummer - because he was just a shell of what he had been.

Bliss' first OU team was basically a bunch of freshmen, plus 2-3 holdovers who were undersized. John McCullough emerged as a star of the future, and Cary Carrabine became a steady player as well. A couple of other frosh, Kevin Jones and Gary Raker, got lost in the shuffle the next year ('77) and left after that, but Eddie Fields did help keep that young '77 team together as the point guard.

However, the '76 team did surprise quite a few folks later in the year when that motion offense began to click. They just had no size and couldn't dig out of a big hole (something like 2-10) to start that season with, and that bad start also included a ton of road games.

 

[El Jefe]

This is the forgotten season to me. I have zero interest in any non-OU game. And even my interest in OU games is way down for me -- though I'm still watching. Just a dark time. Hard to take.

 

[DenverSooner]

I have a fear that OU basketball is doomed because of the lack of fan support and the not so good facility. I am concerned the donors will give it up if they haven't already.

There is nothing wrong with the LNC. It compares fine with Allen Field House, Coors Event Center, Baylor's arena and the Erwin Center. (It is also incer than the GIA was before the latest renovation - I have not been to the new GIA) I have been to games at all of those places. Addtiionally, OU has really nice locker rooms, practice courts, etc. It might be nice to have a basketball venue rather than an all purpose venue but the LNC is not a legitimate reason for fans to not attend the games. It was once regard one of the toughest/greatest venues in college basketball. It is all about the fans, not the amenities.

 

[Elephantitis]

I used to be a huge college basketball fan, but I've grown to detest the sport. In the 90s and early 00s, I could watch any college b-ball game, anytime. I followed OU b-ball with greater passion than f-ball. If I tried, I could probably recall all our non-conference losses in the 90s, from our overtime loss to top-ranked Arkansas in Hawaii in Sampson's first year, to Tubbs' loss to BYU over Christmas break in 92, to Sampson's loss to Murray State followed up with a blowout win over Arkansas in 98. I used to follow all the major national rivalries, and keep up with relevant Big 8/12 matchups each week.

Since 2005, I couldn't really care less. Some of it was "losing before we should" NCAA Tourney burnout, but the degradation of the sport has made it irreparable. Simply put, college basketball is no longer coached. Whereas coaching, scheming, Xs and 0s, strategy, and tactics have all improved and reached new depths and created new ideas in college football, college basketball has regressed dramatically.

The culture of the AAUs, represented by the Tommy Mason Griffins of the world, has led to college freshman that have the basketball skills of a 6th grader. Unable to box out, to move laterally, to set a screen, to pass, to plant the right foot at the right time for a good drive to the basket, to have a decent shooting stroke...all this has led to college coaches incapable of developing any sort of scheme or strategy that makes the chess game satisfying to follow because they have to waste so much time reteaching the fundamentals. Mediocre coaches, such as the Jeff Capels of the world, are apoplectic as to what to do. Players are thrown out there with no skills and no noticeable improvement in skills because they are so far behind in development.

15 years ago, college basketball was better coached than the NBA. Now, the NBA is better coached than college basketball.

OU's awfulness negates excitement, but even if OU was competent, the sport would still be mediocre. Having the Thunder in OKC helps feed a need for basketball, but even if the Thunder wasn't here, college basketball would still be unwatchable. College basketball only has March Madness, and that's it.

 

[Dem Coltz]

Dude what do you love about Elephant titti's?

Everything bro.

 

[seniorsooner]

Elephantitis in the house. Funny name, solid poster.

 

[MsProudSooner]

I used to be a huge college basketball fan, but I've grown to detest the sport. In the 90s and early 00s, I could watch any college b-ball game, anytime. I followed OU b-ball with greater passion than f-ball. If I tried, I could probably recall all our non-conference losses in the 90s, from our overtime loss to top-ranked Arkansas in Hawaii in Sampson's first year, to Tubbs' loss to BYU over Christmas break in 92, to Sampson's loss to Murray State followed up with a blowout win over Arkansas in 98. I used to follow all the major national rivalries, and keep up with relevant Big 8/12 matchups each week.

Since 2005, I couldn't really care less. Some of it was "losing before we should" NCAA Tourney burnout, but the degradation of the sport has made it irreparable. Simply put, college basketball is no longer coached. Whereas coaching, scheming, Xs and 0s, strategy, and tactics have all improved and reached new depths and created new ideas in college football, college basketball has regressed dramatically.

The culture of the AAUs, represented by the Tommy Mason Griffins of the world, has led to college freshman that have the basketball skills of a 6th grader. Unable to box out, to move laterally, to set a screen, to pass, to plant the right foot at the right time for a good drive to the basket, to have a decent shooting stroke...all this has led to college coaches incapable of developing any sort of scheme or strategy that makes the chess game satisfying to follow because they have to waste so much time reteaching the fundamentals. Mediocre coaches, such as the Jeff Capels of the world, are apoplectic as to what to do. Players are thrown out there with no skills and no noticeable improvement in skills because they are so far behind in development.

15 years ago, college basketball was better coached than the NBA. Now, the NBA is better coached than college basketball.

OU's awfulness negates excitement, but even if OU was competent, the sport would still be mediocre. Having the Thunder in OKC helps feed a need for basketball, but even if the Thunder wasn't here, college basketball would still be unwatchable. College basketball only has March Madness, and that's it.

I understand what you are saying. I'm not really to the same point you are -yet. Men's bb in general has changed a lot in the last 5 years or so, and not for the better. There are way too many 'It's all about ME!!!!' players in D1 men's bb. Except for a few of them, those who think they are 'one and done' are fairly uncoachable and useless. If it continues on this same course, I could see myself losing interest in the future.

 

[NMSooner'80]

I understand what you are saying. I'm not really to the same point you are -yet. Men's bb in general has changed a lot in the last 5 years or so, and not for the better. There are way too many 'It's all about ME!!!!' players in D1 men's bb. Except for a few of them, those who think they are 'one and done' are fairly uncoachable and useless. If it continues on this same course, I could see myself losing interest in the future.

Agreed!

I can forgive this year's team for being down. Last year's meltdown was inexcusable, given the talent level.

 

[Big Old Booger]

I used to be a huge college basketball fan, but I've grown to detest the sport. In the 90s and early 00s, I could watch any college b-ball game, anytime. I followed OU b-ball with greater passion than f-ball. If I tried, I could probably recall all our non-conference losses in the 90s, from our overtime loss to top-ranked Arkansas in Hawaii in Sampson's first year, to Tubbs' loss to BYU over Christmas break in 92, to Sampson's loss to Murray State followed up with a blowout win over Arkansas in 98. I used to follow all the major national rivalries, and keep up with relevant Big 8/12 matchups each week.

Since 2005, I couldn't really care less. Some of it was "losing before we should" NCAA Tourney burnout, but the degradation of the sport has made it irreparable. Simply put, college basketball is no longer coached. Whereas coaching, scheming, Xs and 0s, strategy, and tactics have all improved and reached new depths and created new ideas in college football, college basketball has regressed dramatically.

The culture of the AAUs, represented by the Tommy Mason Griffins of the world, has led to college freshman that have the basketball skills of a 6th grader. Unable to box out, to move laterally, to set a screen, to pass, to plant the right foot at the right time for a good drive to the basket, to have a decent shooting stroke...all this has led to college coaches incapable of developing any sort of scheme or strategy that makes the chess game satisfying to follow because they have to waste so much time reteaching the fundamentals. Mediocre coaches, such as the Jeff Capels of the world, are apoplectic as to what to do. Players are thrown out there with no skills and no noticeable improvement in skills because they are so far behind in development.

15 years ago, college basketball was better coached than the NBA. Now, the NBA is better coached than college basketball.

OU's awfulness negates excitement, but even if OU was competent, the sport would still be mediocre. Having the Thunder in OKC helps feed a need for basketball, but even if the Thunder wasn't here, college basketball would still be unwatchable. College basketball only has March Madness, and that's it.

I agree. This is one reason why I have become a huge womens basketball fan. Yes, the women aren't as flashy as the men, but it's all about schemes, setting picks, backdoor cuts, etc., and has really become fun to watch.

Of course, it also helps we have a great womens program. I'm sure if I were a KU fan, I'd still be watching mens basketball instead of womens as their womens team is abysmal.

 

[Max Power]

I agree. This is one reason why I have become a huge womens basketball fan. Yes, the women aren't as flashy as the men, but it's all about schemes, setting picks, backdoor cuts, etc., and has really become fun to watch.

Of course, it also helps we have a great womens program. I'm sure if I were a KU fan, I'd still be watching mens basketball instead of womens as their womens team is abysmal.

Off topic, but is KU good at any non-revenue sports. Im just asking because out side of OU i dont follow them

 

[Big Old Booger]

Off topic, but is KU good at any non-revenue sports. Im just asking because out side of OU i dont follow them

Decent at baseball and softball, but I think that's it.

 

[Tony]

Yes, the women aren't as flashy as the men, but it's all about schemes, setting picks, backdoor cuts, etc., and has really become fun to watch.
.

You watch basketball for the screens?

 

[Soonercuda]

I wish you came around more often to help me convince the younger crowd on this board that the 80 team was far more competitive than this team and even last years team. They lost a lot of games, but at the end of the season they were getting it put together and you could see some promise for the next season. At this point, I see nothing but another abysmal season next year if a coaching change isn't made.

I was a student at OU in 80 and went to all of the games. At the beginning of the year that team was truly awful and had a home loss to the DIII Northern Ohio Polar Bears that was probably worse than this year's Chaminade loss. But Billy did a good job of keeping the team motivated and trying and they did get better as the year went on and set the team up to be a good NIT team the next year (remember that was before the tourney was 64 teams...so that team would have likely been a tourney team today). Let's wait for the year to end before we declare this team being worse than the 80 team...at this point in the year they are pretty similar. Can this team be like the 80 team and continue to try and improve (and steal a couple of home games they shouldn't)...or do they quit like last year's team.

 

[gwydion]

Part of following your team is struggling through the down years as well as revelling in the good years. Why does anyone wonder why there aren't more fans in the good years? Well the majority of what few fans we have are only there for the good years.

 

[MsProudSooner]

Part of following your team is struggling through the down years as well as revelling in the good years. Why does anyone wonder why there aren't more fans in the good years? Well the majority of what few fans we have are only there for the good years.

Very true. You can't appreciate how far they have come if you weren't there for the journey.

 

[Big Old Booger]

You watch basketball for the screens?

Not necessarily, but I love to watch the parts of basketball that were big when I played small school junior high and 9th grade basketball. We didn't have any big tall kids who could dunk, so we had to set picks, make backdoor cuts, play good defense, etc.

My dad was a lifelong fan of the old 6 on 6 womens basketball. I liked it myself because the games were always thrillers to watch.

 

[Tony]

Not necessarily, but I love to watch the parts of basketball that were big when I played small school junior high and 9th grade basketball. We didn't have any big tall kids who could dunk, so we had to set picks, make backdoor cuts, play good defense, etc.

My dad was a lifelong fan of the old 6 on 6 womens basketball. I liked it myself because the games were always thrillers to watch.

We used to go to those 6 on 6 games also. The atmosphere in those small-town games was incredible. Really unbelievably sexist if you think back on it now, but it didn't dawn on me as a kid.

I'm a big fan of women's basketball too, but it that's just because I think they are amazingly skilled and talented athletes. To each their own.

 

[MsProudSooner]

We used to go to those 6 on 6 games also. The atmosphere in those small-town games was incredible. Really unbelievably sexist if you think back on it now, but it didn't dawn on me as a kid.

I'm a big fan of women's basketball too, but it that's just because I think they are amazingly skilled and talented athletes. To each their own.

While it was true that a sexist attitude led to the different rules for the boys and girls, the girls and their coaches took advantage of being a specialist in offense or defense and the average player was very skilled in the fundamentals of being a guard or a forward. And the teams enjoyed support that few teams these days can fathom - unless they play in class A or B.