The greed machine called the NCAA wants more money. They have decided to float the idea of expanding the “Big Dance,” as the Great Al McGuire once called it. “The NCAA Tournament” is what others call it, and now they want to expand it.
Let’s talk about the NCAA for a bit. What do we know about it? Who runs it? How do they make decisions?
They will tell you that they are in place to regulate and administer the rules prescribed by the member institutions. OK, sounds like a good idea, but who really runs this thing?
Miles Brand, former president at Indiana, was the president until he died of cancer six months ago. Surely in that time you would have thought an operation of this magnitude would have found and announced a replacement by now.
No such luck.
You have seen everyone from popes to presidents be replaced in less time, and they most of the time have more juice than the NCAA and it’s members, with the exception of maybe selection Sunday. That is part of the problem with Big Brother that is called the NCAA.
So they want to expand the tournament. More money is the root of this issue, as the NCAA has overspent its current allotment and they are trying to generate new revenue streams. Sounds like the NFL.
Allowing more than 90 teams in the tournament is supposed to be the answer. One problem. There are not enough good teams that can make up a 65-team tournament, let alone 95.
When you look at the history of the tournament, a number two seed team has lost to a fifteen seed once. Oh sure, you will have a underdog team break through early and celebrate on a Thursday or Friday, only to be home by Sunday night for good. George Mason was an exception as they got to the Final Four, but in this tournament, you are what you are.
So why do we need more teams who have no shot at winning it? Why would you have games being played in arenas built for 18,000 only to have teams play in front of 180, if you include the ushers?
We’re Number 94
That brings us to those who want to expand the field. Misguided presidents of universities would lead the way here. Someone put in their ear that this would be good for the university.
Really? How, to be the 94th best team in the tournament? That should get the alums digging deep to make a donation. Nothing like having that list of the rankings in your office, only your school is on page two.
The other group would be coaches. You have coaches who get fired for not winning enough games, not following the rules or not being able to coach or recruit. Those two go hand in hand. There are coaches who thinks this will save their job when it comes to sitting in front of the athletic director.
“Mr. AD, you can’t fire me. We were in the tournament last year and we were ranked … 94th. I know that number may seem a little high, but I think we will be better next year – maybe 75th?”
Sorry, Coach, gotta make a change.
If you don’t think this idea of expansion isn’t crazy, look at the rankings of the top 100 teams in Division 1. How many do you really recognize after Number 65? Would you watch them on TV, let alone go see them in person, if you did not have a loved one playing?
This is a money grab designed by someone who shall remain nameless and faceless. It is my hope that fans will let this proposal fall on deaf ears. Unfortunately, each year there are only about 12 teams that really have a shot. The rest are just dancing until the music stops.
Coach of The Year: Majerus
Look who has 20 wins this season? Yes, Saint Louis University.
Now before you start to wonder what regional they will be playing in for the NCAA tournament, calm down. They have some work to do, a lot of work. Their schedule was not as strong as it will be in the future hence the RPI will be down. Scheduling is a problem because some teams would prefer on taking a pass on playing the Billikens.
Head coach Rick Majerus and his staff should be commended for what they have done in just two short years. Remember, this team is made up of just freshmen and sophomores. Their growth has been remarkable on the court and in the classroom, which counts more for me. They have not even started growing the flowers they pass out for Senior Night yet, and look what they have done.
Safe to say that Coach Majerus and his staff will not allow any swollen egos on the court. I am not sure if the Atlantic 10 Conference is smart enough to recognize what they have in SLU, other than who should be Coach of The Year: Majerus.