hstrop@mhuxt.UUCP (trop) (03/29/84)
In regard to Darth Wombat's comment on the shot clock: My own opinion is that the stall is destroying college ball. Any team that relies on it deserves to lose. Two cases in point within recent memory include Indiana and DePaul. They got what they deserved. Not only does the stall rob the fan of seeing real basketball, it has a tendency to break a team's offensive concentration. I am firmly in favor of passing games, provided there is a reason for the pass. Anyone who saw the exciting first round games between Northeastern and VCU and Virginia and Iona knows what I mean. Those were basketball games! The preceding opinions are my own and therefore represent absolute truth :-) Harvey S. Trop mhuxt!hstrop
jlilien@sdcrdcf.UUCP (Joel Lilienkamp) (03/31/84)
Here's a few tips to speed up the game of college bastball: Have a 30 second shot clock Have a far out 3 point line Disallow zone defense (or maybe sort of disallow it) Give the players amphetamines or cocaine before the game to get them really pumped up Pay the players for each point they get (incentives) and even for showing up for the game Don't require the players to maintain academic standards (even better no classes, except basketball 101, free throws 208, and slam dunk 264) No, on second thought, sounds like the NBA. I really worry about all these attempts to take a popular sport like NCAA Basketball (which has TV coverage on CBS, NBC, USA, ESPN, and WTBS, just to name the major ones) and turn it into a less popular sport like the NBA (which gets spotty coverage on CBS--playoff games delayed until 11:30--, and one of the cable (ESPN or USA) picks up a game or two). If I were the NBA, I would look seriously at the NCAA to figure out how they draw their fans. It's because the games are more fun to watch. Maybe it's the unpredicability, maybe its watching various coaching strategies, bit even the little guy can win. You just have to remeber N.C.State and there coach Jim Valvano who came from nowhere last year to win the ACC tourney and the NCAA tourney right in a row. (they didn't even make it this year) The coach was the real factor there, knowing when to have his team stall, when to go for it, when to foul to the other team, and which player to foul. It was only this that allowed them to defeat the powerhouses they played. Please don't change the college rules.