Expect a Crazier March than Ever

Mar 09, 2020 at 10:59 am by adminjen


BY DAVID CHANGAS

The shocking passing of Kobe Bryant in January has dominated the basketball world since the news came on that fateful Sunday. It took center stage at the recent NBA All-Star Weekend festivities, and for good reason, has garnered attention unlike anything we have seen in a number of years.

While Kobe never set foot on a college basketball court – he was one of the first of his era to make the jump immediately to the NBA and there is no doubt that many of those who currently play the sport were influenced by the Laker legend. The impact of his loss is felt even among those who will never come close to making it in the NBA.

We are now in the midst of the frenzied fan favorite - NCAA Tournament - which even many casual college basketball fans acknowledge as one of the greatest events on the sports calendar. With this event, tributes to Bryant are sure to be common. Expect to see plenty of sneakers “sharpied” with “24” and “8” in purple and gold.

In the past, I have argued that those filling out a bracket should stick to the favorites and take their chances. Based upon the way things have gone in the 2019-2020 season, this year is an exception to that rule. Trying to predict what will happen in this sport has become

nearly impossible, and doing so in the “Big Dance,” will be no different. This season’s polls are littered with names we are not used to seeing.

Take the AP Top 25 poll released on February 17th, for instance. The top five included three schools – Gonzaga, San Diego State, and Dayton – from non-power conferences. While the Zags are used to occupying that rarefied air, the Aztecs and Flyers, as well as teams like Penn State (9th), Creighton (15th), and Colorado (18th) are anything but regulars. What we have seen so far is that college basketball has no truly elite teams, and it stands to reason that in the one-and-done format the NCAA Tournament presents, this year more than ever, anything could happen.

Whether the topsy-turvy nature of the sport is good for its long-term health is debatable. Many would argue that seeing teams like North Carolina and UCLA is not good for the brand. Undoubtedly, though, the crazy scenarios that might play out across the nation starting in the middle of March could bring chaos we have not seen before.

There is no “sure thing” element about the usual elites like Kansas, Duke, and Kentucky who, though all very good, have been prone to drop games this season that no one would expect them to lose. Baylor has occupied the number-one ranking for several weeks and boasts a gaudy 23-1 record, but no one would be too surprised to see the Bears exit the Tournament early.

Figuring out which team will emerge to hoist the national championship trophy will be a tall task, but the wide open season should make for one of the most compelling tournaments we have ever seen.