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[College Basketball] Topic: Why VCU’s Final Four run is bad for college basketball |
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Ashton_Grewal |
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#1 Posted: 3/28/2011 10:16:01 AM
The head coach of Syracuse was the most vocal supporter of expanding the tournament to 96 teams. And after VCU’s improbable run to the Final Four, Boehiem’s dream may come true and it’ll be a nightmare for college basketball fans.
That’s why VCU is on my garbage list today.
I know what you guys are thinking: What an fool. This guy probably rooted against Hickory High, Rudy and the Jamaican bobsled team, too.
Hear me out though. The Rams are playing better than any other team in the tournament and I’m not trying to rain their parade.
The problem I have is that their success is the all the firepower Boehiem and other expansion advocates need to destroy the perfect bracket sheet and water down the best tournament in sports.
What do you guys think? Am I way off here? Does anyone else want to see a 96-team tournament in light of VCU’s Final Four run? |
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TRAIN69 |
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#2 Posted: 3/28/2011 10:22:47 AM
96 would be stupid and unnecessary imo and I think the coaches and committee agree
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mmac66 |
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#3 Posted: 3/28/2011 10:31:15 AM A 96 team tournament would be a fiasco. I was fine with 64 and in my opinion the other four don't add anything to the tournament. The show on selection Sunday needs to be treated differently in regards to at large teams. They need to offer up a pool of teams "on the bubble" they need to qualify that none of those teams deserve to get in the tournament and those that qualify should feel lucky to be in. Nobody from the bubble should feel left out or that they got screwed, the teams that get in got lucky, simple as that. 64 was a good number and they went to 68 to suck up to the major conferences so they could get more teams in.......96 is would simply be a joke....hell, Oklahoma probably would have got in at 96.
VCU's run isn't bad for the tournament unless it leads to what you say...the best thing about the NCAA Tournament is also the worst thing about the NCAA Tournament. In this tournament any team can win any game and that is beautiful. It leads to upsets,unlikely heroes and "Cinderella" stories. These are great things and what make this tourney the best sporting event going each and every year. The sad part of this tournament is how it reduces spectacular seasons and careers to rubble if they get beat before they should....see Kansas and Ohio State....Kansas and Ohio State should not have their seasons viewed as epic failures because they lost one game. It's just unfortunate that we no longer enjoy the journey, but only the destination.
More teams would not necessarily lead to more teams that can win but would open the door to teams that don't really deserve an opportunity at a championship. Aren't the conference tournaments basically a de facto entrance into the NCAA Tournament anyways? Basically all schools get to play in their post season conference tourney, so by extension isn't the NCAA Championship already open to nearly every single Division 1 school? Why do we need to expand and screw up a great event.
I am definitely against further expansion of this tournament. |
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RP333 |
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#4 Posted: 3/28/2011 10:33:55 AM |
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-29- |
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#5 Posted: 3/28/2011 10:58:20 AM I enjoyed the "first four" format of this year's tournament but 68 teams is as far as the NCAA needs to go. I agree with mmac,with the exception of the Ivy League and a few bottom feeders from the Ohio Valley Conference,virtually every team gets one last shot to win their conference tourny and make the NCAAs.
Further expansion would greatly minimilize the regular season and make the conference tournaments much less compelling. Even though 68 is probably allowing too many teams in,I think that the NCAA should leave it as is or risk ruining one of the best events in all of sports.
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mrusso |
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#6 Posted: 3/28/2011 11:22:53 AM Agreed Ashton, well said Mmac, I feel 64 was the perfect # also. As you said Mmac, the conference tourneys provide the opportunity for the smaller conference "cinderellas" of the world and you're reasoning for the additional 4 spots certainly was the correct assessment (and the almighty dollar).
The beauty and the beast of the tourney is the do or die mentality of each game. Kansas and Ohio State still had great seasons, let's not forget, there can only be ONE winner, so there will be many disappointed teams. That being said, the story of the tourney thus far IS VCU, as was George Mason a few years ago, even Butler last year. I'm curious to see just how many tv's will be tuned into the VCU/Butler game, I'm guessing alot less than the KEN/UCONN game, sorry CBS.
Whatever happened to the old saying "if it ain't broke, don't fix it! |
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I_Need_A_Detox |
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#7 Posted: 3/28/2011 11:29:06 AM  |
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RP333 |
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#8 Posted: 3/28/2011 12:34:42 PM
But the tourneys bring the  |
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clowncar |
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#9 Posted: 3/28/2011 12:44:45 PM |
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JakeLake720 |
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#10 Posted: 3/28/2011 12:47:44 PM
That way, everything is settled on the court, where it should be..and everyone has a chance at the prize..
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MaineRoad |
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#11 Posted: 3/28/2011 1:19:34 PM Yes; I suspect that more would be less here. I also fully expect the money person at the NCAA to do it soon.
The reward for a good/great regular season would be a high seed and double bye...simple as that..
You left out getting to wear their home uniforms.  I get all tingly just thinking about it. 
..and everyone has a chance at the prize..
Everyone has a chance now.  Just don't suck during the regular season and you have a chance. 
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I_Need_A_Detox |
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#12 Posted: 3/28/2011 1:26:58 PM  |
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jpero |
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#13 Posted: 3/28/2011 1:29:18 PM
That way there can be no complaints from the Vatechs, Colorados and Alabamas, like there was this year.
VCU just happens to be playing some of the best basketball right now in the country. This is not something that would happen on a yearly basis. There were no elite teams this year and that worked in VCU's favor of getting to where they are right now. VCU and Shaka should be commended on their impossible run.
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cacabware |
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#14 Posted: 3/28/2011 1:37:03 PM  |
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smoovplaya |
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#15 Posted: 3/28/2011 1:41:36 PM QUOTE Originally Posted by jpero:
I am against expansion. However, the only expansion I would do is to add 4 teams so every region has a play-in game.
That way there can be no complaints from the Vatechs, Colorados and Alabamas, like there was this year.
VCU just happens to be playing some of the best basketball right now in the country. This is not something that would happen on a yearly basis. There were no elite teams this year and that worked in VCU's favor of getting to where they are right now. VCU and Shaka should be commended on their impossible run.
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gd2436 |
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#16 Posted: 3/28/2011 1:44:50 PM |
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trehoops |
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#17 Posted: 3/28/2011 2:05:25 PM QUOTE Originally Posted by Ashton_Grewal:
The Virginia Commonwealth Rams have made Jim Boehiem a very happy man.
The head coach of Syracuse was the most vocal supporter of expanding the tournament to 96 teams. And after VCU’s improbable run to the Final Four, Boehiem’s dream may come true and it’ll be a nightmare for college basketball fans.
That’s why VCU is on my garbage list today.
I know what you guys are thinking: What an fool. This guy probably rooted against Hickory High, Rudy and the Jamaican bobsled team, too.
Hear me out though. The Rams are playing better than any other team in the tournament and I’m not trying to rain their parade.
The problem I have is that their success is the all the firepower Boehiem and other expansion advocates need to destroy the perfect bracket sheet and water down the best tournament in sports.
What do you guys think? Am I way off here? Does anyone else want to see a 96-team tournament in light of VCU’s Final Four run? I HOPE YOU'RE WRONG ABOUT 96, BUT BOTTOM LINE IS THAT IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH VCU. MONEY RULES. NCAA ONLY THINKING ABOUT THE MILLIONS, COULD CARE LESS ABOUT THE FANS, OR THE BEAUTY OF THE TOURNAMENT! |
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jmw59 |
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#18 Posted: 3/28/2011 2:50:38 PM Yes; I suspect that more would be less here. I also fully expect the money person at the NCAA to do it soon.
Right on Maine |
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I_Need_A_Detox |
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#19 Posted: 3/28/2011 2:53:05 PM way too diluted 
it's back to normal, just stronger after 1 round. |
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