Increasing the match might damage what makes it one of many best postseasons in all of sports activities.
Mid-major convention match champions might doubtlessly be additional marginalized to make room for mediocre main convention applications. As a substitute of champions from smaller conferences robotically being within the 64-team subject, they is likely to be relegated to the First Eight/Ten on a Tuesday or Wednesday, when fewer eyes are on the match.
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 definitely do not bode nicely for basketball conferences outdoors the ACC, Large 12, Large East, Large Ten and SEC.
“You probably have a match that is acquired 68 groups in it, you are going to have a bunch of groups which are amongst what most individuals would think about … the perfect 68 or 70 groups within the nation that are not going to make the match, interval, since you acquired an entire bunch of people that win their convention tournaments who aren’t in that group.”
If the match expands, it should not come on the expense of groups who earned their bid by profitable a convention match.
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 could nonetheless be fully pointless.
In any case, Baker’s logic is foolish. Do we actually want to change the match so school basketball’s 68th and 69th greatest groups could make the sector? Significantly?
It is absurd.
Groups on the lower line are there for a cause. All have flaws and justifications for being excluded. Final yr, for instance, the final 4 groups out of the sector have been West Virginia (19-13, 10-10 in Large 12), Indiana (19-13, 10-10 in Large Ten), Ohio State (17-15, 11th of September in Large 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 applications with extra assets is a part of the NCAA Event’s appeal. We’ll possible 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.
March Insanity is okay as is. Baker’s push for growth will solely dilute a product that does not want fixing.
