Editor's Note

The Great NCAA Basketball Debate: March Madness and Academics

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March 16, 2010 RSS Feed Print
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Can we take a break from healthcare, financial reform, jobs, interest rates, and Iraq for just a moment and focus on a fitting sports bar debate? Read our "Two Takes," and then weigh in on the question: Should poor academic performance by players keep schools from competing in the college basketball playoffs? Professionalization of college sports is not a new issue, but after years of trying to do better, we seem to have slipped, with many schools graduating very few players. Does it matter? Who gets hurt? Give me your thoughts at editor@usnews.com. Then, take a look at our own bracketology comparing tournament seeds with their U.S. News ranking, and see who wins the sports-and-scholars derby.

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NCAA,
basketball

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In the vast majority of schools the athletes graduate at higher rates than the general public. In public universities graduation rates are frequently as low as 25%. Yes there are a few schools that are lower than that with student athletes, and they should be disciplined. I do not see any reason that the athletes should graduate at a rate higher than the general populace however. The colleges and universities are giving the young men and women a chance. It is up to the men and women to take advantage of it. The biggest part of college is learning to be independent and work without supervision. That is the major failure of both the athlete and non athlete. How much the schools make is besides the point. If the students don't learn to take responsibility for themselves the school has failed anyway.

H. Hayne Crum, III of AL 1:23PM April 22, 2010

I get tired of this debate. These are NOT average students. Their obligations are tenfold what the average student has and the revenue they bring in reflects that very public obligation.

My issue is that the NCAA does very little for the student athlete across all sports. If these schools are graduating very few players, then what has the NCAA done for them besides pocket tv revenue from them ? Instead of blaming the school and coach for everything, maybe it is time that we put some former coaches in charge and start all over.

D Brown of NY 4:30PM April 18, 2010

Editor's Note

Brian Kelly was named editor of U.S.News & World Report in April 2007, nine years after joining the magazine. With more than 30 years of journalism experience, including covering Capitol Hill, politics, and the presidency both as a beat reporter and as an editor, Kelly is one of the nation’s most experienced magazine editors in steering national and international news content.

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