College Sports With A Playoff: The NCAA Tournament
Oh, grandpa! You and your major conference bias!Well, it's that time of year where, for some reason, CBS decides to put the best two days in college basketball in the middle of the week. Also, we get to make brackets and bet money even thought the NCAA doesn't like it. That's right: it's March Madness. And this year is even better, as not only is Billy Packer sitting at home instead of grouching up our screen, but the first year he's out the major conferences all get nice and fat.  ESPN prefers to teach Bracketology, but I'm all about teaching the healing powers of...Brackolonics (unaccredited, of course).

Of course, there's the usual comments that come after every Selection Sunday. This year it's "How'd Arizona get in?," "How can UConn get a #1 seed and why didn't Memphis?," and "Why so few mid-majors?" It's that moment that people realize, after all the BCS bashing from about three months ago, that the NCAA Selection Committee isn't that much better. As a matter of fact, the only difference is the teams do get to play it out, even if there are some inaccuracies. But come next September, we'll all hear about how perfect the tourney is compared to the BCS always favoring the top schools, right up until the first week of February, when the same people will then complain about how a nobody like the Arizona Cardinals or Tennessee Titans shouldn't be in the playoffs.

A few more interesting Brackolonics tidbits I picked up from last night:
- Seriously, how does UConn lose an early-round tournament game and yet still qualify as a #1 seed? Memphis clearly deserved that ranking, but Jim Calhoun obviously has enough pull to get that spot, and won't give it back.
- It's hard to be a fan of the SEC when only three teams barely make it in. I have a feeling, though, we haven't heard the last of Mississippi State.
- During the selection show, we kept seeing footage of the teams as they were mentioned, all jumping up and cheering when their faces showed up, after a delay, on their big screen. Just once, I'd like for one of the #16 seeds to have a look of "looks like we're the sacrificial lamb" on their face. I know it's an accomplishment just to make it to the tournament, but no sense in pretending your experience is going to be beyond checking into the hotel, scoring a continental breakfast in the morning, and then watching UNC cover twice over as their bench warmers mop the floor with you.

So, as the next couple of days progress, I'll try my best to give you my Brackolonics analysis. Until then, I'll have to leave you with my official bracket that you can print out and use for yourself, until whoever it is puts up the link to the official bracket party. Oh, and I'm announcing my pick for Alabama State beating Morehead State in the play-in game. That's right, I cover all the bases....
Posted: 3/16/2009 12:20:15 PM
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