Two Articles with Opposite Points of View

[MsProudSooner]

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/2019/03/31/march-madness-michigan-state-experience-duke/3328399002/

https://ftw.usatoday.com/2019/03/ncaa-tournament-duke-loses-to-michigan-state-zion-williamson

I agree with the first article.

 

[sheepdogs1]

Second article was written by someone who was "it's all about him" which is in contrast to the other story. He belittles those who accomplished a goal while at the same time crying about the team which did not. He also makes it sound like the tournament revolves around TV ratings.

 

[WichitaSooner]

The second one seems like nothing more than an attempt to state a controversial view and get readers to react. As for the first article, I always think it is silly to come to sweeping conclusions based on one game. When a young team loses, people always point to experience as the reason why, but no one mentioned experience when two teams that relied heavily on upperclassmen missed layups to lose to Duke in their two previous games.

Regardless, I love this Final Four. Three great defensive teams, and an Auburn team that is fun to watch. As much as people say they like upsets in the tournament, it is no coincidence that the Elite 8 was arguably the best ever this season, because it was full of great teams. Upsets are fun to watch the first couple days of the tourney, but when those teams advance to the Elite 8 or beyond, it usually ends up resulting in a lopsided game when they come back to earth.

 

[thebigabd]

30-6
32-6
30-9
33-3

All 4 schools from P5 conferences.
All 4 schools with 30 wins
No mid-majors

Not sure what the problem is... This kind of Final Four is actually good for the sport. I ***** about how the same 5-6 teams compete for a national title in football and basketball every year, and now someone else MAY have a chance at something incredible if Michigan State doesn't win it. If MSU wins it, they are on the list of teams that seem to win it regularly.

 

[Zimwillett]

Aside from the fact that it's blatant clickbait, the second article is basically the perspective I'd expect to hear from your average caller to the Mike Francesa show. The type of "fan" who will watch Duke vs. UNC the week ESPN hypes it up, and nothing else until the tournament starts.

But for the the fans who follow it and/or root for a specific team, this tournament is the embodiment of why it's so great. In the last twenty years, the Final Four has included teams as diverse and non-traditional as Texas Tech, Auburn, Loyola-Chicago, South Carolina, Oregon, Wichita State, Butler, VCU, Memphis, George Mason, etc., etc., etc. Get in, get hot, win four games, and your team can make a Final Four. There's little else like it in American sport.

By the way, if you want to watch basketball in which all the best players gravitate to one team and all but assure themselves of a title and where true postseason upsets are vanishingly rare, there is definitely a league for you, and Zion will be playing in it in a few months.

 

[sheepdogs1]

Aside from the fact that it's blatant clickbait, the second article is basically the perspective I'd expect to hear from your average caller to the Mike Francesa show. The type of "fan" who will watch Duke vs. UNC the week ESPN hypes it up, and nothing else until the tournament starts.

But for the the fans who follow it and/or root for a specific team, this tournament is the embodiment of why it's so great. In the last twenty years, the Final Four has included teams as diverse and non-traditional as Texas Tech, Auburn, Loyola-Chicago, South Carolina, Oregon, Wichita State, Butler, VCU, Memphis, George Mason, etc., etc., etc. Get in, get hot, win four games, and your team can make a Final Four. There's little else like it in American sport.

By the way, if you want to watch basketball in which all the best players gravitate to one team and all but assure themselves of a title and where true postseason upsets are vanishingly rare, there is definitely a league for you, and Zion will be playing in it in a few months.

If the person who wrote the "clickbait" piece read your take he should feel very afraid and impudent, to a degree. Well done.

 

[SoonerTraveler]

The second article is just silly, but that is quite normal for today's journalism. Duke's departure from the stage is fine. No curtain call is needed.

I look forward to a fantastic Final-4 without Kansas, North Carolina and Kentucky. Thank you Auburn. Thank you Coach Bruce Pearl. Your team is fun to watch.

Check out these photos:
https://ftw.usatoday.com/2019/03/auburn-kentucky-elite-8-bruce-pearl-going-nuts

That photographer took some classic shots right there.

 

[Salt City Sooner]

30-6
32-6
30-9
33-3

All 4 schools from P5 conferences.
All 4 schools with 30 wins
No mid-majors

Not sure what the problem is... This kind of Final Four is actually good for the sport. I ***** about how the same 5-6 teams compete for a national title in football and basketball every year, and now someone else MAY have a chance at something incredible if Michigan State doesn't win it. If MSU wins it, they are on the list of teams that seem to win it regularly.

It’s actually been a while. They’ve certainly advanced to their share of Final 4’s, but believe it or not, they haven’t won the whole ball of wax since 2000.

 

[AdaSooner]

. The second article is just silly, but that is quite normal for today's journalism. Duke's departure from the stage is fine. No curtain call is needed.

I look forward to a fantastic Final-4 without Kansas, North Carolina and Kentucky. Thank you Auburn. Thank you Coach Bruce Pearl. Your team is fun to watch.

Check out these photos:
https://ftw.usatoday.com/2019/03/auburn-kentucky-elite-8-bruce-pearl-going-nuts

That photographer took some classic shots right there.

My thoughts exactly, Traveler! The games we saw this weekend were a prime example of college basketball at its best. If the writer of the second article actually believes the average fan gives a rat’s rear end that Duke, UNC, Kansas and Kentucky will be watching the FF from the sidelines this season, he has lost touch with reality.

These games are why the NCAA tournament is must watch television every year. Teams from 1-68 have a fighting chance. If the blue blood schools won every game, why would anyone want to watch?

 

[WaymanFan]

These games are why the NCAA tournament is must watch television every year. Teams from 1-68 have a fighting chance. If the blue blood schools won every game, why would anyone want to watch?

Exactly. It would be like Alabama and Clemson not making the playoffs next season and someone writing that it was bad for college football. It would be nauseating to read such an article. The viewers got to see Duke lose a heartbreaker Sunday...and that was far more exhilarating for most of college hoops fans...bet every last one of them will be watching the Final Four as well.

 

[Eielson]

Gonzaga was the dagger for me; not the blue bloods. I want to see Few win a title.

 

[coolm]

everyone will redefine their cache system to support whatever view they favor ... underdog, favorite, club member, outsider. most usually look for underdog perspectives because it's a high motivator and elicits extremely high payoffs with little real investment loss potential. whatever trips your trigger.

 

[vbdad]

The games were a blast to watch this weekend. It is great to see new teams have a chance to make the last weekend.

Traveler you said ' look forward to a fantastic Final-4 without Kansas, North Carolina and Kentucky. Thank you Auburn. Thank you Coach Bruce Pearl. Your team is fun to watch.'

I agree that they are a very fun team to watch and was pleased they beat Kentucky. However I won't thank a coach who has had to show cause at least once to be allowed to coach again and his current staff has two guys that have pleaded guilty in the shoe scandal. I'm done rewarding guys that who either blatantly cheat or are having guys do very shady things to attract players. I hope UVA takes them down big on Saturday.

 

[WichitaSooner]

The games were a blast to watch this weekend. It is great to see new teams have a chance to make the last weekend.

Traveler you said ' look forward to a fantastic Final-4 without Kansas, North Carolina and Kentucky. Thank you Auburn. Thank you Coach Bruce Pearl. Your team is fun to watch.'

I agree that they are a very fun team to watch and was pleased they beat Kentucky. However I won't thank a coach who has had to show cause at least once to be allowed to coach again and his current staff has two guys that have pleaded guilty in the shoe scandal. I'm done rewarding guys that who either blatantly cheat or are having guys do very shady things to attract players. I hope UVA takes them down big on Saturday.

Agree completely regarding Pearl. In addition to the scandals, dude is an attention seeker, and he acts like a complete bully during games with his nonstop scowling at the refs. I hope Virginia smokes them, even though Auburn plays a fun style and I like most of their players.

 

[SoonerTraveler]

I hear y'all on Bruce Pearl. I have never liked his overbearing persona. Even so, beating Kansas, North Carolina and Kentucky (back-to-back-to-back) is quite the accomplishment. The Auburn team and its coach deserve congratulations for that, IMHO.

Also, I am under no delusions (nor are any of you) that the coaches at Kansas, North Carolina and Kentucky are "law abiding citizens" on the recruiting trail. Heck, I have read that some people think that Coach K outbid Bill Self to get Zion on his team. Apparently, those "blue blood" coaches hide their tracks better; or more likely, the NCAA turns a blind eye toward certain programs and coaches. Politics is ingrained in the human condition.

In any event, I found myself cheering-on the Auburn team in those games vs. the Blue Bloods and their vainglorious coaches, especially North Carolina and Kentucky. When I think of arrogant, conceited and egotistical, the coaches at Kentucky and North Carolina come to mind. But, to their credit, neither has shown up at a women's basketball game without a shirt on, flapping their man-boobs around ...

http://2f13yq12csmv2yraq925m73i-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/bruce-pearl.jpg

 

[vbdad]

Agree with it all Traveler.

Zion's family has moved to Durham which is certainly a KU trick with families showing up in Lawrence. Of course I'm still mad about the ticket scandal that was used to buy players but the DA and judge didn't want to know who and why the ticket office was doing what it was.

 

[Eielson]

Are there any highly successful NCAA coaches that aren't cheating? It's like the steroid era in baseball.

 

[WichitaSooner]

Are there any highly successful NCAA coaches that aren't cheating? It's like the steroid era in baseball.

One who comes to mind is a guy named Kruger. Lon, I believe it is. Took a team to a FF three years ago, the second of his career, and has never had a hint of a scandal. And in this year's FF, Bennett and Izzo are guys who have had tons of sustained success and I don't recall any rumors about them.

 

[BoulderSooner]

One who comes to mind is a guy named Kruger. Lon, I believe it is. Took a team to a FF three years ago, the second of his career, and has never had a hint of a scandal. And in this year's FF, Bennett and Izzo are guys who have had tons of sustained success and I don't recall any rumors about them.

this

 

[Eielson]

And in this year's FF, Bennett and Izzo are guys who have had tons of sustained success and I don't recall any rumors about them.

Izzo is one of the only top 10 coaches I think MIGHT be clean, but I have my doubts even with him. When all the dust is settled (if it ever is), Few is the only one I'd bet on being clean, and that's just me saying >50%.