Big East Weighs In On NCAA Basketball Tournament Expansion
From TV schedules to revenue, the concept has multiple uncertainties, according to Commissioner Val Ackerman and several coaches.
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Expanded NCAA basketball tournament
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Johnny Rapper
Well-known member
Interesting but I have mixed feelings about expanding the Dance. While it would certainly be more advantageous to fringe programs like St. John’s to make the Dance more often, at the same time you are watering down the product. I recall when the tourney had only 32 teams, now THAT was a tourney where the most deserving teams got in.Big East Weighs In On NCAA Basketball Tournament Expansion
From TV schedules to revenue, the concept has multiple uncertainties, according to Commissioner Val Ackerman and several coaches.
The reason the NCAA Tournament is the most-watched sporting event outside the NFL is because it attracts casual fans and even non-fans.
Why?
1. Low-stakes gambling ie the office bracket
2. Cinderellas
Expansion may turn off both: Will non-fans want to fill out a 128-team bracket?
The likelihood of cinderellas advancing far to Sweet 16 or Elite 8s are even slimmer.
Of the most watched sporting events in the U.S. as of July: St. Peter's Peacocks had two games in the Top 50.
www.sportsmediawatch.com
Why?
1. Low-stakes gambling ie the office bracket
2. Cinderellas
Expansion may turn off both: Will non-fans want to fill out a 128-team bracket?
The likelihood of cinderellas advancing far to Sweet 16 or Elite 8s are even slimmer.
Of the most watched sporting events in the U.S. as of July: St. Peter's Peacocks had two games in the Top 50.
Halftime: 50 most-watched sporting events of 2022 (so far)
Here is a look at the 50 best sports ratings of 2022 so far, with the NFL dominating the list more than usual.
www.sportsmediawatch.com
Agree, if you can't play your way into the top 25-33% of teams in your own conference why should you be given the right to play for the national championship. I'm a math nerd so I'd love a system where conference power rankings dictate maximum number of teams a conference could send. Use comparative indexes vs 64 or 68 teams to dictate how many and let conference standings dictate who. Injuries and suspensions? Life ain't fair.
I think the reason for the expansion is so that the smaller conferences can still get the conference champions in and the power conferences can also get more their teams in because we all know they are better than 85% of these smaller conference champions. It keep both sides happy and keeps the tournament alive. I believe they were thinking of expanding to 96 but just taking the top 96 ranked teams regardless of conference. But, That would still knock out some of these smaller conference champions.
Boo Harvey
Well-known member
Will never happen. College basketball makes its $ from the NCAA tournament and the tournament is so successful bc of the Cinderella factor. Power 5 conference is not going to give that up. The product would be dramatically compromised.
I could definitely see this happening
Expanding to 128 will water down the "we made the tourney" statements on a coaches/schools resume... I don't however see it watering down the Cinderella factor...potentially increasing it with some more of those deserving small league winners making it.
It would be one more round/weekend - not a logistical issue. More college basketball...I as a fan would love more college bball.... and cmon.... we finally (well, hopefully lol) see our Johnnies in March!
It would be one more round/weekend - not a logistical issue. More college basketball...I as a fan would love more college bball.... and cmon.... we finally (well, hopefully lol) see our Johnnies in March!
We shall see but it is not wanting to share money with others that will drive the decision.
I don't think they care about the others, but we will see.
Agreed LJSA, for the simple reason that playing with everyone is where the money is. The NCAA Tournament makes a ton of money and if they can expand the field and the Power 5 can get more of their teams in it’s a win win.
I am not sure that there will be a Power 5 after the ACC Grant of Rights expires in 2035.
I expect that post Grant of Rights that the SEC and B1G will entice the media attractive ACC schools (UMiami, UNC, Florida State, Clemson, and one or two others) to exit the ACC for the step up in dollars.
SJUNC, in this case they will make more money with everyone else than without. A tournament with just power five schools destroys the Cinderella factor and is not as appealing to the casual sports fan who will now tune in and go to the games. Viewership will actually go down if it’s just a Power 5 tournament. Fans and alumni of all those non power 5 schools will not watch.
I gave my comments on this in the Around College Basketball Thread (mods, I think it would be appropriate to move mine and others comments to this thread since that where this topic first came up), but if I had a vote it would be no as I don't want to see all 16 teams from each of the Big Ten, SEC (I included the two additional schools scheduled to join each conference in the next year or two) or the 15 team ACC in the tournament.
I guess we will find out
I think all of us understand the dynamic may change but are using the term power five for Big Time Football schools as that is the current composition.