What's Your Take: Should the NCAA do away with Conference Tournaments?

[Blond D.]

I love seeing the conference tournaments. I think they should keep them as long as they aren't on PEACOCK

 

[Phil]

There is a ridiculously easy fix: Assign the automatic conference bid to the team with the best conference record. Remove any reference to a conference tournament.

For many existing problems, there is a potential fix that's easy to state. In some rare cases, that fix is implemented and it works.

This is not one of those rare cases.

Let's consider what happens if we decide that the regular-season record will determine the automatic bid.

For perspective, there are currently 31 conferences, and last year seven conferences had multiple bids which means 24 conferences were single bid conferences.

That's roughly 3/4 of the schools.

Halfway through the season, about half of the schools will be effectively eliminated from postseason consideration. Three quarters of the way through the season probably three quarters of the schools will be in that position.

That means over half the schools in the nation will have nothing to play for in terms of postseason potential. Yes, we want players to play for the love of the game, and all the values that come from hard work, practice camaraderie with fellow players etc., and it wouldn't surprise me if players managed to stay interested but I suspect fans would lose interest.

How many (non-parent) fans are going to show up to a game when there is virtually no chance of playing in the postseason. You've already eliminated the conference tournament, so it pretty much means, for the fans, is really nothing at stake.

The first year that might not be a material difference because fans won't immediately "get it," but I bet in the second year fan attendance will drop off for a significant proportion of teams as the season wears on. It literally might be the start of the end of the sport.

 

[Skeets]

There are quite a few distinct questions here: First, should the NCAA decide whether the individual conferences should conduct tournaments?

Hell no!

It should remain within the powers of each individual conference to decide for itself.

Now that we have established the INcompetance of the NCAA to decide, with its usual skill, anything more, let us proceed to the merits of each choice.

My most unworthy opinion is that the conference tournaments are a burden with few discernible benefits.

Next: Expand the NCAA tournament? Why? We can already see lots of mediocre games.

Next: Should teams with <.500 records in their respective conferences be invited to the “big show?”

No.

My sole credential for saying these things is that I, like you, have opinions.

When was the last time the NCAA did anything right? Uh, never?

 

[Fishy]

In Geno's presser yesterday, he voiced the opinion that conference tournaments perhaps are not necessary. He also stated that basically middle-of-the-pack teams with sub-500 league records do not belong in the NCAA tournament. Earlier in the week, Kim Mulkey also spoke against conference tournaments. Arguments about these topics have been around since conference tournaments started but what has changed is the landscape. There has been talk recently about inviting all DI teams to the postseason tournament. What is that, only 2 more rounds? 64-128-256.

• I think it's a different scenario depending on a team's position in the standings. (Geno mentioned this)
• What do you think the benefits and/or drawbacks of a conference tournament are as you see it, in general.
• For UConn this year, will the conference tourney help or hurt the team going forward.
• Any historical references you could share.

I played in HS with Steve Castellan, who went to UVA. His freshman year there, 1975-76, the team went 13-11 overall, 4-8 in the ACC, and they won the conference tournament and went to the NCAA tournament, at a time when ALL leagues were one bid leagues. They beat NC, NC St, and MD to win the tourney to advance, eventually losing to DePaul in the NCAA's. That was historic stuff for the ACC. Long story short, it meant a lot for that team!

He has a lot of opinions.

This one is stupid. Really, really stupid.

 

[ec33]

He has a lot of opinions.

This one is stupid. Really, really stupid.

If the argument is that conference tournaments aren't indicative of the best team then maybe they should also get rid of the NCAA tournament. Just have a committee vote on the champion.

Such a silly comment that ignores everyone's interest but his own.

 

[Fishy]

If the argument is that conference tournaments aren't indicative of the best team then maybe they should also get rid of the NCAA tournament. Just have a committee vote on the champion.

Such a silly comment that ignores everyone's interest but his own.

He hasn't breathed the same air that a mid or low major team breathes for a very, very long time so he's just out of touch.

The conference tournament is the thing for those conferences.

 

[1974yankees]

I disagree with Getting rid of Conference tournaments..

These tournaments are what College basketball is all about. At least when I was growing up. There was nothing better than watching the old Big East Mens tournaments.. Even on the women's side when it was Uconn facing Notre Dame, Rutgers or Louisville...

On the other hand, I can see where Geno is coming from because let's all be honest... This Big East is awful...

Even the most diehard Uconn fans (I am one of them) probably agree..

I was talking to two diehard Uconn fans today and they were telling me it's a joke watching Uconn beat everyone by 50 points. .

Just my thoughts.

Btw,

I am glad we are the ones winning by 50 every game though...

 

[HopJim]

In Geno's presser yesterday, he voiced the opinion that conference tournaments perhaps are not necessary. He also stated that basically middle-of-the-pack teams with sub-500 league records do not belong in the NCAA tournament. Earlier in the week, Kim Mulkey also spoke against conference tournaments. Arguments about these topics have been around since conference tournaments started but what has changed is the landscape. There has been talk recently about inviting all DI teams to the postseason tournament. What is that, only 2 more rounds? 64-128-256.

• I think it's a different scenario depending on a team's position in the standings. (Geno mentioned this)
• What do you think the benefits and/or drawbacks of a conference tournament are as you see it, in general.
• For UConn this year, will the conference tourney help or hurt the team going forward.
• Any historical references you could share.

I played in HS with Steve Castellan, who went to UVA. His freshman year there, 1975-76, the team went 13-11 overall, 4-8 in the ACC, and they won the conference tournament and went to the NCAA tournament, at a time when ALL leagues were one bid leagues. They beat NC, NC St, and MD to win the tourney to advance, eventually losing to DePaul in the NCAA's. That was historic stuff for the ACC. Long story short, it meant a lot for that team!

My impression after watching college basketball for over 50 years is that for every conference winning team that exceeds expectations in the playoffs, there are 10-20 that get beat downs like Creighton. Would have to think hard at what the non-financial benefits are of these scenarios.

 

[oldude]

My impression after watching college basketball for over 50 years is that for every conference winning team that exceeds expectations in the playoffs, there are 10-20 that get beat downs like Creighton. Would have to think hard at what the non-financial benefits are of these scenarios.

I’m a bit puzzled by your comment. Wouldn’t it necessarily follow that if one team “exceeds expectations” then another team would fail to meet expectations? Isn’t that the nature of sports competition?

 

[Scoe]

I just have one sentence for all this and yes I'm intending on making this all caps not directed at anyone but just generally speaking.

SHUT UP AND LEAVE IT ALONE!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Jim]

People often forget the 2010-2011 UConn Mens' team with Kemba Walker. That team lost 4 of the last 5 games to end the regular season 21-9, in 9th place in the Big East with a 9-9 record. They might not have gotten into the Big Dance without winning five games in five days to capture the conference tourney title. They then went on to win the next six games and the National Championship.

It has been a long time since Geno has been in a position where his team has to win the conference tournament to keep hope alive, so I can see his point. But one of the fun things about this time of year is to see if some Cinderella can manage to find her prince and live happily ever after.

 

[HuskyinWRNY]

Never happen, too much money involved

 

[ERWUC65]

If you watched WBB conference championships this weekend, you would see the negatives for the teams in the more competitive leagues. For example, all the final teams in the SEC were gassed from playing such high level ball for 3 straight days. Some teams are so thin that they may not even recover for the big dance. UConn, on the other hand, used its depth and lack of competition to handily win their games (one more) and remain in good health and stamina for the NC. So, in conclusion, while I like to see any type of WBB, I can see how it much negatively affect those teams in the SEC, ACC and Big Ten.

 

[DRBackup]

In Geno's presser yesterday, he voiced the opinion that conference tournaments perhaps are not necessary. He also stated that basically middle-of-the-pack teams with sub-500 league records do not belong in the NCAA tournament. Earlier in the week, Kim Mulkey also spoke against conference tournaments. Arguments about these topics have been around since conference tournaments started but what has changed is the landscape. There has been talk recently about inviting all DI teams to the postseason tournament. What is that, only 2 more rounds? 64-128-256.

• I think it's a different scenario depending on a team's position in the standings. (Geno mentioned this)
• What do you think the benefits and/or drawbacks of a conference tournament are as you see it, in general.
• For UConn this year, will the conference tourney help or hurt the team going forward.
• Any historical references you could share.

I played in HS with Steve Castellan, who went to UVA. His freshman year there, 1975-76, the team went 13-11 overall, 4-8 in the ACC, and they won the conference tournament and went to the NCAA tournament, at a time when ALL leagues were one bid leagues. They beat NC, NC St, and MD to win the tourney to advance, eventually losing to DePaul in the NCAA's. That was historic stuff for the ACC. Long story short, it meant a lot for that team!

I love how the internet thinks one bid conference tournaments were just invented.

 

[DRBackup]

If you watched WBB conference championships this weekend, you would see the negatives for the teams in the more competitive leagues. For example, all the final teams in the SEC were gassed from playing such high level ball for 3 straight days. Some teams are so thin that they may not even recover for the big dance. UConn, on the other hand, used its depth and lack of competition to handily win their games (one more) and remain in good health and stamina for the NC. So, in conclusion, while I like to see any type of WBB, I can see how it much negatively affect those teams in the SEC, ACC and Big Ten.

They'll recover. They're 18-22 year olds with an entire week+ off.

 

[Scoe]

If you watched WBB conference championships this weekend, you would see the negatives for the teams in the more competitive leagues. For example, all the final teams in the SEC were gassed from playing such high level ball for 3 straight days. Some teams are so thin that they may not even recover for the big dance. UConn, on the other hand, used its depth and lack of competition to handily win their games (one more) and remain in good health and stamina for the NC. So, in conclusion, while I like to see any type of WBB, I can see how it much negatively affect those teams in the SEC, ACC and Big Ten.

Im not buying it, If 18-22 year olds need more then a week to recover then their not in very good shape.

 

[Txhoopsalot]

Every team playing in a conference tournament has a chance to win a championship. That can be fun and exciting, an end in itself, to many teams, and their fans.