65+32+16=Stop it, already

Sweet Sixteen appearances: Eastern Michigan 1, Western Michigan 0.

 

Anything that gets South Carolina Upstate into postseason play is A-OK with me!

 

I thought women's basketball wasn't a real sport?

 

This is Upstate's first year of Division I. I don't believe they will be eligible for the NCAA postseason until 2012.

 

What's it matter if women's isn't a real sport?

 

"We can't have a women president; she might menstruate all over some important legislation."

 

Now there's a good post.

 

I missed the part where it was said the NCAA doesn't sanction this event. If it's by the Gazelle Group, which promotes a ton of early-season tournaments (2K Sports, CBE), I find it hard to believe they'd announce this without having some kind of blessing and support from the NCAA.

 

The NCAA won't sanction any basketball tournament which might compete with one of its own events (the NIT). The NIT is selecting from the dregs of the barrel as it is; if another tournament comes in and starts siphoning off some of the "better" teams from its field, it might as well fold its tents altogether.


Really, what the NCAA should do with the NIT is to maintain the 32-team field, play one weekend of games to reduce it to 8 (while the NCAA gets down to 16).

Then, select 8 of the first-weekend losers from the NCAA tournament and seed them into the NIT, as sort of a "redemption tournament." Every year, you have a couple of top-10 teams which take a dive in the first weekend -- see if they can sack up and make noise in the NIT.

 

Nice idea Starman.

I would like to see teams from different divisions (DIII, DII, NAIA) in this as well. Some nice Hoosiers-like storylines could come from it.

 

I, for one, am thrilled another team will get to end its season with a victory.