College basketball and Pro basketball are like two different worlds. The concepts and fan base seem to be entirely different for each, and both of these fantastic sports each have their redeeming qualities to our sporting senses. The average fan may find that they love one over the other and not even understand why. I have been a fan of both for several decades now, and I have discovered that I fall into that category myself at times. Do not get me wrong. I love NBA basketball. But not for the same reasons that I love college basketball.

College basketball has an auro to it that can not be matched by any other sport. The team spirit and fast pace is unique to college basketball and March Madness has no equal. The little team has every chance in the world to spring the big upset on a given day, and that uncertainty gives college basketball that premise of unpredictability that does not exist in the NBA.

In college, you fight to get an entry into the NCAA Tournament all through the regular season. Even if you tank the regular season, their is still the hope that you win your conference tournament, and get an entry in that way. For this reason, no fan of any team fully gives up on their school. They get to have hope throughout the entire regular season, even if it is slight. That ray of potential keeps the passion alive, and keeps the competition fierce regardless of the two teams competing. Once you gain entry into the NCAA Tournament, all bets are off. You have the chance to immortalize your school and win the coveted NCAA Championship.

WIth the NBA, the focus is on showmanship. While exhilirating in its own right, the NBA is more about the individuals. The teams are often set in their playoff positions by mid season and the lower teams in the division are pretty much playing out the string. It kills the excitement. The underdog factor is missing except on a game by game basis. Even in the NBA Playoffs, if a team that nobody expected gets in, they are not likely to advance. This is due to the NBA playoff multigame system. Generally, the superior team will win in a best of type scenario.

Fans of the NBA may argue that this is the point. The superior team should win the NBA Championship and I would not argue that point. I just prefer the David and Goliath atmosphere of the NCAA Tournament. If a team fights its way through all the teams in the NCAA Tournament and finds themselves crowned national champion, then to me that is the ultimate accomplishment in basketball.
I love them both, but give me college over pro every single time.

Tagged with: college basketball, fan base, march madness, nba, nba basketball, nba playoffs, ncaa championship, ncaa tournament, pro basketball

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