You guys remember how talented the SEC had been over the last 10-15 years compared to now? It appears the SEC has gone way down hill this year and it got me thinking. Arkansas and Kentucky were perennial powerhouses. LSU had a couple final four teams Georgia, South carolina, Tennessee, and vanderbilt all enjoyed top 20 success in the mid-late 90's. Mississippi state made a final four in the 90's and over the past 3 years has had several stints in the top ten. Florida was ranked number one at one time last year. what happenned? the whole SEC with the exception of ole miss has a storied program. what happened? have the football programs begun to overshadow everything else and the talent all goes to the acc and big east? I've noticed the same thing with the big ten. as football gets more and more popular/profitable, basketball attendance/excitement has declined. my love is football but college basketball is probably the most exciting sport we have. why doesnt anyone in the southeast relish it like we do football?
I'm sure there are a lot of factors, and I don't profess to understand it. But just some guesses: 1 -- Cost of going to football games has risen dramatically, and could limit people's interest in the other sports 2 -- It's cyclical. Just a hunch, but this could just be part of the normal ebb and flow of programs. 3 -- Recruiting -- normally bigger schools could get one superstar and build a team around them. Now, those kids go pro, and the few that don't can be more selective on where they go. So, they choose "basketball schools" where they're more likely to be a star.
Im pissed at vandi. They have nothing else. With the SEC so down and they still can't get in the tournament is inexcusable. They are the Rudy of SEC basketball. When your SEC team loses out, all fans across the southeast were able to rally behind vandi with a bench full of 3 pt shooting whiteboys. I used to live vicariously through this overachieving team. its on them. something must be done.
