UCLA. Kansas. North Carolina. Memphis.
Four of college basketball's elite form the most formidable Final Four since the tourney began seeding 64 teams in 1985. All American's all over the place. Big name coaches. Schools rich in tradition...
So why does it seem like interest is waining?
For college basketball fans, and sports fans, this Saturday should be a dream. The four best teams squaring off head to head, the winner by Monday night will have truly established themself as the best team in the nation. So why don't more people care?
The truth is - we are a soap opera nation. Even hardcore sports fans are more seduced by the lure of a Davidson or George Mason hunting giants in the tourney. We champion Villanova 85' and NC State of 83'. We forget the brilliance of Kentucky from 96-98, and were bored of Duke by the early 2000's.
Could it really be possible that the beauty of the tournament is the frenzy of the first two weeks? Games around the clock, upsets galore, full of emerging stories of neverknowns and overlookeds. Full of drama. Full of intrigue.
There is a precedent for this same phenomenon. Last season's interest in the NBA playoffs peaked as the "Cinderella" Warriors ousted the league's top team, Dallas in round one. The gritty band of tough-nosed Warriors led by Mav's former coach Don Nelson toppling the mighty Mavericks and turning the league upside down! Watching the Bay Area crowds erupt as their team won a playoff series for the first time in far more than a decade enthralled the sports world. It had every story line imaginable. It had dramatic play, emotion and tension. It was great TV.
By the time the Warriors advanced to the next round to face the Jazz... the drama had quieted. By the time the Final rolled around (Spurs and Cavs, right??) We had lost interest.
Now the Final Four has rolled around, and it is just sports. No more soap-operas and fairy tales. Just great basketball.
And shouldn't that be celebration enough?
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