college vs. pro

[Andrew]

When people ask if what sport is my favorite, they follow it up with assuming its college. Usually people are shocked I prefer NBA over NCAA. Why do you think that is?

But, that isn’t the point of this thread…the point is comparing the 2.

In college, you get 2 halves, 5 fouls, and the 3 point line is like a jump shot in the NBA. Plus, one and done really isn’t the greatest way to determine who the best team is.

In the pros, you get 4 quarters, 6 fouls, and a line worthy of 3 point. Plus, multiple game playoff series is a better way to determine the better team, most of the time.

There are other differences, but those being the main ones….

Which do you prefer?

 

[Darth Llama]

I don't watch any collegic sports myself. It's not that the game is too different or anything, just that there are a hundred thousand teams and I don't ever understand the rankings or divisions.

It probably has a lot to do with the fact that I went to a technical school instead of a formal college. I think my Alma Matter wasn't Devry, I might be more into college sports, who knows? That being said, I definitely prefer the pro game in every sport.

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

I just cant find myself preferring an inferior organization. NBA ftw.

 

[Kody Rumin]

I like them both. I'm a bigger NBA fan since I've been watching it since I was four years old. I'm also a lot more familiar with the players, and enjoy the gameplay more.

College is fun too, though. I like seeing new stars come up, and the tournament play is exciting. I just love basketball; I can enjoy a pro game or a high school game.

 

[mojorizen7]

IMO college athletics are a better product simply because they don't play for pay BUT there are dozens of conferences & hundreds of teams & (in football) there is no clearcut champion so i follow the pros much more closely.

 

[Maligzar]

When watching college sometimes you go really deep on the bench. When that happens you get these scrubs sometimes in the game that have you thinking "man, when I was 20 I was that good". You typically watch the game and feel like at one point in time, you probobly could play ball with some of those guys.

When I watch the NBA, I feel like even the guys on the bench with a 10 day contract could school me playing left handed only. The level of talent, the skill and athleticism is so much higher than you average person it's simply exciting to watch. These guys are able to do things that I couldn't.

I like the NCAA tournament though for colleges. I don't think it's important to have a clear cut champion at the collegic level. With all those teams, and all those players, I don't think there is simply a fair way to do it.

 

[nowagimp]

The pro game is much more developed, the talent level is alot higher. But college games mean alot more to the players, and few teams "mail it in". The recent march madness games were very good, tons of hustle, few uncontested shots. Cant accuse those college players of not playing defense. The pro game can be boring in the isolations, the changing thresholds for foul calling, and players lobbying refs for calls(unfortunately, its a critical skill). I prefer the players being separated from the officials, much less lobbying. March madness also showcases upcoming NBA talent, which can be exciting. Frankly, I rather watch ANY march madness game than the spurs/cavs finals last year ... zzzzzzzzzzzzz. Basketball is most enjoyable to me when there is alot of ball movement and assists.

 

[Ironsoul]

i prefer pro

 

[abomb]

Pro.

Bill Simmons said it best when he said that he loves March Madness, but doesnt watch much during the year because he enjoys basketball played at its highest form: the NBA.

College basketball is sloppy.

 

[LakeShowMan]

I don't think casual fans can understand the vast difference in basketball played at the College level and the NBA level. Also, most of the time when people watch college ball, it is an atmosphere like Duke (where the Cameron crazies are going nuts) or in a conference or NCAA tournament. When that is the only time some people catch a game, it seems that the college game is played at a different passion level and therefore more appeasing to a casual observer.

When it comes to the NBA, the season is an 82 game grind, with back-to-backs and long road trips. Casual fans may catch a a game, with a road team playing their 6th road game in a 10 day span and say, 'See they don't play hard'.

However, people that watch a lot of basketball, especially that follow their NBA team for every game, get a great understanding for just how amazing NBA players are. There are guys that were the brightest stars in college, who can't even get off the bench in the NBA.

There is no question that basketball at the NBA level is far, far superior to that of college basketball. However, people that are casual fans, really don't understand why what they are seeing is so much more advanced.

I love college ball around tournament time, but it pales in comparison to the NBA, especially during the playoffs. Well except for when the Spurs play, they make almost every game painful to watch.

 

[arwillan]

Pro.

Bill Simmons said it best when he said that he loves March Madness, but doesnt watch much during the year because he enjoys basketball played at its highest form: the NBA.

College basketball is sloppy.

exactly. i hate watching such sloppy play all the time. i also think it's far too easy to come back in college because of the whole rule with missing the first free throw and stuff. Add to that the fact that the 3 point line is incredibly short, and a team can make up 20 points in 3 minutes against a bad free throw shooting team.

the only thing i like is to watch the league's future stars coming up

 

[nowagimp]

exactly. i hate watching such sloppy play all the time. i also think it's far too easy to come back in college because of the whole rule with missing the first free throw and stuff. Add to that the fact that the 3 point line is incredibly short, and a team can make up 20 points in 3 minutes against a bad free throw shooting team.

the only thing i like is to watch the league's future stars coming up

1) actually the NBA clock and better offense has always meant bigger comebacks.

2) simmons forgot to add the "when lottery teams tank" disclaimer. There is nothing uglier than a lottery team giving up a game to a team in the race for a better seeding. Its one of the ugliest situations in all of sports. Also, what if the lakers and suns are tied in records on the last day of the season and the Hornets(having already wrapped up the top seed) rest their players in their game against the lakers, taking a loss. The NBA can be quite ugly, a game where "competition doesnt matter". I remember popovich resting his pl;ayers against the suns late last year, just not wanting to let the suns gage them. The NBA can be (by far) the best, and the worst of basketball.

3) there is also the tanking just before the all star break when NBA players are just plain worn out, ugly sloppy ball.

 

[FArting]

I like both of them.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Pro.

Bill Simmons said it best when he said that he loves March Madness, but doesnt watch much during the year because he enjoys basketball played at its highest form: the NBA.

College basketball is sloppy.

Bill Simmons sometimes finds a needle in a haystack.

 

[YouJustGotSUNSD]

That sounds like a compliment, but its intention is beyond me.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

That sounds like a compliment, but its intention is beyond me.

It was left intentionally vague on purpose.

 

[abomb]

Bill Simmons sometimes finds a needle in a haystack.

Donald?

 

[btimsah]

The NBA features the best basketball players in the world. It's basketball at it's highest level, that alone makes it better than college.

However the new-age physical game of basketball has made both College and the NBA boring at times. But I'm not getting into that.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Donald?

lol

 

[French Fries]

the sloppy up and down game of college level bball can be a pain to watch. if you're after hussle plays and crap, college is cool. if you're after things you can learn from, watch polished and much more effective game with best players in the world playing in it, it's nba you're looking for...

 

[PHXSportsFan4]

I like pro sports much more than college. College is ok and I follow college basektball, football, and baseball (I usually watch CWS and occasional regular season games on TV if there's nothing else on). But I'll always like pro sports a lot more than college.