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Whatever happened to defense?? When did college basketball devolve into quick 30 ft jacks, poor defense, careless fouls, and turnovers galore on fast breaks? Do you ever miss watching basketball games where possessions mattered, playing defense mattered, and fouling was actually a bad thing, not just a means from preventing a dunk or layup?

Why are so many NCAA basketball games that end up looking like NBA games these days?

I've been mulling these thoughts over in my mind for some time. Struggling with the acidic feeling in the pit of my stomach the shows up watching the ACC game of the week. Thinking how a lot of college games are starting to look an awful lot like the NBA. Wondering how exactly the chest pound and roar after jacking the 30 ft three point shot became more important to the game than cutting off someone driving baseline...

Last week though, I found I ray of hope.

When breezing through my satellite dish I stumbled upon the Oklahoma vs. Nebraska game. I was struck by the coaching of Doc Sadler, the head coach of Nebraska. Doc Sadler must be one of the best coaches in the nation, even if Nebraska doesn't reach the NCAA tournament this year.

Nebraska was so fun to watch. All the basics were there: great half court defense, great pressure defense (that when it was used didn't give up easy shots), taking care of the ball, pushing the ball when the numbers where there if not running true half court sets and not being afraid to use the clock, hustling their ass off for loose balls and rebounds. You know, the stuff you see in high school or lower level college ball on extremely well coached teams, but rarely see in DI. All the stuff that makes coaching the game great and the stuff that big egos get in the way of.

This was a real breath of fresh air. Here this Nebraska team that probably didn't have one player that could start for league contending team was threatening a really great team, a team with McDonalds type players, on the road, just by doing all the little things, all the things that most teams don't know how to or don't make the effort to do. Here is a coach who can take a virtual YMCA team and still challenge a great team just by playing smart basketball.

And then there are the big names like Gary Williams, Jim Boeheim or Bruce Pearl with plenty of talent, but who field teams year after year that aren't as disciplined as your average YMCA team. They have so much potential that is just...wasted.

So when did the gold standard in college basketball become playing like an NBA team?

It's almost comical watching ACC basketball and the complete lack of defense played (not to mention poor shot selection), by everyone, except in amounts by Duke and Virginia Tech. It's just out and out humorous to watch Clemson, Georgia Tech, Miami, Maryland, Virginia teams that have good talent compared to a lot of teams, throw up stupid quick 30 ft shots, running up and down the floor playing no defense. Local parks sometimes showcase more disciplined basketball...

The saving grace is having a satellite dish where one can turn to regain one's basketball sanity by watching teams that value the ball and make you at least work for your points. Top fare: Most games on the Big 10 channel, Pac 10 games with the likes of Bennett, Howland, Floyd, and Sendek, the best of the rest in Louisville, Kentucky, Kansas, Pittsburgh or West Virginia, but I think best of all is watching that gritty Nebraska team from the Big 12 who just might play the smartest basketball in the country while getting the most out of the least.

So next time you're watching that Clemson, Maryland, Syracuse, Tennessee, Oregon, or Notre Dame game ask yourself what type of game this really is that I'm watching, take everything the bald headed announcer says with a grain of salt, and use that remote. I know I will.