I heard a suggestion regarding the NCAA Tournament yesterday that I really liked and had never heard before.

 

 

It was suggested that instead of having the play-in game in its current format with two also-rans that no one pays attention to, to have the play-in game involve the last two at-large teams selected for the tournament.

 

Think about it for a second before judging it....

 

-- having a Missouri State vs. Maryland (or whoever the last two teams in are) play would give us a game people would actually watch.

-- although they would still get hammered, it would give all of the teams that qualified automatically the experience of playing in the tournament for real, rather than the trumped up play-in game.

-- While it would bump up some other teams one seed line, it would make the real "last two teams in" play for that right.

 

It is not perfect, but I think it would make things a heck of a lot more interesting than the current format and give us a game we would actually watch on Tuesday night.

I heard a suggestion regarding the NCAA Tournament yesterday that I really liked and had never heard before.

It was suggested that instead of having the play-in game in its current format with two also-rans that no one pays attention to, to have the play-in game involve the last two at-large teams selected for the tournament.

 

Think about it for a second before judging it....

 

-- having a Missouri State vs. Maryland (or whoever the last two teams in are) play would give us a game people would actually watch. 

-- although they would still get hammered, it would give all of the teams that qualified automatically the experience of playing in the tournament for real, rather than the trumped up play-in game.

-- While it would bump up some other teams one seed line, it would make the real "last two teams in" play for that right. 

 

It is not perfect, but I think it would make things a heck of a lot more interesting than the current format and give us a game we would actually watch on Tuesday night.

 

The one problem with that is figuring out where to seed the winner of that game. That really wouldn't be fair to whatever #1 seed has to play the winner of that game. You'd have to switch it to the winner getting something like a 10 or a 12 seed, which is usually where the last couple of at large teams land.

Edited March 7, 200620 yr by ZoomSlowik

Exactly. You would just go ahead and seed the 16 seeds as you do now and the winner of the play in game gets the final 12 seed (or 13 if that is the way it works out in a particular year)

Seton Hall

 

Still taking $20 bets they WILL make it to the Sweet 16.  No takers yet for so many that seem so sure they won't.

 

Rex, if you allow me to see the seeding first and THEN choose to make the bet, I will do so.

Rex, if you allow me to see the seeding first and THEN choose to make the bet, I will do so.

 

No, that's not the way it works. I am willing to make the offer without seeing the seeding. The bet is for those that are SO sure Gonzaga is SO overrated they will flop in the tournament. If they are that confident, then they can put their money where their mouth is. $20 shouldn't break anyone. Then again, if they are that confident, then they should believe they will lose and they won't have to worry about the $.

 

I find it funny that so many seem absolutely positive that Gonzaga is so vastly overrated that they crow about it with recklessness, yet won't back up their words!

No, that's not the way it works.  I am willing to make the offer without seeing the seeding.  The bet is for those that are SO sure Gonzaga is SO overrated they will flop in the tournament.  If they are that confident, then they can put their money where their mouth is.  $20 shouldn't break anyone.  Then again, if they are that confident, then they should believe they will lose and they won't have to worry about the $. 

 

I find it funny that so many seem absolutely positive that Gonzaga is so vastly overrated that they crow about it with recklessness, yet won't back up their words!

Rex...

 

Rex...

 

 

 

Not taking my offer aboz?? LOL

Not taking my offer aboz??  LOL

I've got Gonzaga going Sweet 16.

 

No arguments here.

I've got Gonzaga going Sweet 16.

 

No arguments here.

 

I'm sure if I am wrong, I'll be told as much by all the people that didn't have the cajones to step up now.

I'm sure if I am wrong, I'll be told as much by all the people that didn't have the cajones to step up now.

 

I'll be getting that too, for backing up Gonzaga anyways.

No, that's not the way it works.  I am willing to make the offer without seeing the seeding.  The bet is for those that are SO sure Gonzaga is SO overrated they will flop in the tournament.  If they are that confident, then they can put their money where their mouth is.  $20 shouldn't break anyone.  Then again, if they are that confident, then they should believe they will lose and they won't have to worry about the $. 

 

I find it funny that so many seem absolutely positive that Gonzaga is so vastly overrated that they crow about it with recklessness, yet won't back up their words!

Well i've said all along it depends on the matchups, so this doesn't mean much to me.

 

By the same token if you are so sure that they will make the sweet 16, it would make no difference to you if we saw the bracket.

Well i've said all along it depends on the matchups, so this doesn't mean much to me.

 

 

If that is your feeling then you are not who this is directed toward.

If that is your feeling then you are not who this is directed toward.

Directed at me obviously. Rex, no joke here I have absolutely 0 money. I'm a college kid who doesn't work and I just went to St. Louis over the weekend for the mvc tourny and spent basically all of my money. I also already have 15 bucks in tournament pools and krush already took 20 bucks from me . I'm also not going to be a person that rubs it in anyone's face if Zaga loses before the sweet 16. I'm going to want it to happen and be happy if it does because I'm going to have them gone in my pools but no one is going to hear about it from me.

Directed at me obviously.   Rex, no joke here I have absolutely 0 money.  I'm a college kid who doesn't work and I just went to St. Louis over the weekend for the mvc tourny and spent basically all of my money.  I also already have 15 bucks in tournament pools and krush already took 20 bucks from me   .  I'm also not going to be a person that rubs it in anyone's face if Zaga loses before the sweet 16.  I'm going to want it to happen and be happy if it does because I'm going to have them gone in my pools but no one is going to hear about it from me.

 

What's the fun in being all classy about these things???

 

I think it's unlikely that Gonzaga loses in the first two rounds, but I think the odds are fairly high that they will lose the next game. They need to get a soft 3/6 team to get by that game in my opinion.

I think it's unlikely that Gonzaga loses in the first two rounds, but I think the odds are fairly high that they will lose the next game. They need to get a soft 3/6 team to get by that game in my opinion.

 

I agree, but then again, there aren't many teams I would characterize as a shoe-in for the Elite 8.

I agree, but then again, there aren't many teams I would characterize as a shoe-in for the Elite 8.

 

The only two I would call even moderately safe bets are Nova and UConn. I might throw OSU in there if they put up a good showing in the tourney.

The only two I would call even moderately safe bets are Nova and UConn. I might throw OSU in there if they put up a good showing in the tourney.

I wouldn't call UConn a lock just because they seem to fall asleep in some games. I highly doubt that would happen in the tourny but you never know.

I wouldn't call UConn a lock just because they seem to fall asleep in some games.  I highly doubt that would happen in the tourny but you never know.

 

I didn't say lock, I said UConn and Nova are the safest bets to make it. I'm pretty confident that both of those teams will get by the 4-5 team, while I'm not so sure about the other teams. UConn played a horrendous game today, and Syracuse still needed a really deep 3 to send it to overtime. That's a major reason I don't think they'll lay an egg.

I didn't say lock, I said UConn and Nova are the safest bets to make it. I'm pretty confident that both of those teams will get by the 4-5 team, while I'm not so sure about the other teams. UConn played a horrendous game today, and Syracuse still needed a really deep 3 to send it to overtime. That's a major reason I don't think they'll lay an egg.

Fair enough. I mean don't get me wrong I fully expect UConn to get there but at time they play like idiots so you just never know.

Gonzaga is going down in the second round. They don't play defense. Their only chance is if everyone on the team grows a mustache.

Bucknell vs. Holy Cross is starting up. Bubble teams around the nation are cheering for the Bison.

Bucknell vs. Holy Cross is starting up. Bubble teams around the nation are cheering for the Bison.

 

Bucknell took care of business. No bubbles burst in this one.

I put this in the C bball thread, but figured i'd add it in the bubble thread too.

 

Good news for bubble teams: Wake and Oregon both have lost in the last 12 or so hours.

 

Bad news for bubble teams; South Carolina beats Kentucky, and will play the LSU/Florida winner with a shot at an auto bid, taking away somebody's at large IF they can pull off the miracle.

 

To watch later for bubble teams: Nebraska vs. Kansas, the bubble teams want a Kansas win in that one.

 

Wyoming vs. San Diego State, Wyoming is below .500 and SDSU is a potential at large threat if they lose, so go SDSU if your on the bubble.

 

Pacific vs. LBSU, Pacific is another POTENTIAL at large candidate if they lose, so go Pacific if your on the bubble.

 

Nevada vs. Utah State, go Nevada if your on the bubble....they are already in, and Utah State is a bubble team at best if they lose tonight.