If you really think about it, every team in the NCAA is already in the tournament. So that lends itself to your argument that the regular season doesn't matter. I say they are all in because when the regular season ends, virtually every team in the nation can win the tournament through their conference tournament then the NCAA. The NCAA tournament is really a second chance tourney for all the teams that got beat in their conference tournament. It is a little like losing in the district championship and then getting to go to the regional in KY HS basketball. All the teams that lose their conference tournament actually already have been knocked out of the tournament. But the NCAA does their big selection process to give all these teams a second chance at the tournament title. And that is why I say it makes the regular season important because that is how you earn your second chance once you are knocked out of the tournament during the conference tournament round.

 

That is fair enough. I always feel bad for teams from conferences like the OVC, as you could sweep the regular season, and then in the conference tournament finals get beat on a three quarter prayer shot at the buzzer, and then you are sitting on the bubble. Not that those teams could win the March Madness tournament, but that is where their conference affiliation really hurts them. They are already going to be lowly seeded as it is.

Edited July 13, 201016 yr by History
wording

That is fair enough. I always feel bad for teams from conferences like the OVC, as you could sweep the regular season, and then in the conference tournament finals get beat on a three quarter prayer shot at the buzzer, and then you are sitting on the bubble. Not that those teams could win the March Madness tournament, but that is where their conference affiliation really hurts them. They are already going to be lowly seeded as it is.

 

I agree but that is where those teams have to do what Butler, Gonzaga and other shave done - toughen up the schedule and win some of those games. If they can't do that, then they are at the mercy of winning their conference tourney.

 

Back to the format itself, I like this decision. It adds three more teams, it makes the lowest 4 playoff and gives them a chance to win a tourney game, it makes those last four bubble teams play their way into the final 64 - pretty good decision by the NCAA IMO.

How many of teh lower seeds have won the championship over the years? That would be zero. This will not get the best 64 teams in the tourny and it solves nothing. Everyone was crying last year about ______________(insert team) being left out and next year people will still be crying about teams being left out.

 

I would say 8 seed Villanova in 85 was pretty low.

I would say 8 seed Villanova in 85 was pretty low.

 

That means at worst they were #32 according to the NCAA, and that is the lowest seed to have ever won the crown. Again proving no need for the rest of the teams to be there, yet we just keep adding them and adding them for the cash.

That means at worst they were #32 according to the NCAA, and that is the lowest seed to have ever won the crown. Again proving no need for the rest of the teams to be there, yet we just keep adding them and adding them for the cash.

 

Not true at all, how many times does a 1, 2, or 3 seed lose to a seed seated lower than 8. Happens pretty much every year. At least every other year a 1 seed falls to an 8 or 9 in the 2nd round. They play a huge part in the final outcome, they might not win it, but they certainly have a say in who does.

Not true at all, how many times does a 1, 2, or 3 seed lose to a seed seated lower than 8. Happens pretty much every year. At least every other year a 1 seed falls to an 8 or 9 in the 2nd round. They play a huge part in the final outcome, they might not win it, but they certainly have a say in who does.

 

Not to mention a couple of 11 seeds have made the Final Four. A 9 seed has made the Final Four. Nine 10 seeds have made the region finals, and a 12 seed has advanced to the region finals. Granted, these aren't every year occurrences, but enough to prove that these teams are capable of making noise.

I personally like this new format. I think it will put the best 64 teams in the tournament when that round starts.

 

We'll never know the "best 64" teams, but this is a great effort at it.

I would have rather seen all four play-in games be at-large teams, but this is a nice compromise.

 

If you would have rather there been four play-ins for the 16 seeds, you may as well give the 1 seed a bye and call it a day. No 16 seed has ever beaten a 1 seed, and I am pretty sure they're not going to do it having already played a game three days before.

 

I agree. IMO, the teams that won their conference tournament have already played their way in, by winning their tournament. I would rather see the last 8 at large teams playing for the four 12 seeds.