My friend Jeff LeVee, a devoted Duke basketball fan, can tell you that for years I’ve been complaining to him that men’s college basketball has become so bad that it’s no longer watchable.
Here’s the latest proof of my point:
On December 4, there were six games played in something called the Big Ten-ACC Challenge – a dazzling showcase of the two very best college basketball conferences in the country. Here are the results of those six games:
In losing to Georgia Tech, Nebraska shot 32.3% from the field and scored only 56 points
In losing to NC State, Wisconsin shot 37.5% from the field and scored only 54 points
In losing to Penn State, Wake Forest shot 29.3% from the field and scored only 54 points
In losing to Maryland, Notre Dame shot 29.0% from the field and scored only 51 points
In losing to Ohio State, North Carolina shot 27.4% from the field and scored only 49 points
In losing to Purdue, Virginia shot 37.2% from the field and scored only 40 points
Four of the six losers were ACC teams, and North Carolina shot 27.4% and scored only 49 points playing at home. Half these teams (all ACC teams) couldn’t shoot 30%, and two of them (also ACC teams) couldn’t score 50 points – in 40 minutes of play. And those two – North Carolina and Virginia – are the #7 and #5 teams in the country, respectively. Although people paid real money to see them, not one of these six games was entertaining, close, or exciting. They were perfect examples of what has become of what once was a great sport – college basketball.
The object of the game is to score points by making baskets. Teams no longer know how to do that.