For many years, teams like Kentucky, North Carolina, Kansas, and others have dominated collegiate basketball. Together, those three schools have advanced to double-digit Final Fours and won six national titles. However, the Jayhawks, Tar Heels, and Wildcats have recently struggled in the NCAA Tournament.
Is there a growing issue with Blue Bloods? While traditional college football powerhouses like Ohio State, Texas, Georgia, and others have benefited greatly from the Name, Image, and Likeness era, can the same be said for the best teams in college basketball?
As we approach more Elite Eight games on Sunday, it seems like being a blue blood is less important in today’s college basketball scene than it was in the past.
The problem with some of these blue bloods
The issue may be more conference-related than school-related. The Big Ten and SEC are the traditional powers in collegiate football. That isn’t the situation with college basketball, though. The Big 12 and ACC are not as strong. Football generates enormous sums of money for the Big Ten and SEC sports departments. There are a total of ten teams from those two leagues in the Sweet 16 this season, at least in part because of it. There are just four from the Big 12 and ACC combined, which are home to KU and UNC, respectively Kentucky is a member of the SEC, according to ESPN.
“A growth in international players, who often have little knowledge, let alone affinity, for historic success or branding, limits the power of past triumphs.” In the meantime, roster creation simply takes place somewhere else. “Every school is starting over when it comes to roster construction, which creates variables and uncertainties that blue bloods were previously protected against. There is no room for error, even with large sums of money to spend,” ESPN continued.
“If nothing else, no school can develop talent in the same manner that blue bloods used to. Critical injuries therefore contributed to the failure of Kentucky and UNC this season. “That doesn’t imply the three can’t achieve greatness or should ever be content with their lack of greatness. They continue to have extraordinary influence, media and fan interest, and the capacity to produce resources.
