Wilbon: college basketball a "boutique sport"

[Eric15]

On PTI yesterday, Mike Wilbon referred to college basketball as a "boutique sport", saying that it really needed those mega-matchups from last night to generate buzz, because people don't usually care about it until March. He referred to the huge popularity of the NFL and the "renaissance" of the NBA as taking attention away from CBB.

Is he just completely full of hot air or is there any validity to that?

 

[CuseCactus]

I don't agree that the NBA is in some kind of a resurgence. But I would agree with him that college hoops has lost considerable luster the last 15 years. It's not college baseball level. But it's certainly not trending in the right direction in terms of general interest. Hate to say it as I love college hoops.

 

[sufandu]

There's some truth to what he says. Their aren't as many names that anyone knows anymore. You have the big name freshman and the few older guys that don't jump right away. Gone are the days when a guy could make a name for himself one season and still be around the next season. As soon as someone gets known nationally he's jumping to the NBA. That hurts the interest in the college game.

 

[OttoMets]

And why has it lost luster?

The horrible officiating!

I don't know how people (especially coaches) can complain about the emphasis on calling a foul a foul. Last night's game was tedious and not as enjoyable as some. But this needs to be done. I don't have much faith that officials are going to be consistent, but this is a noble experiment. College basketball is a great game that has fallen off a cliff in the last decade, all because enforcement of the rules has disappeared.

 

[NKR1978]

I think he's being hyperbolic, but other than a few marquee matchups, no other sport has such a long preseaon of boring games with no interest greater than the fans of the two teams involved. The first 2 months of the season are completely lost but for those few made for tv games.

Things begin to pick up considerably once the conference season begins and the games mean something. Still, it is probably the nation's fifth most popular sport and it manages to put on the greatest tournament in sports that captivates the nation for three weeks, so it is much more than a boutique sport.

Sent from my HTC6435LVW using Tapatalk 2

 

[pearl31]

If there is a decreased status, I'm completely fine with it. Let the entertainment-industry glitz of the NFL, NBA and college football dominate what the average "drive-by" American sports fan eats up.
Those of us who pay attention, and who watch the games from November on, know what the best (American) sport is.
:noidea:

 

[Knicks411]

The NBA is definitely in a resurgence, ever since the lockout ended, really. (If not earlier, the 2010 finals did some really strong ratings)

 

[longislandcuse]

College Basketball will be fine. It will always be the nations fifth most popular sport behind NFL, NBA, MLB and CFB and has an amazingly popular spectacle in the Tournament.

The NBA has definitely blown up in popularity but I dont know if and how that effects CBB.

 

[CuseCactus]

Wow - I am clueless about the NBA resurgence. Completely turned off by that league. It's absolutely artificial to me. Each year I watch less and less. 15 years ago I had the Directv full court thing for NBA. Now I maybe glance at some 4th quarter playoff games. Getting old and out of touch I guess.

 

[Madbiker]

And why has it lost luster?

The horrible officiating!

I don't know how people (especially coaches) can complain about the emphasis on calling a foul a foul. Last night's game was tedious and not as enjoyable as some. But this needs to be done. I don't have much faith that officials are going to be consistent, but this is a noble experiment. College basketball is a great game that has fallen off a cliff in the last decade, all because enforcement of the rules has disappeared.

College basketball has lost some luster because the NBA takes its best players after 1 season. So those "stars" don't stay, get even better, and provide buzz for the fans. It's not like when Jordan stayed 3 years at UNC, Ewing stayed 4 years at GT, Bird played 4 years, etc. Today's game needs to start all over each season. Look at the hype last night for Wiggins and Parker. In a few short months they will be gone instead of their legend building for 2, 3 or 4 years. But I still love college hoops.

 

[IthacaBarrel]

On PTI yesterday, Mike Wilbon referred to college basketball as a "boutique sport", saying that it really needed those mega-matchups from last night to generate buzz, because people don't usually care about it until March. He referred to the huge popularity of the NFL and the "renaissance" of the NBA as taking attention away from CBB.

Is he just completely full of hot air or is there any validity to that?

I agree 100% with Wilbon, as far as college hoops, wake me up in March. When you get to the level that Syracuse is, it's all about what you do in the tournament, nothing else matters. If you have a great regular season and don't make at least the final four, it's kind of a failure, IMO.

That said, entertainment is entertainment, so if people enjoy the regular season and attending the regular season games, that is great but most of the general public tends to disagree. Sure, college hoops for people in Syracuse and those that follow the program it's great entertainment and that is great, no need to overanalyze. Many diehard college basketball fans loathe the NBA. Is what it is. I think the NBA playoffs are fantastic entertainment as is the college tournament, both regular seasons can get a bit boring other than a few key match ups throughout the year. Fordham versus Syracuse doesn't excite many

 

[Knicks411]

The NBA has definitely blown up in popularity but I dont know if and how that effects CBB.

I think it can help; NBA fans want to see the guys like Wiggins, Parker, Randle, etc before they make it to the league

 

[CuseFaninVT]

I think he's being hyperbolic, but other than a few marquee matchups, no other sport has such a long preseaon of boring games with no interest greater than the fans of the two teams involved. The first 2 months of the season are completely lost but for those few made for tv games.


Sent from my HTC6435LVW using 2

I'm not sure it's any different than the NBA in everything you mention above. Does anyone really care about non-big name NBA games at this point? How much buzz was there about the Mavericks - Wizards matchup last night? The Mavericks average attendance is right around the amount of folks that showed up at the Dome last night to watch essentially a pre-season game.

 

[IthacaBarrel]

I'm not sure it's any different than the NBA in everything you mention above. Does anyone really care about non-big name NBA games at this point? How much buzz was there about the Mavericks - Wizards matchup last night? The Mavericks average attendance is right around the amount of folks that showed up at the Dome last night to watch essentially a pre-season game.

Hoe much buzz is there for many college games as well? Syracuse may have buzz for 4-5 games throughout the year. I mean is Syracuse/ Clemson getting many fire up either?

 

[CuseFaninVT]

Hoe much buzz is there for many college games as well? Syracuse may have buzz for 4-5 games throughout the year. I mean is Syracuse/ Clemson getting many fire up either?

I think we are making the same point. There are too many NBA games to care about until the postseason. At least for me. But the fact that a middle of the week game against a nobody team draws the same number of fans as an NBA game where a potential future hall of famer sets the scoring record for his long-time team tells me all I need to know about both sports.

 

[Syracusian]

Am I the only person who can't stand the NBA? I liked the NBA when I was a little kid (early to late nineties). Outside of that, I've maybe watched 50 games total from start to finish. Most of the games being playoff series.

I'm obviously very bias towards college basketball, but the NBA doesn't even compare to it in my opinion. Perhaps it's the level of investment I put into college basketball, it's basically love times 10000 and I guess that's why I'm on the Syracusefan forums.

I also think the length of the NBA season has a lot to do with it for me. It's basically half of a baseball season, and I don't understand the point of it. Shortening the seasons would make a lot more sense. It would increase the interest and importance level for each individual game.

I think the NBA seems far too easy as well. For the caliber of players playing, it seems like they're playing on a little-tykes rim on a 30 foot court. It reminds me of NBA Jam.

 

[CuyahogaCuse]

Wow - I am clueless about the NBA resurgence. Completely turned off by that league. It's absolutely artificial to me. Each year I watch less and less. 15 years ago I had the Directv full court thing for NBA. Now I maybe glance at some 4th quarter playoff games. Getting old and out of touch I guess.

This +1

 

[OttoMets]

College basketball has lost some luster because the NBA takes its best players after 1 season. So those "stars" don't stay, get even better, and provide buzz for the fans. It's not like when Jordan stayed 3 years at UNC, Ewing stayed 4 years at GT, Bird played 4 years, etc. Today's game needs to start all over each season. Look at the hype last night for Wiggins and Parker. In a few short months they will be gone instead of their legend building for 2, 3 or 4 years. But I still love college hoops.

That's a factor, too.

But we started getting early entrants (and none-and-dones) two decades ago. Still had great teams, great games through about 2005, even without 3- and 4-year stars.

Decline in the quality of play as a result of Pitt-ball has accelerated since that time.

 

[Lawrinson14]

Outside of the NFL, every sport is a boutique sport. Just look at the tv ratings. The only events that compare to NFL numbers are march madness, NBA finals (if the spurs arent in them ), a couple college football games every year, and the World Series (which is fading fast).

I mean, the Saints vs Cowboys regular season, Sunday night game had 19.3 million viewers. For comparison:

2013 NBA Finals: Average of 17.7 million viewers
2013 World Series: Average 14.9 million viewers.
2013 NCAA basketball championship: 23.4 million viewers

 

[Knicks411]

I think we are making the same point. There are too many NBA games to care about until the postseason. At least for me. But the fact that a middle of the week game against a nobody team draws the same number of fans as an NBA game where a potential future hall of famer sets the scoring record for his long-time team tells me all I need to know about both sports.

Maybe, but that is a little bit misleading, since SU is pretty much the only team that will draw like that in college hoops (UK I guess, maybe Lville as well?) And I think Dallas came pretty close to selling out last night, the Dome is just a larger venue as well. I could also say a game between two top 20 programs (Florida and Wisconsin) couldn't outdraw Dallas-Wash.

Which isn't to say the NBA is healthier, but I don't think it's the best comp is all.

 

[thebigeast44]

The glory days of college basketball were the 80's, when many kids stayed 4 years. Can you imagine a Patrick Ewing staying more than 1 year today? The Magic/Bird matchup got that decade primed for excitement and it delivered - especially in Syracuse! Having guys stay resulted in better teams, better players and easier marketing.

That era is long gone. But it's still a great game as seen last night and throughout the long winter. I take delight in every Syracuse game as a respite against the cold and clouds. I'm not one of those who thinks the Tournament is all that matters. I'll never forget our win at Louisville last year - arguably the best win any team had all year.

So if the general sports fan does not pay as much attention to college basketball until March, so be it. The era of guys staying in school is not coming back. But I still love it and last night was a great way to get it started. Let's Go Orange!

 

[MaxwellCuse]

I prefer a little college basketball (or football) or a PGA tournament or a MLB game with my pinot noir. Can't say I care much for the NBA or NFL products these days. Guess I'm not a real sports fan.

 

[pearl31]

I agree 100% with Wilbon, as far as college hoops, wake me up in March. When you get to the level that Syracuse is, it's all about what you do in the tournament, nothing else matters. If you have a great regular season and don't make at least the final four, it's kind of a failure, IMO.

That said, entertainment is entertainment, so if people enjoy the regular season and attending the regular season games, that is great but most of the general public tends to disagree. Sure, college hoops for people in Syracuse and those that follow the program it's great entertainment and that is great, no need to overanalyze. Many diehard college basketball fans loathe the NBA. Is what it is. I think the NBA playoffs are fantastic entertainment as is the college tournament, both regular seasons can get a bit boring other than a few key match ups throughout the year. Fordham versus Syracuse doesn't excite many

Unfortunate you feel this way.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

There are what, like 300 D-I men's basketball teams? The things that make that fun are much different than the things that make other sports fun. Men's hoops is fun because everyone has a local team, the geographical coverage is unprecedented, and everybody has a shot in the tournament (sort of). You can also enjoy it when you want and when your schedule permits - there isn't a set day for the sport to take place.

Those unique things don't necessarily make it a boutique sport in my mind, it just means the model is different.

 

[Eric15]

I agree 100% with Wilbon, as far as college hoops, wake me up in March.

IB, if you are only interested in college basketball in March, I'm surprised you would spend time reading a college basketball message board. Like I personally don't care about SU lacrosse until Memorial Day Weekend, and I probably don't check out the SU Lax board more than once or twice per year.

(My observation wasn't intended to be snarky in the least.)