Wessler blog on early games

[Da Coach]

I agree 100% with Kirk on this.

http://blogs.pjstar.com/pressrow/2010/11/04/early-games-lesser-quality/

If games are going to be starting around the beginning of November, then the start of practice should be moved back to Oct. 1st, or even into September. There is not enough time for teams to get ready, and that does not even address the increased incidence of serious injuries in men's and women's basketball.

[houstontxbrave]

He makes a very valid point about the BCS conferences. But regardless of when the season starts BCS schools are going be given passes on non conference losses because of how those conferences are viewed in regards to strength.

But on the other hand if a school like Bradley can have a continue core of players who stay 4 years, the early start should actually be an advantage because those players have been togther longer then the schools who lose 1 and dones. The schools with long term players should be more prepared to begin earlier.

But with all that said the week of Tday should be the right time to start the basketball regular season games.

BU will have played 6 games before Tday this season. 2 back to backs in this time. This would be a killer for a team not loaded with experience.

[VeveJones007]

He makes a very valid point about the BCS conferences. But regardless of when the season starts BCS schools are going be given passes on non conference losses because of how those conferences are viewed in regards to strength.

But on the other hand if a school like Bradley can have a continue core of players who stay 4 years, the early start should actually be an advantage because those players have been togther longer then the schools who lose 1 and dones. The schools with long term players should be more prepared to begin earlier.

But with all that said the of Tday should be the right time to start the basketball regular season games.

BU will have played 6 games before Tday this season. 2 back to backs in this time. This would be a killer for a team not loaded with experience.

Very well stated

[Double D]

I really agree with KW. There is rarely a result from an early game a (pre-finals or around Dec. 15) that ends up meaning a thing.

The are numerous examples of "great wins" prior to this date (Illinois last year) in largely mediocre or forgotten seasons. As well as "terrible" losses in otherwise good seasons (several bad losses in the 81-82 NIT champ early season). Anyone can do the research to back this one up.


The bottom line...aside from a signature win for an NCAA resume, none of these Nov/Early Dec. games will indicate just how well the team will be in Feb.

I hate to look at it this way, because I love BU hoops and can't wait for any game. But the bottom line is..."just don't have a bad loss."

[BradleyJD]

Well he is right in that you won't see the later start dates ever again.

Look at all sports. MLB, NHL, NBA, etc....they are all way too long. After the World Series they mentioned that the last time the Giants won the Series it was on Oct 2nd..... This time they won in November. A whole month longer.

NBA and NHL both play from Oct into the summer.

Even the NFL has camp and mini-camps and OTA's all the time now.

Sports is big business and as long as the $$$$$$$$$ rules that will not change.

[amckillip]

Well he is right in that you won't see the later start dates ever again.

Look at all sports. MLB, NHL, NBA, etc....they are all way too long. After the World Series they mentioned that the last time the Giants won the Series it was on Oct 2nd..... This time they won in November. A whole month longer.

NBA and NHL both play from Oct into the summer.

Even the NFL has camp and mini-camps and OTA's all the time now.

Sports is big business and as long as the $$$$$$$$$ rules that will not change.

Haha, this has nothing to do with length, other than the addition of playoffs, the MLB season has been 162 games and the exact same length since 1961, and before that it was 154, since 1904. They start later because of weather, the opposite of the point here, and generally everyone agrees starting later was the right call... The season has been running til late september/early october since the early 1900s...

[BradleyJD]

Haha, this has nothing to do with length, other than the addition of playoffs, the MLB season has been 162 games and the exact same length since 1961, and before that it was 154, since 1904. They start later because of weather, the opposite of the point here, and generally everyone agrees starting later was the right call... The season has been running til late september/early october since the early 1900s...

So you are agreeing that the season is longer. Okay.

[tornado]

.. They start later because of weather,...

they are predicting sleet and freezing rain for tonight --
can you imagine if we were playing a World Series Game 6 or 7 in this stuff..
games are going way too late into November...

[BradleyJD]

they are predicting sleet and freezing rain for tonight --
can you imagine if we were playing a World Series Game 6 or 7 in this stuff..
games are going way too late into November...

Exactly. Baseball is way too long.

[jasonpeoria911]

Actually baseball is starting a week earlier next season so that the World Series will be complete in October. Of course it will still be bone chilling cold in some places but less chances of snow.

Jason

[amckillip]

So you are agreeing that the season is longer. Okay.

No... It is not longer. It hasn't changed at all since 1961...

[BradleyJD]

No... It is not longer. It hasn't changed at all since 1961...

So baseball has ended in November since 1961?

[amckillip]

So baseball has ended in November since 1961?

The regular season has not changed. I stated they have added playoffs. The discussion was about starting too early. Your point had no relevance. Baseball clearly does not start too early, nor have they lengthened their regular season at all. In fact, 1904 was the first year the regular season went into the second week of October. Playing deep into the fall is absolutely nothing new, and they certainly do not start too early.

[Bradleyguy10]

I think baseball is making the right move in starting a week earlier..and I think they need to top that with reducing the season back down to 154 games again. This combo will effectively take about two weeks off the season and it will no longer be knocking on the door of November.

Besides I think 154 data points is more than enough to find out who is worthy of the playoffs. And before people start handing over statistics of how many teams have snatched a playoff berth within the last 8 games of a season let me stop you in saying that I believe those end of seasons surges would still happen because it is a psychological thing...it'll just happen at the 146 game mark instead. Teams shift it into gear on the home stretch no matter when that home stretch happens to be.

[amckillip]

I think baseball is making the right move in starting a week earlier..and I think they need to top that with reducing the season back down to 154 games again. This combo will effectively take about two weeks off the season and it will no longer be knocking on the door of November.

Besides I think 154 data points is more than enough to find out who is worthy of the playoffs. And before people start handing over statistics of how many teams have snatched a playoff berth within the last 8 games of a season let me stop you in saying that I believe those end of seasons surges would still happen because it is a psychological thing...it'll just happen at the 146 game mark instead. Teams shift it into gear on the home stretch no matter when that home stretch happens to be.

The issue is stattistics. Baseball is driven by statistics. If you shorten the game by 5% you're not going to have comparative numbers, and that will not go over well. I'm not saying it's a bad idea, just why baseball won't do it. At least not until Bud Selig is long gone, he is clearly out of touch with the modern sports era.