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Yep, it is, Rumored, which is why I don't think that the Conference
Tournament winners should get automatic berths...
posted by
saul_relative
on March 15, 2008 at 12:40 AM
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Doggone it, jollyjeff. You've ruined it for me, too. Oh... wait a minute.
I already knew that. Never mind. Carry on...
posted by
saul_relative
on March 15, 2008 at 12:39 AM
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He's too used to winning, sam...
posted by
saul_relative
on March 15, 2008 at 12:38 AM
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saul, I listened to Michigan State handle OSU in the Big 10 tourney
late this afternoon..now MSU gets another shot at Wisconsin..I know it's basically a meaningless tourney, but it's a great tuneup for the Big Dance...
posted by
Rumor
on March 14, 2008 at 4:46 PM
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I quit following the tournament
when I realized that only a handful of players actually earn college degrees. Most of them are professional athletes masquerading as college students.
posted by
jollyjeff
on March 14, 2008 at 11:18 AM
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Right on! I think the weaker schools are included to give the big name schools assured success in the 'big boy' of tournaments. Heaven forbid Duke would not have to play a quality team until the elite eight. Sorry, but 'Coach K' is a whiner when he loses. sam
posted by
sam444
on March 14, 2008 at 7:45 AM
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So do I, sam. The problem is the hype given the NCAA Tournament,
marginalizing the smaller NIT as full of wannabes, the woulda-shoulda-coulda crowd. I would like to see the NIT played about halfway through the NCAA Tournament, that way they could pick up some more quality bubble teams (and a couple of the really big guys) when they get knocked out in the first round. I think it would draw more fans, generate more excitement. Statistics show that not one 16th seeded team has ever won the tournament. In fact, they lose the first game. The highest to ever win was like a 10 or something (I think it was Villanova, but I could be wrong). A #1 seed has never lost the first round and, if I'm remembering these stats correctly, only one #2 has ever lost. Or something like that. The statistics bear out the logic of the seeds. The tournament committee knows what it's doing, cloistered away with their spread sheets and coffee. So, holding off for a week would give the NIT some more excellent schools to consider (and/or they could expand the field as well, making the tournament more money).
Here's the deal. Teams from the Podunk Conference that got an automatic entry into the Final 65 due to winning their conference on a fluke (you know, the 11-11 Cinderella College that gets in the Tournament every year) but the regular season conference champ that was 14-8 had to sit home and watch would not be picked to go to the NIT either. Cinderella College is going to lose its first or second game anyway and go home, only to relive this crazy season in bars for eternity. The 14-8 Sitters would have a chance at an NIT bid, but, hey, since #14 University with the 17-5 record got knocked out by a hail mary buzzer-beater, the NIT selection committee can bump the Sitters, who, let's face it, had their shot at the Big Dance and blew i, so the NIT slot can go to #14 University, strengthening their field and making the tournament a bigger draw.
I personally think those authomatic entry positions in the NCAA tourney should be eliminated. Too many worthless teams get in through that door. Make it so the regular season conference winner gets in and the tourney winner gets the chance to go. If it's the same team, they're in. If not, the stronger team is in automatically. It strengthens the field and each conference is still represented. The conference tourney winner, if it is a fluke, keeps their conference tourney championship trophy and calls it a season (or could get picked up by the NIT). The rest of the field is filled as usual.
posted by
saul_relative
on March 14, 2008 at 7:31 AM
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And I thought you were going to say a referee's shrieking whistle. I think the NIT is a quality tournament! sam
posted by
sam444
on March 13, 2008 at 3:37 PM
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