2024-2025 B1G Basketball Thread

[medinabuckeye1]

I just checked, and I don't see where I called for government to step in...

As I often say, we're all going the same place, and it's nice to have the freedom to decorate our own handbasket.

That is fair as I don't think that you specifically called for Government to limit gambling but to be fair the other way, you DID pretty much give the contra-Libertarian talking points.  

[medinabuckeye1]

Seems crazy that they put a 1 seed in the regional that happens to be a de facto home game for the 4 seed.

Let's have a closer look at that across the board so they have:
Newark, New Jersey:

• #1 Dook vs #4 Arizona
• #2 Alabama vs #6 BYU (#3 was Wisconsin)

San Francisco, California:

• #1 Florida vs #4 Maryland
• #3 TxTech vs #10 Arkansas (#2 was St. Johns)

Atlanta, Georgia:

• #1 Auburn vs #5 Michigan (#4 was aTm)
• #2 Michigan State vs #6 Ole Miss (#3 was ISU)

Indianapolis, Indiana:

• #1 Houston vs #4 Purdue
• #2 Tennessee vs #3 Kentucky

As I see it, ticket demand in Indianapolis is going to be off the charts.  Purdue is in-state, Kentucky is a border state and the Wildcats are known for travelling extremely well, Tennessee is not all that far away, and the #1 seed will always bring some fans just because they are a #1 seed.  

So Purdue gets some good fortune this year:

• They got to play a #12 instead of a #5 in the second round, and
• They get second weekend game(s) in their own backyard

They also get some bad fortune:

• Theirs is the only regional that goes 1-2-3-4 so there will be no busted bracket.  They have to beat the #1 seed to make the E8 and it will be either the #2 or the #3 to make the F4.  

[medinabuckeye1]

First weekend performance by seed over 40 NCAA Tournaments:

[LittlePig]

Looks like it's official.  Iowa has hired Drake coach Ben McCollum as it's new head coach.

Sounds like McCollum was holding out to get more NIL money for Iowa,  and was using WV''s interest in McCollum to get the extra NIL money.  It will be interesting to see who Iowa can recruit through the portal.   I assume McCollum will bring his best players along from Drake.

Now for the 2nd year in a row,  Drake has to find a replacement for coach that got the Bulldogs into the NCAA tourney and took their best players with him.

[betarhoalphadelta]

That is fair as I don't think that you specifically called for Government to limit gambling but to be fair the other way, you DID pretty much give the contra-Libertarian talking points. 

I'm allowed to think something is terrible without calling for it to be illegal. 

I honestly do think that the gambling apps are supercharging this. And from the John Oliver piece, there are more than a few stories about people who are complete and total gambling addicts who get themselves treated as "VIPs" from the apps where they pretty much have a personal concierge trying to make sure they've constantly got action. (Granted, I also know that John Oliver is by no means a neutral bystander in any of this--he had a slant to the piece.)

And I think the constant talk on TV about gambling and betting lines, to the point where the Worldwide Leader now has their own betting service, sullies the game. 

I think people should be free to gamble, and at the same time I think these gambling apps are predatory and act with evil intent to their most vulnerable customers. Freedom doesn't mean freedom from being criticized. 

[GopherRock]

Niko Medved from Colorado State to the Gophers.

Good hire.

[847badgerfan]

Niko Medved from Colorado State to the Gophers.

Good hire.

Finished second to little Ricky's team. Heh.

[Riffraft]

Wow!
Our resident Libertarian taking a contra-libertarian stance in, if all places, the BB thread!

Now that deserves this:

As a libertarian (small l) i notice that he takes non-libertarian stances quite regularly. Maybe  I notice it because it stands out to me.  Make it at least a few times

[medinabuckeye1]

Gambling is highly addictive.  And it's much easier to hide from loved ones and those relying on you than drugs/alcohol.  You can lose your family's house without them knowing there was a problem. 

Initially I mostly chimed in on this because I was surprised to see @betarhoalphadelta reciting contra-libertarian talking points.  He clarified that he doesn't actually think this SHOULD be illegal, just that it is bad.  

I think that @OrangeAfroMan makes a good point here.  This all started with @SuperMario 's observation that guys at the opening weekend games in Cleveland were audibly talking about making bets like $1,000 on the Lobos to be the first to 10 points.  

What is the consensus here on this issue?  (Maybe this should get moved over to another thread).  

I'm not sure where I stand.  I definitely think it is bad and I agree with @betarhoalphadelta that it sullies the game (or at least it can) but at the same time, I don't think banning sports better altogether is a workable solution nor necessarily one that Government *SHOULD* do even if they functionally could.  So I'm not sure where that leaves me.  Thoughts?

[MrNubbz]

I think that @OrangeAfroMan makes a good point here.  This all started with @SuperMario 's observation that guys at the opening weekend games in Cleveland were audibly talking about making bets like $1,000 on the Lobos to be the first to 10 points. 

What is the consensus here on this issue? 

That Clevelanders are gambling degenerates?

[Riffraft]

Initially I mostly chimed in on this because I was surprised to see @betarhoalphadelta reciting contra-libertarian talking points.  He clarified that he doesn't actually think this SHOULD be illegal, just that it is bad. 

I think that @OrangeAfroMan makes a good point here.  This all started with @SuperMario 's observation that guys at the opening weekend games in Cleveland were audibly talking about making bets like $1,000 on the Lobos to be the first to 10 points. 

What is the consensus here on this issue?  (Maybe this should get moved over to another thread). 

I'm not sure where I stand.  I definitely think it is bad and I agree with @betarhoalphadelta that it sullies the game (or at least it can) but at the same time, I don't think banning sports better altogether is a workable solution nor necessarily one that Government *SHOULD* do even if they functionally could.  So I'm not sure where that leaves me.  Thoughts?

Gambling should be legal everywhere and anytime. 

[ELA]

I mean our alcohol restrictions (aside from the outdated Puritan ones about no sales on Sunday) are based on the immediate safety of others.  While gambling addiction obviously harms others, we don't do anything about the alcoholic who does it in his own house, unless he violates some other law.

I really don't see a reason to limit it, even if I don't like it

[Riffraft]

I mean our alcohol restrictions (aside from the outdated Puritan ones about no sales on Sunday) are based on the immediate safety of others.  While gambling addiction obviously harms others, we don't do anything about the alcoholic who does it in his own house, unless he violates some other law.

I really don't see a reason to limit it, even if I don't like it

Get rid of alcohol restrictions other than age which should be 18 old enough to vote old enough to serve old enough to drink.  If you drink and harm others there are remedies either criminal or civil.  If I drink and harm no one but myself it is my choice.  Only when others are actually harmed not potentially harmed should there be any consequences. Also don't ask me to pay of your "recovery". 

[ELA]

I can't get that far