Article about the state of college basketball

A good article, and as you noted port, pretty much on point.

It's a sad thing, too, because I really do prefer the college game, or at least what it used to be. Who knows what it will be like in even the near future?

By the way, did you notice that the Illini writer mentioned (indirectly) that he watched the Illinois-Kansas exhibition game on Sunday?

At least he went away from that one happy, even if it was an exhibition.

I haven't read the piece, but will when I get time. That said, I'm aware of the rapidly-changing landscape, warts and all.

Without having read it yet, the one thing that I will say - on the positive side of the ledger - is that watching KU football this year has really driven home to me how much school spirit is alive and well. The sheer excitement (and relatively novelty in sports) of rooting for one's college as it participates in meaningful games (and wins many of them in KUFB's case) gives me great solace, personally. Watching and hearing the student section at the games, reveling in the KU band and the spirit squad, and seeing the pride and enthusiasm of our players in wearing that KANSAS shirt makes me think this will all be alright, in the end. Yes, money drives everything in this country, and it can ruin many things in the process, but in the end it's still our respective schools playing the games on the fields and courts. And that most definitely holds true for KU hoops and the spine-tingling thrill of playing in Allen Fieldhouse - and breaking Big 12 foe hearts on the road.

I'm fired up for this season, though I am a bit concerned that the #1 ranking is a bit of an albatross (and maybe mis-aligned with where this team is now, based on the exhibitions), but I'm hoping those concerns are dispelled starting tonight and going forward. As long as we're playing elite ball come March-April, I'll be happier than a pig in slop!