What have THEY done for us lately?
They being our respective alma maters ...
cId,
<< The Bruins have 11 National Championships (more than the Big East combined ... )
The Golden Years of UCLA hoops is ancient history, a remnant of a bygone era and the college game has change considerably since that era ended. In the 12 years from '63 to '75, the 'Wizard of Westwood' coached Bruins dominated college hoops and John Wooden is now legend as are Alcindor and Walton, the games' dominant collegiate centers of that period. Prior to the Wooden years the Pac-10 had produced only 3 national champs -- Oregon in '39, The Cardinal in '42, and Cal in '59. In the last 34 years, the Pac-10 has produced only two NCAA basketball champs. UCLA 14 years ago ('95), and Arizona 12 years ago ('97). Today, the Big East and ACC conferences dominate the game.
What's Changed other than curmudgeons attitudes? Freshman eligibility; revised academic admission requirements for student athletes attending NCAA member schools; recruiting on the playground of NYC and Philly; the rise of prominence and popularity in other team sports (golf, hockey, lacrosse, soccer, etc.) and the considerably enhanced ladies' game; the 3 point shot; formation of the Big BEast in '79 and realignment and expansion of other conferences; the beginning of the NCAA tournament seeding process in 1979 (only 6 #1 ranked team have won the championship since); players don't have to complete 4 academic years in college before entering the NBA; NBA expansion; prepsters and the best international players entering NBA with no college; the WBNA formation ... etc., etc.
<< The Bruins have been in the Final Four 3 out of the last 4 years, and lost 3 players to the NBA (all starters, two ROY candidates). >>
That's three consecutive years of Final Fours out of the last 5 with no championships since they imported a Big BEast coach who had rebuilt Pitt hoops. earned NCAA 'Coach of the Year' honors there, and imported Big BEast style basketball to UCLA -- but they play in a considerably weaker conference, recruit mercenary youngsters headed early for the NBA early rather than student athletes that are students. and don't graduate their seniors like Jay Wright does.
<< Villanova has one national championship, and choked when it counted. >>
They did, and they choked this year, just as the Bruins eventually choked every year since they last won a championship back in the last decade. Getting to the Final Four is an honor in itself, and kudos to the Bruins, but Joakim Noah and company thumped 'em by 16 points in 2006 after ousting #1 seed 'Nova in the regionals, then thumped 'em again by 10 points in '07 to repeat as national champs. Memphis blew 'em out in the 2nd round in '08, and 'Nove beat em in the Eastern regionals by 20 points this year.
So let's add this up. In the last 37 years UCLA has one national basketball championship and their conference has 3. In that same modern era the Big BEast has 8 championships: 2 for UConn, 2 for Louisville, 1 each for Georgetown, Marquette, 'Nova, and Syracuse. While the ACC is not as deep as the Big BEast they've won 9: North Carolina has 4, in that stretch, Duke has 3. NC State 1, Maryland 1. The Big 10 has been in the championship game 12 times since '76 and has won 6 titles. Indiana copped 3, Michigan State 2, and Michigan 1. They've also won 6 NITs. The SEC has fielded 6 champions, Kentucky with 3, Florida 2, and Arkansas 1, since the UCLA faded.
<< As to Lady Hoopsters? Who cares? >>
The Bruins men could have used Lady Husky Renee Montgomery and/or Maya Moore, and Lady Cardinal Angel McCoughtry this year, and while they wouldn't have beaten 'Nova, they might have avoided the whoopin' they took from the Wildcats.
I guess the Lady Bruins sport of choice is cheerleading, marching band, and mud wrestling.
Gene Auriemma and Pat Head Summitt might both take out Wooden's records for winningest NCAA hoops coach before they retire, although my money's on Geno.
<< And... you still have to live in that awful state. >>
They don't call this state 'The Small Wonder' for nothing. I spent 6 years in the late 70s / early eighties attending monthly staffs in Santa Ana when my division was headquartered there, and 2 years doing the same when our Americas' headquarters was on the Lagoon in Redwood City. Nice places to visit for short periods, but the best part was always touchdown on the flight home. You can continue to attempt to justify your existence in the land of fruits and nuts, while Sheila and I continue to enjoy our 24th year here in the laid back Brandywine Valley tucked in between Maryland and Pennsylvania with easy access to NYC. Inner Harbor, and DC, with a very short hop to our fine beaches, New Jerseys's, Maryland's, and Virginia's a few hours further down the eastern shore. Boston's a day trip as is Newport, Cape Cod, and the Grand Strand, a paradise for golfing curmudgeons in spring and fall.
Speaking of Boston, and NCAA champions, my alma mater's facing off tonight for another NCAA hockey championship at 7 PM EST. We've had a title drought in hockey that's as long as, and the same as, UCLA's in basketball, but Hockey East's as tough as the Big BEast.
Hopefully your watching Masters play at Augusta National like most curmudgeons.
- ce@terriers'R'us.net - |
