When the Big 12's Baylor Bears last week added former 7-foot NBA draft pick and EuroLeague regular James Nnaji to their active roster, it was the latest eye-opening (and widely criticized) change of the ever-changing college sports landscape. Arizona will play at Baylor on Feb. 24; the Bears won't play at McKale Center this season.
I heard and read many who said college basketball has never seen so many changes. But it has.
Go back to 1970, the John Wooden years. Freshmen weren't allowed to play varsity basketball. It was illegal to dunk. There was no shot clock. There was no 3-point shot. The NCAA Tournament included just 42 teams. A college basketball player's scholarship included books, tuition and $50 a month. A head coach had just two assistant coaches (now there are five). A top coach was paid roughly $50,000. Players didn't get free meals except for a pre-game meal on game day and those at road games. Now, three free meals are provided every day. Except for a few NCAA Tournament games andΒ a handful on Saturday afternoons, no games were televised.
Check back in 50 years, 2075. I'm guessing college basketball followers will look back to 2025 as we look back on 1975 today. The good old days.
