MBB SBC Tournament: UL 62, Arkansas State 89

[ZoomZoom]

Plenty to complain about, don’t need to throw in stuff that isn’t true. Champ game on ESPN 2

Last night ESPN mobile app had it showing only on the plus. They have since added ESPN (not the deuce). I should have taken a screen shot last night. Just goes to show ESPN doesn’t even care.

[Million$Mullet]

I think the 1 and 2 seeds should get a triple bye all the way to the semis. Rewards the regular season and still leaves the relevancy of the tournament in tact. It has been a fun tournament even with the Cajuns losing. People like to poo on belt basketball but the quality of play in the last two days has been great. Sorry to see app lose but Arkansas state is playing some ridiculous ball right now. It should be another good game tonight.

[Duckster]

While you make good points, there’s issues either way. If you make it regular season winner (or 1v2 championship), you’ve effectively ended the majority of your teams’ seasons by the beginning of February.

A couple of key injuries that last a more than a week or two could kill a potentially good team before they even have a chance.

Another key point is the league basketball coaches would never support this. Makes it too easy for a school to fire them. Also makes it hard for a school to hire a potentially good coach.

Other issue is if you tell ESPN to kick rocks during championship week, not helping your media rights negotiations next time around.

Like it or not, conf tournaments are a part of March Madness, and it’s likely not changing soon.

I get what you're saying, however the current set up giving every team or undeserving teams a chance to steal a bid creates a culture of mediocracy for the entire conference and that filters down to members like us -what we're experiencing here. When your coach says the truth out loud, its about 3 games in March it delivers a strong message to fans. The coach speak and the current set up devalues the regular season. Your comments regarding TV partner and coaches concerns are understandable. Maybe at most have a final four. Play two games at top seed home court on a Saturday, Championship game Sunday on a ESPN network. Rewards the #1 seed for an outstanding regular season and at least 7 of the 14 conference teams are working hard to make conference final four. Home court advantage does provide more protection of the #1. And wouldn't this make more money for the SBC Conference anyway?

[CajunSID]

When your coach says the truth out loud, its about 3 games in March it delivers a strong message to fans. The coach speak and the current set up devalues the regular season

Exactly right. League needs 3-4 schools to develop program consistency, which is so tough b/c most coaches will bolt at 1st chance.

Unfortunately in the Sun Belt, good coaches aren’t staying long. Usually.

[CajunPride]

Rewarding the number 1 seed is good, but in basketball I think the mountaineers have too good of home field advantage already, must less to hosting the conference finals.

Having traveled and hiked in Smoky Mountains I will predict that App State will win conference regular season at least every other year.

[cajun_lannister]

I get what you're saying, however the current set up giving every team or undeserving teams a chance to steal a bid creates a culture of mediocracy for the entire conference and that filters down to members like us -what we're experiencing here. When your coach says the truth out loud, its about 3 games in March it delivers a strong message to fans. The coach speak and the current set up devalues the regular season. Your comments regarding TV partner and coaches concerns are understandable. Maybe at most have a final four. Play two games at top seed home court on a Saturday, Championship game Sunday on a ESPN network. Rewards the #1 seed for an outstanding regular season and at least 7 of the 14 conference teams are working hard to make conference final four. Home court advantage does provide more protection of the #1. And wouldn't this make more money for the SBC Conference anyway?

Should be a tournament with only the top 4 teams. Have it at the #1 teams home arena.

[Esqueleto]

Should be a tournament with only the top 4 teams. Have it at the #1 teams home arena.

Yes

[ZoomZoom]

From App Board...UL is not alone.

When will "It's better than what we had" no longer be good enough for App State?

[zephyr]

While you make good points, there’s issues either way. If you make it regular season winner (or 1v2 championship), you’ve effectively ended the majority of your teams’ seasons by the beginning of February.

I don't know if this is necessarily bad. Nobody likes March Madness more than me but I've literally seen single digit win teams get lucky in their tournament and go to the NCAA while a Cajun 2017-18 team can be by far the best team in the league and get slipped up in one conference tournament game. I've always felt that the regular season champ should get the bid. That's a much tougher feat and should be awarded as such.

[cajun_lannister]

From App Board...UL is not alone.

When will "It's better than what we had" no longer be good enough for App State?

Of course , their coach doesn't have a 75% win percentage

[CajunSID]

I don't know if this is necessarily bad. Nobody likes March Madness more than me but I've literally seen single digit win teams get lucky in their tournament and go to the NCAA while a Cajun 2017-18 team can be by far the best team in the league and get slipped up in one conference tournament game. I've always felt that the regular season champ should get the bid. That's a much tougher feat and should be awarded as such.

Definitely pluses and minuses to both. I do think fans and schools should put more emphasis on reg season championships than they do.

Because you are right, much tougher feat to achieve. Unfortunately, to most, coaches are measured on March record only.

[cajun_lannister]

Definitely pluses and minuses to both. I do think fans and schools should put more emphasis on reg season championships than they do.

Because you are right, much tougher feat to achieve. Unfortunately, to most, coaches are measured on March record only.

Also protects your conference seed. JMU/ App is likely a 12 seed if Texas state would have pulled it off last night. They are probably looking at 15.