New 16-team post-season tournament being planned

[Da Coach]

A new 16-team post-season tournament is being put together by Fox Sports, but it sounds like it will be only for also-rans from the Big East, Big Ten, and Big 12. They hope to have it set for March of 2024-

https://themessenger.com/sports/fox-sports-mens-college-basketball-proposed-tournament-las-vegas

Discussions are ongoing, but the current vision is for the event to include 16 teams that would play at T-Mobile Arena during the final week of March following the NCAA tournament’s Elite Eight games. If the tournament happens, Fox plans to encourage its corporate partners to set up Name, Image and Likeness deals for players who are competing; the network will not be able to pay players directly due to NCAA rules.
Under terms of the proposed arrangement, the top 16 teams in the Big 12, Big East and Big Ten that did not qualify for the NCAA tournament — as ranked by the NET — would be required to play in the Fox event even if they are invited to the NIT. Those three leagues have rights deals with Fox. The network also has a rights agreement with the Pac-12, but it is unclear whether that league would be added due to complications arising from the Pac-12’s impending realignment defections.

[Da Coach]

If this tournament had been held this year (March, 2023), there were only 15 teams from those 3 conferences (Big Ten, Big 12, Big East) that would have qualified for this new tournament.
They would have had to find and add another team to fill their 16-team field. And the field would have been atrocious. Would anyone watch this tournament?

Here are the 15 teams this past season from those 3 conferences that would have qualified, with their 2022-23 records-
Georgetown 7-25, 2-18 (11th/last in Big East)
DePaul 10-23, 3-17 (10th in Big East)
Butler 14-18, 6-14 (9th in Big East)
St. John’s 18-15, 7-13 (8th in Big East)
Seton Hall 17-16, 10-10 (tied for 6th in Big East)
Villanova 17-17, 10-10 (tied for 6th in Big East)
Minnesota 9-22, 2-17 (14th/last in Big Ten)
Ohio State 16-19, 5-15 (13th in Big Ten)
Nebraska 16-16, 9-11 (tied for 11th in Big Ten)
Rutgers 19-15, 10-10 (tied for 9th in Big Ten)
Wisconsin 20-15, 9-11 (tied for 11th in Big Ten)
Michigan 18-16, 11-9 (tied for 5th in Big Ten)
Oklahoma 15-17, 5-13 (Last in Big 12)
Texas Tech 16-16, 5-13 (8th in Big 12)
Oklahoma State 20-16, 8-10 (7th in Big 12)

Only 2 teams with 20 wins
Only 6 teams with winning overall records
Only 1 team with a winning record in their conference
3 last place teams

[tomahawk chop]

If this tournament had been held this year (March, 2023), there were only 15 teams from those 3 conferences (Big Ten, Big 12, Big East) that would have qualified for this new tournament.
They would have had to find and add another team to fill their 16-team field. And the field would have been atrocious. Would anyone watch this tournament?

Here are the 15 teams this past season from those 3 conferences that would have qualified, with their 2022-23 records-
Georgetown 7-25, 2-18 (11th/last in Big East)
DePaul 10-23, 3-17 (10th in Big East)
Butler 14-18, 6-14 (9th in Big East)
St. John’s 18-15, 7-13 (8th in Big East)
Seton Hall 17-16, 10-10 (tied for 6th in Big East)
Villanova 17-17, 10-10 (tied for 6th in Big East)
Minnesota 9-22, 2-17 (14th/last in Big Ten)
Ohio State 16-19, 5-15 (13th in Big Ten)
Nebraska 16-16, 9-11 (tied for 11th in Big Ten)
Rutgers 19-15, 10-10 (tied for 9th in Big Ten)
Wisconsin 20-15, 9-11 (tied for 11th in Big Ten)
Michigan 18-16, 11-9 (tied for 5th in Big Ten)
Oklahoma 15-17, 5-13 (Last in Big 12)
Texas Tech 16-16, 5-13 (8th in Big 12)
Oklahoma State 20-16, 8-10 (7th in Big 12)

Only 2 teams with 20 wins
Only 6 teams with winning overall records
Only 1 team with a winning record in their conference
3 last place teams

This is another example of power conf. leagues trying to keep the smaller conf. teams out once again. The NIT would be hurt by this tour.

[Da Coach]

This is another example of power conf. leagues trying to keep the smaller conf. teams out once again. The NIT would be hurt by this tour.

Yes, it likely would. According to the article, the organizers are planning on having sponsors set up NIL deals for all the players involved, regardless of what team they play for, something not done by the NIT or any other tournament. So if approved, and if teams have a choice between the NIT or this new Las Vegas tournament, they'll probably choose this tournament which could put the NIT out of business.

[Stryker]

Yes, it likely would. According to the article, the organizers are planning on having sponsors set up NIL deals for all the players involved, regardless of what team they play for, something not done by the NIT or any other tournament. So if approved, and if teams have a choice between the NIT or this new Las Vegas tournament, they'll probably choose this tournament which could put the NIT out of business.

Kind of makes sense, the players should get a share of the tv revenue from the tournament imo.

[tomahawk chop]

Kind of makes sense, the players should get a share of the tv revenue from the tournament imo.

Problem is the next step will be for these power conf. teams to take over the NCAA tour. for themselves.

[ollienanyes]

My guess is that, eventually, (soon?) men's basketball will be like football with the mid-majors relegated to some sort of equivalent of the "FCS" with their own tournament.