This week, readers answered our question about how they feel about the expansion of the VHSL’s many sports playoffs in recent years, especially the potential increase in teams participating in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. Here are some highlights:
TA Forest of Virginia Beach: Although there are exceptions, play-in games (when the tournament expanded to 68 teams) usually involved teams with mediocre records. Viewing and attendance for these games are low because interest outside of the selected schools is almost non-existent.
Win-loss records in general are a measure of success, so if another round is created (ultimately resulting in more games in play), the NCAA will get a bigger payday, but the level of competition will be mitigated with teams that shouldn’t be. sharing. That is, 500 more teams do not make a better tournament.
I equate tournament expansion with the current number of NCAA ball games. In the early 1980s, there were about 20 bowl games, so the invitations were special. … Now with 43 bowl games (in 2022), even teams with losing records will go to bowl games. Some lower bowl locations may be exciting for crowds, such as the Bahamas, but attendance is still poor.
(NCAA Tournament Expansion) is a complex discussion, but one that is likely to be governed by $$$. If the TV networks are willing to pay up, the NCAA will get its feet wet and kiss it.
Robert Baird of Toano: In basketball, I don’t think increasing tournament size from the ’60s to ’96 is a big deal. The expenses for the “extra” teams certainly wouldn’t be that much—if anything, each school would earn dollars if it was one of the 30+ “extra” teams that join. And in basketball, you don’t have all the injuries (and expenses) you’ll have in a soccer tournament.
The NCAA basketball tournament has always maintained the one tradition: If you lose, you’re out—none of those “things” where you have to lose twice to get out (like certain parts of Virginia’s high school basketball tournament). … I think, at some point, the NCAA is constantly changing the rules, changing traditions, really detrimental to their championship. However, the NCAA has lost too much control/power over anything.
John Hargrove: My suggestion is that each conference send two representatives to the NCAA Tournament of Champions – the regular season champion and the conference tournament champion. If it turns out that the same team wins both, the conference can choose a second-place team that also represents their conference. There is a clear path to qualifying for the tournament. Regular season games are now more meaningful, as they have ever been, and the national champion is a true champion.
Use the NIT in my suggestion is for each conference to send two representatives to the NCAA Tournament of Champions – the regular season champion and the conference tournament champion. If it turns out that the same team wins both, the conference can choose a second-place team that also represents their conference. There is a clear path to qualifying for the tournament. Regular season games are now more meaningful, as they were before, and the national champion is a true champion.
Wednesday: The Virginia Wesleyan women’s basketball team faces Bridgewater at 5:30 p.m. at TowneBank Arena.
Thursday: Stony Brook men’s basketball team visits William & Mary’s Kaplan Arena for information at 7 p.m. … Old Dominion Women take on Texas State at Chartaway Arena at 6:30 p.m
Friday: The W&M women’s basketball team hosts UNC Wilmington at 7 p.m. … the ODU men’s tennis team at the Folkes-Stevens Tennis Center for an indoor game against Virginia Tech at 6 p.m.
Saturday: Nationally ranked Christopher Newport’s men play at home against Salisbury in basketball at 4 p.m. … Bryant and Stratton men’s basketball, who have won 16 of their first 18 games, meet Johnston Community College in Smithfield, North Carolina, at 3 Evening at Atlantic Shores’ gym in the Chesapeake. Virginia Wesleyan Swimmers host Randolph Macon at 1 p.m