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[QUOTE="OrangeXtreme, post: 1275411, member: 41"]
[B][URL='http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/page/fourcorners150126/better-tested-coast-conference-season']Would you rather coast or be tested? (ESPN)[/URL][/B]
 
[I]Once again this week, the Associated Press ranked 25 teams. None of them were named Michigan, Michigan State, Syracuse, Florida or UConn. The last time that didn't happen before this season?

March 10, 1997, according to our crackerjack Stats & Info folks.

Why does that matter? Because sports thrive on big names and college basketball right now is without some of its traditionally biggest. Those five schools count 28 Final Fours among them and at least one has appeared in five of the past six national semifinals...
 
...College basketball is wildly cyclical, especially with the NBA claiming more and more players early. Sustaining excellence on a revolving door ain't easy, and all five of these schools just happened to hit a downward spiral at the same time. Syracuse, UConn and Michigan lost six players early to the NBA last year, while Michigan State and Florida said goodbye to six seniors.

It happens, but the fact that it is happening simultaneously has landed a body blow to the game, taking even more air out of conference races, and by extension the game.[/I]
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