Andy Katz, Eamon Brennan, and Diamond Leung answer several questions about the upcoming basketball season and of one them talks about Kentucky and North Carolina and how good it is for college basketball.
1. Is college basketball better off with two blue bloods like North Carolina and Kentucky on top heading into the season?
Brennan: Frankly, guys, I'm not sure how we could argue otherwise. For the past few years, we've heard constant complaints from college hoops analysts and fans that the college game isn't what it used to be -- that all the best talent left for the NBA before programs had a chance to build something lasting and legendary. Call it the era of no great teams. Whether next season is a one-time thing or the start of a trend, the depth, talent and veteran greatness of North Carolina and Kentucky -- arguably the nation's two most recognizable programs -- will end that era. It'll be thrilling to watch, and I think most casual fans will agree. Andy, Diamond ... is there any way this isn't good for the sport?
Katz: Look, it's great for the game that Harrison Barnes, Tyler Zeller and John Henson decided to return to school. I love that these three players see some unfinished business. Kentucky has the potential to be a special team. But that would mean the Wildcats are relying heavily on freshmen.
I still have UK at No. 2 on my list, but Marquis Teague now has to be the point guard without Brandon Knight as his mentor. That's asking an awful lot for Kentucky to have three straight special point guards as freshmen. I'm not convinced yet that Teague can follow up on what John Wall and Knight did for the Wildcats. That's my minor critique. But having UNC and Kentucky atop the rankings is good for the game. Familiar names help the sport, especially in gathering excitement leading into the season. Once you get to March, it's OK for a school like Butler to build momentum toward a title run. But the sport needs schools like Kentucky and UNC to set the table in October.
Leung: No argument here, as it's great for the sport that both teams will go into next season with big expectations. Coming off a Final Four appearance, Kentucky should be well-known to even the casual fan, and it's nice to see John Calipari and Terrence Jones getting a chance to team up for another chance at a championship. With North Carolina, it's Barnes and Roy Williams aiming for a title and a chance to add to the tradition. I bring up those names in particular because it's high-profile coaches and mega-talents who bring the star power. Eamonn's point about no great teams has been a knock on the sport since the one-and-done era. That Barnes and Jones are among those going against the grain by coming back for their sophomore seasons really adds intrigue to next season. I think the college basketball fan is one of the clear winners of the offseason.
Brennan: Frankly, guys, I'm not sure how we could argue otherwise. For the past few years, we've heard constant complaints from college hoops analysts and fans that the college game isn't what it used to be -- that all the best talent left for the NBA before programs had a chance to build something lasting and legendary. Call it the era of no great teams. Whether next season is a one-time thing or the start of a trend, the depth, talent and veteran greatness of North Carolina and Kentucky -- arguably the nation's two most recognizable programs -- will end that era. It'll be thrilling to watch, and I think most casual fans will agree. Andy, Diamond ... is there any way this isn't good for the sport?
Katz: Look, it's great for the game that Harrison Barnes, Tyler Zeller and John Henson decided to return to school. I love that these three players see some unfinished business. Kentucky has the potential to be a special team. But that would mean the Wildcats are relying heavily on freshmen.
I still have UK at No. 2 on my list, but Marquis Teague now has to be the point guard without Brandon Knight as his mentor. That's asking an awful lot for Kentucky to have three straight special point guards as freshmen. I'm not convinced yet that Teague can follow up on what John Wall and Knight did for the Wildcats. That's my minor critique. But having UNC and Kentucky atop the rankings is good for the game. Familiar names help the sport, especially in gathering excitement leading into the season. Once you get to March, it's OK for a school like Butler to build momentum toward a title run. But the sport needs schools like Kentucky and UNC to set the table in October.
Leung: No argument here, as it's great for the sport that both teams will go into next season with big expectations. Coming off a Final Four appearance, Kentucky should be well-known to even the casual fan, and it's nice to see John Calipari and Terrence Jones getting a chance to team up for another chance at a championship. With North Carolina, it's Barnes and Roy Williams aiming for a title and a chance to add to the tradition. I bring up those names in particular because it's high-profile coaches and mega-talents who bring the star power. Eamonn's point about no great teams has been a knock on the sport since the one-and-done era. That Barnes and Jones are among those going against the grain by coming back for their sophomore seasons really adds intrigue to next season. I think the college basketball fan is one of the clear winners of the offseason.
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