Purpose of the 16 seed?
I was looking at the bracket on ESPN, when I came across Cal State Northridge. The name caught my attention since I had never heard of them before. I looked them up to see what they were all about, they are 12-10 playing in the Big West and have played nobody.
Which led me to look at the records the lower seeds have against the higher ones. #1 vs. #16 92-0 #2 vs #15 88-4 #3 vs #14 77-15. So the #1,2, and 3 teams are 257-19 in the first round.
My question is why are auto-bids given to these confrences? What is the reason of throwing a team like this against a #1 seed, and possibly leaving michigan out. How does this benefit the NCAA tourney, I would much rather watch a game were its relatively close then then a 30-40 point murder.
February 16th, 2009 at 3:01 PM ^
I usually find them to be pretty competitive.
Of course, someone is usally laying or catching over 30 points.
You've never lived until betting at 2-1 that Campbell College will lead by more than 2 points, watching them win the opening tip and drill a trey in their opening possession.
That shit is the reason we have and I endorse 1 vs 16 games.
February 16th, 2009 at 3:04 PM ^
Have you considered that being the #1 seed in the tournament should come with a built in advantage, such as playing a game you are virtually guaranteed to win in the first round?
February 16th, 2009 at 3:10 PM ^
the game then just give them a bye as an advantage. I just don't like the fact that better teams are being left out of the tourney because of auto-bids.
February 16th, 2009 at 3:16 PM ^
Because a bye is literally a guaranteed win. They actually have to play this game, keeping the number of games equal, keeping the brackets nice and symmetric, and keeping the $$$ generated by having those 4 games on TV, ticket sales, etc.
Conference auto-bids are never, ever going away.
February 16th, 2009 at 5:15 PM ^
Dude, imagine for a second that you are attending a small college. You are on the basketball team there, but that doesn't mean much. You aren't revered like Manny Harris or even David Lee. You are just another face in the crowd. But your Junior year, your team is not bad. Sure you get beat by people, but in conference you actually do pretty well. You make a miraculous run through your conference tourney. All of a sudden, you are on the biggest stage of your life, playing UConn in the 1st round, against future NBA players. This is a dream come true for thier families too, as it proves to them that all of the driving and supporting that they did over the years finally paid off.
This is a very shallow examination of how the tourney changes LIVES. When you see a mother or father crying while watching thier son take the court in March (and you can bet that Dad has told all of his friends) you walk up to them and tell them that htere is no chance of a win, and that the team should have a bye rather than play on national tv.
While the games may seem one-sided, there will be a team that wins as a 16 seed. And when they do, you will look like quite the ass Distik.
February 16th, 2009 at 3:08 PM ^
So what do you propose? That the #1 seed has a bye? Or that there are no autobids? I'd rather see a team that won it's small conference than a team that who finished like 8th in the Big 12.
February 16th, 2009 at 3:22 PM ^
on the bye part. The Tourney is to crown the best team in the country so why not put the best teams in the counrty in it? I know alot of people like the David vs Goliath aspect of it, but like history shows 92-0 against #1 seed.
February 16th, 2009 at 3:27 PM ^
You still didn't answer the question, but it sounds like you are suggesting getting rid of the autobids, right? Just one example - with that proposal, Davidson would have been left out last year in all likelihood. Does that make the tourney better?
February 16th, 2009 at 3:21 PM ^
I propose that all automatic bids be abolished and that all teams are chosen on an at-large basis.
That way, more teams that deserve to make it will make it. Of course, this would gut the NIT, so it won't happen.
February 16th, 2009 at 5:49 PM ^
This would destroy the regular season, especially non-conference play. Most major conference teams would schedule no potentially good mid-majors, and in many cases they wouldn't schedule any good teams. Reason: There are 71 major conference teams and 65 tournament spots. Several major conference teams (i.e. Indiana, Iowa State, etc.) are not being considered even close to one of the top 65 teams in the country. Therefore, if the major conference teams never play any mid-major that might take their spot, only major conference teams will get into the tournament, instead of a potentially better mid-major. However, with autobids, there is more competition to get into the tournament and the best mid-majors get in.
February 16th, 2009 at 3:24 PM ^
is that allows for differeing definitions of a success and winning a championship.
The 16 seeds that come from the Big South, OVC, MEAC and so on have won the equivalent, really, of a de facto national title for them just by advancing into the tourney. Its great stuff....the tourney is just gravy. They will get blown out by 35 but return home as champs and as part of one of the best teams in their schools history. Taking away that ability to redefine success in different ways and not allowing these teams their moment is not fair, but more importantly not in keeping with the egalatarian spirit of March Madness.
But, then I am pumped up because I like these small schools and really enjoy watching their league tourneys play out.....some of the most competitive and dramatic stuff all year in the sports world will be found in quarterfinals and semifinals in leagues like the CAA, OVC and MAAC early next month.
February 16th, 2009 at 6:51 PM ^
I grew up in Green Bay and had season tickets to the UWGB bball games back when Dick Bennett (Wisconsin, Washington State) was coaching and his son Tony (Washington State) was playing. They made it to the tournament a few times and it was amazing how the town rallied around them. We would put the games on during school instead of class. They have banners up in the Arena for tournament appearances, let me repeat tournament appearances. They came close several times to beating the big boys and finally did when they beat a Jason Kidd lead California team. Nothing was better then following their runs through the conference tournaments where it is win or go home every game. If UCONN were to lose in their tournament they are still getting in. Like someone said earlier, a 16 will beat a 1 and it will be one of the biggest upsets of all time! Maybe then people will forget about a little school in North Carolina beating us in football...
February 16th, 2009 at 3:28 PM ^
three team parlays. Which #1 seed isn't going to cover? Thats the sweetness of march madness gambling.
February 16th, 2009 at 4:57 PM ^
Every tournament the NCAA holds has autobids for conference champions. Every single one. Why should the basketball one be any different?