by M. Sparga

Created on: January 16, 2008   Last Updated: March 28, 2009

Ask any basketball fan whether college or pro basketball is better, and you're sure to get a strong answer. The superiority issue is a polarizing topic, and for good reason. Fans of college ball cite the fact that school pride is at stake, while defenders of the professional league point to the elevated skills that make the sport such a worldwide draw. The sport takes on a few different rules here and there between the college and professional levels, but ultimately they each offer something valuable to fans.

It's hard to deny the thrill of watching two rival colleges meet on the basketball court. These are young athletes who aren't getting paid for their time and efforts. If anything, the opposite is the case. They sacrifice their time to train, practice, and compete, and all for little compensation beyond a school scholarship. Some of the lucky ones might earn a career. Either way, their love of the game is clear, and the excitement in the gym reflects this.

Most college basketball games may not have the high-tech spectacle of NBA games, but they still provide plenty of entertainment off the court. Pep bands and cheerleading squads help keep the crowd amped up. There are usually performances or contests at halftime. These games provide great entertainment value for the relative low cost of a ticket.

Professional basketball games, on the other hand, emphasize the spectacle of the game. There is still pride involved, and in some ways it can be more applicable than the elusive concept of school pride. Typically school pride applies most directly to current students, faculty, and alumni. But NBA teams represent entire geographies, no matter what a person's age or educational background. And if certain players spend most of their basketball careers on a particular team, the fans are able to embrace them as their own for much longer than the limited number of years a student will spend at a particular college.

In a professional league game, you know you should be witnessing the cream of the crop. Teams may have their bad games or losing streaks, but overall these players have proven their worth in a competitive job market to get hired. The high level of pro basketball is a showcase of skill and talent. It showcases the best of what an athlete can achieve in the sport. It gives the college players something tangible to work toward beyond mere pride.

In the end, the issue boils down to personal taste. Just as some people prefer going to small local venues for concerts by up-and-coming bands, whereas others prefer big venue concerts with famous headliners and pyrotechnics, basketball games can be the same way; a game can be boring or thrilling at either level.

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