Is it just me or has the men’s NCAA basketball tournament been a big snoozer this year? There are no truly memorable games or moments (Gonzaga’s buzzer-beater was cool, but nowhere near a Tivo moment), the seeds have held up (which means no Cinderella) and there have been too many blowouts. If it was a fish, you’d throw it back.
The biggest reason for all this is the lack of stars in the game. Any underclassman worth his salt turns pro after his freshman or sophomore year and there are no compelling players to either root for or against. It was always fun to cheer against Christian Laettener and Duke. Now, watching Duke fall meekly to Villanova in the Sweet 16 elicits a no-big whoop. The TV ratings are anemic and I sense America just isn’t that into this event any more.
That’s my take — are you enjoying this tournament?
on Mar 27th, 2009 at 9:13 AM
I only saw the first half of the Memphis and Missouri game last night: It was not boring.
on Mar 27th, 2009 at 10:21 AM
Couldn’t care less – I’ve never followed it.
on Mar 27th, 2009 at 3:49 PM
watched the games last night, and the missouri-memphis game was far from boring. I think it was one of the better games of the tournament so far.
on Mar 27th, 2009 at 4:14 PM
I think that there should be a tougher stance on student-athletes leaving college early. Athletes bring money to the University, but they also get a crapload of perks. There are so many people who would give so much to get the full ride and other perks (i.e. free books- which they do have to return, money for breaks, etc) just to get the education. To me, when athletes leave early, it is a slap in the face to that system. It has ruined college sports in general.
on Mar 27th, 2009 at 8:15 PM
I think the college athletes should be required to wear speedo bikinis in all sports, especially basketball. I never understand why they allow those players to wear such baggy shorts that hang down below their knees! If they won’t wear tighter uniforms like the 70s and 80s, before the fab-5 came along at U Michigan, then they should be required to wear TIGHT speedo bikinis and let their thingees poke out during breaks! Now THAT would be entertaining, especially with those HOT HUNG BLACK MEN, not boys, playing the games. Thank you.
on Mar 27th, 2009 at 11:15 PM
Let me put it this way. Tonight I turned the games on at 6 and by 8 I was watching the Division II Women’s basketball championship game. And it was better than any game I’ve seen during this entire tournament, men or women.
I’m like you. There’s no madness anymore. Big East, Big 12, Big 10, blah blah blah. All teams look alike and play alike. Coaches do nothing but yell at the officials. The officials have let the game become more like football. And the announcers/broadcasters have turned it into American Idol.
I will follow it . . . just not madly.
on Mar 27th, 2009 at 11:20 PM
Yes, Ken, 3 of the 4 games tonight were blowouts. Only MSU-Kansas had any drama. This tourney continues to stink.
on Mar 28th, 2009 at 8:43 PM
Hope you watched Nova-Pitt, then.
on Mar 29th, 2009 at 10:12 AM
Well, I am sooo sick of the same teams in it every friggin year… The Villanova-Pitt game was great but other than that, sick of all the same ole same oles…. UNC? Duke? Kansas? Mich St? UCOnn? Who cares!
on Mar 29th, 2009 at 3:47 PM
Steve and Scott, Buzinski doesn’t care about Mizzou and Memphis, because they aren’t on one of the coasts. If the game had gone into triple overtime he still wouldn’t have thought it was interesting. This site is so damned east coast/west coast oriented it makes me sick.
on Mar 29th, 2009 at 8:07 PM
I posted about this ridiculous complaint in the forums. Either you want to watch high-level basketball or you want a freak show. Apparently, most people want the freak show.
on Mar 29th, 2009 at 9:34 PM
To consider a team that surprises everyone, including themselves, and goes farther than they or anyone else would have expected, a freak show is just a sign of…well, some combination of any of these: heartlessness, arrogance, snobbery…
on Mar 29th, 2009 at 10:20 PM
“Steve and Scott, Buzinski doesn’t care about Mizzou and Memphis, because they aren’t on one of the coasts.”
I love the Indy Colts, and last I checked don’t think they played near an ocean.
I did not find the Memphis-Mizzou game compelling. Sloppy is more like it, with neither team able to hit a free throw to save its life.
We have had 60 tournament games and only one (Villanova-Pitt) that anyone will remember in a week.
on Mar 29th, 2009 at 11:14 PM
Joe, I loved to watch Davidson come within a hair’s breadth of the Final Four. But the tournament is not boring when there are no Davidsons in the mix. There have been compelling games and blowouts, just like every year. The only difference is that there are no Cinderellas. The whining has been all too predictable.
on Mar 30th, 2009 at 6:51 PM
Jim, Mizzou made 67%, with two players being at 50% (each 2 of 4). While not spectacular, this hardly qualifies as not able to hit a free throw to save its life. And so you like the Colts. Big whoop. You jumped on the bandwagon like every other hoosier wanna be.