Tuesday, March 17, 2009

March Sadness



The NCAA men's basketball tournament is supposed to be a celebration of the season past. The culmination is that a national champion will be crowned. The problem that I have with the current 65 team format instead of the 64 team format is that play-in game has been added.

That in and of itself is fine, but the criteria of the tournament is that the 30 or so conference champions receive an automatic bid. The question I have for the committee is why for the second year in a row, they have selected two conference champions to be a part of the "play in" game? These champions in years past would have been a lock to participate in the field of 64, now all of a sudden, two conferences are getting the shaft.

I would love for the NCAA to explain to me why the play in game is not between two of the last teams to make the tournament as say a 12 seed (i.e. Arizona, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan). These teams did not meet the criteria of playing in the tournament, yet they are assured a three day rest.

The Hornets of Alabama State and the Eagles of Moorehead State, two conference champions should be quite upset at the committee's decision that makes them compete just to play the number one overall seed Louisville Cardinals.

This scenario disturbs me to say the least. I am hopeful that the NCAA Tournament Committee does not follow in the footsteps of the "BC Mess" that currently exists regarding men's football.

This process needs to be reviewed by next year at the latest.

Has anyone seen my number 2 pencil with the extra large eraser? I need to fill out my brackets.

Ahhhh the beauty of a bunch of suits determining the fate of young men's lives.

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