AP Photo/Chris Carlson
This year’s NCAA Tournament is missing something.
There are eight heavyweights of college basketball in the Elite 8 — Kentucky, Baylor, Louisville, Florida, Syracuse, Ohio State, North Carolina and Kansas. We don’t have a VCU or Butler in this year’s remaining field. So, in theory, you’d think that would lead to a more exciting tournament.
We want to see the best teams possible, dueling it out for the title … right?
Is it because teams are actually playing defense nowadays? Fans seem to get bored when the scores are low, and subconsciously, I thought the 102-90 final in last night’s Kentucky/Indiana game was one of the best games I’ve seen yet in this year’s Big Dance. Was I so enthralled because the game was defensively-challenged?
Great stat from last night via @: In the entire 2002 NCAA tourney, two teams won scoring 66 points or less. This year, 23 times
— Stewart Mandel
Or is it because — and I think this is the true problem — there hasn’t been a single buzzer-beater yet? Not even one! Sure, there’s been no shortage of games that have gone down to the wire, and that should be enough to satisfy us. But there is a moment of disappointment every time one of those prayers falls unanswered.
So is that what we need to make this a more interesting tournament?
Or is it the absence of famously-rambunctious play-by-play announcer Gus Johnson? There is a noted addition to big games when the tv analysts are good at what they do, and their job is to add something to the game. Is Verne Lundquist really adding anything to the game? Does he ever?
The studio analysts aren’t much better, on the whole. We watch Charles Barkley to see if he says anything thoroughly ridiculous, but he brings about as much good analysis to the table as Lee Corso does during college football season’s College Gameday shows.
So to you, my loyal readers, I ask: are you still enthralled by this year’s tournament? And if so (or not), what is the reason?
I’m willing to bet most of those who are still tuned in are only excited by the thought of their bracket still being in one piece (or their college is one of the eight teams remaining). Leave me a comment below and weigh in!
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Completely agree.
- Lower scoring
- NBA Announcers (underrated factor in this)
- Every game can be watched (something exciting about following the score of an upset in the making just dying that you can’t see it)
- no buzzer-beaters
- First Four/Ridiculously weak bubble
-Kendall Marshall’s injury potentially derailing a UNC/UK rematch.
All of these have made this tournament a little disappointing if you ask me. You took the words out of my mouth on this one man.
I caught myself yawning at the Georgia Dome last night. It was a long day, no doubt, but I was having serious trouble getting into the games in front of me.
I am hoping that this is the year that UK brings home #8
I truly don’t see anyone standing in their way the rest of the tournament. They’ll easily take care of Baylor tomorrow.
It will be an interesting game. The main difference is in mindset. UK seems to have the killer instinct and focus that I haven’t seen from Baylor yet
Yep, but Baylor is a physical team. Their only hope is to play very aggressive defense and capitalize on that.
I am confident that UK will prevail. Also wanted to say that junior high schools (loserville) should NOT be in a COLLEGIATE tournament.
I am still watching. Enthralled, not so sure. Watching because an ACC team is still alive (though not sure how much longer), and because I am a big fan of the tournament regardless.
I think we’ll never lose our passion for the tournament completely, because we’re fans of college basketball. Like you said though, not so sure we’re enthralled by it this time around. Hopefully, it’s just a one-year thing.
Having an announcer like fat boy slim Sir Charles is a mistake. I thought Shaka Smart did a pretty good job though. Definitely miss Gus Johnson. In general, the games have been flat. That Tarheels/Ohio game was tense, but that’s the only game that has stood out to me thus far.
The Ohio/UNC game has been the popular favorite of this tournament so far, but that may be the problem — there’s usually at least some debate on which game is best. This year, people can only think of one example.
this is so true, i do think its surprising though because its marquee programs that are left dancing right now. i think the bracket thing is kinda ruining the fun for people once they are statistically eliminated from winning they stop caring as much.
Very true. I wish people would go a year without filling out a bracket. I did it in each of the three years before this one, and it’s so liberating.
I’m not much of a college fan, but like the “final four.” Do you like Kentucky or Louisville or?? Does the state have any other chances to take it all…haha!
Yeah, the two Kentucky teams seem to interest some people, but I prefer to see matchups that never happen. This one has already happened once this year!