@kkott I get the overall "blah" feeling towards the play in games. But does adding more teams make it more "blah", for you? For me, it gives me more choices of games to watch. I LOVE the first Thursday and Friday of the tournament, because of the amount of games. Flipping back and forth, landing on a game that is interesting... all of that. Maybe this won't hit like that... I'm sure it won't at the same level. But I just have to think its going to increase the chances that I get invested in more of these games, than I currently do. And while most of the additional teams won't be exciting or compelling, for most... obviously the added teams fan bases will all be more engaged... and it adds interest from the fans of the team the winners will be slated to play.
Not arguing the overall "blah ness", especially versus the old tournament that didn't have these play in games. When I say its been a smashing success, I'm talking overall viewership, ticket sales, etc... I would NOT choose to have play in games of any kind, for nearly all tournaments...pro or college. But they're here... I think this is an interesting change, if not an improvement.
@whatthefrik I think he was, but honestly, I think I like that idea better than increasingly meaningless conference tournaments, followed by barely meaningful First Four, err 12, games.
Me too. If you ask the question "why do people love the NCAA tournament?" I think the answer is: 1. Upsets. 2. Neutral court matchups. 3. Single game elimination. 4. A bunch of games happening at the same time.
No one cares if some of the games are "meh." It's fun because you can switch away to whatever game is fun.
Now, televising 64 games on one day would be tough for one TV partner. But the conference networks would likely be able to pick up the slack. That's just logistics.
@kkott I was, I even think 64 is too many because no team worse than a 8-seed has ever won.
But 76? Why that number?
Or, what about just saying the conference tournements are part of the national playdowns. There are I believe 32 conferences, so the champions of each conference could play for the natonal championship. Easy, now you don't need a committee to pick and choose who gets in, or any "bracketology" analytics, it's all based on who wins.
The NIT could also then actually be worth watching.
@iunorth I'm not denying I may be suffering from old man syndrome, but the tournament in the 64 team field to me is the most compelling event in sports, and as perfect as it gets. I, like you, love that Thursday and Friday and switching between games and there are so many good ones. But, I used to take those days off, or take a long lunch and watch, and of course do a bracket. But, the last few years: no days off, no long lunches and no brackets. Coincidence? Maybe, but I also think it's a little less special to me. Mostly because IU hasn't been a factor in so long, but I also think early games between Kent St and Colorado, only delays me getting to see, to me what is really compelling on Thursday and Friday. I also think we've experienced so much "bubble ball" over the last 2 decades, more of that is not interesting to me.
@ams66 I'd not go that far, for me. I like the 64 team field because like I said above, I think my favorite weekend is the first one with so many exciting and close games and the mix of conferences, Cinderella's, etc... There definitely have been many non-conference champs who have won it, so I like the 64 team field. Feels "just right" to me, and I think I'm in the "middle 80%" of viewers, so adding in several more play in games, I think will dampen interest.
And the important thing is for the NCAA and their TV partners to wring every last dollar and nickel out of this sport.Right, but total First Four viewership up 100k@gros-louis 2.4 vs 2.8 million... 17.7% bump for 2 less popular/storied programs.
The last nickel is why this will be more power conference teams, not tourney winners or regular season champions of 'lower' conferences.
If it was lower conference teams, this would actually be compelling. But, that is not what will happen, the NCAA doesn't need their votes to make these moves, and a school with 5000 students isn't going to add TV ratings like the 11th school in the Big Ten will.
So it's going to water down the regular season to squeeze the drop of juice from the orange. But it'll be fun, because more choice. Or something like that.
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Well, it does make up 80%-90% of their annual revenue to support everything else that they do each year. And not sure if you noticed, but life isn't getting cheaper for us or them.And the important thing is for the NCAA and their TV partners to wring every last dollar and nickel out of this sport.Right, but total First Four viewership up 100k@gros-louis 2.4 vs 2.8 million... 17.7% bump for 2 less popular/storied programs.
It cheapens something.
But you're right, not the fees or expenses.
I'm done ranting. I don't give a rip what they do. I just didn't really watch the pre-tourney this year, but not by any conscious decision. Like KKott it just didn't come up on my radar.
Correction, I watched the Miami game, but they deserved in the 64 anyway , they sort of got screwed. But now with the expanded tourney, we can put more Miami, Ohios into the play-in games, and leave the main field for more middling teams from the ACC, Big East, Big Ten, SEC because they pay the bills.
And you gotta get every dime, because of inflation. I guess.
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@openwheel And instead of 30 second timeouts they will be two minutes so they can show more commercials.
@kkott I was, I even think 64 is too many because no team worse than a 8-seed has ever won.
But 76? Why that number?
Or, what about just saying the conference tournements are part of the national playdowns. There are I believe 32 conferences, so the champions of each conference could play for the natonal championship. Easy, now you don't need a committee to pick and choose who gets in, or any "bracketology" analytics, it's all based on who wins.
The NIT could also then actually be worth watching.
The solution is simple, but totally not going to happen: make the NCAA 32 teams and the NIT 64. The NCAA gets cleaned up and only legit contenders are in it, while the NIT gains interest and appeal. Have the first NIT round on campus, too.
If the odds looked favorable, I would be $100 that the NCAA ditches that Tues/Wed BS, moves this opening round to a more favorable weekend tv window, and thereby pushes out the entire tournament by a week.
Closely sandwiching an early weekday opening round between the Conf Tourney weekend and the best and most viewed 4 days the sport offers, just doesn't make any business sense.
Too much of a good thing ... weakens its effect. Honestly , it already wears me out by the championship Monday game. Add another weekend 🤪
If anything they should be making the tourney smaller. These mid major schools now have no chance of making making even likely the sweet sixeteen unless it a fluke. NIL has ruined the tourney for smaller schools.