Well here we are again. It’s basketball season, and the microphone is on. The tournament where the champion is crowned. One form of elimination games will be full of bombshell beatings, upsets, and never-ending bracketology.
The whole thing is flattering, but for the wrong reasons.
The biggest flaw in this system is the size of the teams. The size of the teams has been increasing for decades unlike other sports. From 1960 to 1974 only a total of 25 teams made the tournament, until 1975 when it was increased to 32 teams. That’s when only the best teams in the country were invited. Then in 1979 the field was increased to 40 teams, the next year 48 teams. Since 1985 the tournament has continued to grow to 64 teams.
From 1978 to 1985, the number of teams in the tournament doubled from 32 to 64.
The problem with so many teams is that it just makes time for nothing. Why should the average sports fan care about the regular season when currently 68 teams make the playoff tournament anyway? That’s what makes the NFL and the NBA special. Only 12 NFL teams and only 16 NBA teams make their playoffs. Earning a playoff spot should be something that is hard-fought and limited, not something that 68 teams are capable of doing.
With so many teams in the tournament, skill, level, coaching, and talent are all brought to the bottom.
We all remember the 1979 Final between Michigan State and Indian State. Start Larry Bird Magic Johnson vs. Or in 1983 Jim Valvano Captained North Carolina State’s cinderella team. Also great memories of Michael Jordan hitting the game winning shot for UNC. But those days are ahead. Day Hakeem Olajuwan, Patrick Ewing, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird play three years of college. things are a ball of the past.
And that’s pretty much the theme with college basketball lately. Watered s.
Some of the best players in the late 90s and early 2000s didn’t go to college. Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, Dwight Howard, Tracy Mcgrady, Andrew Bynmun, Yao Ming, you get the point. If the best basketball players in the country are not playing at the college level than how can we watch the best players at the college level. Easy, we can’t. Even now with a 1 year old limit it still isn’t what it used to be.
If a player wants to leave college in the NBA after one year that is their choice and their right. But that still doesn’t take away from the fact that March Madness was flawed. With so many teams and a regular season you’d think the NCAA would at least make the tournament unbeaten.
Regions and locations are completely random. At random This is almost enough to turn college basketball into a complete coincidence. Teams are randomly placed in random locations and play in random locations. Random Madness. The Carolina Tarheels have never defeated the Blue Devils in the NCAA Tournament. What is the placement of the tournament?
Then there is the question of location. This year No. 12 California us No. 5 UNLV, in California! But of course no one has a problem with this, it’s just part of “March Madness”. Again college basketball regular season became empty. UNLV is ranked No. 5 in their region, hold a 25-9 record and have already beaten California this season. But in California, the Golden Gate House will receive a benefit. Incredible.
Now tell me this. If No.12 California beat No. 5 Is UNLV really “disturbed?” I’m not so sure about that considering California will be home. The current system in place is unfair to teams that do great over time. A team that makes a big salary doesn’t have a home court like we see in professional sports. The team that makes it big in the regular season qualifies for the playoffs with 67 other teams. A whole dozen times.
Let’s be completely honest here. Does Albany, Harvard, or Freedom Serve deserve a national championship? The answer is no. Imagine if the NBA sent the Charlotte Bobcats to the playoffs every year? Completely. That’s why the NBA is better than college basketball. The Liberty Flames are 15-20 this season and are competing for the college basketball National Championship. It’s March Madness again.
If the decisions were only in my hands, I would have the playoff teams between 26-36. Over 50 parts is ridiculous in my opinion. At that point you send more teams than states and end up winning the real playoffs.
Feel free to comment below
