Big Sky Tournament Format

[bincitysioux]

Lots of discussion at Siouxsports.com about the format that the Big Sky uses for its conference championship. Just thought I'd bring up the topic here.

I'm on record that I like the way the Big Sky does it. Now having experienced it both ways with the women's team hosting, and the men's team travelling, I feel even more strongly that this is the way the Big Sky should do it.

It does make the regular season very exciting, both in that the venue is up for grabs, and that not all teams make it.

Weber wasn't even a complete lock to host it this year until UNC started to falter the last 2-3 weeks.

Next year, when 8 teams make the tourney, that 1st round bye will be eliminated, and that will mitigate a bit more of the advantage that the host school has.

The vast geography even makes a pre-determined or neutral site of the league no guarantee that it would be better attended. Had 6,000 plus for the men's title game, and 2,000 for the women's. I don't think it would be close to that for either if the tourney were in Denver or Las Vegas which seem to be the two most mentioned possible neutral sites. If it were going to be a neutral site, I really think the best options would be either Boise or Salt Lake City. Boise is reasonably situated between WSU, ISU, UI, UM, MSU, and EWU. SLC would still bring the Weber crowd. But you'd still probably have the same number of UND, PSU, SAC, NAU, UNC fans as you did this weekend. So I like the idea of these schools getting the opportunity to host it once in a while.

And I do like the idea of giving the league's best team the best chance to get into the NCAA Tournament. Weber has an awful seed and matchup this year, but how bad would it be if SUU were included in the field, got hot, and won the tournament?

 

[mtgrizrule]

I like the format. It increases in the odds of the conference's best team making the NCAA Tournament. I'd like to see it expanded and give 1st round byes to the top 2 to top 4 teams. I know a few of the major conferences have multiple 1st round, even 2nd round byes.

 

['68griz]

I like the format. It increases in the odds of the conference's best team making the NCAA Tournament. I'd like to see it expanded and give 1st round byes to the top 2 to top 4 teams. I know a few of the major conferences have multiple 1st round, even 2nd round byes.

I too like the format as it is. It rewards the regular season champion, and I totally approve of that.

 

[bengal81]

My understanding is the conference is developing a white paper on various format options including a pre-determined site. The women's tournament this year is a good example of the travel problems presented when you don't know if or where you are playing until the week before. Idaho State tried to book flights to North Dakota but couldn't get the entire team on the same flights. So they would have gotten there at different times and would not have been able to practice at the site. So ISU wound up bussing 16 hours. I agree the conference wants to reward the regular season champ but in a league where nobody is flying charter (unlike the big programs, most of whom charter everywhere) making travel arrangements at the last minute to places like Fargo and Flagstaff can be challenging. It will be interesting to see what the league comes up with.

 

[bincitysioux]

Is there any feasible way that the conference regular season could end a week earlier than it does now, allowing 7-10 days to allow for travel arrangements instead of 3-5 days?

 

[bengal81]

Ps--I'm assuming one option for pre-determined sites would be "neutral sites" within the Big Sky footprint --Billings, Twin Falls, Spokane, Boise, etc. I would assume the conference would open up bidding to places like this to see if they could get free or cut rate hotels, maybe free on campus housing, cut rate food service , etc. Most of these towns have sports or tourism bureaus that could put together bids for such events.

 

[bengal81]

Is there any feasible way that the conference regular season could end a week earlier than it does now, allowing 7-10 days to allow for travel arrangements instead of 3-5 days?

Good question and I don't know the answer

 

[bengal81]

Is there any feasible way that the conference regular season could end a week earlier than it does now, allowing 7-10 days to allow for travel arrangements instead of 3-5 days?

Good question and I don't know the answer

Now that I think about it, why not, the Missouri Valley ends their tournament a week before everybody else?

 

[poiuyter]

Vegas baby!

 

[EverettGriz]

Is there any feasible way that the conference regular season could end a week earlier than it does now, allowing 7-10 days to allow for travel arrangements instead of 3-5 days?

Good question and I don't know the answer

Hell no. Because the BSC has something like 98 teams already and is adding more, and they refuse to go to divisions. So there are, what, 22 conference games next year? Shit, the BSC will be lucky to be done with their conference season by MLB opening day.

Keep it the way it is. The conference season has to mean something. I like rewarding the conference champion. Travel's a bitch; win the regular season title and then you don't worry about it.

 

[bincitysioux]

Is there any feasible way that the conference regular season could end a week earlier than it does now, allowing 7-10 days to allow for travel arrangements instead of 3-5 days?

Good question and I don't know the answer

Hell no. Because the BSC has something like 98 teams already and is adding more, and they refuse to go to divisions. So there are, what, 22 conference games next year? Shit, the BSC will be lucky to be done with their conference season by MLB opening day.

There will be fewer conference games next year, 18 total.

 

[GrizLA]

Personally, I think the basketball season is too long. 30 games plus tournament games at the end is simply too much to ask of young kids that are also supposedly going to classes, writing papers, etc. The heavy legs Montana showed at both men and women's games were simply the natural result of too much, too fast, and too much travel.There has to be a balance. Sometimes, less is more.

 

[WILDCATFAN]

A pre-determined site for the Big Sky would not work unless all the teams in the conference makes the tournament, hardly anybody is going to buy thier tickets for the tournament early especially during years like this when there are several teams one win away from making or missing the tournament on the last day of the regular season.

I like awarding the reg season champion home court, makes the regular season more exciting when teams are fighting for it.