March Madness

DWags wrote:

Travis of the Cosmos wrote:

Yes, it’s just important that they exist. The name doesn’t matter. Like I said, David needs Goliath. A bunch of David’s slinging rocks at each other and missing wildly because they are terrible at this is boring.

But what if your David’s are running the court making threes throwing shots at each other taking body blows giving them back? It’s not the actual game for you, it’s the Jersey.

And we all love when a FDU beats Purdue( except if it’s middle Tennessee state). But I still dig a great fun game to watch regardless of Jersey. Or I do something around the house.

Sure, because I’m not watching Europe’s future backups when San Diego state and fau line up next week in the first place. Maybe they do just great. I don’t care.

DWags wrote:

Travis of the Cosmos wrote:

But them remaining successful is the whole point and what we’re talking about. The initial point was that parity is good. I disagree, because it means that they don’t remain successful year over year for a decade and those brands don’t get built. Every year is just some different set of random teams you don’t care about winning the championship.

Someone needs to tell the NFL. Every rule they have is based on pulling bad teams up and knocking good teams down. In other words, trying to even the playing field.

And there are still guys who say the NFL is better when the Steelers and Cowboys are good. But the Rams built that "Greatest Show on Turf" brand in one season, then got beat to begin the Belichick dynasty the next year - and the Patriots had barely moved the needle in their previous history. And in the meantime, the Ravens, Colts, Bucs, Broncos, Giants, Seahawks and Chiefs have all built brands and gained national followings.

Seeing a little more parity because some guys that would generally go to top programs are now going straight to the G League or playing with Overtime Elite.

Travis of the Cosmos wrote:

DWags wrote:

But what if your David’s are running the court making threes throwing shots at each other taking body blows giving them back? It’s not the actual game for you, it’s the Jersey.

And we all love when a FDU beats Purdue( except if it’s middle Tennessee state). But I still dig a great fun game to watch regardless of Jersey. Or I do something around the house.

Sure, because I’m not watching Europe’s future backups when San Diego state and fau line up next week in the first place. Maybe they do just great. I don’t care.

I only watch, or listen to, MSU sports so I don't really care who else is playing.

Baseball games start soon, will probably catch one in East Lansing.

Travis of the Cosmos wrote:

DWags wrote:

But what if your David’s are running the court making threes throwing shots at each other taking body blows giving them back? It’s not the actual game for you, it’s the Jersey.

And we all love when a FDU beats Purdue( except if it’s middle Tennessee state). But I still dig a great fun game to watch regardless of Jersey. Or I do something around the house.

Sure, because I’m not watching Europe’s future backups when San Diego state and fau line up next week in the first place. Maybe they do just great. I don’t care.

It depends on who the players are. Keep in mind that the most-watched college basketball game in history included Indiana State. If Steph Curry had led Davidson to the Championship Game, or Ja Morant had done the same for Murray State, it would've been very exciting. Electrifying players and great teams will always trump brand name programs for me.

Higher TV ratings for some games in March aren't better for the game. They're better for the networks.

DWags wrote:

Travis of the Cosmos wrote:

But them remaining successful is the whole point and what we’re talking about. The initial point was that parity is good. I disagree, because it means that they don’t remain successful year over year for a decade and those brands don’t get built. Every year is just some different set of random teams you don’t care about winning the championship.

Someone needs to tell the NFL. Every rule they have is based on pulling bad teams up and knocking good teams down. In other words, trying to even the playing field.

Yeah, like I said (there is a middle ground to be found between nhl style parity where everyone that makes the playoffs has a real shot at the thing and European soccer where unless you’re an anointed team you really have no chance.

The nfl tends a bit more toward parity, though not nearly as bad as hockey. Baseball tends more toward anointed teams dominating. I think the nba finds the best mix of teams that stay up for awhile long enough to be hated and for people to enjoy their downfall, to be replaced by a different team that’ll take the mantle for awhile.

CBS is going to be sick with this years ratings.

Of the Final Four gets set, none of the teams left have any national following of fans or people hoping they get beat tuning in.  

At least for me it’s been an ambivalent Elite Eight and will be the same for the Final Four.  For the first time ever after MSU’s loss, I haven’t watched a game.

Got one month of NFHS and been watching MHSAA Boys and Girls quarterfininals, semi’s and finals.  

Flint Beecher coached by Marquise Gray won the Division 3 championship beating TC St Francis.  Beecher used a lot of offensive and defensive sets that looked an awful lot like what MSU has used for the last 25-30 years,

Wow

Worst inbounds pass ever?

You can't call that.

Don't tell draymond that.

AvgMSUJoe wrote:Don't tell draymond that.

Draymond got hit on the arm.  You can call that.

Foul

DWags wrote:[tw]1640093043884711936?s=46&t=o_-92Ldle66XHQBlJVUMFQ[/tw]

The game (Gonzaga) I watched the least had the biggest star (Timme) in the Tournament. The other games were close and exciting, and I couldn't name one player on FAU.

There's children on the street using guns and knives
Taking drugs and each other's lives
Killing each other with knives and forks
Calling each other names like dork.

https://youtu.be/TLEK0UZH4cs

DWags wrote:Question: can a player throw an inbounds pass to a teammate over the board for an alley pop?

[tw]1640106829912088577?s=46&t=o_-92Ldle66XHQBlJVUMFQ[/tw]

No

DWags wrote:

Travis of the Cosmos wrote:

But them remaining successful is the whole point and what we’re talking about. The initial point was that parity is good. I disagree, because it means that they don’t remain successful year over year for a decade and those brands don’t get built. Every year is just some different set of random teams you don’t care about winning the championship.

Someone needs to tell the NFL.  Every rule they have is based on pulling bad teams up and knocking good teams down. In other words, trying to even the playing field.

Apples and oranges. Way different scale and GAF levels. NFL has 32 teams. I bet you can name the QB and coach on most of them. If 10% of teams won every year, that would kill their business model.

And yeah, fuck Duke. The beauty of college hoops is there is usually a half dozen plus really good teams. Mix in a handfull of teams that are jelling at the right tme and a couple Cinderellas and you got a tournament. Some are villains. Some you root for. Because of the scale it is not just Duke every year.

Cinderellas are great early. But kinda loas their luster the later the rounds and the more they are. And their is not really a Cinderella. Some random 5 and 9s.

FWIW, I'm not convinced that parity is going to takeover or it is all because of the porthole. The porthole certainly is a gamechanger. But we've also seen some iconic coaching turnover the last few years (fuck Duke, fuck UNC), the G-League, major shifts in $$ (no surprise Bama was #1 most of the year), more and more dudes bolting early, etc.

I think we are at a weird transition point. Opportunity for new blue bloods.

Also NIL should drain the talent from smaller schools.

Nordic wrote:FWIW, I'm not convinced that parity is going to takeover or it is all because of the porthole. The porthole certainly is a gamechanger. But we've also seen some iconic coaching turnover the last few years (fuck Duke, fuck UNC), the G-League, major shifts in $$ (no surprise Bama was #1 most of the year), more and more dudes bolting early, etc.

I think we are at a weird transition point. Opportunity for new blue bloods.

Portal is busy because guys come in expecting to be the guy from day 1. It's an unrealistic mindset for most of them at big time programs

Pervis Muldoon wrote:

Travis of the Cosmos wrote:

Sure, because I’m not watching Europe’s future backups when San Diego state and fau line up next week in the first place. Maybe they do just great. I don’t care.

It depends on who the players are. Keep in mind that the most-watched college basketball game in history included Indiana State. If Steph Curry had led Davidson to the Championship Game, or Ja Morant had done the same for Murray State, it would've been very exciting. Electrifying players and great teams will always trump brand name programs for me.

Agree. But we don't have any of those either.

I'm going to root for Jim Larranaga.

NigelUno wrote:Seeing a little more parity because some guys that would generally go to top programs are now going straight to the G League or playing with Overtime Elite.

Agree

DWags wrote:[tw]1640093043884711936?s=46&t=o_-92Ldle66XHQBlJVUMFQ[/tw]

I'll still watch. But put me on the dork list.

DWags wrote:right on. What an athlete

[tw]1640072282621050880?s=46&t=o_-92Ldle66XHQBlJVUMFQ[/tw]

Your honor, I rest my case.

  and fuck the Padres

Chris Vannini is whistling thru graveyards.  

Final Four of UConn, FAU, Miami and San Diego State.

I know a Hurley coaches UConn and Jim Larranaga who was at James Madison when the beat MSU on their way to the Final Four in ‘06 coaches Miami.  I don’t see any compelling reasons for casual or typical fans to tune in.

The tournament would have liked to see MSU with Izzo or KState with its first year coach and Gonzaga or UCLA.  

2 Florida schools that aren’t UF.

I guess I'm anyone but UConn. Because I'm still bitter about 2014. I can get behind Larranaga.

DWags wrote:So if you start out as a top 20 or top 15 or too 10 team. A f you make a final four, are you really Cinderella?

[tw]1640134411311013889?s=46&t=o_-92Ldle66XHQBlJVUMFQ[/tw]

No one is calling these teams Cinderella. Just mediocre.

DWags wrote:

Nordic wrote:

No one is calling these teams Cinderella. Just mediocre.

I’m thinking that’s also wrong. A top ten team a top 16 a d 18 team a d a team that has 30+ victories isn’t mediocre.

I didn’t think MSU was and we were no e of those.

Fair. But the first/main point still stands. No one is calling these teams Cinderella

PG Nijel Pack transferred from K State to Miami in April 2022 for an $800K/2 year NIL deal from LifeWallet owned by a Miami booster John Ruiz.

LifeWallet formerly know as MSP Recovery uses software and lawyers to identify incorrect insurance payments and recover money from primary insurance carriers and those responsible for medical payments.

However LifeWallet stock price has fallen from $10 in May of 2022 to 0.80 on Mar 24 2023.

GRR Spartan wrote:PG Nijel Pack transferred from K State to Miami in April 2022 for an $800K/2 year NIL deal from LifeWallet owned by a Miami booster John Ruiz.

LifeWallet formerly know as MSP Recovery uses software and lawyers to identify incorrect insurance payments and recover money from primary insurance carriers and those responsible for medical payments.

However LifeWallet stock price has fallen from $10 in May of 2022 to 0.80 on Mar 24 2023.

This is misleading. On the stock part of it at least. In may of 2022 the company (that didn’t go by lifewallet at the time) did some kind of merger and changed their stock symbol and did something with purchasing warrants. I don’t care too much to look further into it to find out exactly what happened on account of being a Sunday at midnight and all, but in may of 2022 it went from $10 to $1 in just a day, which given everything else they were doing with the company at the time probably has more to do with something akin to a stock split and not indicative of loss of value in the company.