Idk, I think individual talent does impact the sport to an extent. Look at all the talk this season about how down college hoops was. I guess I’m not sure how much the ratings were actually affected in practice, but anecdotally I was definitely less interested in watching national college hoops due to all the teams being bad. I was not interested in watching Butler or Baylor games
Although, I think the bigger source of the talent drain is underclassmen leaving early to go play overseas.
Oh bummer.
Doesn’t that just say that Butler and Baylor play a style of hoops that isn’t all that exciting to you?
I just think that fewer one and ones or roster could lead to some better teams overall. A lot of teams that feature notable one and dones aren’t always that coherent or good.
My guess is that you’re talking a pretty small amount of the viewership though. Outside of the tournament, which I think will get huge eyeballs no matter who is suiting up, fans probably mostly watch “their” team. Outside of that, people probably hear “Oh, North Carolina and Duke are playing!” and watch that.
That’s precisely how I feel about it. If I ever watch Jalen Green play, it’ll be once he’s in the NBA. Save for maybe if I’m just curious one day, I have no intention of watching a generic collection of kids playing against the NBA fringe. Save for if they play locally. I’d pay $20 a ticket if the games prove to be quality basketball. I don’t know how you amass a group of kids to play on this basis and craft a coherent TEAM from that, so I expect it to be more like summer league, but if it’s not, I’d try it live just to see.
I don’t think the NBA really cares about the product on the floor. The whole point is to streamline evaluation and provide an option for people that is under their control (i.e. not in Australia). If there’s a surge in popularity or people are dying to watch, I think that’s just found money not the overall goal.
that makes sense. If they cared about the product on the floor they would spread these guys out Mongst teams and promote Green vs Todd games, etc. but then you get into negotiating with them where they were going to live and what team they wanted to play for, which presumably would make it tricky.
I know the Moving Screen is a UM/MSU/Big 10 pod, but I’d love to hear you and Quinn throw a pod together about this. Not that we haven’t read your takes on this, but you and Quinn are a great listen on the big picture stuff too.
Think we are gonna do a mailbag pod Monday. Definitely plan on hitting on that.
My submission: True or False @bfquinn06 has told Juwan Howard and Tom Izzo that all road games in Pennsylvania should be scheduled at the Palestra. 
OMG would be so wonderful. That building has more life and character in it than most actual living people have. Would in incredible to see a top-tier game there.
Agreed, my fears the whole time.
Good for him!
