B1G/NCAA basketball

[The Oracle]

If they fixed the reffing it would be just my favorite thing ever. In almost every way it's exactly what it should be.

This is what I've never understood. Is there a mandate by the B1G that makes them be shitty? "B1G" refs ref other conferences too and it seems the games are much better officiated. Who knows, maybe I just don't watch as close.

[hack]

I don't know but it drives me fucking nuts. In the NBA too. You need someone in the commissioner's chair that actually loves the sport and wants it to thrive.

[Hannibal]

Along these lines, I was watching the Fab Five game against MSU from 1993, and it's striking how much tighter the officiating was back then than it is now.

[lineygoblue]

I used to love college basketball. I was almost as big a fan of basketball as I am for football. I'd line up my TV schedule for the weekend, and plan my day around watching basketball. The officiating has ruined it for me. I watch bits and pieces of games nowadays, .. mostly toward the end, because that's when most games are decided anyway.

I'm tired of officials who play to the crowd and make themselves the object of attention. I'd daresay that NOBODY plunked down money for a ticket, or tuned on the TV to watch some idiot officiate. Officials are there to enforce the rules, and that's IT. No official should ever put themselves in a position to decide the outcome of the game.

sorry...

//officiating rant

[Dr. Strangelove]

Penn State is indifferent towards the success of its bball program. I get the sense a lot of their alums genuinely don't care. And yeah, they are poorly situated to draw in big crowds to a midweek night game.

[WM Wolverine]

Lots of good basketball talent from Philly, Pennsylvania and PSU generally loses that talent to Villanova, Temple, Pitt, etc. Being in the middle of nowhere I'm sure hurt but that program should be better than they've been, probably lots better.

[The Oracle]

Maybe they'll get a recruiting boost after tonight...

[WM Wolverine]

Conference looking like a 2-team race at this moment, Sparty & M look a level better than anyone else, including Iowa though I don't think I've seen Iowa at their best.

[The Oracle]

Do you people wanna rethink your position on Wisky? Doubt it, but you should.

[entropy]

I'm starting to think the BIG isn't that good.. not bad, but not as good as advertised.

[iam416]

I agree with Entropy, and that necessarily involves downgrading Wisky.

I think this year's version of the B10 is considerably less than last year's. Last year I saw 4 teams that could win the national title. This year I'm not sure I see any.

[Dr. Strangelove]

Yeah, unfortunately it's starting to look that way.

Though to be fair, there's less than a handful of teams that have started to separate themselves, IMO. Arizona, Syracuse, and Kansas, if you haven't seen them lately, has started to really look strong. I just can't put too much faith in Wichita State...and Florida keeps winning but the SEC is just f'n awful. They're winning close games against shitball teams like Bama and Auburn

[Dr. Strangelove]

Only league that one could argue is better than the Big10 is the Big12

[iam416]

It's not an impressive year for hoops. It's a great year to be a "good" team because there isn't any team out there that would really scare you.

I guess in that regard, M and MSU could win the national title, I just don't think of them as being on the level typically associated with national title contenders. This year has a very UConn-Butler feel to it.

[The Oracle]

I'm starting to think the BIG isn't that good.. not bad, but not as good as advertised.

If you bottom dwellers would know your role, things would be much more interesting!