Hello everyone and sorry for the long delay. With the NCAA Basketball Tournament right around the corner, I thought that I would let everyone know why the big dance is perfect the way that it is. If anyone else out there is like me, you have been keeping an eye on the little guys winning their conference tournaments to advance to the big show. For the many of the Mid-Major programs (and I say Mid-Major with a great amount of distaste), making it into the tournament is considered the goal for the season. With an expansion to 96 or even 128 teams, what is the great reward of making it anymore? Expansion is not a way to let more of the small programs in, its a way to let the cash cow BCS schools get many more teams in. From a financial stand point, the NCAA should definitely let more teams in, but from a fan's point of view, this would be disastrous.
I love college basketball more than any other amateur, collegiate or professional league out there. The NFL is a close second, but how can you argue against the passion that is displayed game in and game out? The rivalries, the traditions, the fans, college basketball is what sports should be. March Madness culminates a regular season that has the length to find the best teams while also being short enough to have every game count. For a majority of the players out there, this is going to be the last organized basketball that they will play. They leave it on the court every single night. Yes, there are the bright lights, stardom, and Per Diem that some of the players are playing for but many are playing for the love of the game.
The average college fan couldn't tell you who the starting forwards are for North Texas or that Ronald Moore is leading the nation in assists. But if the Mean Green pull off an upset or the Saints continue their previous success, everyone will know about George Odufuwa and Eric Tramiel 25 minutes after the game. Ronald Moore will be called the next Chris Paul. With an expansion to 128 teams, no one is going to care about upsets in the first round. Is it even impressive if Uconn as a 20th seed beats Minnesota as a 13th? America loves a good a good Cinderella team and this could effectively eliminate one of the best things in sport.
This is going to kick off a week of posts on the tournament getting ready for the greatest event in sports. Make sure to check back later.
Derek
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