College basketball is no more.

[wobycat]

It's officially an amateur glorified d league. I'm sorry it's just the way I feel. Cal is doing what he should but the system is broke and appears to be a little corrupt (officiating).

I'm not sure I'll ever appreciate it like it was.

 

[Mike-D]

Everyone is a pro these days.

 

[SilentsAreGolden]

So, Isaac was the last straw? Good Lord.

 

[wobycat]

So, Isaac was the last straw? Good Lord.

Was that in my post? I don't remember typing. Humphries was just icing on the cake. That I did write.

 

[Rhavicc]

Lol, people will cry about anything. You're acting like it just now became a goal for college athletes to become professional athletes.

 

[KA4Prez]

It's the price we pay to get the best players in college. Also, the opportunities to play for money are greater than ever. Also, a college degree means less today than ever. Lets face it, you can buy a degree online and most employers only care that you have one. They generally don't care about where or what it's in. Also, a college athlete at a place like Kentucky will often gain more from a professional standpoint by being a former UK player than they would getting a degree and finding a real job. This isn't the 1980's where it was a true value and benefit to get a free college degree.

 

[bookerfan66]

Okay.

 

[theboardedone]

It's officially an amateur glorified d league. I'm sorry it's just the way I feel. Cal is doing what he should but the system is broke and appears to be a little corrupt (officiating).

I'm not sure I'll ever appreciate it like it was.

No, College basketball as YOU know it is no more. Sports are always changing and that is equally true for college sports across the board.

 

[kydmb99]

College basketball is pretty much on life support at this point. Once the G-League becomes a better alternative than it is now, it will be finished. Just the reality.

 

[wobycat]

Lol, people will cry about anything. You're acting like it just now became a goal for college athletes to become professional athletes.

Who's crying? The product sucks. Every year it will be a big season of potential, only to watch flame out.

 

[wobycat]

No, College basketball as YOU know it is no more. Sports are always changing and that is equally true for college sports across the board.

College football has only gotten better.

 

[KA4Prez]

Who's crying? The product sucks. Every year it will be a big season of potential, only to watch flame out.

You probably should just start rooting for an Ivy League school.

 

[TNCatfanforever]

The only solution as we continued to see diluted drafts will be either a full blown NBA minor league like baseball or the league will implement the base ball and football rule...once you go to college you are there for 3 years.....

 

[wobycat]

You probably should just start rooting for an Ivy League school.

Ha. It's broke dude. Keep wishing for bamba

 

[Big Cat fan]

Link UK for killing college basketball. I see the headlines now.

This sport means nothing.

 

[KA4Prez]

Ha. It's broke dude. Keep wishing for bamba

I doubt UNC fans consider it broken. They have everyone stay multiple years.

 

[ganner918]

In the 87-88 season, the NBA salary cap was $6M. In 97-98 it was $27M. In 07-08 it was $56M. Next season, it's $102M. That means the money per roster spot has gone from $400k (about $850 factoring in inflation) to $6M. That's a huge draw.

College basketball isn't dead, but it's pretty easy to see why top talent started skipping college altogether, and now try to get pro as soon as possible. Get a 2 year contract and you'll make as much money as the average person makes in a 40 year career.

 

[kydmb99]

The system has always been "broken". College athletics are an exploitative sham, always have been.

 

[Deli owl]

Less than 1% of all the division 1 players leave early. NCAA ball must have been teetering on the edge for a while now I guess.

 

[TheBlueDisciple]

...and appears to be a little corrupt (officiating).

Ha, don't believe in conspiracies. It's incompetence, not a corrupt group of officials on the take. The biggest thing the NCAA could do to improve the game is figure out a way to have full time officials, where that is their primary job during the season. Officiating is so bad because it's so inconsistent, but that's exactly what you get when you rely on part time contractors to do such a critical job.

 

[NCukcat62]

Everyone is a pro according to society now a days! Until the enter the real world and realize that being successful requires some work and effort

 

[SilentsAreGolden]

The system has always been "broken". College athletics are an exploitative sham, always have been.

But who is getting exploited? Lots of guys who probably would never sniff millions of dollars otherwise will, and other guys get a free education if they decide to take it. Colleges make money hand over fist, the networks do too, and the fans get to watch the sport they love.

 

[Cat Ballou]

WTF? This was a damned good year for college basketball if you were paying attention.

Offenses vastly improved with a lot of high-scoring games and solid ratings. Vastly improved over just 2-3 years ago when defense was dominating (the year UL won the championship) and games were ugly, low scoring and physical. That was when college basketball was on life support.

Last two years have also seen experienced, junior and senior laden teams thrive, which most college basketball fans are glad to see.

Meanwhile, with this recruiting class, Cal is working to restore some balance to the team. Adding In a couple of multiyear guys with 2-3 OADs.

 

[theboardedone]

College football has only gotten better.

Do you think the product on the basketball court hasn't gotten better? Go watch a basketball game from the 80's and tell me today's game isn't more exciting.

 

[KA4Prez]

Bottom line, if Kentucky won the title, people wouldn't be saying this.

 

[wobycat]

Yep players are used. No doubt. Then they are ranked and drafted on potential.

 

[wobycat]

Bottom line, if Kentucky won the title, people wouldn't be saying this.

Nope. It's broke. I'm 40 years old, ive watched my share of games, the product is not as good as it once was. More kids enter the draft and wind up living in the d league. It makes college basketball a weaker product.

 

[kydmb99]

But who is getting exploited? Lots of guys who probably would never sniff millions of dollars otherwise will, and other guys get a free education if they decide to take it. Colleges make money hand over fist, the networks do too, and the fans get to watch the sport they love.

The unpaid players whose labor generates millions and millions of dollar in revenue?

 

[oldsports_]

Who's crying? The product sucks. Every year it will be a big season of potential, only to watch flame out.

A semi finals run is a flame out? What did you call the Billy G, Tubby days? I'll hang up and listen.

 

[BlueRunner11]

Ha, don't believe in conspiracies. It's incompetence, not a corrupt group of officials on the take. The biggest thing the NCAA could do to improve the game is figure out a way to have full time officials, where that is their primary job during the season. Officiating is so bad because it's so inconsistent, but that's exactly what you get when you rely on part time contractors to do such a critical job.

"There's a sucker born every minute."

- The NCAA

 

[KA4Prez]

Nope. It's broke. I'm 40 years old, ive watched my share of games, the product is not as good as it once was. More kids enter the draft and wind up living in the d league. It makes college basketball a weaker product.

Because you're stuck in the 80's and 90's. It's not just Kentucky. More guys don't stay these days. They go pro. They transfer. They graduate transfer. The outlook of these kids is different than 30 years ago. A degree is not what it was. It's not broken because of the rules, it's broken because you haven't adjusted your expectations.

College basketball is WAY better than it was just 5-10 years ago.

 

[KA4Prez]

The unpaid players whose labor generates millions and millions of dollar in revenue?

It takes two to tango. DON'T PLAY in the NCAA if it exploits you. You can't feel sorry for a willing "victim."

 

[wobycat]

Because you're stuck in the 80's and 90's. It's not just Kentucky. More guys don't stay these days. They go pro. They transfer. They graduate transfer. The outlook of these kids is different than 30 years ago. A degree is not what it was. It's not broken because of the rules, it's broken because you haven't adjusted your expectations.

College basketball is WAY better than it was just 5-10 years ago.

Sorry. But it's nowhere close. I can remember more players in the nineties than I can now.

 

[TheBlueDisciple]

"There's a sucker born every minute."

- The NCAA

People want so badly to believe in conspiracies, because it's more exciting and the sense of outrage feels more real.

The reality is life is just a lot more boring. It's not as fun to believe incompetence and luck/bad luck are the primary causes, so instead many fans won't to search for hidden agendas.

 

[oldsports_]

The unpaid players whose labor generates millions and millions of dollar in revenue?

So using your logic, a guy at Ford making 28 bucks a hour is exploited because Ford profits hundreds of millions?

 

[KA4Prez]

Sorry. But it's nowhere close. I can remember more players in the nineties than I can now.

How does the number of players you can remember have anything to do with the quality of the product?

 

[kydmb99]

So using your logic, a guy at Ford making 28 bucks a hour is exploited because Ford profits hundreds of millions?

You should look up the definition of the word "unpaid" before you reply

 

[Sawnee Cat]

I think college basketball is like every other aspect of society. Things change. Some of the elite programs are semi-pro and funnel talent to the NBA. Our Cats are in that group with a few more. If a minor league is set up for high school stars to go to, then college basketball may once again become old school college basketball. That is not a bad thing. It will take a lot of money out of it and make it fan friendly once again. My $4,000 season tickets might go back to a reasonable price.

No matter what happens, Kentucky will always be Kentucky. We can change with the times.

 

[kydmb99]

It takes two to tango. DON'T PLAY in the NCAA if it exploits you. You can't feel sorry for a willing "victim."

That's exactly what we're starting to see now that players actually have options to make money

 

[wobycat]

How does the number of players you can remember have anything to do with the quality of the product?

That's easy. I was more invested. Look I can handle someone not agreeing with me but next year we will have to rely on talent that has been based on a ranking. Maybe we see an Anthony Davis type class but we have NO experience to back them up and no evidence that this class will translate to wins.