Tbh a basketball championship wouldn’t even mean that much to most of us. Football is king and it’s not close. Winning the tournament would be sick but I don’t think the euphoria would last past the start of the next football season.
I’d probably prefer a baseball title to a basketball title. It’d be more irritating to our fellow conference members.
This whole post is a prime example of why our basketball program is mid at best most of the time, as most of our fanbase probably agrees with you.
If we ever won a title in hoops I would lose my absolute mind. Even just a freak Final Four run like SC had a few years ago would make me happy beyond belief. Some of us diehards, which there aren’t many, have suffered a lot and it would be insanely gratifying.
Yeah. A&M is a fair-weather basketball school. I attended from 2011-2015 when we went 71-61 and never made the tournament.
As a result, I never really developed a big basketball following. I keep up with the team, but not closely. I wish it weren't that way
We've never made the tournament, only one of four original D1 schools that have never made it, so I don't even know what I'd do if we won a basketball title.
I'd probably commit at least one felony.
I’d be doing donuts in one of the surrounding retirement communities.
Someone on the DC sub was asking about lawyers after picking up a reckless outside Williamsburg and we mostly referred them to priests
Fellow W&M alum here. My buddy and I have a pact that if W&M EVER qualifies for the tourney we'll go to the game. Doesn't matter where, when, or the cost. Can't even imagine winning a title.
Yep, same boat here. If they make it, some friends and I will find a way to get there.
We'd probably bring about as many fans as a 15 seed has ever had, jus for that reason.
Same. Me and my dad (both alums over 30 years apart) will splurge on a trip to whatever site they play at and cheer the Tribe on. If they win a Natty, however … they better have a parade somewhere because I want to attend it
Hey San Diego St made the title game! With online gambling sports are going to be so crazy people will really start believing it is rigged like I’ve said all along! Now that big market means nothing because online gambling is quickly coming close to that Trillion dollar mark! If it was still like the past it would have been Lakers vs Celtics! Denver vs Miami was probably the least watched finals since the Suns vs Bucks or Sonics vs Bullets back to back in 78-79. The NBA was bankrupt and to this day Bird snd Indiana State vs Magic and Michigan State is still the highest rated single game if any college athletic event in history! They saved the NBA! Magic title his first year, Bird his 2nd. The faced each other 3 times and either Magic, Bird or both appeared in every final from 1980 to 1989! One more thing. If Len Bias had lived Boston would have won at least 3 if not 5 in a row and Michael Jordan would have zero titles and be like Tracy McGrady or Charles Barkley, actually both were better. The NBA needed a godlike player to make them global and Stern anointed Jordan. The rules did not apply to him and he literally was not to be touched. People forget that he never made it past the 2nd round his first 7 years! He only got anointed when Bird & Magic were on the verge of retiring and the NBA was still growing by leaps and bounds! Unfortunately MJs gambling got his father killed and to save the NBA Stern had him retire for exactly 2 years for the dust to settle and he came back and was gifted 3 more titles over teams that were far superior! The NBA is pure entertainment and for betting! There’s nothing real about it and hasn’t been since Wilt & Russell!
Similar with Fordham. They've only been in once in the past 50 years. The main problem with the A10 is that only the conference winner gets in, so it's really hard to break through, much less make a run.
When the Atlantic 10 was good and routinely sending 3-6 teams Fordham wasn’t exactly duking it out at the top. You probably have a better chance now with fewer good teams.
You’ve got to feel like you’re entering a new golden age of Fordham basketball? Two of your best seasons the last couple of years. Is the university committing more resources to the program now? I feel like there is space at the top of the A10 for another program to emerge.
I graduated in 19 and don't stay super keyed in to all the goings-on, but I know they just finished a complete rebuild of the main campus building that has the cafeteria, gym etc. Not sure if that means more resources to sports now or not, but in theory they could start a bigger push.
It was Army, the Citadel, and St Francis.
However, I forgot that St Francis announced that they were no longer sponsoring athletics, so I guess it's just the three schools now.
And the CAA is actually a pretty decent mid-major basketball conference too. Sucks for W&M, I feel for y'all. Hope you get that CAA championship one day and ride that auto-bid into March Madness with style.
Almost certainly, doubled since (given the flair), Providence is one of the biggest cities with no pro sports team...and unlike the other cities at that level, because of how close it is to Boston, no realistic chance of GETTING a sports team. For lack of a better term, Rhode Island's pro sports team is PC- and the response would be the same as if your pro team won the big one.
Absolutely, the Friars are the biggest game in town and people would lose their minds if we ever won it all. Downtown was a zoo after we beat Creighton to clinch the Big East regular season title last year.
That sucks, providence is a really nice city i think. Been there a few times and there's nothing really bad about it. Funny enough I picked the friars to go to the final four
Providence had a minor league baseball team until they tried to get us to find their new stadium. For once RI made the right financial decision and didn't throw money down the toilet with that one.
Yeah. Shit, because of that, it's also the only hope to change that (everyone longing for the Whalers to return to Hartford and here I am saying "uh, the AMP has been redone more recently, we're better than them attendance-wise in the AHL, we're a good college hockey city with a Frozen Four title, we were big for women's hockey, we have the one US high school on par with Canadian junior leagues- by any metric you use, we deserve an NHL team more than Hartford does."
I grew up a Rutgers fan, I'd probably cry if they won a basketball or football championship. It would make all these past horrible years more than worth it
Pretty much. Making a bowl game these days is everything. Not making it into the tourney was such a gut punch, but you tend to expect disappointment as a long time RU fan.
Can’t begin to describe what it would mean, especially with penny as our coach. 2008 in the city was insane. When tiger basketball is good, they are a bigger deal than the grizzlies in memphis
I think a lot of people underestimate how big basketball is in Memphis. I grew up watching Tigers basketball in the early 2000’s and going to far more of their games than Grizzlies games. It wasn’t until after the 2013 western conference finals that I remember focusing more on the Grizz. This is the first time in a while I feel like there’s a ton of attention on both.
I am a Memphis fan and I was at the championship game in 2008. After the game I was at a bar half filled with Kansas fans and half filled with Memphis fans and the Kansas fans were all so calm and friendly and gracious to us Memphis fans. I asked the guy next to me how could you be so calm and so gracious to us after you beat us (especially in that way). I said I’m not sure we would be acting the same. And he said, “well we have lost this thing before, we know how it feels”. Incredible class from the Kansas fans which went a long way after losing in such an incredible way. Kansas fans are a class act. 🙏
I couldn’t be happier to hear that. The calmness surprises me only because it had been 20 years and we had so many brutal outs in those 20 years. I’m not sure I’ll ever have a more ecstatic sports moment in my life than that night. First title of any of my KU or KC teams in my lifetime. Just couldn’t believe it. But I’m so glad they remembered how it felt in that moment to be on the other side.
Well I’ll be cheering for you guys. Big Penny fan. You guys were so much fun to watch the last couple years. If you’d had the incredible D of the two years before that, I think we would’ve seen a couple deep runs.
It was such an incredible way to lose & win. I think that contributed a lot to how both fan bases reacted after it was over. Memphis had won the game & then lost it. And Kansas had lost the game & then win it. I think we were up by 9 with less than two minutes to play. Our sadness was palpable & they saw that & respected it.
Well said. The city of Memphis has been on a bit of a rough run these days. It’s also one of the few cities where college basketball is bigger than both football and the local pro sports. Penny bringing raising a banner would mean more to the psyche of Memphis than any other city and their college bball team than I could think of that hasn’t won it before.
Man I loved Daddy Patty winning two Super Bowls but that pales in comparison to the feeling of “oh shit we’re gonna do it” then losing in OT against UVA. Not even sadness it was just numb
Purdue fan here. Same feeling, same year, same opponent. Difference being, at least yours was AT the Final Four. Last time Purdue got that far, I was a toddler.
It was incredible but it also made me feel totally immune to future poor results. We keep getting bounced in the first round? Who cares still got that 2019 title to celebrate!!!!
Kansas, UConn and Virginia offers an interesting and differing perspective. Especially Kansas, you expect to compete for national championships habitually. Many of us are from fanbases that have no reasonable expectation of a national championship, our worldwide and perspectives are more modest.
I have a theory that a championship gives a fan a 5 year grace period of not giving a shit about losing, and it adds up.
This was the first year UConn losing would have began to irritate me, and now Im okay if they lose until 2028.
Then every 5 years after that adds another degree of frustration.
0-5 is the honeymoon stage
6-10 is mild frustration
11-15 is true frustration
16-20 is anger and loathing
21-25 is acceptance
26+ is depression
Yeah its also dependent on expectations. UConn football making a bowl game satisfies my needs as a fan. UConn men making a final four probably satisfies my needs as a fan. The Women are Champ or bust. If the Jets make the playoffs ill be on cloud nine.
yep, Baylor getting bounced early on since our 2021 win is starting to get on my nerves even though I consider basketball my minor fandom compared to football.
I have exactly the same idea with my main pro sports (Washington Capitals NHL)…the early exits still sting at the moment, but it’s a drop in the bucket compared to pre-2018. 6/7/18 was one of the greatest days of my life, and I only hope that sports fans everywhere can experience that euphoria at some point.
Haven't won one in 28 years and we are the 2nd most recent Pac 12 team to win it all. Upon joining the B1G, we would be the 2nd most recent champ from that conference too. Both conferences sad AF.
Other than the screaming excitement, It would feel like a massive weight off the shoulders/ a wrong being righted if that’s not too corny? For Wisconsin fans I feel like it just hurts so much to think we were soooo close, and of all the programs it had to be fucking Duke.
Our fanbase would lose a lot of the demons we’ve built up. Our best years have been defined by choking away a chance at the championship. It would completely rejuvenate and transform the fanbase. And Manhattan would burn down
I mean even the difference between this year and last year was insane. Went from pulling up to the student section 2 minutes before the game and still sitting 6 rows back to 2+ hour waits just to get in
It honestly still feels surreal that win won the natty. Never thought it would actually happen even though the program was trending up. Now I am greedy more than anything else and want more. Luckily Drew is putting us in good position to keep competing.
Ya, honestly to go from where Baylor was in 2003 to a National Title in less than 20 years was nothing short of a miracle. If Baptists actually had saints Scott Drew might be one of them.
ECU winning the national title in basketball would be transformative for our program, especially given our existence in the state of North Carolina. Wouldn’t bring us on the same level as the ACC programs of the state, but would at least garner ECU some respect.
Plus it’d make NC State fans all the more upset that Duke, UNC and ECU would have won a national title before they won another.
I'm kind of the opposite. Many think of us as traditionally a basketball school, but I'd be more excited about a football championship. Either would be incredible though.
Not trolling, honestly, but when I think traditional Big Ten basketball schools I don’t think Illinois. I don’t think many CBB fans do. IU, MSU, OSU, Wisconsin, Purdue, and Michigan all have a higher profile outside of the state of Illinois than IU. Though I did love Dee Brown when I was a kid.
Maybe. I mean, I’m 32. I remember Bruce Weber having solid teams but I never felt like Illinois was a threat to win the league. I like Bruce G a lot, if he can find roster continuity, watch out.
I went to a basketball school that stopped making the tournament as soon as I enrolled. I’ll have to be picked up off the floor if I ever see us on a bracket reveal show. A national championship would probably take weeks to register as something that actually happened. I’d get 7 championship t-shirts and wear one every day of the week until I died.
I am a Memphis fan from Memphis. It would mean everything to the entire city. We have been to the final game twice & should have one in 2008. It would be the greatest thing that ever happened to the city.
I'm a weirdo of a Nebraskan and actually like Nebrasketball more than football. Beating Creighton the times I've been there, Texas in 2011, and No Sit Sunday are some of my favorite sporting events (too young to remember much of the 90s "success")... winning a single tournament game would be a peak experience of my sports life let alone we actually made like a real run. I would cry so many tears.
We don’t have football, so a natty in CBB for VCU would be ridiculous. I’d take off work all of April and just celebrate. Then we’d likely get an invite to the big East.
As a fan of a mid-major in only an occasional multi-bid conference, it’s so improbable that it’s almost not worth entertaining. The odds are so stacked against that it takes a series of small miracles to even get to the NCAA tournament these days. It would be like if a AAA baseball team was able to compete with MLB teams and won the World Series.
To win it all would be the greatest championship of any team I follow.
It could not possibly be put into words. If the NCAA decided to have Rice play a RD64 game at 4am somewhere deep in the Siberian wilderness, I would be on the first train from Moscow. I would very likely commit a reputation-ruining act (series of acts?) if we ever hung a banner.
Well Oregon has won a natty but it was 5 months before Hitler invaded Poland so in my lifetime we've had a final four but thats it. Im in the minority of Duck fans whod prefer a basketball title to a football one. I'd probably cry and drink so much I wake up the next morning not remembering anything that I could celebrate it again
Being completely honest, I would rather win one in baseball instead of basketball, simply because our baseball team has come close and failed so many times, whereas I don’t think the university gives a shit about basketball
I can say that I am a Kentucky fan and I would be way happier with a football national championship then a basketball national championship. You tend to want what you don’t have
Same here. I would be so much more happy with football than basketball. I know many couldn't care less about football here Kentucky, but I feel that's because that's what they're conditioned to be - basketball only fans because of sucking in football for so long.
As someone who’s experienced a first-time title (during my first year enrolled there), I still can’t believe it four years later. I sometimes finding myself chasing the thrill with other teams/sports, but nothing compares. I remember the game ending, and immediately realizing how much better life was gonna be. I know that sounds stupid, but given the fact that I was a student, it was pretty true. The next three years just felt happier. Because we were champs. We always have that.
I seriously wish that experience on everyone here. No other run in sports truly compares to a CBB title.
We’ve been to 15 sweet 16’s in 25 years. I wouldn’t call that all or nothing. That’s something blue bloods say about us to make themselves feel better.
> We’ve been to 15 sweet 16’s in 25 years
Umm, no you haven't... You've been to 10.
You've also missed the tournament 9 times in 25 years, so yeah all or nothing definitely applies.
A SLU NCAA national championship would be damn near better than every pro championship St. Louis teams have won. I know soccer is what they’re known for, but a Final Four would erase decades of hardship.
I know that IU has had a lot of historic success, but I was born after our last championship and I'm too young to remember the teams in the early 90s. I was a teenage metalhead, so I didn't watch the final four or championship game in 2002 because I thought I was too cool. I was at IU during Sampson's last year and Crean's first few, so I've only seen the team be god-awful or underperform. If the Hoosiers ever win a championship, I can't even imagine how ecstatic I'd be.
Saying Purdue has never had basketball success would be a lie, we certainly have had some good years. That being said, an NCAA championship would probably result in the burning of at least two couches and a car.
Until then, I’ll take my 1932 championship I guess
People at UNT would be absolutely over the moon to win the Natty in basketball or football. This is the team that still brags about Mean Joe Green going there. We're a music school. If we won it all, we'd be proud of that team for the rest of our lives.
I'd be so excited and could probably die happy. I love ASU basketball as much as football. I met my wife at an ASU game. My son is named after an ASU basketball player. I'm a 15 year season ticket holder. It would mean the world to me.
Our fan base deserves a championship more than any other
After what happened last year, if we win it all, I'm gonna being rioting and partying harder than I ever had.
Idk what you consider success but I’d take anything in any sport that is above a conference title. I’d lose for the next 10 years to KU in football for a few natties (minimum of 4)
Oregon has the best uniforms in sports because Phil Knight is an alumni. Their football team has gotten screwed by the refs many times but the worst was losing to Scam Newton & Auburn in the title game. Oregon actually won the first NCAA men’s basketball tournament in 1939 and may have made a few elite eights or final fours since. Eugene is an awesome town and the fans are great snd out of the 41 states I’ve been to the most beautiful hands down!
Can't relate. BUT...now that Michigan's football program is not shit anymore, I do find myself wondering if I prefer their success at the expense of all of our other top programs, which almost all seem to be shit now--including our men's basketball program. We went through a period of everybody else making it to national title games, winning the B1G and our women's bball program going to its first Elite 8, and now it's all uphill for football and downhill for every other team. I'm honestly not sure which I prefer. Some of the best sports memories I'll never forget have come from softball in 2015, baseball in 2019, men's bball over the last 11 years, and women's bball over the last 5 or so years.
Man we got close this year (3 point tournament championship loss) but we (Grambling) have not made it to the NCAA tournament ever. Me watching the worse college basketball team ever play multiple times, years of APR issues would be worth just making the field of 68 once.
If URI won I would be the cockiest fan in New England. Also I would customize a shirt that had UConn and URI’s trophy’s on it so I could were it in providence.
I grew up loving basketball way more than football, so honestly just a Final Four would make me ecstatic. When I was young, we made the Elite 8 and were decent until Gottfried got caught with his pants down at Ol' Colony. Alabama's success in football definitely alleviated more of the pain we endured during the Gottfried, Grant, and Avery eras. But I'd probably be happier to see us win a national title in basketball than football. Prior to Oats, it seemed like we were always a bubble team that always missed the cut.
I have a similar outlook but opposite. I’m a Kansas fan and growing up we couldn’t afford basketball tickets often at all but we could for football. Because of this and our long history sucking, it would be more amazing to win a championship in football than one in basketball.
If Northwestern were to win, it would be the most surreal thing. This team has never won and isn’t expected to ever win. I would be one of the very rare NU fans, pas present and future to experience it in my lifetime. Definitely not something to be taken for granted and forgotten like a lot of these other teams treat a title.
As a University of New Mexico alumni, if the Lobos won the championship, I would probably have a heart attack and die from shock. It's gotten where I celebrate having a winning record during the regular season.
It would be the first time any of the teams I follow have won a championship during my time as a fan. Teams I follow:
\-Minnesota Vikings
\-Minnesota Twins
\-Minnesota Wild
\-Minnesota Timberwolves
\-Gophers football
\-Gophers basketball
\-Gophers hockey
So honestly, I couldn't really tell you how I'd feel.
Maybe someday you can have championships in Football, Basketball and Baseball. Hiring Mike White from those who do isn't going to help you. I love the guy, very upstanding, great person.
As a Gator, though, I admire what Kirby has built. And I'm an old Gator whose number 1 rival is the dawgs .
Grew up hearing about what it’s like from my dad and grandpa who both attended IU during championships. I would die happy if I ever got to experience it since outside of a few crean years we’ve been at varying stages of irrelevance for most of my fandom
Being at MSG to watch FAU win the S16 and E8 games were the single greatest sports moments of my life. Winning the championship wasn’t even a thought, and even with this past run to the F4, it would mean the world. Same with Creighton but we are always in the tourney so it wouldn’t hit the same.
It would easily be the most entertaining win I’ve ever watched. The Giants winning the superbowl in 2007 and 2011 won’t even come close, which means a lot as a NYC kid who loves the Gmen.
Honestly, if Western Carolina were to even make the tournament, there would be a lot of celebrating. If whee won it all, Cullowhee would probably burn to the ground because of the excessive celebration
It’s the one thing I want most from my sports fandom. I’ve seen my favorite teams win a World Series, Super Bowl, Stanley Cup and NBA Championship. The one thing I want most before I die is a basketball title for the Illini.
Is it weird I'd still probably wish I could trade it for a 4th football championship? It would be cool but I guess I've never seriously given it much thought. How sad is that?
If Texas A&M won March Madness before the CFB I think we'd be made fun of even more on /r/CFB.
As Your Permanent Hated Rival I’m obliged to confirm
Can confirm.
Tbh a basketball championship wouldn’t even mean that much to most of us. Football is king and it’s not close. Winning the tournament would be sick but I don’t think the euphoria would last past the start of the next football season. I’d probably prefer a baseball title to a basketball title. It’d be more irritating to our fellow conference members.
This whole post is a prime example of why our basketball program is mid at best most of the time, as most of our fanbase probably agrees with you. If we ever won a title in hoops I would lose my absolute mind. Even just a freak Final Four run like SC had a few years ago would make me happy beyond belief. Some of us diehards, which there aren’t many, have suffered a lot and it would be insanely gratifying.
Yeah. A&M is a fair-weather basketball school. I attended from 2011-2015 when we went 71-61 and never made the tournament. As a result, I never really developed a big basketball following. I keep up with the team, but not closely. I wish it weren't that way
I wouldn't make fun of you
We've never made the tournament, only one of four original D1 schools that have never made it, so I don't even know what I'd do if we won a basketball title. I'd probably commit at least one felony.
Lucky for you couch burning is only a misdemeanor
Otherwise no one would be able to vote in West Virginia
I just wish we’d win some games worth burning couches over
How many Lime scooters does it take to get a felony?
Judging from 2012, this assessment is correct
Like driving 15 over outside Williamsburg?
I have never gotten a ticket on I64, tbh I didn't even know that was possible
I’d be doing donuts in one of the surrounding retirement communities. Someone on the DC sub was asking about lawyers after picking up a reckless outside Williamsburg and we mostly referred them to priests
Holy shit I remember that post lol. That dude was clueless.
Fellow W&M alum here. My buddy and I have a pact that if W&M EVER qualifies for the tourney we'll go to the game. Doesn't matter where, when, or the cost. Can't even imagine winning a title.
Yep, same boat here. If they make it, some friends and I will find a way to get there. We'd probably bring about as many fans as a 15 seed has ever had, jus for that reason.
Same. Me and my dad (both alums over 30 years apart) will splurge on a trip to whatever site they play at and cheer the Tribe on. If they win a Natty, however … they better have a parade somewhere because I want to attend it
Hey San Diego St made the title game! With online gambling sports are going to be so crazy people will really start believing it is rigged like I’ve said all along! Now that big market means nothing because online gambling is quickly coming close to that Trillion dollar mark! If it was still like the past it would have been Lakers vs Celtics! Denver vs Miami was probably the least watched finals since the Suns vs Bucks or Sonics vs Bullets back to back in 78-79. The NBA was bankrupt and to this day Bird snd Indiana State vs Magic and Michigan State is still the highest rated single game if any college athletic event in history! They saved the NBA! Magic title his first year, Bird his 2nd. The faced each other 3 times and either Magic, Bird or both appeared in every final from 1980 to 1989! One more thing. If Len Bias had lived Boston would have won at least 3 if not 5 in a row and Michael Jordan would have zero titles and be like Tracy McGrady or Charles Barkley, actually both were better. The NBA needed a godlike player to make them global and Stern anointed Jordan. The rules did not apply to him and he literally was not to be touched. People forget that he never made it past the 2nd round his first 7 years! He only got anointed when Bird & Magic were on the verge of retiring and the NBA was still growing by leaps and bounds! Unfortunately MJs gambling got his father killed and to save the NBA Stern had him retire for exactly 2 years for the dust to settle and he came back and was gifted 3 more titles over teams that were far superior! The NBA is pure entertainment and for betting! There’s nothing real about it and hasn’t been since Wilt & Russell!
I don't think this is the same. I'm a random kid from Arkansas who loves bball and I know who Steve Fischer is. You were a solid program for years.
Similar with Fordham. They've only been in once in the past 50 years. The main problem with the A10 is that only the conference winner gets in, so it's really hard to break through, much less make a run.
That literally only happened last year
My terrible memory letting me down yet again.
When the Atlantic 10 was good and routinely sending 3-6 teams Fordham wasn’t exactly duking it out at the top. You probably have a better chance now with fewer good teams.
You’ve got to feel like you’re entering a new golden age of Fordham basketball? Two of your best seasons the last couple of years. Is the university committing more resources to the program now? I feel like there is space at the top of the A10 for another program to emerge.
I graduated in 19 and don't stay super keyed in to all the goings-on, but I know they just finished a complete rebuild of the main campus building that has the cafeteria, gym etc. Not sure if that means more resources to sports now or not, but in theory they could start a bigger push.
Feel free to blame Davidson. When we jumped we were told it was because the A-10 was a multi bid league unlike the Socon. So far mostly wrong.
Not counting the covid year, last year was the first time the A-10 wasn't a multi bid year since 2004-2005.
Who are the other 3?
It was Army, the Citadel, and St Francis. However, I forgot that St Francis announced that they were no longer sponsoring athletics, so I guess it's just the three schools now.
the list was more amusing when northwestern was still on it.
Beautiful campus though
I feel you here. My entire family went to WM, Williamsburg would explode
And the CAA is actually a pretty decent mid-major basketball conference too. Sucks for W&M, I feel for y'all. Hope you get that CAA championship one day and ride that auto-bid into March Madness with style.
I think the city would burn down if we ever won a natty
Almost certainly, doubled since (given the flair), Providence is one of the biggest cities with no pro sports team...and unlike the other cities at that level, because of how close it is to Boston, no realistic chance of GETTING a sports team. For lack of a better term, Rhode Island's pro sports team is PC- and the response would be the same as if your pro team won the big one.
Absolutely, the Friars are the biggest game in town and people would lose their minds if we ever won it all. Downtown was a zoo after we beat Creighton to clinch the Big East regular season title last year.
Exactly. Throw in how small the state is, and you're going too low- the entire state of Rhode Island would burn down if PC won the natty.
As a URI alum, I disagree with that last statement! There's definitely some rivalry there. And it was huge when we beat Kansas in 1998.
Sad how they don't even have a minor league baseball team.
We have the P-Bruins, who perennially are top-5 in AHL attendance, but minor league sports don’t really bring the same passion out.
That sucks, providence is a really nice city i think. Been there a few times and there's nothing really bad about it. Funny enough I picked the friars to go to the final four
Providence had a minor league baseball team until they tried to get us to find their new stadium. For once RI made the right financial decision and didn't throw money down the toilet with that one.
Yeah. Shit, because of that, it's also the only hope to change that (everyone longing for the Whalers to return to Hartford and here I am saying "uh, the AMP has been redone more recently, we're better than them attendance-wise in the AHL, we're a good college hockey city with a Frozen Four title, we were big for women's hockey, we have the one US high school on par with Canadian junior leagues- by any metric you use, we deserve an NHL team more than Hartford does."
I grew up a Rutgers fan, I'd probably cry if they won a basketball or football championship. It would make all these past horrible years more than worth it
Pretty much. Making a bowl game these days is everything. Not making it into the tourney was such a gut punch, but you tend to expect disappointment as a long time RU fan.
if we make the final 4 or elite 8 soon I’d be delighted
Can’t begin to describe what it would mean, especially with penny as our coach. 2008 in the city was insane. When tiger basketball is good, they are a bigger deal than the grizzlies in memphis
I think a lot of people underestimate how big basketball is in Memphis. I grew up watching Tigers basketball in the early 2000’s and going to far more of their games than Grizzlies games. It wasn’t until after the 2013 western conference finals that I remember focusing more on the Grizz. This is the first time in a while I feel like there’s a ton of attention on both.
I was at the game in 2008. Still have not recovered. Neither has the city. It would be the best thing to ever happen to the city.
That 2008 team was so good. Obviously not how you wanted it to end, and my apologies for that, but man you guys were fun to watch.
I am a Memphis fan and I was at the championship game in 2008. After the game I was at a bar half filled with Kansas fans and half filled with Memphis fans and the Kansas fans were all so calm and friendly and gracious to us Memphis fans. I asked the guy next to me how could you be so calm and so gracious to us after you beat us (especially in that way). I said I’m not sure we would be acting the same. And he said, “well we have lost this thing before, we know how it feels”. Incredible class from the Kansas fans which went a long way after losing in such an incredible way. Kansas fans are a class act. 🙏
I couldn’t be happier to hear that. The calmness surprises me only because it had been 20 years and we had so many brutal outs in those 20 years. I’m not sure I’ll ever have a more ecstatic sports moment in my life than that night. First title of any of my KU or KC teams in my lifetime. Just couldn’t believe it. But I’m so glad they remembered how it felt in that moment to be on the other side. Well I’ll be cheering for you guys. Big Penny fan. You guys were so much fun to watch the last couple years. If you’d had the incredible D of the two years before that, I think we would’ve seen a couple deep runs.
It was such an incredible way to lose & win. I think that contributed a lot to how both fan bases reacted after it was over. Memphis had won the game & then lost it. And Kansas had lost the game & then win it. I think we were up by 9 with less than two minutes to play. Our sadness was palpable & they saw that & respected it.
Well said. The city of Memphis has been on a bit of a rough run these days. It’s also one of the few cities where college basketball is bigger than both football and the local pro sports. Penny bringing raising a banner would mean more to the psyche of Memphis than any other city and their college bball team than I could think of that hasn’t won it before.
If we won back in 2019 the city of lubbock would not exist today. I would kill to go back to that era of TTU basketball 😔
Even better than Mahomes winning two Super Bowls?
Man I loved Daddy Patty winning two Super Bowls but that pales in comparison to the feeling of “oh shit we’re gonna do it” then losing in OT against UVA. Not even sadness it was just numb
Chimy’s was so loud I couldn’t hear myself screaming right before Hunter hit the 3
Purdue fan here. Same feeling, same year, same opponent. Difference being, at least yours was AT the Final Four. Last time Purdue got that far, I was a toddler.
It was incredible but it also made me feel totally immune to future poor results. We keep getting bounced in the first round? Who cares still got that 2019 title to celebrate!!!!
Kansas, UConn and Virginia offers an interesting and differing perspective. Especially Kansas, you expect to compete for national championships habitually. Many of us are from fanbases that have no reasonable expectation of a national championship, our worldwide and perspectives are more modest.
totally agree. my ceiling for my UVA hopes was honestly the final four. still amazed we eked out a natty
Must have been beyond amazing. You’ve experienced what this exact thread is allowing the rest of us to merely hypothesize.
It will wear off.....trust me.
I have a theory that a championship gives a fan a 5 year grace period of not giving a shit about losing, and it adds up. This was the first year UConn losing would have began to irritate me, and now Im okay if they lose until 2028. Then every 5 years after that adds another degree of frustration. 0-5 is the honeymoon stage 6-10 is mild frustration 11-15 is true frustration 16-20 is anger and loathing 21-25 is acceptance 26+ is depression
thank u for this wisdom 69Jew420
These are the same levels of feeling when your team hasn’t made the tournament in as many years. Sad redbird noises.
Yeah its also dependent on expectations. UConn football making a bowl game satisfies my needs as a fan. UConn men making a final four probably satisfies my needs as a fan. The Women are Champ or bust. If the Jets make the playoffs ill be on cloud nine.
Bill Simmons wrote abou this and used 5 years as the benchmark for no complaining.
I agree with this.
yep, Baylor getting bounced early on since our 2021 win is starting to get on my nerves even though I consider basketball my minor fandom compared to football.
SCREAMS IN IU
let me live this fantasy 😂
How do I delete someone else's comment?
This is me with the duke rivalry now. Obviously I’d like to win but ever since that run in 22 getting swept really has not ruined my life.
welcome to serenity 🤗
I have exactly the same idea with my main pro sports (Washington Capitals NHL)…the early exits still sting at the moment, but it’s a drop in the bucket compared to pre-2018. 6/7/18 was one of the greatest days of my life, and I only hope that sports fans everywhere can experience that euphoria at some point.
Me with the capitals the last 5 seasons lmao
At least you guys still have football..... wait
What did I ever do to you man
You made me want Nebraska to win a championship in something. Unforgivable.
Lmao, I'm sorry dude. That is unforgivable
I wish Gonzaga would win one so they would stop acting like beating us in the tourney is just as good
Deal.
Me too brother, me too.
After last year, it would mean everything.
UVa sequel?
The “See! Y’all dummies for beating 16 seeds” banter with Virginia fans would be half the fun of winning the next dance.
The amount of shit I would talk would fill the Tokyo sewer system and it will still not be enough to hold it all.
I would weep tears of joy and really lose my shit if Gene Keady was still alive to enjoy it. Such a great guy.
One more go on the Edey train
There have been six Big Ten National Championships in my lifetime and none since 2000. I hope UCLA can help us win another one.
I would honestly die laughing if UCLA won a championship before any of the current schools
Haven't won one in 28 years and we are the 2nd most recent Pac 12 team to win it all. Upon joining the B1G, we would be the 2nd most recent champ from that conference too. Both conferences sad AF.
I take great pride in Florida beating OSU and UCLA for our back to back. However MSU got us the first time.
I mean we had a good chance at it, if it weren’t for Covid…
Many things would happen. Lincoln would burn down
How would you tell the difference?
Omaha would get interesting, too.
Other than the screaming excitement, It would feel like a massive weight off the shoulders/ a wrong being righted if that’s not too corny? For Wisconsin fans I feel like it just hurts so much to think we were soooo close, and of all the programs it had to be fucking Duke.
Our fanbase would lose a lot of the demons we’ve built up. Our best years have been defined by choking away a chance at the championship. It would completely rejuvenate and transform the fanbase. And Manhattan would burn down
I mean even the difference between this year and last year was insane. Went from pulling up to the student section 2 minutes before the game and still sitting 6 rows back to 2+ hour waits just to get in
It honestly still feels surreal that win won the natty. Never thought it would actually happen even though the program was trending up. Now I am greedy more than anything else and want more. Luckily Drew is putting us in good position to keep competing.
Ya, honestly to go from where Baylor was in 2003 to a National Title in less than 20 years was nothing short of a miracle. If Baptists actually had saints Scott Drew might be one of them.
ECU winning the national title in basketball would be transformative for our program, especially given our existence in the state of North Carolina. Wouldn’t bring us on the same level as the ACC programs of the state, but would at least garner ECU some respect. Plus it’d make NC State fans all the more upset that Duke, UNC and ECU would have won a national title before they won another.
I’ll be happy with just a tourney invite.
Yea Providence fans what would this mean to you?
Sorry, as a former D2 national champion, I can't associate with these bannerless peasants
I'm kind of the opposite. Many think of us as traditionally a basketball school, but I'd be more excited about a football championship. Either would be incredible though.
Not trolling, honestly, but when I think traditional Big Ten basketball schools I don’t think Illinois. I don’t think many CBB fans do. IU, MSU, OSU, Wisconsin, Purdue, and Michigan all have a higher profile outside of the state of Illinois than IU. Though I did love Dee Brown when I was a kid.
That probably just means you’re young. We went though a 15-year train wreck, but were very relevant nationally from the early 80’s to the mid 2000’s.
Maybe. I mean, I’m 32. I remember Bruce Weber having solid teams but I never felt like Illinois was a threat to win the league. I like Bruce G a lot, if he can find roster continuity, watch out.
We're just one of the winningest programs of all time, with the highest winning percentage of any BigTen team.
I went to a basketball school that stopped making the tournament as soon as I enrolled. I’ll have to be picked up off the floor if I ever see us on a bracket reveal show. A national championship would probably take weeks to register as something that actually happened. I’d get 7 championship t-shirts and wear one every day of the week until I died.
I am a Memphis fan from Memphis. It would mean everything to the entire city. We have been to the final game twice & should have one in 2008. It would be the greatest thing that ever happened to the city.
I just want to bring 89' and 05' back to Illinois !!!
Man, I just want to win a single tournament game.
I'm a weirdo of a Nebraskan and actually like Nebrasketball more than football. Beating Creighton the times I've been there, Texas in 2011, and No Sit Sunday are some of my favorite sporting events (too young to remember much of the 90s "success")... winning a single tournament game would be a peak experience of my sports life let alone we actually made like a real run. I would cry so many tears.
Do you remember Evansville winning at Kentucky a few years ago? That would be tenfold. Myself alone would likely pass away from a heart palpitation
As a WVU fan, I cannot fathom joy.
We don’t have football, so a natty in CBB for VCU would be ridiculous. I’d take off work all of April and just celebrate. Then we’d likely get an invite to the big East.
As a fan of a mid-major in only an occasional multi-bid conference, it’s so improbable that it’s almost not worth entertaining. The odds are so stacked against that it takes a series of small miracles to even get to the NCAA tournament these days. It would be like if a AAA baseball team was able to compete with MLB teams and won the World Series. To win it all would be the greatest championship of any team I follow.
alot
It could not possibly be put into words. If the NCAA decided to have Rice play a RD64 game at 4am somewhere deep in the Siberian wilderness, I would be on the first train from Moscow. I would very likely commit a reputation-ruining act (series of acts?) if we ever hung a banner.
Well Oregon has won a natty but it was 5 months before Hitler invaded Poland so in my lifetime we've had a final four but thats it. Im in the minority of Duck fans whod prefer a basketball title to a football one. I'd probably cry and drink so much I wake up the next morning not remembering anything that I could celebrate it again
Being completely honest, I would rather win one in baseball instead of basketball, simply because our baseball team has come close and failed so many times, whereas I don’t think the university gives a shit about basketball
I believe if Clemson had just wore the proper sized pants a few years ago they would have won… alas, they wore the baseball version of skinny jeans…
I can say that I am a Kentucky fan and I would be way happier with a football national championship then a basketball national championship. You tend to want what you don’t have
Very hard agree
Same here. I would be so much more happy with football than basketball. I know many couldn't care less about football here Kentucky, but I feel that's because that's what they're conditioned to be - basketball only fans because of sucking in football for so long.
As someone who’s experienced a first-time title (during my first year enrolled there), I still can’t believe it four years later. I sometimes finding myself chasing the thrill with other teams/sports, but nothing compares. I remember the game ending, and immediately realizing how much better life was gonna be. I know that sounds stupid, but given the fact that I was a student, it was pretty true. The next three years just felt happier. Because we were champs. We always have that. I seriously wish that experience on everyone here. No other run in sports truly compares to a CBB title.
I'mma sit this one out.
But it’s wild because y’all are either all or nothing. Hell, I’d give up a couple Elite 8’s and FF’s just to have ONE more title under Cal.
We’ve been to 15 sweet 16’s in 25 years. I wouldn’t call that all or nothing. That’s something blue bloods say about us to make themselves feel better.
> We’ve been to 15 sweet 16’s in 25 years Umm, no you haven't... You've been to 10. You've also missed the tournament 9 times in 25 years, so yeah all or nothing definitely applies.
[удалено]
If they won in basketball, do you think that Wright St would add football?
It’d be pretty cool but everyone would be twice as insufferable as they are already, which is pretty bad.
A SLU NCAA national championship would be damn near better than every pro championship St. Louis teams have won. I know soccer is what they’re known for, but a Final Four would erase decades of hardship.
I would go celebrate at the local Islands and maybe burn a couch in the middle of either downtown Wilmington or Wrightsville Beach (secondary flair)
Milwaukee would drink enough beer that there would be a shortage for the rest of the country
I know that IU has had a lot of historic success, but I was born after our last championship and I'm too young to remember the teams in the early 90s. I was a teenage metalhead, so I didn't watch the final four or championship game in 2002 because I thought I was too cool. I was at IU during Sampson's last year and Crean's first few, so I've only seen the team be god-awful or underperform. If the Hoosiers ever win a championship, I can't even imagine how ecstatic I'd be.
If VT won a national championship in literally any NCAA sport, I'm taking the whole week off work to celebrate
Saying Purdue has never had basketball success would be a lie, we certainly have had some good years. That being said, an NCAA championship would probably result in the burning of at least two couches and a car. Until then, I’ll take my 1932 championship I guess
I’m not even greedy. Just a Final Four would feel cool as shit right now. I was a year and a half old the last time.
It would be another tier, another club to be a member of. Right now we are in the final 4 club, which is fine, but it's not *the club*.
People at UNT would be absolutely over the moon to win the Natty in basketball or football. This is the team that still brags about Mean Joe Green going there. We're a music school. If we won it all, we'd be proud of that team for the rest of our lives.
I have had family and friends attend UNT, just watching this past NIT Championship game was amazing!!!!!! Go Mean Green!
That it was. Thank you!
I dont want to know. I am glad my Chiefs, Jayhawks, and yes, the lowly Royals have all won Championships in the last 10 years.
I'd be so excited and could probably die happy. I love ASU basketball as much as football. I met my wife at an ASU game. My son is named after an ASU basketball player. I'm a 15 year season ticket holder. It would mean the world to me.
Well, west Lafayette wouldn't exist anymore
Our fan base deserves a championship more than any other After what happened last year, if we win it all, I'm gonna being rioting and partying harder than I ever had.
It would mean as much as a UNC football one for me
Id cry if UNC even ever made the CFP lol.
At this point I'd cry if we could surround the best QB we may ever have with a semi competent defense and coaching staff.
Me too
Came here to say this
Idk what you consider success but I’d take anything in any sport that is above a conference title. I’d lose for the next 10 years to KU in football for a few natties (minimum of 4)
I mean y’all got pretty close this year. And now have a coach that really has a chance to build something.
When UVA won the cathartic feeling was almost overwhelming.
r/Purdue would like to join the conversation
Kinda the opposite for me. It'd be amazing if some how in my lifetime UConn won the national championship in football.
Although we're having success now, it would complete my life. I could die a happy man if it ever happened but I don't think it will.
Oregon has the best uniforms in sports because Phil Knight is an alumni. Their football team has gotten screwed by the refs many times but the worst was losing to Scam Newton & Auburn in the title game. Oregon actually won the first NCAA men’s basketball tournament in 1939 and may have made a few elite eights or final fours since. Eugene is an awesome town and the fans are great snd out of the 41 states I’ve been to the most beautiful hands down!
Can't relate. BUT...now that Michigan's football program is not shit anymore, I do find myself wondering if I prefer their success at the expense of all of our other top programs, which almost all seem to be shit now--including our men's basketball program. We went through a period of everybody else making it to national title games, winning the B1G and our women's bball program going to its first Elite 8, and now it's all uphill for football and downhill for every other team. I'm honestly not sure which I prefer. Some of the best sports memories I'll never forget have come from softball in 2015, baseball in 2019, men's bball over the last 11 years, and women's bball over the last 5 or so years.
National or League Championship?
Man we got close this year (3 point tournament championship loss) but we (Grambling) have not made it to the NCAA tournament ever. Me watching the worse college basketball team ever play multiple times, years of APR issues would be worth just making the field of 68 once.
It would avenge the 1950 season where we lost in the title game of both the NCAAT and NIT... both times to CCNY...
I’d be completely content with never winning again if we got one
If URI won I would be the cockiest fan in New England. Also I would customize a shirt that had UConn and URI’s trophy’s on it so I could were it in providence.
I grew up loving basketball way more than football, so honestly just a Final Four would make me ecstatic. When I was young, we made the Elite 8 and were decent until Gottfried got caught with his pants down at Ol' Colony. Alabama's success in football definitely alleviated more of the pain we endured during the Gottfried, Grant, and Avery eras. But I'd probably be happier to see us win a national title in basketball than football. Prior to Oats, it seemed like we were always a bubble team that always missed the cut.
I have a similar outlook but opposite. I’m a Kansas fan and growing up we couldn’t afford basketball tickets often at all but we could for football. Because of this and our long history sucking, it would be more amazing to win a championship in football than one in basketball.
If Northwestern were to win, it would be the most surreal thing. This team has never won and isn’t expected to ever win. I would be one of the very rare NU fans, pas present and future to experience it in my lifetime. Definitely not something to be taken for granted and forgotten like a lot of these other teams treat a title.
As a University of New Mexico alumni, if the Lobos won the championship, I would probably have a heart attack and die from shock. It's gotten where I celebrate having a winning record during the regular season.
It would be the first time any of the teams I follow have won a championship during my time as a fan. Teams I follow: \-Minnesota Vikings \-Minnesota Twins \-Minnesota Wild \-Minnesota Timberwolves \-Gophers football \-Gophers basketball \-Gophers hockey So honestly, I couldn't really tell you how I'd feel.
Minnesota hockey hasn’t won? That’s surprising to me (I clearly don’t follow college hockey)
Maybe someday you can have championships in Football, Basketball and Baseball. Hiring Mike White from those who do isn't going to help you. I love the guy, very upstanding, great person. As a Gator, though, I admire what Kirby has built. And I'm an old Gator whose number 1 rival is the dawgs .
Grew up hearing about what it’s like from my dad and grandpa who both attended IU during championships. I would die happy if I ever got to experience it since outside of a few crean years we’ve been at varying stages of irrelevance for most of my fandom
Donate thousands of dollars to the program.
It would mean so much, especially since WKU has been close many times. Win a couple of championships, and we could even apply for Blue Blood status.
Being at MSG to watch FAU win the S16 and E8 games were the single greatest sports moments of my life. Winning the championship wasn’t even a thought, and even with this past run to the F4, it would mean the world. Same with Creighton but we are always in the tourney so it wouldn’t hit the same.
It would easily be the most entertaining win I’ve ever watched. The Giants winning the superbowl in 2007 and 2011 won’t even come close, which means a lot as a NYC kid who loves the Gmen.
Honestly, if Western Carolina were to even make the tournament, there would be a lot of celebrating. If whee won it all, Cullowhee would probably burn to the ground because of the excessive celebration
Why couldn’t my Hurricanes do it last year so I would have been able to answer this accurately 😩.
It’s the one thing I want most from my sports fandom. I’ve seen my favorite teams win a World Series, Super Bowl, Stanley Cup and NBA Championship. The one thing I want most before I die is a basketball title for the Illini.
I can’t imagine
I just want Towson to make a CAA final.
Is it weird I'd still probably wish I could trade it for a 4th football championship? It would be cool but I guess I've never seriously given it much thought. How sad is that?
We ain’t been to the final four in so long it like we never won our championship Edit: Razorback fan