Is college basketball really down?

[bocabull]

Or is that just our view from the cheap seats?

Watched Kansas today and they looked as strong as ever.

 

[KCRuf/Nek]

I've gotten to see them quite a bit this year and I imagine by year's end they're going to be an enormous handful. They made OSU look awful today. Whithey seemed to singlehandedly take the lane away. I've always thought he was underrated. And once McLamore learns how to actually play - look out!

 

[Sawyer]

Mike Anderson let McLemore go to kansas, Otto Porter go to Georgetown and BJ Young go to Arkansas.

51 points, 23 rebounds and 14 assists between those three guys today.

Oh, and throw in Brad Beal for good measure.

Best year for in-state talent in Missouri in years, and we get shut out because Anderson screws around (late to offer Beal, late to offer McLemore, chose to pass on Young; Porter was a Mizzou lock until Anderson slunk out the back door).

To the point, though, kansas is good, but their ability to rebound after what they lost last year is a sign that things overall are down.

 

[OUHoops]

Yeah, Kansas looked really impressive. They run their offensive sets so well too. It's impressive to watch how in sync their movement and execution are at times.

No one obviously is as talented as Kentucky was last year, but there are a lot of good "teams". I'm already looking forward to March.

 

[KCRuf/Nek]

Mike Anderson let McLemore go to kansas, Otto Porter go to Georgetown and BJ Young go to Arkansas.

51 points, 23 rebounds and 14 assists between those three guys today.

Oh, and throw in Brad Beal for good measure.

Best year for in-state talent in Missouri in years, and we get shut out because Anderson screws around (late to offer Beal, late to offer McLemore, chose to pass on Young; Porter was a Mizzou lock until Anderson slunk out the back door).

To the point, though, kansas is good, but their ability to rebound after what they lost last year is a sign that things overall are down.

One of the drawbacks to living here is the constant local slurping of the Big 3. One theme i hear from the KU people is that last year was a surprise and this year is the one with high expectations. One good thing about those high KU expectations is the long free fall when they lose come March.

So Sawyer, what do you think of Brown? I've just seen a little bit but he looks pretty good. And you're right. That whole Anderson leaving and new coach search was a mess. I've always thought if MU could get the best kid from KC and STL they'd be okay.

 

[suncoastsooner]

One of the drawbacks to living here is the constant local slurping of the Big 3.

In the last five years Kansas has won a national title, played for another title, and gotten to the elite 8 in a third instance . . . I want a "constant" slump like that!

 

[Sawyer]

The only one that really bothers me is McLemore. He was a complete unknown until spring of his junior season. But people in St. Louis knew all about him, and then he completely blew up. kansas inexplicably emerged as the favorite (inexplicable because Anderson should have been all over it). There were people in McLemore's camp who strongly favored Mizzou. I don't remember the details, but I believe his mom was very much pro-MU. We got in too late, though.

Beal was never going to stay in Missouri. BJ Young would have, but he had attitude issues. Anderson avoided him after our players recommended we pass after a scrimmage (funny that he's now Anderson's best player...). Neither of those two bother me. Porter sucked to lose, but it was unavoidable. I believe his family saw through Anderson near the end (they didn't even give Arkansas a look when he switched), and he went with Georgetown to play for a coach (an assistant) who the Porter family had known for decades. He was only going to play for someone he felt comfortable with, and in the end that wasn't Anderson and wouldn't be a new Mizzou coach he'd never met.

Not that I'm still bitter. MU lucked out in a major way with Haith. McLemore and Porter might make Mizzou the frontrunner for the national title, but we're still a top-10 team, which I can take. And it's fun watching Arkansas fans figure out everything MU fans came to know about Anderson's system (even though they should know all about it).

On Brown: In his second game back after sitting for a year, he drops 18 points and grabs 7 boards against an undefeated top-10 team in one of the nation's most spirited off-campus rivalry games. He is big time. Might be Mizzou's best wing player since Rush, and might even surpass him (might not be the pure scorer, but he seems to have the potential to be a more well-rounded player). I've spent the past year drooling at his youtube highlights (see: [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=askNt2H4QgM[/ame]), and in just two games he's already proving to be the player I thought he was.

More importantly, he looks like he's capable of almost completely erasing any vacancy left by Dixon's unfortunate departure from the program (unfortunate because of what he did, not because of the decision to move on). The only thing still missing is a second primary ball handler. We don't have a true backup point, so for the few minutes every game when Pressey's on the bench, someone will need to step up. That isn't really Brown's game. Negus Webster-Chan has been filling that role, but at 6-7 he really isn't a true point and is still not ready to handle pressure situations.



The KC media has taken a big hit in recent years. In 2006, the Star had Jason Whitlock, Joe Posnanski and Wright Thompson covering sports (among others). That's three of the absolute best sports journalists in the country. I don't even know who they have now. Certainly nobody of that caliber. I do enjoy the work of their new Mizzou beat writer, but as a whole, their sports section has really taken a hit. I don't envy you having to deal with that.

 

[KCRuf/Nek]

In the last five years Kansas has won a national title, played for another title, and gotten to the elite 8 in a third instance . . . I want a "constant" slump like that!

When you can't stand the local teams the humpfest gets old fast.

The KC media has taken a big hit in recent years. In 2006, the Star had Jason Whitlock, Joe Posnanski and Wright Thompson covering sports (among others). That's three of the absolute best sports journalists in the country. I don't even know who they have now. Certainly nobody of that caliber. I do enjoy the work of their new Mizzou beat writer, but as a whole, their sports section has really taken a hit. I don't envy you having to deal with that.

I miss JoPo all the time. He's as good as it gets. I can take or leave Porkchop. He could be very good but it became tiresome wading through his agendas. I don't know if the writer cover MU, Paylor, is male or female. Kerkhoff covers college and the SEC and he's pretty good. I don't care for Mellinger at all. I liked Babb but he moved to DC. I follow the local schools enough to be informed but if I read it all my eyeballs will fall out. :ed

 

[Sawyer]

Terez Paylor is a dude. He's pretty good.

Posnaknski is great at writing fluff pieces, but he doesn't have a hard-hitting journalistic bone in his body. Whitlock was controversial, but his biggest agenda was to get people to read his column, which he did. And I appreciated his constant attempts to interweave sports and social issues. It doesn't work for everyone, but it worked for him. He might still be the only sports columnist to win a national columnist of the year award. There's certainly no one there now capable of drawing national attention.

 

[KCRuf/Nek]

Terez Paylor is a dude. He's pretty good.

Posnaknski is great at writing fluff pieces, but he doesn't have a hard-hitting journalistic bone in his body. Whitlock was controversial, but his biggest agenda was to get people to read his column, which he did. And I appreciated his constant attempts to interweave sports and social issues. It doesn't work for everyone, but it worked for him. He might still be the only sports columnist to win a national columnist of the year award. There's certainly no one there now capable of drawing national attention.

I'm not too concerned about JoPo digging for dirt and such. I love the way he writes and gets to the heart of things. He loved KC and everything about it. I don't disagree with you about Whitlock. But, between his column and his daily radio show(where he tried to cause as much sh!t as he could - both in general and with management) he tended to wear on me. Sometimes I just wished he'd use the great talent he has to just be a great writer. His always having to stir the pot and having his agenda sometimes overshadow the subject matter was irritating to me.

 

[61sooner]

Some interesting stuff but isn't this board for OU BB? Can't KU and MU fans discuss their teams on their own boards?

 

[Sawyer]

An OU fan asked about MU. I answered. There are no kansas fans here.

 

[KCRuf/Nek]

Some interesting stuff but isn't this board for OU BB? Can't KU and MU fans discuss their teams on their own boards?

As opposed to what you've contributed to this thread?

The OP asked...

Is college basketball really down?

And then mentioned...

Watched Kansas today and they looked as strong as ever.

You're the first one to mention OU, thus derailing the original direction of the thread. I am a fan of neither KU or MU but simply asked Sawyer what he thought of a MU player that I wish we had. The discussion then turned to non OU journalists.

:ed

 

[Krugerfan52]

College basketball is down. Interest is down. This is the only place I go where anybody cares about college basketball. A few years ago I had friends that I could talk college hoops with, but now they are all Thunder fans.

As far as the teams go, I think it's a huge drop from just a few years ago. In 2008-2009 our team with Blake Griffin played that ridiculous UNC team in the Elite 8. That team had Lawson, Ellington, Danny Green, Hansbrough and Wright. All playing in the NBA. That year Villanova and Reymolds team was stacked and got knocked out by UNC before the title game.

Kentucky is down. The big 12 is down. The ACC is down. Duke is solid but winning because they are one of the few senior led teams with any talent. They arent even deep.

College basketball gets worse every year IMO.

 

[Sooner-Bred]

College basketball gets worse every year IMO.

I disagree.

Remember how good college basketball was last season?

Kentucky was absolutely dominant. One of the best and most talented teams in college basketball history.

UNC was pre-season number 1, and had one of the most talented teams they'd had in a while.

Syracuse was ranked number 1 for a short time, and if they hadn't lost Fab Melo for the tourney, probably would have gone to the final four.

Louisville was very solid last season, upsetting 1-seed Michigan State on their way to the final four.

Ohio State and Kansas were both great last season, and KU put together a great run before losing to Kentucky.

Florida was very deep and very talented.

Etc, etc, etc.....

College basketball is just like any other college sport, it has its ups and downs.

Last year was a big-time "up' for basketball, and this year is a little down.

Next year will be another great year for basketball as well.

 

[steverocks35]

I disagree.

Remember how good college basketball was last season?

Kentucky was absolutely dominant. One of the best and most talented teams in college basketball history.

UNC was pre-season number 1, and had one of the most talented teams they'd had in a while.

Syracuse was ranked number 1 for a short time, and if they hadn't lost Fab Melo for the tourney, probably would have gone to the final four.

Louisville was very solid last season, upsetting 1-seed Michigan State on their way to the final four.

Ohio State and Kansas were both great last season, and KU put together a great run before losing to Kentucky.

Florida was very deep and very talented.

Etc, etc, etc.....

College basketball is just like any other college sport, it has its ups and downs.

Last year was a big-time "up' for basketball, and this year is a little down.

Next year will be another great year for basketball as well.

College basketball is terrible when one-and-done talent is concentrated in 5-6 teams.

 

[suncoastsooner]

College football has had more parity develop over the last 15 years. College basketball has been the opposite with the one and done talent.

 

[jmizzy4ou]

Has anyone researched the attendance numbers??? I know the 1 and done scenario has taken some casual fans interest. One of the joys of watching college sports, IMO is watching young players develop at a program over the course of 2 to 4 yrs. The one and done hurts that aspect some.

I use to watch games on ESPN yrs ago. I always had interest in the Duke vs NC and other good ACC match ups, and the Big East games with top teams battling every few nights. Now I rarely watch any college games outside of OUrs. Just lost interest in the last few yrs, and I'm not sure why.

I prefer to watch NBA hoops if I have a choice. I use to love college hoops!!!! Maybe it's me and not the product, but the games just aren't as exciting to me anymore. I am one of the few fans who apppreciates good ball movement leading to an open shot, or a hard working defender as much as a highlight reel dunker.

So much of the game today at all levels is based on athleticism and exciting individual plays, which don't always = good basketball......

 

[Respectisearned]

I think much of it can be attributed to the one and done rule.. College basketball in my opinion is way more exciting and more fundamentally sound.

 

[Sooner-Bred]

College basketball is terrible when one-and-done talent is concentrated in 5-6 teams.

:ez-laugh:

3 of the 4 teams in the final four last year had ZERO one-and-done players.

Kansas had none.

Ohio State had none.

Louisville had none.

North Carolina had none.

Syracuse had none.

Should I go on?

These were the best teams in college basketball last season outside of Kentucky, and NONE of them had a SINGLE one-and-done player.

So no, the one and done rule isn't having the impact everyone here thinks it is.