College Basketball: Why women's games are better than men's

Originally Posted on Foxsports.com on December 18, 2005.

College women's basketball is an underrated sport.  The attention of fans, money of sponsors and media hype goes to the men's game.  I like college men's basketball, but I love college women's basketball.

First, the women play more of a finesse game.  There is a clear strategy:  plays are set up and executed; defenses are planned and followed through on.  You can actually figure out which offense or defense the teams are running.  The men's game has become a foot race to see who can slam the ball in the bucket or score in the shortest amount of  time.   Hot-dogging appears to be a requirement of the game.

Men's basketball is a much more physical game.  This leads some to argue that men's games are more exciting.   I don't know that they are more exciting, and I'd argue that the only place my heart should beat fast is at the gym.  Or when I'm alone with the cute guy from the gym. 

Furthermore, muscling the ball away from a smaller player doesn't necessarily mean you are the better player.  Just that you are bigger.  Similarly, out running another player does not mean you are a better basketball player.  Just that you are faster.

This is not to say that the women's games aren't physical - they are, but in a different way than the men's games are.  In the men's game - size matters.  It can make a difference in the women's game too, but it seems that there is a greater size disparity between players in the women's game than there ever is on the floor for a men's game.

The attitude of the players is radically different.  The women are more approachable, seem to genuinely interact with their coaches, and avoid diva like behavior.  Unfortunately, many of the men have bought into the hype surrounding their sport - they infrequently interact with fans, and when they do, they act like they've done something remarkable, like cure cancer instead of had .500 season in basketball.  I know that not all players in either league fall into these categories, but I don't think I'm far off the mark.  Given the problems in the NBA, where someone has a problem with a fan/coach/teammate on a weekly basis, is there any doubt that this is behavior that is deep-seeded and probably started in college?

These attitudes carry over to the fan base.  In general, the men's crowds are a lot less considerate than the women's crowds are.  Maybe the actual theory is that fewer people = fewer idiots. 

If you are basketball fan, I urge you to go to a college women's game.  Who knows, you may decide you like it better, too.