Has the B1G tournament run its course?

[fezzador]

It was brought up that the B1G NCAA championship drought has roughly coincided with the implementation of a conference tournament in the late 90s. Obviously $$$ trumps most, but it seems to be causing more harm than good to the conference. It can help seeding (slightly), but it can also hurt seeding, and cause unnecessary wear-and-tear on an already crazy-long conference schedule (looking at 20 games now). The conference concludes on Selection Sunday, while many other conferences have finished at least a day (if not several days) prior to Selection Sunday. B1G teams come in to the dance tired and sloppy, rather than crisp and focused like many other teams.

 

[StormHawk42]

The entire concept of the tourneys (especially in small conferences) is stupid. But fans love it and schools love the $$$ so they ain’t going anywhere.

 

[Hawkize31]

Ditching the BTT would be a cowardly move and there's no guarantee it makes the Big Ten play any better in the NCAAT.

It's also great that every team technically has a shot to make the to make the NCAAT by winning the BTT. Good incentive for poor teams to keep playing well and trying to get better.

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

I'll revisit this when I have more time, but there's certainly arguments to be made for both sides.

The one thing that I keep coming back to is that it may be time for some change to the system. Not a wholesale change, or doing away with conference tourneys outright. But after the way this NCAA tournament is shaping up and the fact that there were a LOT of massively overhyped teams (with projected NBA players) that bowed out early in the tournament.......I think it's safe to say some kind of change is needed.

But I need more time to delve into that.

 

[fezzador]

I'll revisit this when I have more time, but there's certainly arguments to be made for both sides.

The one thing that I keep coming back to is that it may be time for some change to the system. Not a wholesale change, or doing away with conference tourneys outright. But after the way this NCAA tournament is shaping up and the fact that there were a LOT of massively overhyped teams (with projected NBA players) that bowed out early in the tournament.......I think it's safe to say some kind of change is needed.

But I need more time to delve into that.

How about shortening the tournament? Maybe just the top 6 or 8 B1G teams qualify?

 

[HawkRose]

Why are all other conferences unaffected? Only argument would be to have it earlier in the week but that ruins ratings/tickets which is the whole point. PAC 12 having zero issues

 

[DodgerHawki]

How about shortening the tournament? Maybe just the top 6 or 8 B1G teams qualify?

I don't see why the BTT is an issue. The Big 10 has had a lot of teams make the Final 4 in the last decade, I think perhaps most of any conference or close to it. Just none of them good enough to win it all. I don't see how the BTT causes more problems for the league, then why is it that all the other conferences can play just fine with their own tournament?

 

[LarryMullenJr.]

How about shortening the tournament? Maybe just the top 6 or 8 B1G teams qualify?

This could have merit but I’m still on the “go ahead and get rid of the conference tournaments” side. Sorry Bottom Feeder Tech—you had your chance during the 16-20 game regular season conference schedule to prove you belong.

Totally understand they aren’t going anywhere cuz money but that’s my opinion.

 

[ChiDoc]

21 year old kids recover from games perfectly fine in limited time.

So you cancel the tourney, erase a perfect dress rehearsal for the real tournament, are the only conference to do so and now all your teams sit idle for two weeks gathering rust while every other conference in the country showcases their schools and have a giant party that 90% of the fans and all the players love?

JFC, this is almost as mind numbingly stupid as the officiating narrative...

 

[waterboy4582]

It was brought up that the B1G NCAA championship drought has roughly coincided with the implementation of a conference tournament in the late 90s. Obviously $$$ trumps most, but it seems to be causing more harm than good to the conference. It can help seeding (slightly), but it can also hurt seeding, and cause unnecessary wear-and-tear on an already crazy-long conference schedule (looking at 20 games now). The conference concludes on Selection Sunday, while many other conferences have finished at least a day (if not several days) prior to Selection Sunday. B1G teams come in to the dance tired and sloppy, rather than crisp and focused like many other teams.

Any more excuses?

 

[toddhawkwi]

Excuses are for wusses
Spencer Lee

 

[Hammer93]

I think the tournament should wrap up on Saturday. Get an extra day to prepare for travel, kids get to rest an extra day and just have a little extra time to walk thru some items that need to get addressed prior to going to the NCAA tourney location.

 

[squeezebox]

March madness, the idea is that every team has a shot. Oregon State is in the sweet 16, which without winning their tourney they wouldn't even be in. Now tell me that team does not deserve a shot.