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Basketball in Kentucky, Indiana, North Carolina
Posted on 1/29/15 at 10:23 pm
Posted on 1/29/15 at 10:23 pm
I'm watching an incredible game between Eastern Kentucky and Murray State. What is it that makes the states and citizens of Kentucky, Indiana, and North Carolina so good and so passionate about the sport of basketball? The Murray State crowd was packed and I am so impressed with the talent, skill, and all around basketball IQ of the players at these two small schools. They can beat any of the "big name" teams in my opinion.
It obviously isn't strictly due to UK, UL, IU, Duke, UNC, NC St....
Small schools and satellite schools consistently have success year in and year out: Western Kentucky, Murray State, Indiana State, Butler, Ball State, Wake Forest, Morehead State, Eastern Kentucky, Valporaiso, Davidson, Charlotte, UNC-Asheville, UNC-Wilmington, etc....
The fans are extremely passionate and knowledgable about basketball and it isn't even their flagship schools...
What makes these three states stand out so much more than the following? I'd easily classify the US as a "football crazed" country, but the emphasis is strictly focused on basketball in these three. I mean, the bordering states (South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Illinois, Ohio, West Virginia) would all classify as "football" states to me.
Does anyone have any insight on this?
It obviously isn't strictly due to UK, UL, IU, Duke, UNC, NC St....
Small schools and satellite schools consistently have success year in and year out: Western Kentucky, Murray State, Indiana State, Butler, Ball State, Wake Forest, Morehead State, Eastern Kentucky, Valporaiso, Davidson, Charlotte, UNC-Asheville, UNC-Wilmington, etc....
The fans are extremely passionate and knowledgable about basketball and it isn't even their flagship schools...
What makes these three states stand out so much more than the following? I'd easily classify the US as a "football crazed" country, but the emphasis is strictly focused on basketball in these three. I mean, the bordering states (South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Illinois, Ohio, West Virginia) would all classify as "football" states to me.
Does anyone have any insight on this?
This post was edited on 1/30/15 at 12:30 am
10
Posted on 1/29/15 at 10:27 pm to Forkbeard3777
I know Kentucky as a state really hasn't put emphasis on youth levels of football and it shows when you compare talent that comes out of the state. Combine that with the University of Kentucky making the decision to appease Rupp vs. Bryant and it just kind of trickles down from there.
Kentucky has always had a strong basketball following among youth here and that tends to strengthen lower divisions.
Kentucky has always had a strong basketball following among youth here and that tends to strengthen lower divisions.
Posted on 1/29/15 at 10:33 pm to Forkbeard3777
The bigger schools in those states have emphasized basketball success for a long time. The surrounding schools have alumni who grew up favs of the bigger schools, who then in turn start supporting their own programs.
And like all college sports:
Interest>>money>>coaches/facilities>>recruits>>success
And like all college sports:
Interest>>money>>coaches/facilities>>recruits>>success
Posted on 1/29/15 at 10:46 pm to Forkbeard3777
A few factors for Indiana:
-Indiana has a long, long history with basketball success that goes back at least to the early 1920s. Google "Franklin Wonder Five" for more on this.
-Indiana had the coolest high school basketball tournament for a long, long time. The schools weren't broken up into divisions and the small schools could get their shot at the big boys. Most of the time the small school got clobbered, but the Milan/Muncie Central state championship game in 1954 is one of the most legendary high school sports stories of all time.
-Bob Knight.....really, not much more needs to be said here.
-Larry Bird and the 1979 Indiana State team.
-The biggest factor, and this is also true in Kentucky: besides Notre Dame football, basketball was the only thing Indiana had until the Colts relocated there in 1984. There is no baseball team and there is no hockey team. The Pacers have been around since the early 1970s. Before that, it was Indiana, Purdue, and Notre Dame basketball.
-Indiana has a long, long history with basketball success that goes back at least to the early 1920s. Google "Franklin Wonder Five" for more on this.
-Indiana had the coolest high school basketball tournament for a long, long time. The schools weren't broken up into divisions and the small schools could get their shot at the big boys. Most of the time the small school got clobbered, but the Milan/Muncie Central state championship game in 1954 is one of the most legendary high school sports stories of all time.
-Bob Knight.....really, not much more needs to be said here.
-Larry Bird and the 1979 Indiana State team.
-The biggest factor, and this is also true in Kentucky: besides Notre Dame football, basketball was the only thing Indiana had until the Colts relocated there in 1984. There is no baseball team and there is no hockey team. The Pacers have been around since the early 1970s. Before that, it was Indiana, Purdue, and Notre Dame basketball.
Posted on 1/29/15 at 10:50 pm to VADawg
quote:
-Indiana had the coolest high school basketball tournament for a long, long time. The schools weren't broken up into divisions and the small schools could get their shot at the big boys. Most of the time the small school got clobbered, but the Milan/Muncie Central state championship game in 1954 is one of the most legendary high school sports stories of all time.
I think Kentucky is the only state who still does this.
We used to go every year when I was younger.
When I was growing up in Kentucky football really wasn't much of thing for me or any of my friends (and my Dad played CFB). We all played basketball everyday. I never really got in to football until I moved to Memphis.
Posted on 1/29/15 at 10:55 pm to BluegrassBelle
quote:No doubt. I was surprised at how bad the level of competition is in Kentucky. Besides a handful of schools (St. X, Bowling Green), I saw some of the most pitiful high school football I've ever witnessed - and these were 5A schools. The high school basketball is excellent, though. Coming from Mississippi, the emphasis on hoops more so than football was puzzling, but I wound up finding it pretty cool.
I know Kentucky as a state really hasn't put emphasis on youth levels of football and it shows when you compare talent that comes out of the state.
That is a basketball crazed state. Comparable to the Alabama fanbase.
Posted on 1/30/15 at 5:54 am to Forkbeard3777
Whats weird is High School Basketball in the state of Kentucky is not as popular as what it use to be. The state has really been lacking in producing many great players like it use to
Posted on 1/30/15 at 6:10 am to cardswinagain
The state of Ohio > Indiana and Kentucky in basketball. The difference is that Kentucky and Indiana are terrible in football, so of course their fans support basketball like no other. Ohio State supports both football and basketball. When it comes down to talent, Ohio produces more talent then Indiana and Kentucky. I have always found it interesting that schools like Indiana, Kentucky and Kansas (blue bloods of basketball), actually are states that dont produce as much talent as people think.
This post was edited on 1/30/15 at 6:15 am
Posted on 1/30/15 at 6:14 am to Buckeye Backer
Uh huh. 
Posted on 1/30/15 at 6:22 am to BluegrassBelle
quote:
Uh huh
For years 2015 AND 2016 ESPN top 100 recruits:
Ohio = 10
Indiana = 3
Kentucky = 1
This post was edited on 1/30/15 at 6:23 am
Posted on 1/30/15 at 6:41 am to Buckeye Backer
A state with 7 million more people produces more basketball talent?!? Do tell us more.
Posted on 1/30/15 at 6:54 am to RTR America
My kids go to high school in Loogootee Indiana. They have no football team, wrestling, ROTC, or any sports for the males besides track, basketball, and baseball. Basketball is almost year round!
Posted on 1/30/15 at 8:14 am to Forkbeard3777
quote:
What makes these three states stand out so much more than the following? I'd easily classify the US as a "football crazed" country, but the emphasis is strictly focused on basketball in these three. I mean, the bordering states (South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Illinois, Ohio, West Virginia) would all classify as "football" states to me.
Ohio has ridiculously good high school basketball and talent. You might classify it as a football state but there is a ton of emphasis on basketball there.
Posted on 1/30/15 at 8:21 am to Buckeye Backer
quote:
Buckeye Backer
You took a two year sample, out of an 80 year pool.
Posted on 1/30/15 at 8:25 am to Buckeye Backer
quote:
The state of Ohio > Indiana and Kentucky in basketball. The difference is that Kentucky and Indiana are terrible in football, so of course their fans support basketball like no other. Ohio State supports both football and basketball. When it comes down to talent, Ohio produces more talent then Indiana and Kentucky.
You missed the point of the original post. He's not talking about talent. He's talking about fanaticism. Ohio does not have the same level of basketball fanaticism as Kentucky and Indiana. And, it's not close.
Posted on 1/30/15 at 8:30 am to Buckeye Backer
quote:
For years 2015 AND 2016 ESPN top 100 recruits:
Ohio = 10
Indiana = 3
Kentucky = 1
Texas = 12.
I guess that makes Texas a basketball fanatic state? Lol. It's not about the players developed in the state...it's about the fans and the primary sport they cheer.
Posted on 1/30/15 at 8:31 am to Oxford
quote:5a schools aren't exactly large schools in Ky. They could still have less than 800 kids in the school.
and these were 5A schools
Posted on 1/30/15 at 8:31 am to Ex-Popcorn
quote:oops, my appologies
Texas = 12.
I guess that makes Texas a basketball fanatic state? Lol. It's not about the players developed in the state...it's about the fans and the primary sport they cheer.
This post was edited on 1/30/15 at 8:33 am
Posted on 1/30/15 at 8:36 am to Buckeye Backer
Now quote me championships in the last ten years from your D1 all the way down to NAIA schools in Ohio in basketball. Then get back to me.
Posted on 1/30/15 at 8:51 am to Forkbeard3777
When I think of basketball in these states, I think of young farm kids with hoops on the barns. I imagine some rural schools are not large enough to field a football team, and thus offer basketball year round. There are a several schools like that in Louisiana, but there Louisiana has enough big schools to keep football on the plate.
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