Geno On Two-Site Regionals

[RoadMaster]

Geno on two-site regionals: "The dumbest thing ever"

Having just two regional sites hurts the growth of the game, he said.

www.uconnwbbweekly.com

 

[BRS24]

It would be interesting to see the analysis behind this decision from a few years ago. He has good points about making the sport available for more people, and that 2 regionals doesn't do that. The current system also limits who can sponsor the regionals, as you need 2x the number of hotels for teams and fans. With the increased focus on WBB and the widening of fan base, four separate regionals should be reimplemented.

The one thing I do like is that the NCAA brought all of the final fours together - D1, 2, 3. That is pretty cool.

 

[Jds]

Geno on two-site regionals: "The dumbest thing ever"

Having just two regional sites hurts the growth of the game, he said.

www.uconnwbbweekly.com

Of Course he is right. They are doing this just as Women's basketball is becoming popular and could better support 4 regionals. The NCAA should go back to four regionals ASAP but they won't. 2 Regionals saves them money.

 

[MSGRET]

Well if it's because of the money, why did the NCAA continue with ESPN for another 9 years without putting it out for bid? They could have had a bidding war, but just extended the contract.

 

[GoUconn7961]

Well if it's because of the money, why did the NCAA continue with ESPN for another 9 years without putting it out for bid? They could have had a bidding war, but just extended the contract.

I would love it if CBS or FOX got it instead.

 

[Rowdy831]

I agree with Geno. And if you are going to have two sites you could at least make them more central so people wouldn't have to travel all the way across the country to watch their teams play.

 

[boontonbomber]

It would be interesting to see the analysis behind this decision from a few years ago. He has good points about making the sport available for more people, and that 2 regionals doesn't do that. The current system also limits who can sponsor the regionals, as you need 2x the number of hotels for teams and fans. With the increased focus on WBB and the widening of fan base, four separate regionals should be reimplemented.

The one thing I do like is that the NCAA brought all of the final fours together - D1, 2, 3. That is pretty cool.

Didn't exactly bring them together. The D3 women's final four was in Columbus this past weekend. NYU beat Smith, from Northampton,Ma, in the championship game. As we practically live on the Smith campus, we have really enjoyed following them for many years, especially with them in the Final Four the last 2 years. Talk about the transfer portal : Morgan Morrison was D3 player of the year for Smith last year, and used her covid year, transferring to NYU to get her masters in electrical engineering. Of course, she was a big factor for NYU all season,including against her old mates in the final.

 

[BRS24]

Even Tara isn't a fan:

Stanford's VanDerveer questions regional format

Stanford Cardinal coach Tara VanDerveer questioned the new two-regional format of the women's tournament, saying decisions are sometimes made too far in advance.

www.espn.com

 

[Lorcan]

While I can sympathize with their points, as a fan who is likely going to have to travel to a regional regardless of where it is, I want as many games as possible in the city I'm going to. That being said, it does make the hotel stay significantly longer as you're going to be there from Friday-Tuesday morning if you'd like to go to all the games instead.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Two coaches with 2,400+ wins don't like it. Listen to them.

 

[BRS24]

A bit more to add (apologies for paywall)

Should the women's NCAA Tournament early rounds move to neutral sites?

The women’s basketball committee is expediting its review of site format in light of shattered attendance records.

theathletic.com

Lynn Holzman, the NCAA’s vice president for women’s basketball, told The Athletic this week that she is urging the Division I women’s basketball committee to expedite its review of site format in light of the shattered attendance records and trendlines for the sport overall. The committee had said in 2022 that it wanted to re-evaluate first- and second-round sites as well as the double regional format in 2025; Holzman said she wants the review to begin after this year’s Final Four.​

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Indiana coach Teri Moran said the goal of earning the opportunity to host is something that keeps her team motivated and focused throughout the year. Oregon State coach Scott Rueck said he supports it because it guarantees a great environment to play in, even if a team is the lower seed playing in essentially a road environment. Notre Dame coach Niele Ivey said every team that hosts gained the opportunity by winning hard games over the regular season.​

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“We’re still heartbroken, we’re still down, but I think our kids would tell you they’d rather experience that than go play in Omaha on a neutral court in front of 1,100 people,” Fennelly said. “The environment at Stanford was phenomenal.”​