Michael Wilbon goes nuts on the BCS bias

[Lakeview Brave]

If money is the answer, how about putting pressure on the advertisers who advertise during the NCAA? If you get enough people writing to the advertisers or calling them and telling them you will boycott their products if they continue supporting the NCAA bias towards the BCS schools by advertising, you might be able to create enough of a campaign to get some things changed. Granted, a lot of people would have to get involved for it to make a difference, but if there is enough outrage from the public towards the advertisers, advertisers will have to reassess their part in the whole situation. As far as I know, protesting against the advertisers isn't illegal and has been used successfully in the past on other issues.

Here is the problem, who has more alumni, Michigan and Arizona or Creighton and St. Marys? Its not even close, for every angry Creighton fan there are 5 happy Michigan fans so it doesnt really matter how angry Creighton gets.

[SFP]

Here is the problem, who has more alumni, Michigan and Arizona or Creighton and St. Marys? Its not even close, for every angry Creighton fan there are 5 happy Michigan fans so it doesnt really matter how angry Creighton gets.

It's not just the Creighton plus St. Mary's fans against the BCS schools but add the BU, Valpo, etc.. Then we are talking a large percentage of the market. I wonder what percent of the market does the mid-majors' fan make up? Take out a good chunk of the ratings out from a 12 rating to a 9 and you will see how fast sonsors pull out or not put as much money into it. It will take a conserted effort by all the mid-major fans to really make an effect because the BCS boys will not just stay pack, they'll have their PR machine running faster the Rush Limbaugh's mouth.

[Majik45]

I really don't follow the BCS schools for basketball, and I wanted to vomit this morning watching sportscenter when they asked about some of the best games in the first round and they highlighted Michigan and Clemson. I could really care less about this game. I'd much rather root for Western Kentucky, or North Dakota State than either of those two mediocre schools.

[Bradleyguy10]

I could really care less about this game. I'd much rather root for Western Kentucky, or North Dakota State than either of those two mediocre schools.

ha...you should see my bracket

you can tell I have an agenda

[BradleyBrave]

The world revolves around money, if you didnt know that already you havent been in the real world and college basketball is real world big business worth billions of dollars, its sucks but its probably not going to change unless they start to lose money from thier choices.

Therein lies the hope. Ratings have been consistently trending down the past few years, and the highest rated game of the tournament last year I believe was Davidson-Kansas (I am not sure if that included the Final Four, but Davidson-KU was by far the highest rated game for the first 4 rounds). If the NCAA is going to try and only appease the alums of the BCS, they're going to end up losing sponsors as ratings continue to drop.

Just like every sport, the key to success isn't the hardcore fan and their money - they're always going to be there. It's the casual fan and their money that eventually will decide success or failure. The casual fan wants drama, the casual fan wants a story, the casual fan wants a reason to watch. The same BCS teams every year isn't dramatic, and doesn't capture the hearts or minds of the casual fan, especially crappy ones like Arizona and Michigan. Ratings will continue to go down if there's no story, no drama, and nothing to draw the casual fan. When ratings go, sponsors go, and money goes. It has happened with every major sport, and to think that the NCAA is immune to this is being very naive.

Listen, there are years the mid-major drum should be beaten loudly. This year really isn't that year. Which, to me, is why I am so pissed off. The committee could have easily let in Creighton and I doubt heard one complaint from Arizona, Michigan, the Pac-10 or the Big 10. They certainly wouldn't have heard complaints from CBS or ESPN, who all had Creighton in easily and without much debate - which is why it makes this all the more infuriating.

[shaunguth]

Listen, there are years the mid-major drum should be beaten loudly. This year really isn't that year. Which, to me, is why I am so pissed off. The committee could have easily let in Creighton and I doubt heard one complaint from Arizona, Michigan, the Pac-10 or the Big 10. They certainly wouldn't have heard complaints from CBS or ESPN, who all had Creighton in easily and without much debate - which is why it makes this all the more infuriating.

While I agree that Creighton could have easily been put in the field, here's what CBS had to say leading up to the selections...

Creighton (26-7, 14-4 Missouri Valley)
ProsAn RPI hovering around the top 40. Nine victories vs. teams in the RPI top 100. A 10-4 mark in road/neutral games. Won 11 of their final 12 games. Wins of note: vs. Dayton, vs. New Mexico.ConsAn SOS in the triple-digits. Seventeen wins vs. teams outside the RPI top 100. Three losses to teams outside the RPI top 100, including two against teams outside the RPI top 150. OutlookIf Creighton was hoping for an at-large invitation to the NCAA tournament, it left a horrible final impression. The Bluejays, who carried a 10-game win streak into the MVC tournament, narrowly avoided a huge upset at the hands of Wichita State in the quarterfinals before being blown out by Illinois State in the semifinals. There isn't much meat to their resum?© that makes them stand out aside from their overall record.

and ESPN had this to say....

Creighton [26-7 (14-4), RPI: 40, SOS: 111] The Bluejays might have lost their at-large bid when Cleveland State won the Horizon League tournament, USC won the Pac-10 and Temple won the Atlantic 10. Creighton was routed 73-49 by Illinois State in the semifinals of the Missouri Valley Conference tournament, not the kind of impression you want to leave in March. But Creighton still has a pretty good argument for an at-large bid, with victories over RPI top-50 opponents Dayton and Illinois State. The Bluejays also have victories over New Mexico (home) and MVC champion Northern Iowa (road). They're 2-2 against RPI top-50 foes and 9-5 against the top 100. They'll also get help from their more-than-respectable 8-4 record in road games and 11-1 finish.

Both of those sites had Creighton clearly on the bubble alongside Arizona, Maryland, St. Mary's, and San Diego State. Neither had Creighton in easily.

Creighton was also dropped out of the field at Rivals and USA Today before the selections.

[BradleyBrave]

While I agree that Creighton could have easily been put in the field, here's what CBS had to say leading up to the selections...

Creighton (26-7, 14-4 Missouri Valley)
ProsAn RPI hovering around the top 40. Nine victories vs. teams in the RPI top 100. A 10-4 mark in road/neutral games. Won 11 of their final 12 games. Wins of note: vs. Dayton, vs. New Mexico.ConsAn SOS in the triple-digits. Seventeen wins vs. teams outside the RPI top 100. Three losses to teams outside the RPI top 100, including two against teams outside the RPI top 150. OutlookIf Creighton was hoping for an at-large invitation to the NCAA tournament, it left a horrible final impression. The Bluejays, who carried a 10-game win streak into the MVC tournament, narrowly avoided a huge upset at the hands of Wichita State in the quarterfinals before being blown out by Illinois State in the semifinals. There isn't much meat to their resum?© that makes them stand out aside from their overall record.

and ESPN had this to say....

Creighton [26-7 (14-4), RPI: 40, SOS: 111] The Bluejays might have lost their at-large bid when Cleveland State won the Horizon League tournament, USC won the Pac-10 and Temple won the Atlantic 10. Creighton was routed 73-49 by Illinois State in the semifinals of the Missouri Valley Conference tournament, not the kind of impression you want to leave in March. But Creighton still has a pretty good argument for an at-large bid, with victories over RPI top-50 opponents Dayton and Illinois State. The Bluejays also have victories over New Mexico (home) and MVC champion Northern Iowa (road). They're 2-2 against RPI top-50 foes and 9-5 against the top 100. They'll also get help from their more-than-respectable 8-4 record in road games and 11-1 finish.

Both of those sites had Creighton clearly on the bubble alongside Arizona, Maryland, St. Mary's, and San Diego State. Neither had Creighton in easily.

Creighton was also dropped out of the field at Rivals and USA Today before the selections.

Good stuff. Like I said, my beef was more of who got in instead of them rather than them not getting in. This wasn't a strong year for mids or for the MVC, there's no doubt. But if it's truly about teams not leagues, Arizona and Michigan should be nowhere near the tournament. They are both bad no matter how you slice it.

[BradleyBrave]

My brother is taking a course in law school on the NCAA, his teacher is a lawyer who worked for the NCAA for 15 years. I asked my brother to find out the feasablity of a lawsuit against the NCAA and he said its not winnable as long as the NAIA is in existance. The NAIA offers schools an alternative to being memebers of the NCAA which is the saftey against an anti trust lawsuit.

If anti-trust isn't the way, what about collusion by the BCS conferences to keep non-BCS teams out of the tournament and away from their pot of money? Utah is beating that drum right now, which I think could pave the way for more similar suits against the evil empire (not the Yankees). Obviously the NCAA has been challenged and either settled for a large sum out of court (purchasing the NIT), or backed off (North Dakota Fighting Sioux), so it is possible to take them to task.

[Beninator]

ha...you should see my bracket

you can tell I have an agenda

Come to think of it, where is the bradleyfans ncaa brackets contest? No prize necessary by any means...just fun...We did one last year......

[Da Coach]

It was one of our posters who organized it last year. We haven't had anyone willing to do it this year. We would be willing to put up some prizes if someone wants to be in charge of such a contest.

[Bradleyguy10]

I hope UAB beats the s**t out of 'em

I have 3 midmajors (if you include Memphis as a mid) making it into the final 4 bahaha

[BradleyBrave]

During the Morehead St/Alabama St game, Brent Musberger just said this -

"Isn't this what the NCAA Tournament is all about? The little guy getting a chance."

No wonder CBS fired him.