College Basketball (NCAA) vs. Professional Basketball (NBA)

March Madness is an exceptional event—I for one am a huge fan. But the tournament itself aside, March never forgets to be the month where I’m personally maddened by the unavoidable argument of which form of the game is better—college basketball (NCAA) vs. professional basketball (NBA).

We all have a buddy who loves college hoops, just like every group has the guy who focuses entirely on the NBA. In my opinion, this is a stupid argument—both games should be appreciated for what they are, just as both games have positives and negatives. Here’s how I see it…

College Basketball (NCAA)

The Pros:

The college game, and the men’s tournament specifically, is awesome because the players are undoubtedly trying their absolute hardest. They are not a bunch of rich guys who would live perfectly comfortable lives outside of the game. They are playing for their school and the chance to own their respective campuses; they are playing for a chance to make it to the NBA one day. The egos aren’t there to the extent that they are in the NBA.

Additionally, so many teams have a shot to win. Fans who are alumni of a school feel a connection to the schools that they were a part of—very few people are ever members of an NBA organization. The single elimination format of the Big Dance creates a plethora of outstanding finishes in a very short time frame—there’s simply no room for error and a single outstanding performance can mean you’re in or you’re out.

The Cons:

My major knock against the college game is the lack of continuity. While many schools are a part of outstanding rivalries, the players themselves rarely have an opportunity to develop mature rivalries with opposing players. The best players ultimately leave for the NBA early, and the format of the tournament means that your team could lose a flukey game—which can be tough to swallow when your team was the better team. Imagine if the World Series was a single game?

Professional Basketball (NBA)

The Pros:

The best part of the pro game in my opinion is that not only are there enduring rivalries between teams, but also between players. The best rivalries combine the best of the two. Everybody loved watching Magic and Larry go at it. Last night I loved watching Ray Allen get chippy with Kobe Bryant. It’s easier to feel invested in a team with players you’ve been watching year after year.

Aside from the personal rivalries, the NBA is also awesome for the fact that you’re watching the absolute best players in the world. There are few things as cool as watching Blake Griffin dunk or Michael Jordan wag his finger.

The Cons:

The knock on the pro game is that the players are wimpy and whiny, and that they generally don’t try. “The NBA? The last 30 seconds of the game is the only part that matters.” While the sentiment does ring true, I think it’s over-hyped. In the playoffs every team is trying as hard as could be. Have you showed up to work every day of your life for 15 years and tried your absolute hardest?

All in all, there’s a lot to love about both games. In the name of the game (basketball), why can’t we all just get along?

Geoff Roberts is the Founder & Managing Editor of howiGit.com, a Boston sports blog.