25 Reasons Why College Basketball Is Better Than The NBA
College basketball season officially tipped off this past Friday, but tonight marks the first time we'll see Top-10 teams (Kentucky vs. Michigan State, Kansas vs. Duke) square off. To celebrate, we thought we'd make a list of 25 reasons why college hoops is so much better than the NBA.
Without further ado:
25. Traveling is actually called: Pretty self-explanatory.
24.Each Game Matters: With about 50 less games than the NBA, the weight of each game is felt and one result can change a season. The tournament is a tense one and done competition, very unlike the NBA playoffs, and seeding is extremely important, so teams can't afford to take regular season games off.
23. Live Student Bands: Nothing distinguishes a college game from an NBA matchup more than a college band playing during timeouts for thousands of passionate fans. When they heckle opponents during free throws, it's thoroughly entertaining.
22. Historic Venues: Hinkle Fieldhouse,“The Barn,” Rupp Arena, Assembly Hall. These venues, and many others, ooze history and play host to crowds that continually influence games unlike those found in the NBA's cookie cutter arenas.
21. They are Just Kids: They don't play for money like in the NBA. These kids play for pride, glory, and the love of the game, and they leave everything they've got on the court.
20. True Rivalries: Rivalries come and go in the NBA, but in college basketball they span generations without fading. The most relevant example? The rivalry that exists between the previous two national champions:
19. Midnight Madness: Packing a gymnasium full of college students, alumni, and crazy fans who watch their team scrimmage, hold dunk contests and dance-offs in anticipation of the upcoming season -- all at midnight -- what’s not to love?
18. The Pageantry: Mascots, songs, passion, and traditions -- college basketball has it all. Exhibit A: Kansas. Three words: Rock. Chalk. Jayhawk.
17. Coach K's Hair: The man is ageless -- for thirty years he's rocked the same head of hair in all its glory.
16. Selection Sunday: Fans, and even teams themselves across the country wait to hear which programs have earned an invitation to the Big Dance. Many teams don't know in advance if they'll even be playing, let alone where and who their opponent will be. College basketball is thrilling even outside of game play:
15. Conference Tournaments: Named “Championship Week" by ESPN -- the week where conference bragging rights are on the line, automatic bids are punched, and Selection Sunday occurs following their conclusion. Is there a better time in sports?
14. No Pompous Owners: College teams do not answer to rich, arrogant owners. And in the NCAA, there is no reward for losing like in the NBA. Check out Mark Cuban and be thankful for athletics directors.
13. Coaches Matter: Example: Brad Stevens. At Butler, he was an underdog coach with a growing legend. Now he's in the NBA and he’s just another guy coaching a team.
12. Pure Defense: Teams like Wisconsin actually play defense, so basketball purists can rejoice.
11. Storming The Court: Nothing embodies the pandemonium of a big upset win more than storming the court, a uniquely college tradition.
10. Dick Vitale: Is he crazy? Sure. Is his voice totally ridiculous? Yes, but you have to admit that he is synonymous with college ball and brings nothing but excitement and relentless enthusiasm and passion to the sport.
9. Duke vs. North Carolina: The history of this game is well-documented, and basketball fans know the countless faces that have battled it out between these two teams. The campuses are less than ten miles apart; these two schools truly are brothers in an eternal battle for college basketball supremacy. These two teams have combined for nine NCAA Championships.
8. Cinderella Stories: Every year it seems a non-power conference team goes on an improbable run through the NCAA tournament. In the process they gain millions of fans who previously couldn’t point out the university on a map. Examples in recent years are George Mason, VCU, Butler, Florida Gulf Coast - who got these fans pretty excited:
7. Brackets: Printing and filling out brackets, predicting upsets, and then comparing those brackets with random people holding pens and highlighters at bars is a yearly tradition. Is there a better time to be at a bar than 11:00 am in March? Even the President fills out a bracket, and on ESPN no less:
6. Jimmy V: Every year we are brought to tears re-watching the speech Jimmy Valvano gave at the 1993 ESPYs, eight weeks before his death. College basketball helps raise awareness for cancer research during its annual "Jimmy V Week," holding numerous big games during the celebration of Valvano’s life and legacy:
5. Student Sections: Many schools have loyal and creative student sections. Check out Michigan State’s intimidating “Izzone,” appropriately named after their legendary coach:
4. The Madness: Nothing captivates the imagination of sports fans quite like March Madness, the greatest event in sports. Everyone’s a genius until their bracket is busted.
3. Upsets, Baby: In the NBA better teams lose games but there are no truly incomprehensible and feverous upsets that end seasons like there are every season in college basketball. Sports fans love underdogs, and they always find a way to shine at this level:
2. Buzzer-Beaters: Sure, the NBA has buzzer-beaters, but they don't command the same level of excitement because wins and losses are less heartbreaking, and pros are supposed to make them. Shots at the buzzer in college basketball are unmatched:
1. Cutting Down The Net: The claiming of the ultimate prize in college basketball involves a ladder, scissors, and a whole lot of happiness. Watch Kevin Ware perform the ultimate honor from last season:
