Readers reply to expansion question
Readers responded this week to our question regarding how they feel about the expansion of many sports’ VHSL playoffs in recent years and, especially, the potential increase in teams for the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. Here are some highlights:
TA Forrest of Virginia Beach: Although there are exceptions, the play-in games (when the tourney expanded to 68 teams) typically involve teams with records that are mediocre. The viewership and attendance of those games is low since interest outside of the schools selected is almost non-existent.
Overall win-loss records are a measurement of success, so if another round is created (ultimately resulting in more play-in games), the NCAA will get a bigger payday, but the level of competition will be diluted with teams that should not be participating. That is, more .500 teams don’t make a better tournament.
I equate the tournament expansion to the current number of NCAA bowl games . ... Now with 43 bowl games (in 2022), even teams with losing records are going to games. Some of the locations of the lower bowls may be exciting for the fans, e.g. the Bahamas, but attendance is still abysmal.
(NCAA Tournament expansion) is a complicated discussion, but will most likely be ruled by $$$. If the TV networks are willing to pay, the NCAA will kiss their feet and accept.
Robert Byrd of Toano: In basketball, increasing the size of the tourney from the high 60s to 96, I don’t think, is that big of a deal. The NCAA basketball tourney has ALWAYS kept the one tradition: If you lose, you’re out — none of this “stuff ” where you have to lose twice to be out (like certain portions of the Virginia state high school basketball tourney) . ... I think, at some point, the NCAA constantly changing the rules, changing traditions, REALLY hurts their tournament. That said, the NCAA has lost a ton of control/power over anything.
John Hargrove: My suggestion is that each conference sends TWO representatives to the NCAA Tournament of Champions — the regular-season champion and the conference tournament champion. If it turns out that the same team wins both, then the conference can choose which second-place team also represents their conference. There is a clear path to qualify for the championship tournament. Regular-season games are now much more meaningful, as they used to be, and the National Champion is a true Champion.
Use the NIT to My suggestion is that each conference sends TWO representatives to the NCAA Tournament of Champions — the regular-season champion and the conference tournament champion. If it turns out that the same team wins both, then the conference can choose which second-place team also represents their conference. There is a clear path to qualify for the championship tournament. Regular-season games are now much more meaningful, as they used to be, and the national champion is a true champion.