Show Me

There are few downsides to rooting for a college basketball program which is now once again legitimately relevant in the national landscape year in and year out.  I can think of just two.  One is hyper-excessive expectations from the fringe, but I find it quite easy to disengage from that nonsense. 

However, the other downside is often too loud to tune out and too ubiquitous to ignore.  I’m, of course, referring to the PRESEASON HYPE MACHINE.  The “PHM” used to be a minor annoyance.  It was just whispers which floated in occasionally from informal summer workouts and scrimmages.  

Now, the summer is just the start.  It seems that with each passing season the PHM grows larger and louder and this year especially it has taken on a life of its own.  Narratives are now produced out of thin air even before the official team picture has been shot.