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[Babe the Blue Ox]

I would argue the opposite. Uncertainty as to game outcomes have been greatly reduced and replaced with certainty. Certainty that the higher seeded team will prevail. How many double digit seeds did we see in the Sweet 16 this year? How many seeds higher than the top 4 made it to the elite 8? What were the seeds of the teams in the final 4? Uncertainty was what made the tournament fun. Watching a Cinderella advance to the final 16 or 8. Now we have semi professional teams competing for the ship. The intrigue is gone

TV ratings were reported to have been at a 32 year high for this tournament. The lack of lower seeds advancing didn’t seem to hurt viewership at all. When it comes down to it, the casual viewer prefers to watch Duke over any other school by far.

The NBA also reported a 25 year high for the first weekend of the playoffs. The LeBron/Luka combo really seems to have generated interest.

 

[drboobay]

TV ratings were reported to have been at a 32 year high for this tournament. The lack of lower seeds advancing didn’t seem to hurt viewership at all. When it comes down to it, the casual viewer prefers to watch Duke over any other school by far.

The NBA also reported a 25 year high for the first weekend of the playoffs. The LeBron/Luka combo really seems to have generated interest.

I watch neither.

 

[Babe the Blue Ox]

I watch neither.

I watch both but prefer NBA.

 

[TU 1978]

 

[lawpoke87]

Is it a trend though?

It will take years to know.

True. Tend to believe it will be permanent. Too much talent now transferring from non power conferences to the big boys. Players chasing dollars. Hard to see how schools like Tulsa will be able to develop and keep players. How many players from our Elite 8 team would have been on that team in today’s environment ?

 

[Gmoney4WW]

Is it a trend though?

It will take years to know.

If it follows suit the next two years, that's enough for it to be a trend. If something equivalent to a 10, 11, and two 12's make it to the round of 32 next year, and no 10-16 seeds make it to the sweet 16 for the next two years, then that's enough for me to call it a trend.

 

[Gmoney4WW]

How many players from our Elite 8 team would have been on that team in today’s environment ?

Yep, now our coach has to catch lightning in a bottle every year, with almost a new team each time.

 

[TU 1978]

Yep, now our coach has to catch lightning in a bottle every year, with almost a new team each time.

So much for building team chemistry and looking forward to the return of favorite players for fans.

 

[dougheffking]

I watch both but prefer NBA.

I prefer NBA these days and it's not even close.

 

[Henry Kendall]

I prefer NBA these days and it's not even close.

I do too. I have never been an NBA fan till now, but I appreciate the parity and the fact that players have contractual rights, but so do the owners.

Plus, the Thunder are so damn good. I mean, they actually try to play defense. Their bench could likely make the playoffs by themselves. And fun fact, they now have 11 first round picks to exercise between now and 2030. They are set to be a dynasty. Sam Presti is a mad genius.