College Basketball is just not fun anymore
Mar 22, 2024 9:03:40 GMT -5
Tony, notomo, and 5 more like this
Post by MikeC on Mar 22, 2024 9:03:40 GMT -5
So, I was watching some March Madness yesterday, and it hit me: I really don't enjoy the entire system of college hoops anymore.
A lot goes into that feeling...I mean, I still enjoy watching the action, don't get me wrong.
But always in the back of my mind is "I wonder how much NIL money this guy is making". Or "I wonder which 'small school' this guy transferred in from.
Sure, there can always be upsets (way to go, Oakland!), but the days of a team at a mid or low major level being able to build a team over several years, develop their players, and make a serious run when those Frosh and Sophomores mature into Juniors and Seniors are gone...unless you have deep enough pockets to pay them through their years of service at your small school. Even then, what's to prevent Big State U who needs a player because their stud Frosh just went to the NBA, from coming along and plucking your star away with promises of way more money...
Between that, and wondering which players from a conference like the MAAC is going to be "called up" into a P6 conference, it's taken a lot away from a sport which I truly used to enjoy.
It makes me sad.
Makes me long for the "good old days", which as a younger man at the time, I didn't even realize were so good. The days when you could watch a player, even on another MAAC team, develop from barely playing as a skinny baby-faced frosh to becoming all-MAAC as an upper classman (with great facial hair!). That sort of thing was taken as a given, not even 10 years ago.
Sure, we can grab some good players from the portal, but that feels more like mercenaries. And having to constantly concern yourself over who's entering the portal and which players off this year's team will not be here next year...it's just awful.
Shame on the NCAA for not seeing this coming years ago, and doing what they could to prevent or at least ease some of this. Of course, the NCAA in general could probably care less about mid and low majors, save for "let's make sure we have a few of them in the big dance, because people sure do love the underdog". But in reality, they have stacked the deck against any non preferred school ever being able to truly compete or even build something over a player's 4 year collegiate career.
I guess we've sort of known for years that NCAA will always side with elites over little guys, that's not new.
And I don't in any way at all blame the players...this is America, go out and earn what you can. It's not even all about the money. I have no problem, necessarily, with the players getting paid.
But this transfer portal crap is (in my mind) just a way to ensure that Big State U has constant advantages. They snuck this crap in during COVID, but of course never adjusted, and probably never will. This was their response to players leaving P6 schools early for the NBA. Now, when Duke loses their stud sophomore PG to the NBA, they just go shopping and pluck whichever PG they want from a lower level school. It's disgusting and unfair, and in my opinion, has ruined college hoops.
Sorry for the rant, but I've felt this way for a few years now, Siena's awful last few seasons aside.
By the way, Carm seems like a good guy and I wish him nothing but the best. Thanks for the years of service, and in my mind, he'll always be a part of the Siena Family. Sad to see him go out like this, hope he lands on his feet.
I also hope Siena can find a new coach who can navigate this new landscape of college hoops, and at least give us some hope that Siena can compete again on the big national stage. Because to me, that was always my wish for Siena Hoops. Although it's obvious the powers that be at Siena don't see it that way, which is also part of the problem here.
A lot goes into that feeling...I mean, I still enjoy watching the action, don't get me wrong.
But always in the back of my mind is "I wonder how much NIL money this guy is making". Or "I wonder which 'small school' this guy transferred in from.
Sure, there can always be upsets (way to go, Oakland!), but the days of a team at a mid or low major level being able to build a team over several years, develop their players, and make a serious run when those Frosh and Sophomores mature into Juniors and Seniors are gone...unless you have deep enough pockets to pay them through their years of service at your small school. Even then, what's to prevent Big State U who needs a player because their stud Frosh just went to the NBA, from coming along and plucking your star away with promises of way more money...
Between that, and wondering which players from a conference like the MAAC is going to be "called up" into a P6 conference, it's taken a lot away from a sport which I truly used to enjoy.
It makes me sad.
Makes me long for the "good old days", which as a younger man at the time, I didn't even realize were so good. The days when you could watch a player, even on another MAAC team, develop from barely playing as a skinny baby-faced frosh to becoming all-MAAC as an upper classman (with great facial hair!). That sort of thing was taken as a given, not even 10 years ago.
Sure, we can grab some good players from the portal, but that feels more like mercenaries. And having to constantly concern yourself over who's entering the portal and which players off this year's team will not be here next year...it's just awful.
Shame on the NCAA for not seeing this coming years ago, and doing what they could to prevent or at least ease some of this. Of course, the NCAA in general could probably care less about mid and low majors, save for "let's make sure we have a few of them in the big dance, because people sure do love the underdog". But in reality, they have stacked the deck against any non preferred school ever being able to truly compete or even build something over a player's 4 year collegiate career.
I guess we've sort of known for years that NCAA will always side with elites over little guys, that's not new.
And I don't in any way at all blame the players...this is America, go out and earn what you can. It's not even all about the money. I have no problem, necessarily, with the players getting paid.
But this transfer portal crap is (in my mind) just a way to ensure that Big State U has constant advantages. They snuck this crap in during COVID, but of course never adjusted, and probably never will. This was their response to players leaving P6 schools early for the NBA. Now, when Duke loses their stud sophomore PG to the NBA, they just go shopping and pluck whichever PG they want from a lower level school. It's disgusting and unfair, and in my opinion, has ruined college hoops.
Sorry for the rant, but I've felt this way for a few years now, Siena's awful last few seasons aside.
By the way, Carm seems like a good guy and I wish him nothing but the best. Thanks for the years of service, and in my mind, he'll always be a part of the Siena Family. Sad to see him go out like this, hope he lands on his feet.
I also hope Siena can find a new coach who can navigate this new landscape of college hoops, and at least give us some hope that Siena can compete again on the big national stage. Because to me, that was always my wish for Siena Hoops. Although it's obvious the powers that be at Siena don't see it that way, which is also part of the problem here.
