Enough Already
If there has been a consistent them from basketball announcers during blowouts of conference tournament games, it has been the need to "reform" the NCAA tournament. Usually, these proposals would either
The second proposal makes even less sense. The next 63 at-large teams beyond the current NCAA tournament setup would participate in the tournament. That means, for example, the 65 teams that make the 2006 NCAA tournament, the 40 teams that make the 2006 NIT, and another 23 at-large teams beyond those fields would participate in the NCAA tournament. It would double the number of games that would be contested, provide additional TV coverage, but would be a logistical nightmare.
In both scenarios, the field is watered down. Sure, usually there are teams from lower conferences that are basically served up as cannon fodder in the first round. But then there is a Hampton, a Richmond, a Coppin State, a Santa Clara, a Bucknell. In 1989, # 16 seeded Princeton nearly knocked off top see Georgetown. But those early round David vs. Goliath matchups are part of what makes the tournament so exciting, and so endearing to legions of fans nationwide. The players at these smaller schools get it. They understand that they have nearly no chance of winning the national title. To them, often times making the tournament and getting to play on the biggest stage in college basketball is often their national title. That is their win. The proposals to reform the tournament, that would either diminish that or eliminate it entirely.
And besides, does the tournament really need to have more mediocre teams. Leave well enough alone.
- Eliminate automatic bids, inviting the best 64 teams available in the opinion of the selection committee
- Expanding the tournament to 128 teams.
The second proposal makes even less sense. The next 63 at-large teams beyond the current NCAA tournament setup would participate in the tournament. That means, for example, the 65 teams that make the 2006 NCAA tournament, the 40 teams that make the 2006 NIT, and another 23 at-large teams beyond those fields would participate in the NCAA tournament. It would double the number of games that would be contested, provide additional TV coverage, but would be a logistical nightmare.
In both scenarios, the field is watered down. Sure, usually there are teams from lower conferences that are basically served up as cannon fodder in the first round. But then there is a Hampton, a Richmond, a Coppin State, a Santa Clara, a Bucknell. In 1989, # 16 seeded Princeton nearly knocked off top see Georgetown. But those early round David vs. Goliath matchups are part of what makes the tournament so exciting, and so endearing to legions of fans nationwide. The players at these smaller schools get it. They understand that they have nearly no chance of winning the national title. To them, often times making the tournament and getting to play on the biggest stage in college basketball is often their national title. That is their win. The proposals to reform the tournament, that would either diminish that or eliminate it entirely.
And besides, does the tournament really need to have more mediocre teams. Leave well enough alone.
posted by Brian Griffiths at 10:53 PM
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