ESPN announcer Karl Ravech dropped a factoid during Tuesday’s Alabama-Texas game that he probably should have kept to himself.
Ravech was on the mic for Alabama’s 103-80 beatdown of Texas at Moody Center in Austin, Texas. With the game all but wrapped up in the closing minutes, Ravech began talking about the SEC at large.
The conference has inarguably been the best in men’s college basketball so far this season. Entering this week, three of of the top-ranked teams — Auburn, Alabama, and Florida — are all from the Southeastern Conference. Nine of the SEC’s 16 teams are ranked in the top 25.
But Ravech claimed that SEC teams have been mediocre since conference play has begun, citing an unusual stat as evidence.
“We know how dominant they were in the non-conference season, the SEC, they were 185-23,” said Ravech. “Since January 4 into Tuesday, the SEC teams are 82-82. … There’s been no ability to pull away. There’s been no dominant group of teams.”
In case you missed it, every conference has a .500 record in conference play. That’s because every single game between teams within the same conference has a winner and a loser. Ravech seemed to misunderstand that point entirely.
On Wednesday, Ravech initially tried to claim he was being tongue-in-cheek about the 82-82 factoid. Later on, he admitted to his mistake and agreed to take the proverbial “L.”
“4 hours after landing, and reading all of the responses. It is overwhelming,” wrote Ravech. “I will heed the advice of my X friends and take the “L.” My bad, my mistake. Always appreciate the feedback and grateful for the audience. A bunch of huge games left, let’s enjoy them.”
Ravech has been responsible for some incredible calls over the years. Tuesday’s gaffe was simply not his finest moment.
