Let's talk some College Basketball

College basketball season is FINALLY upon us. How about them Kentucky Wildcats? Looked good yesterday. And the Louisville Cardinals didn't look bad either. I think an exciting season is shaping up. Can't wait for March!

 

Ha! Not likely. There's more excitement in a pre-season college basketball game.

 

I'm a dinosaur who remembers when the Wizard of Westwood & his UCLA Bruins ruled college basketball. Now, they're lucky to reign over Los Angeles.

I think basketball (not just the college variety) lost me about the time it became OK to take 6-8 "steps" AFTER ceasing the dribble and BEFORE shooting/passing the ball.

 

I think you are both confusing College basketball with the NBA. I would agree the NBA is a joke. I can't remember when I last watched an NBA game. Actually I think I was a small child, and I remember Larry Bird being involved. College BB is a much different game. Excitement. The players actually love the game.

 

How about them Kentucky Wildcats. Up by 36 pts over GA State, and still climbing.

 

Now, I expect a comment like that from someone from Texas (historically a football state).

 

I do know they have Basketball in Texas. Remember, I went to highschool there, too. But here in Kentucky, kids are born already knowing how to dribble. Not many driveways around these parts without a "hoop".

 

Are you kidding? That's required viewing in school in these parts...

 

When i was a lot younger, i used to like College Basketball.

My favourite team was the UCLA Bruins.

Don't keep track of it anymore, but how are they doin nowadays?



snowbound

 

Ah yes, i do remember...


snowbound

 

Not a factor in the past few years. But as already stated, no one has (or probably ever will) come close to matching their run in (i think) the 60's.

 

From '64 thru '75, they dominated the college basketball world, winning 10 titles in 12 years (7 in a row). Five of those titles were with Lew Alcindor (Kareem - 3) & Bill Walton - 2, and probably woulda been a couple more had those guys been allowed to play as freshmen. The "dunk" was forbidden, too. Wooden also won with guard-dominated teams (Goodrich & Hazzard) in '64-'65 and with forward-dominated teams (Wicks & Rowe) in the early '70s. There was no denying the Wizard of Westwood's coaching skills, particularly his absolute insistence on "team" basketball. Alcindor & Walton easily could have won scoring titles, but they chose to win team titles instead. It was also no accident that so many talented players found the UCLA campus so attractive back then. There was a wealthy "sugar daddy" by the name of Sam (lived in San Diego, I believe) who made sure the players didn't lack for creature comforts when they were being recruited and during their playing tenures

The NCAA tournament was much different then, as well. The top-seeded teams got 1st round byes and needed to win 4 games to win the whole enchilada. Not that the 4-game format was any picnic, but a title winner today must "run the table" for 6 games - vastly increasing the odds of stubbing a toe in an "upset" game along the way. Finally, most teams back then played 26 regular season games and as many as 4 in the NCAA tournament, totaling 30 @ most. Financial considerations nowadays have added games to the schedule. Tournament finalists may have played 36-38 games by the time the season is done. Rules then also made it virtually impossible for a very player to leave early for the NBA. And the riches in pro ball were not even in the same universe as those today. Schools with the top talent could hope to have an uninterrupted run @ the title.

All of which is the long-winded way of saying that we will not see the likes of UCLA's domination again.

Last add - John Wooden, the quiet coach with the iron fist: Wooden inisted that his players keep their hair neatly trimmed, wear sports jackets/ties to games, etc. - all in the interest of thinking "team" before "self". One year Walton, always a bit of a non-conformist, decided he didn't need to cut his hair. Coach Wooden took him aside and said, "Bill, we've enjoyed having you; good luck with your future, wherever that lies." Walton, who frequently tells the story on himself nowadays, cut his hair the next day.

 

a little off topic . . but not much . . .

thank God for college sports!!!

pro sports is nothing but a beer bash for felonious fans and overpaid felonious players . . .

and our children, especially the under privileged are the 'victims'!!

 

Agreed.

 

a little off topic . . but not much . . .

thank God for college sports!!!

pro basketball is nothing but a beer bash for felonious fans and overpaid felonious players . . .

and our children, especially the under privileged are the 'victims'!!

 

The Kentucky Wildcats lost a thriller Saturday to NC. It will only make them stronger. Better to be peaking in March than in November.