Eight reasons to still watch college basketball even if your favorite team stinks

It’s no secret that, for some of the biggest and best fan-bases in college basketball, it’s been a tough, exhausting year. The 2020-2021 season hasn’t been kind to Duke, Kentucky and Michigan State fans, as all three teams will likely make the NCAA Tournament. North Carolina and Kansas may get there but don’t seem like they’ll go very far.

That’s right, those teams flat out stink. Which may leave many fans of those schools wondering “Why the heck should I even watch college basketball the rest of the year?” Well, it’s a great question and it has been something I’ve been pondering the last days.

No, I can’t make your team instantaneously good if they’re not already.

But I can give you a few reasons to keep watching college basketball, even if your squad stinks.

Here are XX reasons.

Gonzaga and Baylor going for history

I know if you’re a Duke or Kentucky fan, it probably isn’t all that fun to see Gonzaga and Baylor have all the success they’re having this season. In some ways, I’m sure it’s like watching a younger cousin who you never expected to amount to anything graduate from Stanford and create an app that changes the world and makes them filthy rich in the process.

“THAT SHOULD BE ME,” you scream to yourself, all while having a terrible nightmare you can’t wake up from.

Still, just because no one could have seen these two programs emerging into college basketball super powers just a few years ago, it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t appreciate the seasons they’re in the midst of right now.

The obvious story of course is that with the Zags sitting at 18-0, the Bears at 17-0, each is going for history. We all know that there have only been three teams to enter the NCAA Tournament undefeated in the last 30 years (I won’t mention which was last) and none have won it all without a loss in close to 50 years at this point.

And over the next few weeks we’ll start to get a clearer picture of whether either can get there or not. Gonzaga has just three regular season conference games remaining, meaning that – assuming they show up at the WCC Tournament – they have just five games total to take a loss. With Baylor postponing a few games recently, they only have a handful as well, although it remains to be seen whether any will be made up or not.

Even if they don’t ultimately achieve history however (and we know one of them won’t) it doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy them in the process. Both are super fun to watch (they each rank in the Top 10 nationally in points per game) but also play the right way, with the Bears especially strong on the defensive end.

Heck, even if that isn’t a sell, maybe this should be: With college basketball continuing to evolve, each team may give us a glimpse into what the future of college basketball may look like. Baylor was built mostly on the backs of four-star recruits and transfers, with players developing within their program, many thanks to a redshirt season. Gonzaga has one elite high school recruit (Jalen Suggs) and a bunch others (Corey Kispert, Joel Ayayi etc.) who’ve developed within their program. They’ve even added a transfer or two for good measure (Andrew Nembhard).

The days of building college basketball programs strictly with one-and-done guys or four-year players seem to be over. Instead, it’s got to be a little bit of everything. And each of these programs shows just that.

It’s actually a fun year to follow the mid-majors

On the opposite spectrum of the really good, dominant, elite teams are the “little guys.” Just about all of us agree that once your team loses in the NCAA Tournament, the best part of March is rooting for the little guy – and there will be no shortage of fun, small school teams to cheer on these next few weeks.

First off, there’s Drake (and the million “started from the bottom now we’re here” puns that come with them) which started 19-0 before suffering their first loss last weekend. In their own conference is Loyola-Chicago, which still has a handful of players left on the roster off that 2018 Final Four run and looks to be headed to another NCAA Tournament (please, no Sister Jean this year. Please!). Belmont is 20-1 this season and running away with the Ohio Valley, and here’s one for you: How about the South Dakota Coyotes, who have never made an NCAA Tournament in school history but are currently alone in first place in the Summit League standings.

There are also plenty of schools just above the “mid major” level that are worth monitoring, those teams that aren’t quite in one bid leagues, but also not in the Power 6 either. The Mountain West has four teams with tournament resumes right now, all with a slightly different way of going about things. Utah State is a team built on physicality and rebounding, while Colorado State is more of a space and pace, three-point heavy team. Boise State has a couple of high-major transfers filling out its roster, while San Diego State is again in position to make the tournament with probably the deepest and most skill of anyone in the league.

The A-10 also has four teams in the mix for a tourney bid, with Saint Louis (coached by Travis Ford), VCU, Richmond and St. Bonaventure battling for a tournament berth.

Familiar faces making runs towards March

If you’re reading this article it means you love college basketball, even if your team isn’t all that good this year. It also means that you watch tons of college basketball too, so you’ll probably be surprised to know that two former ESPN personalities are doing big things in their first year at their respective schools.

Remember Andy Kennedy? Former Ole Miss coach and SEC Network guy? Well, not only did he take over at his alma mater UAB this off-season, but he currently has them at 16-2 overall headed into a weekend double-header at Louisiana Tech.

Then there is Bryce Drew. Shoved aside after one bad season at Vanderbilt (how’s that working out for them?) Drew resurfaced this off-season at Grand Canyon in Phoenix. He currently has the Antelopes (great nickname) sitting at 12-3 overall and alone in first place in the WAC standings.

Should they win the WAC, Drew could lead GCU to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in school history, in his first year at the school.

Not bad. Not bad at all.

The next generation of great coaches

Because rosters flip over so often at the big schools (which is how we got ourselves into this situation at Kentucky, Duke and Michigan State in the first place) college basketball really is a sport where the coaches are the stars, not the players. And with Coach K, Tom Izzo, John Calipari and possibly Roy Williams sidelined for this NCAA Tournament, the 2021 Big Dance will be a solid showcase for the next generation of star coaches.

As things currently stand, Nate Oats (46-years-old) has Alabama alone in first place in the SEC, playing a fun, fast, three-point heavy style. Juwan Howard (how is he 48!!!) has his alma mater alone atop the Big Ten standings, as Michigan has not only remained good post John Beilein, but possibly gotten even better under Howard’s leadership. Ohio State isn’t far behind Michigan in the standings thanks to Chris Holtmann, who is just 49-years-old, but would’ve made his sixth straight NCAA Tournament last season, had it been played. He has also won at least one game in all five of his appearances. We know about Chris Beard (47) from last Final Four, and it appears as though Dan Hurley (48) has UConn set to return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2016.

All are under 50. And all are the next generation of coaching stars in this sport.

(Also, and you didn’t hear this from me, if you’re a blueblood looking for your next coach, this list is a heck of a place to start!)

The last hurrah for some of the other all-time greats

For all the talk about the icons that won’t be competing in March (Izzo, Calipari, Coach K) there are a few that will be there. And this might mark their best chance yet at making a real run at a Final Four or a title.

First, there’s Bob Huggins. For all the talk about his sweat suits and stool on the sideline, the guy is a hell of a coach. And he is doing one of his best coaching jobs yet. After losing Oscar Tshiebwe mid-season, he has completely overhauled this team and the way they play – and the Mountaineers are now alone in second place in the Big 12. With two trips to the Final Four on his resume, is this finally the year that Huggins wins it all?

Leonard Hamilton on the other hand has never even been to a Final Four – although he sure has been knocking of late. The Seminoles made the Eight Eight in 2018, the Sweet 16 in 2019 and were ACC champs in 2020 before the season was called off. Will Hamilton knock down the door and make the Final Four (or beyond) in 2021?

I’m not sure if Lon Kruger is considered a “legend” like the two guys mentioned above, but he probably should be. The guy made his first NCAA Tournament as a head coach in 1986 – 1986!!!! – and basically hasn’t stopped winning since then, taking Kansas State, Florida, Illinois, UNLV and Oklahoma to the NCAA Tournament. He has two Final Fours, and could get back to a third this year.

This could also be Rick Barnes’ best shot at a second Final Four trip of his career as well.

There are some fun players to follow as well

Yes, the stars at Kentucky and Duke haven’t quite lived up to expectation this year. But it doesn’t mean that the NCAA Tournament won’t be full of plenty of other guys that are worth watching.

Cade Cunningham (Oklahoma State), Jalen Suggs (Gonzaga) and Evan Mobley will obviously be the names worth monitoring, as the three players who could go No.’s 1, 2 and 3 overall in the NBA Draft this winter. Considering that Cunningham has gotten more airtime on ESPN than Stephen A. Smith since November and Suggs is on the No. 1 team in the country, I’m especially excited to see Mobley get a national stage. The kid is a legit 7’0, with elite athleticism, crazy wingspan and defensive instincts. He can take over games without ever scoring a basket and I can’t wait for the average fan to check him out.

In terms of the older guys, first, there are the familiar names. Illinois has a pair of All-Americans in Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn and Iowa has Luka Garza. Mac McClung has been a household name since high school (assuming your “household” includes at least one teenager who loves watching basketball highlights on YouTube and Instagram), but it will be cool to see him in his first NCAA Tournament.

Then there are the guys that maybe aren’t as familiar to the casual fans just yet. I mentioned Mobley (USC) above, but there is also James Bouknight (UConn), Miles McBride (West Virginia), Jared Butler and Davion Mitchell (Baylor) and many, many, more.

It’s also a chance to scout for the next generation of high-major stars

With the one-time transfer rule likely coming into effect before next year, late February, March and the NCAA Tournament might be a good place to also scout for your next group of star players. I’m not telling you to tamper necessarily (please don’t be that creepy guy in his 30’s that DM’s 18-year-olds), but there is a good chance that the star players you see over the next month, may end up on a high-major campus near you.

Remember, before Carlik Jones was a breakout star at Louisville, he hit a buzzer beater to send Radford to the NCAA Tournament. Charles Mineland made the WCC title game at San Francisco last year before ending up at Louisville this season as well. Baylor’s second-leading scorer MaCio Teague was once a two-time All-Big South performer at UNC-Asheville and Michigan starting point guard Mike Smith spent his first four years at Columbia.

Was there any other way to start #RADWeek?!

Carlik Jones sends @RadfordMBB to @MarchMadness with a buzzer beater at the 2018 #BigSouthMBB🏀 Championship game!

(📽: @HerculesTires) pic.twitter.com/0keMbIfCn7

— Big South Conference (@BigSouthSports) October 26, 2020

I could go on and on about all the transfers having an impact at big-time schools, but I’ll save you the space.

Just know that you’ll inevitably end up seeing some kid over the next few weeks that will end up at a school near you soon. But remember, if he plays well, don’t be the weirdo that slides into his DM’s and tries to convince him to transfer to your school.

Because it’s March and what else are you going to be doing?

In the end, I understand any fan’s frustration with a down season. The only thing worse than watching a team that stinks, is watching a team that stinks during a Covid-19 season. Much like the players and coaches, there is no escaping – no going to friends or family’s houses, no going out to bars to drown your sorrows, no quick vacations. Just long nights, stuck at home watching bad basketball.

At the same time, once March hits, what else are you going to do besides watch college basketball? One, it’s not like there will be anything other than college hoops to watch, and two, the NCAA Tournament always delivers.

Even if your team isn’t good, even if they bow out early or go late, the NCAA Tournament is one of the single, most entertaining events on the sports calendar.

And I hope you’ll be watching with me. No matter how bad your team is.