NCAA vs. NBA?

by user Ray

I consider myself a big fan of college hoops and a lukewarm fan of NBA. Needless to say, March is my favorite time of year. While the NBA has bigger, faster, and more skilled players, I have thought for the past couple of years that NCAA games were far better. After this year's tournament, those thoughts have just been solidified.

The emotion and energy that those kids display on the court in the name of their school is just inspirational. It's been said before but I'll say it again, NBA players don't seem to play as much defense and their FG% also seems to suffer after college. Too much money burning a hole in their pockets.

There was another post on this site calling the 2006 tournament as possibly the best ever and I'm starting to agree while watching UCONN battling George Mason in OT as I write this. The Sweet 16 round was ridiculous as we saw UCLA's stunning comeback against the Zags and who can forget Paulino's 3-pointer over WVU as time expired. Not to be outdone, the very next day we saw 2 OT games deciding who gets to the Elite 8.

Moreover, the new NBA age limit will also help make the college game better by keeping some phenoms in school for a little longer.

My point is that NCAA basketball is alive and well and I feel that the NBA is losing its luster. Does anybody else agree or disagree?

Date

Sun 03/26/06, 2:01 pm EST <pageTools></pageTools>

Awrigh01All-Star

1372 days ago

Score 1

NCAA. Being from New York, the NBA has been dead for awhile, the New York Knicks are the worst run professional sports team in the nation. I also stuggle with the thug image that the NBA has cultivated in the post-Jordon era.

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PeanMajor Leaguer

1372 days ago

Score 0

Ray, I couldn't agree more...Rudy Gay is the poster child for this...he will make millions next year as a top pick mailing in games every night

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Patrickburke1980All-American

1372 days ago

Score 0

i am not at all into NCAA or NBA. however, if george mason makes it to the final I will definitely watch and hope they win.

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Anonymous Fanatic #1

1372 days ago

Score 2

NCAA is ten times better than the NBA, College hoops is a team game while the NBA is 5 one on one games

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Wtt02005Varsity

1372 days ago

Score -1

At least they play defense in the NBA. In college, everyone seems to be able to hit the 3 no problem. Can't forget that game in which Deron Williams rallied his Illinois team from a 14 point deficit against Arizona. Play some defense.

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EnyboDiv-I Stud

1372 days ago

Score 2

What, no defense in college? Are you crazy? I must have imagined that blocked 3 pointer than in the LSU/Texas game. Deron Williams was one of the best players in the game last year. Not only that but Illinois had 3 gaurds who could all hit from downtown which made it near impossible to stop defend the 3. I can tell you this though, no matter how much you hate Reddick and Morrison, you will never see an NBA player get that emotional about losing in the playoffs.

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JwhalenPee Wee

1372 days ago

Score -1

anyone who thinks the nba is more entertaining than college needs their head examined

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Ray agmJV Squad

1371 days ago

Score 0

i have to agree with Enybo...college players display tenacious D, especially on the perimeter due to the higher number of pure shooters in college.

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Hercher

1368 days ago

Score 1

I think it is overly facile to say that nobody plays defense in the NBA. In fact, FG% goes down because the defense is so much better: remember, only a small handful of college players make it to the NBA. It is similar to the transition from high school to college. Good players can dominate on one level, then find their weaknesses exposed on the next.

The new age limit will improve both the college game and the NBA for the same reason. Guys who used to skip college will now play at least one year there. So the colleges will the Kobes, Garnetts, and Lebrons for a year; additionally, players like Martell Webster and Sebastian Telfair will probably play multiple years in college because after one year, they may not be draftable. So the colleges will get the most talented youngsters, and season them up for at least one year for the NBA. Both NCAA and NBA benefit.

Finally, the debate about which is better, NCAA or NBA, is specious at best. Clearly, the athletes are better and more talented in the NBA, and the game doesn't bog down so much in the last minute with intentional fouls. However, the NCAA has its own magic and excitement, partly because the players don't constantly act like such unlikable, egotistical, spoiled, rich thugs

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