2024 NCAA Tournament Thread

[The Sultan]

Uh oh. Looks like Dawn Staley may need to be cancelled.

[MUfan12]

Uh oh. Looks like Dawn Staley may need to be cancelled.

A new era of roster construction? Can't spell transfer portal without trans.

[WhiteTrash]

Uhhhhh......tennis?????

I maybe wrong, but I feel like tennis is less popular than in the 80's and 90's. Both men's and women's.

[MuggsyB]

I maybe wrong, but I feel like tennis is less popular than in the 80's and 90's. Both men's and women's.

Tennis  has always been.the most lucrative women's sport.  That doesn't necessarily mean it's the most popular but I still think it's huge worldwide. 

[Uncle Rico]

Tennis  has always been.the most lucrative women's sport.  That doesn't necessarily mean it's the most popular but I still think it's huge worldwide.

Yes, tennis, too.

[Shaka Shart]

Yes, tennis, too.

It's massive worldwide. It helps in the US that American men in tennis recently have for the most part kinda stunk and the US has had a run of the most dominant female players of all time.

[Uncle Rico]

It's massive worldwide. It helps in the US that American men in tennis recently have for the most part kinda stunk and the US has had a run of the most dominant female players of all time.

Women's tennis has held its own with the men for a long time.  Evert-Martina was must-see-TV rivalry. 

[JakeBarnes]

I spent the morning after a workout watching the Women's Paris Roubaix. Lotte Kopecky may be one of the most impressive cyclists in the world right now (Current Road and Track champion, 2nd in TdF "avec zwift") and just won one of the monuments.

Peacock...not just for crappy big 10 games!

[Shaka Shart]

Women's tennis has held its own with the men for a long time.  Evert-Martina was must-see-TV rivalry.

Agreed. Moreso just within the last decade I am referring to its consistency in longevity within our borders. Not really cyclical like other sports can be.

[WhiteTrash]

Women's tennis has held its own with the men for a long time.  Evert-Martina was must-see-TV rivalry.

When I used to play and watch tennis, I enjoyed the women slightly more then men. Longer points made it more interesting.

[MuggsyB]

Yes, tennis, too.

You forgot about swimming and figure skating. 

[Uncle Rico]

You forgot about swimming and figure skating.

Not sure figure skating resonates as much anymore but I could be wrong

[willie warrior]

Thought this was BB board. Chick tennis?

[WhiteTrash]

Uh oh. Looks like Dawn Staley may need to be cancelled.

What happened?

[MuggsyB]

When I used to play and watch tennis, I enjoyed the women slightly more than men. Longer points made it more interesting.

I think it's totally dependent an the particular era, match, or rivalries.  I don't agree with the longer points narrative.  Watching Fed, Nadal, Djoker, and even Murray in their primes was as good as it gets.  With very long rallies.  On the flipside when Serena dominated, especially after Henin retired, her matches weren't particularly compelling imo. 

[MuggsyB]

Not sure figure skating resonates as much anymore but I could be wrong

Figure skating is a big deal.  So is snowboarding/skiing. 

[Uncle Rico]

I think it's totally dependent an the particular era, match, or rivalries.  I don't agree with the longer points narrative.  Watching Fed, Nadal, Djoker, and even Murray in their primes was as good as it gets.  With very long rallies.  On the flipside when Serena dominated, especially after Henin retired, her matches weren't particularly compelling imo.

Serena's greatness and watchability was her dominance.  Made it compelling when she got challenged

[Uncle Rico]

Figure skating is a big deal.  So is snowboarding/skiing.

Doesn't feel like figure skating is as big as used to be but I admit I could be wrong

[MuggsyB]

Doesn't feel like figure skating is as big as used to be but I admit I could be wrong

That's cause Sakamoto is dominant and a lot of Japanese skaters have taken over.  It's still a huge women's sport worldwide and the biggest sport in the Winter Olympics .

[WhiteTrash]

I think it's totally dependent an the particular era, match, or rivalries.  I don't agree with the longer points narrative.  Watching Fed, Nadal, Djoker, and even Murray in their primes was as good as it gets.  With very long rallies.  On the flipside when Serena dominated, especially after Henin retired, her matches weren't particularly compelling imo.

That's fair. I honestly haven't watched in 15 years. But, I was speaking to my personal experience when I did watch and the women's game was more enjoyable. 

[MuggsyB]

That's fair. I honestly haven't watched in 15 years. But, I was speaking to my personal experience when I did watch and the women's game was more enjoyable.

I think when technology changed the game became more power oriented.   I can't speak to the wooden racket era but I have enjoyed watching those old clips of Martina/Chris and Graf/Seles. 

[WhiteTrash]

I think when technology changed the game became more power oriented.   I can't speak to the wooden racket era but I have enjoyed watching those old clips of Martina/Chris and Graf/Seles.

I don't remember wooden rackets in the pro game when I started watching in the 80s. Aluminum and graphite were the rackets in the 'old' days.

My first racket was wood. My first driver was wood too. Oh, and I had a 1 & 2 iron in my set.

[MuggsyB]

I just listened to an interview with Dwight Burns Sr, DJ's dad.  What an impressive and cool guy.  That young man was raised right.  He said when he and his wife travel to watch DJ, they always stay at a different hotel because they don't want to distract him from the game or team responsibilities.   This time they are at the same hotel with the NC State team.  Dwight said when he saw DJ coming off the elevator he just "went the other direction".  Lol. 

I can't see them beating Purdue and it really sucks we're not there.  That said, it would be unbelievably Purdue like to lose to NC State. 

[The Sultan]

Hardly anybody watches chick bb.

https://x.com/nicoleauerbach/status/1776707920006123822?s=46&t=ppua9BCUAa7dWM9-SthPmg

Iowa v. South Carolina had 14.2 million viewers.

[lawdog77]

https://x.com/nicoleauerbach/status/1776707920006123822?s=46&t=ppua9BCUAa7dWM9-SthPmg

Iowa v. South Carolina had 14.2 million viewers.

Well, there are 8 billion people on earth.