WBB is headquartered in the dome. Think it’s a Title IX thing, equal access to different facilities.
———-
App, the top seed, falls to stAte. Plays JMU in finals.
How many years now is that the regular season champ misses out.
But look no further how important MBB is to the SBC. THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME IS ON ESPN+.
The league championship doesn’t even get on the deuce or ESPNU anymore.
Still don't see the advantage of one seed conferences playing a full fledged conference tournament or even playing one at all. We had an outstanding regular season team in 2018 or 2017 (already forgot which year) that got knocked out in the tourney. But that Cajuns team was a legit NCAA tourney team. See App St. this year. Why aren't one seed conferences protecting their regular season champs more? Sunbelt is purposely devaluing men's basketball while saying aloud we need to do more for men's basketball. Just cancel the conf. tourney completely if motive is creating a TV game or just have 1 vs. 2 playoff at regular season champs home court. This could actually help men's basketball in the south with main emphasis on the regular season instead of a contrived conf. tourney. And maybe the SBC begins gaining more NCAA tourney credibility by winning NCAA tourney games more frequently.
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 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.
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?
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.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)