Consider me AGAINST the NCAA’s eventual decision to expand the Division I men’s basketball tournament to a field of 96.
Yes, count me as one of those who thinks this waters down the tournament and dilutes it completely. Consider me one of the, I’m sure, many who find it incredibly ironic that the NCAA is fixing something that isn’t even sniffing broken, also in light of a tournament that has amazed and wondered this year.
And don’t believe a single word you hear from the NCAA tools who want to tell you why this will be, and the good it will do.
Because if they say this is about anything but cash, they’re lying. Flat out, bold faced, lying.
Basically this is as how it will work: Those teams seeded 33-96 will play each other on a Thursday or Friday, and the winners will play 1-32 on Saturday or Sunday.
THEN, those winners will play the second round the following Tuesday or Wednesday before the Sweet 16 begins on Thursday or Friday.
As ESPN hoops guru writer Dana O’Neil put it in a brilliant column on the issue, that means Northern Iowa this year would have had to win three games in six days to advance to the Sweet 16.
The money is, and always will be, the apple of the NCAA’s eyes. More games mean more money, more games means more use of buildings, which build more revenue, yada yada yada.
But there is fabric of the game that will be altered greatly, such as, as O’Neil writes, the fact that the “student”-athletes will be taking off a week from school, probably not returning to campus until they are eliminated due to the short time between games.
The tournament, as should be, will also lose its luster, as will the game. You’re going to have to really suck to not get into a tournament in which more than a quarter of Division I teams will qualify for.
Gone will be the clashing non-conference games to build RPI and status. If you’re Georgetown, why play Kentucky if all you have to do to get in is win your non-conference games (against what I assume will be much lighter opponents), and then have a decent showing in conference and through that tournament?
The game loses. That’s what this comes down to. It’s a pathetic money-grab by the NCAA. and the fans and players and coaches get punished for it.
It actually means something to make the tournament now. Of course there are always a few bubble teams, but, hey, that’s life. There’s a reason the tournament has a show strictly dedicated to the selection of teams.
But that intrigue and wonder gets lost too, with this whole 96 gimmick. Thirty-one teams will be added, if this plan goes through.
Who out there really thinks there were 31 deserving teams left out of this year’s tourney? Of course not.
What little hope I hold onto is that this is not yet official. It’s as close as close can get, but not official. It’s expected to not become official until – act shocked – the NCAA decides upon what to do with its television package (I’ll give you one guess as to what they’re seeking. Its color is green).
But this is just a remarkably ludicrous idea. A disgusting change to something that so blatantly obviously does not need to be changed.
But, hey, that’s the NCAA for ya.
Leave it to them to fix something that couldn’t be better.
H O O P S C R I B E 