NCAA officially to 68 teams

[DawgatAuburn]

Last four at larges play each other for an 11 or 12 seed? Wow. Not sure I like this move.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=5374116

 

[615dawg]

They should have just expanded the play-in games to four. Now they have gotten rid of the "play-in" game between the worst two teams, and added another obstacle for a team like we were last year. This blows.

Then, to make it worse, they put the freaking games on CourtTV? Not a basketball court, a judicial court.

Just to spell this out, if there are two teams that the committee feels are 12 seeds, those two teams will play for the right to play a 5 seed three days later. So, a 5 seed gets an advantage over a seed 1-4???

This is ********.

 

[rugbdawg]

nm.

 

[8dog]

but your point is one I haven't thought of---you actually will have 2 5-seeds that have an advantage over the other 2 5-seeds.

2 of the at larges can't ***** b/c they wouldn't have been in the tourney if not for this. The problem is that we don't know who that is.

 

[RebelBruiser]

I hate the play-in game the way it was set up. You paired up two teams that had earned their ticket to the dance by winning their conference, and you eliminate one before the tourney even starts.

Are they the weakest two teams in the field? Sure.

But I'd rather it be the last few at large teams having to play their way in. The at large teams on the bubble are the ones that failed to do enough to earn a solid bid. They should be the ones that have to fight their way in. Plus it'll make for much better basketball in those play-in games. Last year, you'd have been playing Illinois or someone like that for a 12 seed. That's much better basketball, and I'd rather see the teams that didn't EARN their way in (the bubble teams) have to earn it on the court.

 

[RebelBruiser]

They should have just expanded the play-in games to four. Now they have gotten rid of the "play-in" game between the worst two teams, and added another obstacle for a team like we were last year. This blows.

Then, to make it worse, they put the freaking games on CourtTV? Not a basketball court, a judicial court.

Just to spell this out, if there are two teams that the committee feels are 12 seeds, those two teams will play for the right to play a 5 seed three days later. So, a 5 seed gets an advantage over a seed 1-4???

This is ********.

If you're a 1-4 seed, your advantage is playing a team that's a 13-16 seed in quality. If I'm a 1 seed, I'd rather draw Jackson State than have a chance I might have to play Mississippi State, Illinois, Minnesota, or Florida, even coming off a Tuesday night game.

You can't make the argument that it gives a 5 seed an advantage over a 1 or 2 seed. Typically, there is a good drop off between the last at large team and the 13-16 seeds that are ONLY in because of the automatic bid. Every coach in America would rather play a team that might be anywhere from the 75th to 200th best team in the country rather than playing a team that was one of the Top 50 in the country, even if that team was coming off a midweek game prior to the Friday night game.

 

[hatfieldms]

....

 

[o_1984Dawg]

There is no reasonto have these off numbered tournaments. Have 64 then go to 96 if you want to expand. Or at least add 16 teams. Having 4 teams get kicked out before anyone else plays just makes them feel like they weren't in the tournament.

With that said, it's better that any play-in game is between at-large teams than conference champs.

If it's 68, then all 4 play-in games should at least be for the same seed, which should be defined well before the tournament selection.

 

[patdog]

for the right to advance to the real tournament. So each of the play-in games would be something like a UTEP vs. Vermont matchup, with the winner getting the seed that UTEP was slated for.

 

[o_1984Dawg]

That's still a little gay, but it would make for better 16 vs 1 and 15 vs 2 games.

 

[Columbus Dawg]

we are going to have 2 ****** play in games matching up automatic qualifiersfor the right to play a 1 seed.

and 2 decent play in games matching up at large teams for the right to play a 5 seed.