The Beautiful Mind

[Volnanza]

I wish they would take all their back stories and stuff em. Bilas was blathering on and on about how great Alabama was, Sears this, Oats that, and completely talked over Mashacks great defensive steal at the most critical time of the game. I don't need to know what H.S. Oats coached at. I DON"T CARE!!!! I want to watch the GAME!!!! They are just AWFUL announcers.

 

[sami]

This is what’s so wrong with the current state of college basketball broadcasting - thinking we want a bunch of bs commentary on anything other than the game being played. The game alone is more than enough to talk about. They’ll be rattling on about some nonsense when a foul is called and not say who committed the foul. A good basketball mind should be able to comment on the action and mix in some dialogue on strategies and game nuances that a lesser knowledgeable person like myself may not have noticed. There’s probably some “consultants” who have told announcers to go semi idiotic as being the best approach. Dane Bradshaw is a perfect example as when he first started he was all basketball and now he’s goes bar stool mode half the game.

This x 1000.

I call it the 'ESPN School' of announcing, this modern approach of broadcasters involving themselves as part of the telecast, clowning and telling stories. You hear it from all the more notable national crews, and about the only time you can avoid it is with some more regional or local broadcasts. It's another reason I watch every game on DVR, to skip over the nonsense.

 

[sami]

As a general rule, I find people complaining about announcers childish. With that said… Last night was insane. It was basically a 2+ hour Oats/Sears propaganda campaign from Bilas.

I find complaining about announcer bias is often childish and not even accurate, last night being a definite exception. My gripe with broadcasters, like I posted earlier, is the clowning around and making themselves part of the broadcast.

 

[EasternVol]

I think we're also seeing a building narrative about crowning who will be the premier coach in the SEC after Barnes and Cal retire and Pearl goes to Louisville.

Oates must come across as "eastern sophisticated" or woke-informed in his private conversations with the announcer class. They obviously see him as one of them. Guess everybody who makes a living commenting on others wants to latch on to a rising star--whether it's in Hollywood or Washington or Bristol.

The 'announcer class'? Towering intellectuals like Sonny oops Jimmy Dykes and Dane Bradshaw?

 

[EasternVol]

I wish they would take all their back stories and stuff em. Bilas was blathering on and on about how great Alabama was, Sears this, Oats that, and completely talked over Mashacks great defensive steal at the most critical time of the game. I don't need to know what H.S. Oats coached at. I DON"T CARE!!!! I want to watch the GAME!!!! They are just AWFUL announcers.

Plus we've heard his life story already during every other Alabama game we've seen.

 

[kckempf]

I think we're also seeing a building narrative about crowning who will be the premier coach in the SEC after Barnes and Cal retire and Pearl goes to Louisville.

Oates must come across as "eastern sophisticated" or woke-informed in his private conversations with the announcer class. They obviously see him as one of them. Guess everybody who makes a living commenting on others wants to latch on to a rising star--whether it's in Hollywood or Washington or Bristol.

He comes off as Midwestern hick, really. Like a basketball Harold Hill.

 

[Namorto1]

Oaks is a good coach and has good schemes, but he is one dimensional. He has created Alabama to be an attractive place for players though with his style of play. As long as he is there Alabama will be a threat in the conference. Alot of other programs are going to be after him. I don't think Bama will be able to retain him long-term.

 

[OrangeInKy]

The 'announcer class'? Towering intellectuals like Sonny Dykes and Dane Bradshaw?

I thought Sonny Dykes was still coaching football

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

Oaks is a good coach and has good schemes, but he is one dimensional. He has created Alabama to be an attractive place for players though with his style of play. As long as he is there Alabama will be a threat in the conference. Alot of other programs are going to be after him. I don't think Bama will be able to retain him long-term.

There aren't that many programs better than Bama. The blue bloods are set for now...maybe Michigan St when U
Izzo hangs it up

 

[TennTom]

He comes off as Midwestern hick, really. Like a basketball Harold Hill*. View attachment 624567

Oats is the Bammer version of hayseed dork Tommy Tubberville.

*Or maybe like Hank Hill. lmao.

 

[ptcarter]

I think we're also seeing a building narrative about crowning who will be the premier coach in the SEC after Barnes and Cal retire and Pearl goes to Louisville.

Oates must come across as "eastern sophisticated" or woke-informed in his private conversations with the announcer class. They obviously see him as one of them. Guess everybody who makes a living commenting on others wants to latch on to a rising star--whether it's in Hollywood or Washington or Bristol.

Or it could be just Bama elitist mentality.

Honestly, I think this game wasn't as close as the talking heads painted it. Bertlecamp and Kessling had a good take on it. Bama doesn't have the depth that Tennessee has, and the two main guns, Sears and Estrada got way too many minutes and down the stretch, they were out of gas. It started when their big goomer Nelson fouled out. We outscored them (I think) 12-2 down the stretch.

And, as it's been pointed out, If Knecht (and Gainey) weren't cold from the 3, it'd been a blowout like it was in Knoxville.

 

[OrangeTsar]

Or it could be just Bama elitist mentality.

Honestly, I think this game wasn't as close as the talking heads painted it. Bertlecamp and Kessling had a good take on it. Bama doesn't have the depth that Tennessee has, and the two main guns, Sears and Estrada got way too many minutes and down the stretch, they were out of gas. It started when their big goomer Nelson fouled out. We outscored them (I think) 12-2 down the stretch.

And, as it's been pointed out, If Knecht (and Gainey) weren't cold from the 3, it'd been a blowout like it was in Knoxville.

Still can’t believe Oats had Nelson in the game with four fouls and seven minutes to go. You just don’t. Do. That.

 

[DC_Vol]

Maybe the announcers know something that I don’t know. I’m sure Oats is a smart guy. But he’s got a BS in mathematical education. I believe that usually requires essentially a mathematics minor (coursework through differential equations).

 

[VolCalls]

I think we're also seeing a building narrative about crowning who will be the premier coach in the SEC after Barnes and Cal retire and Pearl goes to Louisville.

Oates must come across as "eastern sophisticated" or woke-informed in his private conversations with the announcer class. They obviously see him as one of them. Guess everybody who makes a living commenting on others wants to latch on to a rising star--whether it's in Hollywood or Washington or Bristol.

Pearl isn’t in the mix at Louisville.

 

[kayman1]

I really can’t respect Oats after the way he handled the Brandon Miller situation.

To me, he’s just a selfish SOB.

BOOM!!!

 

[kckempf]

Maybe the announcers know something that I don’t know. I’m sure Oats is a smart guy. But he’s got a BS in mathematical education. I believe that usually requires essentially a mathematics minor (coursework through differential equations).

At least at Tennessee the math minor requires higher level math courses as well. I took Analysis, Advanced Differential Equations, Probability and Statistics (not stats, in this one you learn the calculus derivations of the formulas), and I think an advanced linear algebra course? It's been too long. Oats sounds like a probability and stats guy, but he didn't come up with the efficiency approach that they talked about during the interview last night. It was talked about at sports analytics conferences and used by other coaches at different levels, I think for the first time in NCAA D-I with the Florida Gulf Coast women's team under Karl Smesko: Karl Smesko: FGCU's mad scientist - The Next

That analytical approach is the philosophy behind the Golden State Warriors' offense, too, and has been enormously influential in other NBA offenses as well. The mid-range game is basically dead because everybody realizes a long 2 is about as hard as a 3 but it's worth less and easier for a team to defend.

 

[DC_Vol]

At least at Tennessee the math minor requires higher level math courses as well. I took Analysis, Advanced Differential Equations, Probability and Statistics (not stats, in this one you learn the calculus derivations of the formulas), and I think an advanced linear algebra course? It's been too long. Oats sounds like a probability and stats guy, but he didn't come up with the efficiency approach that they talked about during the interview last night. It was talked about at sports analytics conferences and used by other coaches at different levels, I think for the first time in NCAA D-I with the Florida Gulf Coast women's team under Karl Smesko: Karl Smesko: FGCU's mad scientist - The Next

That analytical approach is the philosophy behind the Golden State Warriors' offense, too, and has been enormously influential in other NBA offenses as well. The mid-range game is basically dead because everybody realizes a long 2 is about as hard as a 3 but it's worth less and easier for a team to defend.

Fair enough. I’m honestly not picking on Oats here. I’m sure he’s an intelligent guy.

Just thought the references to A Beautiful Mind were a bit over the top, the implication being John Nash.

 

[stillwater5]

ESPN Storyline: the beautiful mind of Nate Oats v. the barbarians from Tennessee. I would be offended if it weren’t so ridiculous.

What about the cap they showed that said I hate Tennessee, real class from ESPN but not surprising though like we like Alabama.

 

[kckempf]

Fair enough. I’m honestly not picking on Oats here. I’m sure he’s an intelligent guy.

Just thought the references to A Beautiful Mind were a bit over the top, the implication being John Nash.

You got that right, he’s definitely not that! I always wonder how much the analytics have tried to account for variability between individual athletes. Maybe in general layups and 3s are superior, but against some defenders an open mid range is better.

 

[DC_Vol]

You got that right, he’s definitely not that! I always wonder how much the analytics have tried to account for variability between individual athletes. Maybe in general layups and 3s are superior, but against some defenders an open mid range is better.

I don’t think he needed any deep mathematics last night to tell him that given our foul trouble, the whistle inside, and their 2nd Half 3 point percentage (along with our perimeter D), go try to find points and foul shots in the paint.

One thing is for sure, if the “analytics” tell him to shoot the 3 and none of his guys are making 3’s, he’s probably going to lose.

 

[BruisedOrange]

What about the cap they showed that said I hate Tennessee, real class from ESPN but not surprising though like we like Alabama.

We are on and in their heads.

 

[Volfan1000]

Of Nate Oats had no answers down the stretch.

Neither did Bruce Pearl.

 

[walkenvol]

Still can’t believe Oats had Nelson in the game with four fouls and seven minutes to go. You just don’t. Do. That.

He also rolled the dice playing Nelson and Sears in the first half with 2 fouls. Guess there’s some ugly in that mind too and it’s not all beautiful.

 

[TartanTurff]

The Tennessee Alabama broadcast was a basic exhibit of why ESPN continue to lose money hand over fist with Disney looking to offload the carcass sooner rather than later, the cameras aren't pointed in the direction of the action anymore, the broadcasts and the announces are chocked full of contrived messaging ESPN want to spew and try to signal to a younger audience, the side stories and back stories are irrelevant and simply hard to listen to, the old timers yearn for the ESPN of old, with the basic coverage, terrific camera angles and sportscenter that recapped the days games and highlights, left the politics and the value messaging completely off the broadcast.

The sooner the conference can more comfortably eliminate the BS, much like the Masters dictates to CBS on their tournament broadcast, the better off the conference will be, the rights will command top dollar and the sponsors will be more attracted to the premier college sports conference in America.

 

[TheMookieMonster]