Here’s why I’m against expanding the NCAA tourney field. Da’Sean Butler banks in a three at the buzzer last night to give West Virginia a win over Cincinnati. Ohio State’s Evan Turner drains a 35 footer at the buzzer to give the Buckeye’s a heart stopping quarterfinal win against a desperate Michigan team this afternoon.
Neither one of those two games would have had any meaning whatsoever to the teams involved if the NCAA field was raised to 96. The conference tourney’s allow any team to win their way into the big tournament. It’s what makes conference tournaments exciting.
Arizona State saw their tourney dreams evaporate last night with a stunning loss to Stanford in the Pac 10 quarterfinals. That loss and losses by Memphis and UAB opened the door for other teams to possibly make it in and keep pushing in their tournaments this weekend.
Even a loss by Syracuse yesterday in the quarters of the Big East carries a likely consequence. No team has ever lost in their conference quarterfinals and gone on to win the national title. Expanding the field to 96 dilutes the importance of the season, conference tourney’s and rewards mediocrity. It doesn’t improve the Big Dance.
Alabama gave Kentucky a fight this afternoon but fell in the end. This game would have likely meant nothing in an expanded field. The Tide might have already secured a tourney spot with a 17-14 overall record. Illinois had to beat Wisconsin and did today to keep their hopes alive. Rhode Island did the same against St. Louis this afternoon but they’re still on the bubble. Virginia Tech’s surprise loss to Miami today could bounce them out. But with an expanded field they’re already in. Woo Hoo.
I’m looking forward to a possible rematch of top ranked Kansas and Kansas State in the Big 12 final. The Wildcats were devastating last night against Oklahoma State. I want to see if they can keep the run going first against a very good and hot Baylor team tonight and next versus KU. With an expanded field tournament, who would really care?
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