Bill Connelley article on addressing lack of mid-major presence in the NCAA Tournament

[DoubleDeuce]

Bill Connley tries to address a topic near and dear to our hearts. Agree or disagree...at least he acknowledges the issue and gives it some thought.

Mid-majors, lower seeds have done so well. How do we get more into the NCAA tournament?

In the past four tournaments, 14 of the 17 top-four seeds lost to double-digit seeds. We're here to offer some possible solutions.

www.espn.com

 

[gobirds85]

It's not about right and wrong, just or unjust. It's about the $$$$$. Bigger schools have it, smaller schools do not. The big kids do not want to share the $$$. In fact, it's detrimental to smaller schools when one advances, because it upsets the big boys. They will accept a Cinderella, sometimes maybe even two Cinderellas, but after that...nope. That's the whole reasoning behind the Net/Quad 1/2/3 bullsh*t. RPI allowed for the possibility of more mid major schools getting bids. Hell, we can't have that. Ladies and gentlemen...we give you the NET rankings! Ta da!

 

[FriscoBird90]

Until the "non-power" conferences band together and call B.S. on the system, nothing is going to change; and the day they do, the "power" conferences would probably break away and form their own post-season tournament...and the networks would happily be their dance partners.

 

[Old Bird Fan]

This years tournament is the most glaring example of the worthiness of mid major representation to date. FAU, Creighton, Xavier, Princeton and others excelled. The big ten, sec & acc have a combined tournament record below .500.
Big conference money still talks, but there is growing sentiment among fans, (with ever mounting evidence to support it) that mid majors deserve a second or third team in, and the majors fall from 8 or 9 in to 7 teams in.

 

[Bird Friend]

This years tournament is the most glaring example of the worthiness of mid major representation to date. FAU, Creighton, Xavier, Princeton and others excelled. The big ten, sec & acc have a combined tournament record below .500.
Big conference money still talks, but there is growing sentiment among fans, (with ever mounting evidence to support it) that mid majors deserve a second or third team in, and the majors fall from 8 or 9 in to 7 teams in.

The only way it will matter is if people quit going to and watching the tourney games. Otherwise, the money is all that matters. So long as the seats are filled and the ratings are high, the NCAA will continue to cater to the P5.

 

[TBS_20]

Three of the four of the Final Four are mid-majors and 1 major. Maybe the committee will get the hint.

 

[RedbirdSoxFan]

Three of the four of the Final Four are mid-majors and 1 major. Maybe the committee will get the hint.

The Big East (UCONN) is not a Mid-Major in Basketball
San Diego State will soon be in the PAC-12
With all five starters on Florida Atlantic being underclassmen it will be interesting to see if they are all back in 2023-24, or if any get snatched up by a Power 5+1

 

[Hamdonger]

Miami is not a mid-major, but I get your point. Totally totally totally rooting for those not named Hurricane or Huskie.

 

[fdbird83]

The Big East (UCONN) is not a Mid-Major in Basketball
San Diego State will soon be in the PAC-12
With all five starters on Florida Atlantic being underclassmen it will be interesting to see if they are all back in 2023-24, or if any get snatched up by a Power 5+1

If the FAU coach leaves, you might see a mass exodus.

 

[cubird]

Princeton spent less than 2 million$ and FAU about 2.6 on basketball last year. And their NET ranking didn't mean crap when they got a chance to play with the Bigs.

 

[RedbirdSoxFan]

Three of the four of the Final Four are mid-majors and 1 major. Maybe the committee will get the hint.

Last 50 years NCAA Champion by Conferences:

Atlantic Coast (14) Last: Virginia 2019
Duke (5)
North Carolina (5)
North Carolina State (2)
Maryland (1)
Virginia (1)

Big East (10) Last: Villanova 2018
UCONN (4)
Villanova (3)
Syracuse (1)
Georgetown (1)
Marquette (1)

Southeast Conference (6) Last: Kentucky 2012
Kentucky (3)
Florida (2)
Arkansas (1)

Big Ten (5) Last: Michigan State 2000
Indiana (3)
Michigan (1)
Michigan State (1)

Big 12 (4) Last: Kansas 2022
Kansas (3)
Baylor (1)

PAC-12 (5) Arizona 1997
UCLA (4)
Arizona (1)

Metro (2) Last: 1986
Louisville (2)

Big West (1) Last: UNLV 1990
UNLV (1)

 

[ISU86]

Last 50 years NCAA Champion by Conferences:

Atlantic Coast (14) Last: Duke 2019
Duke (5)
North Carolina (5)
North Carolina State (2)
Maryland (1)
Virginia (1)

Big East (10) Last: Villanova 2018
UCONN (4)
Villanova (3)
Syracuse (1)
Georgetown (1)
Marquette (1)

Big Ten (5) Last: Michigan State 2000
Indiana (3)
Michigan (1)
Michigan State (1)

Big 12 (5) Last: Kansas 2022
Kansas (3)
Baylor (1)
Arkansas (1)

Southeast Conference (5) Last:Kentucky 2012
Kentucky (3)
Florida (2)

PAC-12 (5) Arizona 1997
UCLA (4)
Arizona (1)

Metro (2) Last: 1986
Louisville (2)

Big West (1) Last: UNLV 1990
UNLV (1)

Arkansas was not in the Big 8/12. SWC.

 

[DWRedbird]

Last 50 years NCAA Champion by Conferences:

Atlantic Coast (14) Last: Duke 2019
Duke (5)
North Carolina (5)
North Carolina State (2)
Maryland (1)
Virginia (1)

Big East (10) Last: Villanova 2018
UCONN (4)
Villanova (3)
Syracuse (1)
Georgetown (1)
Marquette (1)

Big Ten (5) Last: Michigan State 2000
Indiana (3)
Michigan (1)
Michigan State (1)

Big 12 (5) Last: Kansas 2022
Kansas (3)
Baylor (1)
Arkansas (1)

Southeast Conference (5) Last:Kentucky 2012
Kentucky (3)
Florida (2)

PAC-12 (5) Arizona 1997
UCLA (4)
Arizona (1)

Metro (2) Last: 1986
Louisville (2)

Big West (1) Last: UNLV 1990
UNLV (1)

Not that it changes your overall point, but the last ACC winner was Virginia in 2019 and Arkansas was in the SEC when they won their championship in 1994.

 

[dpdoughbird06]

This years tournament is the most glaring example of the worthiness of mid major representation to date. FAU, Creighton, Xavier, Princeton and others excelled. The big ten, sec & acc have a combined tournament record below .500.
Big conference money still talks, but there is growing sentiment among fans, (with ever mounting evidence to support it) that mid majors deserve a second or third team in, and the majors fall from 8 or 9 in to 7 teams in.

And over in another thread you have the ACC (and former B1G guy) commissioner agitating for more schools to get in from his P5 conference:

“It takes all of our new players time to gel, so don’t ding us for early losses (but penalize the mid-majors, by all means)”

“We play 20 conference games and beat ourselves up.” (Whose idea was that?)

“We have a proven track record of success. Use the eye test.” (Mid-majors are killing it these days in the tourney; they pass the eye test. Does your 6th-8th best team with a sub-.500 conference record?)


Maybe someone finally listens to the fans, and perhaps the money talks in mid-majors’ favor. Has anyone studied the mid-major effect on CBS’ ratings and on-site attendance for tourney games? I’m also curious which matchups generate more gambling action, since that seems to be the priority since said industry flooded sports with their sponsorships.

 

[gobirds85]

If the FAU coach leaves, you might see a mass exodus.

I would have to believe he is already on the radar at a few bigger schools. Show me the $$$!!

 

[gobirds85]

And over in another thread you have the ACC (and former B1G guy) commissioner agitating for more schools to get in from his P5 conference:

“It takes all of our new players time to gel, so don’t ding us for early losses (but penalize the mid-majors, by all means)”

“We play 20 conference games and beat ourselves up.” (Whose idea was that?)

“We have a proven track record of success. Use the eye test.” (Mid-majors are killing it these days in the tourney; they pass the eye test. Does your 6th-8th best team with a sub-.500 conference record?)


Maybe someone finally listens to the fans, and perhaps the money talks in mid-majors’ favor. Has anyone studied the mid-major effect on CBS’ ratings and on-site attendance for tourney games? I’m also curious which matchups generate more gambling action, since that seems to be the priority since said industry flooded sports with their sponsorships.

I absolutely love the excuse, "we beat ourselves up during conference play". What a load of .

 

[BirdGrad2011]

And over in another thread you have the ACC (and former B1G guy) commissioner agitating for more schools to get in from his P5 conference:

“It takes all of our new players time to gel, so don’t ding us for early losses (but penalize the mid-majors, by all means)”

“We play 20 conference games and beat ourselves up.” (Whose idea was that?)

“We have a proven track record of success. Use the eye test.” (Mid-majors are killing it these days in the tourney; they pass the eye test. Does your 6th-8th best team with a sub-.500 conference record?)


Maybe someone finally listens to the fans, and perhaps the money talks in mid-majors’ favor. Has anyone studied the mid-major effect on CBS’ ratings and on-site attendance for tourney games? I’m also curious which matchups generate more gambling action, since that seems to be the priority since said industry flooded sports with their sponsorships.

People want Cinderella first weekend but then they want to see some recognizable teams and faces come final four. If they eliminated the possibility of FAU, FDU, etc. then the opening weekend ratings would plummet. Final four would probably be fine though.

 

[DoubleDeuce]

I suspect broken pool brackets have the biggest impact on interest in the Final Fours. So many people are only following due to their pools. Seeding probably trumps brand name. I also think a lot of the TV analysts prefer big brand names...they love schmoozing their favorite coaches and fan bases. As a college basketball nut, I always enjoy the NCAA Tournament from the First Four through Championship Monday...brand names, top seeds, low seeds, Cinderella...doesn't matter.

 

[DaveBird10]

People want Cinderella first weekend but then they want to see some recognizable teams and faces come final four. If they eliminated the possibility of FAU, FDU, etc. then the opening weekend ratings would plummet. Final four would probably be fine though.

Yes but with this tournament FAU was under seeded compared to the other 9 seeds in this tournament.

FAU
Record: 33-3
Net: 13
Quad 1 record: 5-1

West Virginia
Record: 19-15
Conf. Record: 7-11
Net: 25
Quad 1: 6-14

Auburn
Record: 21-13
Net: 32
Quad 1: 4-11

Illinois
Record: 20-13
Net: 34
Quad 1: 2-12

So what 9 seed was under seeded? I am all for the best 4 teams that prove it over the course and I would argue with anyone that if you make the final four regardless of your conference you're a good team. I want good teams not blue bloods all the time. Part of what the committee needs to do is seed better because FAU was really under seeded. The other thing that they need to do is eliminate teams like West Virginia, if you can't have a winning record in your conference then you shouldn't make the tournament.

 

[RedbirdSoxFan]

Last 50 years NCAA Champion by Conferences:

Atlantic Coast (14) Last: Virginia 2019
Duke (5)
North Carolina (5)
North Carolina State (2)
Maryland (1)
Virginia (1)

Big East (10) Last: Villanova 2018
UCONN (4)
Villanova (3)
Syracuse (1)
Georgetown (1)
Marquette (1)

Southeast Conference (6) Last: Kentucky 2012
Kentucky (3)
Florida (2)
Arkansas (1)

Big Ten (5) Last: Michigan State 2000
Indiana (3)
Michigan (1)
Michigan State (1)

Big 12 (4) Last: Kansas 2022
Kansas (3)
Baylor (1)

PAC-12 (5) Arizona 1997
UCLA (4)
Arizona (1)

Metro (2) Last: 1986
Louisville (2)

Big West (1) Last: UNLV 1990
UNLV (1)

Updated it. Thanks!