Arguably, the biggest and best storyline in the NCAA Tournament is that of Caitlin Clark. Not only is that the number one story, but the second story was the game between LSU and Iowa. Thirdly, Kim Mulkey and maybe in the 4th spot would be NC State and UCONN having both a Women's and Men's team in the Final 4.
As recent as four or five years ago UCONN's Women's team would have been the headliner entering the Final Four... Again. However, in the year of our Lord 2024, UCONN's Women's team is nothing more than a blurb. Even further away stands the NCAA Men's Tournament. Great stories, traditional style of basketball and boring games. "March Mid-ness" as some have claimed it to be, has been more than lackluster. Sure we all love the Cinderella Stories... this tournament didn't have, but we stay and watch the "Blue Bloods" in the biggest moments. We have NC State, a team that no one would have seen in the tournament 3 weeks ago. Purdue lead by Zach Edey (traditional dinosaur big man), Alabama, making their first Final Four and then UCONN the defending National Champion.
Those who watch College Basketball, know UCONN is the undivided and overwhelming favorite. Nothing really there with a compelling storyline unless you're a fan of those teams.
Then we have the NCAA Women's Tournament. Action Packed!
Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark Kim Mulkey.
Let's address the proverbial "Elephant in the Room", Kim Mulkey. The articles came out after she took a flame thrower to the reporters... and even then they were severely underwhelming. There is no shock that she has players who love her and players that hate her or think she was a hard-nosed coach who wasn't the nicest person to the players. We all kind of understand that aspect of her personality. Kim Mulkey is a divisive figure in the sport, but her ability to win cannot be questioned. Her politics can be, but that's should never be what overshadows the game on the court, despite the fact she really tries to make that happen. With that being said, we still watch to see what happens in her games.
Back on the court we had the most anticipated game of both Tournaments. The Defending Champion, LSU Tigers taking on the Basketball Phenom, Caitlin Clark and her Iowa Hawkeyes. Angel Reese and Clark creating this generations "Magic V Bird" giving us the storyline we need as they both eye the WBNA.
The game and the personalities, both something we actually care about. They've both been on their respective teams for long periods of time, developed as players and made us fall in love with the memories of their individual accomplishments and team triumphs. We learned about these players because they simply stayed. They grew up in front of us.
The numbers that highlight the growth of Women's College Basketball, are proof that as the sport of basketball continues to diminish as a whole, the women's collegiate game is bringing the whole thing back up.
Women's College Basketball is leap frogging the men's game because they don't leave early. The game isn't just about highlights, but it's pure basketball played with passion by players that made us care about them. They came out to the forefront and told us their story. Paige Beuckers and Juju Watkins, two of the "other" storylines in the tournament. The up and coming freshman scoring machine in Watkins who took the game by storm with a 51 point performance on the road to becoming the all-time leading freshmen scorer in NCAA Women's Basketball.
Beuckers, coming off of an injury, working to get herself and the program she loves back to prominence. These stories, became stories we care about because we've seen the journey and in Watkins' case, witnessed the start of it.
The men's game doesn't have this anymore. Sure some teams have older players who are staying because of NIL deals, so the need ot be a "One and Done" for money is not really a thing anymore. But almost two decades of it have made stained the game in a way that it feels almost impossible to come back from.
The Transfer Portal: the two words everyone hates to hear. The transfer Portal has become the new way of business in the men's game. Yes, the women use it too, but it's not as egregious as the men's side of the coin. Locally in El Paso, UTEP Basketball Player, Yazid Powell, played for 4 different schools in 5 years. His final season, here at UTEP saw him grow as a player, but is also more than likely his last. We don't have the long term players staying in the sports the entirety of a normal college career and now we don't have them staying at one school... sometimes not even three schools. There isn't the connection to the fans in the mens game that the women's game is cultivating.
Coaching Carousel: Over the last decade we've seen the long term legends step down from their post, opening up the doors for the new younger voice to step in and fill their shoes. However, the average tenure of a head coach in NCAA Men's Basketball is now a lowly 5 years. Locally, UTEP Men's Basketball has had 8 coaches over the 24 years since Don Haskins retired. 3 years on average per coach... which includes an eight year stay by Tim Floyd.
The cause could be fans impatience with the Men's game. If it's not a winner in the NCAA Tournament or a championship contender, fans want the coach gone. Or the coach gets a little success and moves on to a bigger college. The movement of musical coaches causes players to leave, causing the fans to sever ties to the player and the want of the fan to see the player succeed, leaves. The Passion for the team mights still be there, but the stories that pull you in as a fan of the game, leave. The going gets tough and EVERYONE gets going. Would Caitlin Clark have the loyal following she does, if she left Iowa? More than likely not.
The NCAA Men's Game is starting to mirror the NBA and player movement, while the Women's game is actually growing and developing a fanbase. One is in real trouble and needs to be saved by a single month, where the other is finally on the rise, getting eyes on it and cultivating a loyal following that was left behind in the review of NIL and Movement. The Women's game isn't next, it has arrived!
Comments