The National Basketball Association is in danger of losing their entire 2011-2012 season because of disagreements between owners and players on the new collective bargaining agreement. The two sides were initially extremely far apart and while they are closer to determining the revenue sharing percentages, the immediate future looks dim for the NBA.
The entire pre-season schedule has already been canceled and at the rate progress is being made to this point, it won’t be long until regular season games start getting canceled. Philadelphia’s NBA franchise, the 76ers, hasn’t been a popular team in this city given the departure of superstar Allen Iverson and the rise of the three other professional teams in Philly – The Phillies, Flyers and Eagles.
But Philadelphia is known for a rich basketball history ranging from the high school level all the way to the professional level. Even though ticket sales have been low for home 76ers games over the last few years, there are still many basketball enthusiasts that may miss professional basketball.
But without the NBA, the city of Philadelphia’s basketball fans will be just fine because of the City 6. Philadelphia has something unique that doesn’t exist in any other college basketball town in the country. Six collegiate Division I programs compete either within the city limits or right outside the city.
The original Big 5 includes Temple, La Salle, Saint Joseph’s and Penn, all schools in the city, plus Villanova, which is located directly west of downtown Philadelphia. Add in the Drexel Dragons, a program continuing to build prestige and popularity, and you’ve got yourself the best college basketball town in the nation.
This college basketball season could be particularly special. Villanova and Temple are perennial national powers and both teams should make the NCAA Tournament once again this season. Saint Joseph’s, La Salle and Penn have all struggled somewhat in recent years, but all three programs should be on the rise in 2011-2012.
But the true great college basketball story in 2011-2012 could happen in University City at Drexel University. The Dragons are members of the Colonial Athletic Association, an underrated Mid-Major conference that has sent two teams, George Mason (2006) and VCU (2011), to the Final Four over the last several seasons. According to many college basketball experts, Drexel could be that great, upset-minded team to come out of the CAA this season.
Coach Bruiser Flint’s team returns four starters from last season’s 21-win team, including leading scorer Chris Fouch and leading rebounder Samme Givens. Fouch will miss the non-conference portion of the schedule due to off-season knee surgery, but Flint has a great recruiting class and his team should be able to find ways to score in Fouch’s absence.
So while the NBA is trying to figure out how to share all the revenue they bring in, Philadelphia basketball fans need not worry. Buy cheaper tickets to watch better basketball at any of the City 6 schools and enjoy, what could be, a magical 2011-2012 college basketball season in the City of Brotherly Love.
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