They're really gonna do this, aren't they?
- Thread starter WPUknight
- Start date
I kind of agree except I don’t want to see the existing regular season content made worse by more apathy. That’s why I’d only be in favor of expansion if it meant a guaranteed AQ for all conference champs.
96 teams would be fine in that case - not so diluted if your adding 15+ additional AQs and brings more meaning to regular season games in more conferences. Neat format - byes for top 8 seeds.
First round out bracket games played on higher seeded gym floors - any team to win both their league and conference tourney guaranteed to home outbracket game if not seeded in the top 8 (to incentivize low major champs to play hard still in their conference tournies).
I see your point. On the other hand, those 1 seeds who would have to face the winner of Rutgers vs Notre Dame would hate that compared to the 16 vs 16 winners they play in the current format. It would be better to be a 2 seed than a 1 in that scenario.
It does, but not as much as you think. It would just be different teams in the bubble conversation. Even the Vanderbilt game would be fine. They would play a midmajor and might even lose for the right to be a 14 seed in the bracket. Truthfully - they weren’t that much better than the 14 seed the 3 seed would’ve otherwise played anyway.
The biggest change would be the 1 and 2 seeds where the competition level would be drastically different in the round of 64 where 1 seed would be facing a team like Virginia or Iona instead of a SWAC team.
Yeah this is the biggest problem with expansion. If you feel like the 1 seed deserves that automatic win based on their accomplishments relative to the rest of the field (namely seeds 2-4) that’s a fair argument against expansion.
But then again - in the current system, being the best 8 seed is virtually identical to being the worst 9 seed. And being a 10 seed is arguably better than both.
This looks like an excuse to put mediocre teams from power conferences in the tournament.
It would not be that much dilution of the regular season if more AQs were added. It would also become a lot more meaningful to earn a 1-8 seed and not have to play in one of the outbracket games.
I don't understand the issue.... 25% is fine. Every professional league has more.
NFL 14 of 32
NBA 20 of 30 (though 8 of those are "play-in" games.. it is still post-season)
MLB 12 of 30
NHL 16 of 32
NFL 14 of 32
NBA 20 of 30 (though 8 of those are "play-in" games.. it is still post-season)
MLB 12 of 30
NHL 16 of 32
So, now, the regular season will be solely for the purpose of seeding teams. Kind of like the NHL.
Just look at MLB. The Phillies finished in 3rd place, 14 games behind both the Braves and Mets. They wouldn't even be in the playoffs a year or two ago. But now they're in the World Series. Ridiculous.
Just look at MLB. The Phillies finished in 3rd place, 14 games behind both the Braves and Mets. They wouldn't even be in the playoffs a year or two ago. But now they're in the World Series. Ridiculous.