RIP Billy Packer

[micropolitan guy]

Growing up as a young college basketball fan was so much fun in the 80s. The Big East was a blast. The ACC was fun. Bobby Knight was chucking chairs. The rivalries were intense. The players stayed for four years and had a following when they were drafted by the NBA. Even watching the NCAA selection show was enjoyable because the mid-majors were a mystery (Who the **** is Coppin State?) and they actually would show bubble teams not getting selected. Even our local mid-major made the tournament a couple of times.

Now it’s not so much fun. I don’t begrudge the one and dones or the guys making six figure
NIL deals. They deserve all that they can get. I can do a few clicks and look up any North Bumble**** College and see who they are and watch video of their 24-point loss the night before. The selection show is a bunch of whining over which 15-15 major got snubbed. The major conferences span the country and kill regional rivalries. Our local mid-major has sucked for 30 years with just a couple of NIT games.

There’s so much in life that’s better nowadays. College basketball ain’t.

Now get off my lawn and go get your ****ing shoebox.

St. Peter's was the top story of the 2022 tournament, by far. Then the coach leaves, takes a couple starters with him, two other starters transfer to Bryant and St. Bonas, all because they have immediate eligibility. The Peacocks are back to last place in the MAAC. It's like last March never happened.

 

[BYH 2: Electric Boogaloo]

St. Peter's was the top story of the 2022 tournament, by far. Then the coach leaves, takes a couple starters with him, two other starters transfer to Bryant and St. Bonas, all because they have immediate eligibility. The Peacocks are back to last place in the MAAC. It's like last March never happened.

I agree it fell apart faster than it might have 10 years ago, but it probably still would have fallen apart. Only Butler really followed up a Cinderella run with something similar (actually, the same thing). Given the Saint Peter's athletic budget is basically what any of us have in our car ash trays #OldPeopleReference, this was almost certainly always going to be a wonderful but short-lived miracle story.