It’s a Love/Hate Relationship: Volume III
Posted by jbaumgartner on December 20th, 2010
Jesse Baumgartner is an RTC contributor. In this piece he’ll spend each week reviewing the five things he loved and hated about the previous week of college basketball.
The Five Things I Loved This Week
I LOVED…..SILENT NIGHT!! Come on, what’s not to love about this hilarious marketing scheme where the entire crowd at Taylor University stays silent until 10 points have been scored. Palm Sunday anyone?
Creative Fans For the Win, Alex...
I LOVED…..an honest coach. This week it was Arizona’s Sean Miller, who said his Wildcats were nothing more than “frightened” kittens against the big, bad Jimmer Fredette in BYU’s rout over UA. On a similar free-flowing note, Craig Robinson of Oregon State sounded off on what he doesn’t like about the college game. Here’s to coaches who tell it like it is.
I LOVED…..that the incredible winning streak of the UConn women has us talking about John Wooden’s UCLA teams. Say what you will about how the two dynasties compare (no comment), but I soak up every bit of Bruins history I can when the mainstream media starts talking Alcindor and Walton. We’ll never see anything like it again.
I LOVED…..the worldwide effort to save Kyrie Irving’s toe. Not everyone loves the Cameron Crazies, but that’s pretty humorous.
I LOVED…..the shockers. Not that we expect anything less from our beloved college basketball, but no one saw Tennessee losing two games to mid-majors – the second to a team that had just kicked off its leading scorer. And then a downtrodden Gonzaga goes to Texas and beats a Baylor team we were just starting to hype. As usual, no logic needed.
The Five Things I Hated This Week
I HATED…..Leaders and Legends. It’s hard to believe the Big 10 could honestly think that giving these names to its new divisions would go over well with anybody. Legends and Leaders? Why not Captains and Commanders? Rulers and Ringleaders? You only have four options, Big Ten, just like everyone else: East, West, North and South. Embrace the simplicity of the compass.
We're Sure the Big Ten Considered This Too
I HATED…..the ridiculousness of the NCAA. What a shocker – Mark Emmert & Co. might close the “I didn’t know my dad was shopping me around” loophole… after Cam Newton plays in the national championship game. I hate the message that sends, but at the same time, you have to think new legislation will help us not have a similar incident in college basketball.
I HATED…..Monday through Friday in college basketball last week. I always dread this period, the one right after all the big preseason tournament/challenges and right during academic finals. This inevitably leads to five days of Kansas-Delaware State, which is rough on everyone. It really struck home for me on Tuesday, when I caught myself getting amped up for Hour No. 5 of USA’s Law & Order marathon. Not a proud moment.
I HATED…..Kansas State guard Jacob Pullen’s response to KSU fans. Not only do I think you should call out people in person, not Twitter, but you might not want to admit that you actually read Internet message boards. Keep your focus on the court and not crazy temperamental fans. Also, this is just another example of why coaches would be wise to cut off Twitter access during the season.
I HATED…..reading this post about what Missouri’s Marcus Denmon has gone through lately. It’ll give you chills.
