Why increasing the NCAA Event might spoil March Insanity

[ad_1] Increasing the event might destroy what makes it one of many biggest postseasons in all of sports activities.

Mid-major convention event champions might probably be additional marginalized to make room for mediocre main convention packages. As a substitute of champions from smaller conferences robotically being within the 64-team area, they may be relegated to the First Eight/Ten on a Tuesday or Wednesday, when fewer eyes are on the event.

When the sector expanded to 68, the NCAA put 4 mid-major champions within the First 4 in two 16-seed versus 16-seed video games.

Baker's feedback on Thursday actually do not bode properly for basketball conferences outdoors the ACC, Huge 12, Huge East, Huge Ten and SEC.

"When you have a event that is obtained 68 groups in it, you are going to have a bunch of groups which might be amongst what most individuals would contemplate ... one of the best 68 or 70 groups within the nation that are not going to make the event, interval, since you obtained an entire bunch of people that win their convention tournaments who aren't in that group."

If the event expands, it should not come on the expense of groups who earned their bid by successful a convention event.

We would be a bit extra receptive to a transfer to 72 or 76 groups if these groups vying for at-large berths have been those enjoying within the First Eight/Ten. It will nonetheless be fully pointless.

In spite of everything, Baker's logic is foolish. Do we actually want to change the event so faculty basketball's 68th and 69th greatest groups could make the sector? Critically?

It is absurd.

Groups on the lower line are there for a purpose. All have flaws and justifications for being excluded. Final 12 months, for instance, the final 4 groups out of the sector have been West Virginia (19-13, 10-10 in Huge 12), Indiana (19-13, 10-10 in Huge Ten), Ohio State (17-15, Sep 11 in Huge Ten) and Boise State (26-11, 14-6 in Mountain West). Nobody misplaced sleep over them being omitted of the sector.

Watching mid-majors topple packages with extra assets is a part of the NCAA Event's allure. We'll doubtless see much less of these if the sector expands. As a substitute, we're extra prone to get video games with groups who have been afterthoughts of their conferences. How enjoyable.