Big Sky Tournament headed to Reno

[EverettGriz]

...you guys realize that pretty much every conference invites everyone to the conference tournament, right? I don't see the MW, Pac12, etc bitching about the "regular season meaning nothing." The lower seeds typically weed themselves out pretty quickly.

Difference is, the 5th place team in the Pac12 generally gets an NCAA bid. The 5th place BSC team doesn't get a bid to the Montana class B tournament. (And if they did they'd be one and done).

How often do you think the 5th place team will win the tourney? My guess is that one of the top 3 teams win it almost every year, so not such a big deal.

Yeah, I think you missed the point.

The regular season games mean something in most conferences because those could get them into the tournament. In the BSC, they mean shit because there's only one way to get in. And the best way to do that is to sandbag the last four weeks of the year to get healthy and prepared.

Shit, if I'm a coach, I'm starting the janitor, the mascot and the head cheerleader by late February.

 

[GrizLA]

...you guys realize that pretty much every conference invites everyone to the conference tournament, right? I don't see the MW, Pac12, etc bitching about the "regular season meaning nothing." The lower seeds typically weed themselves out pretty quickly.

Difference is, the 5th place team in the Pac12 generally gets an NCAA bid. The 5th place BSC team doesn't get a bid to the Montana class B tournament. (And if they did they'd be one and done).

How often do you think the 5th place team will win the tourney? My guess is that one of the top 3 teams win it almost every year, so not such a big deal.

Yeah, I think you missed the point.

The regular season games mean something in most conferences because those could get them into the tournament. In the BSC, they mean shit because there's only one way to get in. And the best way to do that is to sandbag the last four weeks of the year to get healthy and prepared.

Shit, if I'm a coach, I'm starting the janitor, the mascot and the head cheerleader by late February.

If that is the case, then UM should seriously consider dropping basketball and focus on rebuilding its reputation. If the lack of ethics and morality in what you see in the Big Sky Conference level of completion is as low as you thikg it could be, then something is terribly wrong with the Big Sky and its member institutions.,

 

[statler & waldorf]

Saving money at a fixed site, where ALL TEAMS play will cost much more in the long run in decreased fan interest, therefore smaller gate receipts, and a jaded fan base. Will there be reduced price tickets for those late season games? Rebates to season ticket holders? The integrity of the game is at risk.

 

[sacstateman]

Has anyone tried to book a flight from Missoula to Reno? Good luck with that. The plane holds about 12 people.

I think you can get a flight if you book now.......that is the reason for this move......of course you all and Weber fans are the only ones up in arms......for the rest of us " Good move BSC"

 

[sacstateman]

...you guys realize that pretty much every conference invites everyone to the conference tournament, right? I don't see the MW, Pac12, etc bitching about the "regular season meaning nothing." The lower seeds typically weed themselves out pretty quickly.

Difference is, the 5th place team in the Pac12 generally gets an NCAA bid. The 5th place BSC team doesn't get a bid to the Montana class B tournament. (And if they did they'd be one and done).

How often do you think the 5th place team will win the tourney? My guess is that one of the top 3 teams win it almost every year, so not such a big deal.

Yeah, I think you missed the point.

The regular season games mean something in most conferences because those could get them into the tournament. In the BSC, they mean shit because there's only one way to get in. And the best way to do that is to sandbag the last four weeks of the year to get healthy and prepared.

Shit, if I'm a coach, I'm starting the janitor, the mascot and the head cheerleader by late February.

Great recruiting tool....Come to Montana, we will sit you for the month of February and hope you can win the tournament so you can play another game.....I can see the recruits lining up now......Don't think Travis is going to use that one.....

 

[grizindabox]

...you guys realize that pretty much every conference invites everyone to the conference tournament, right? I don't see the MW, Pac12, etc bitching about the "regular season meaning nothing." The lower seeds typically weed themselves out pretty quickly.

Difference is, the 5th place team in the Pac12 generally gets an NCAA bid. The 5th place BSC team doesn't get a bid to the Montana class B tournament. (And if they did they'd be one and done).

How often do you think the 5th place team will win the tourney? My guess is that one of the top 3 teams win it almost every year, so not such a big deal.

Yeah, I think you missed the point.

The regular season games mean something in most conferences because those could get them into the tournament. In the BSC, they mean shit because there's only one way to get in. And the best way to do that is to sandbag the last four weeks of the year to get healthy and prepared.

Shit, if I'm a coach, I'm starting the janitor, the mascot and the head cheerleader by late February.

Yeah, and I think you are a loser. A team has a lot to play for...pride, a possible easier path to the Championship, a possible better seed in the tourney because 22 wins looks much better than 17 or 18. How many times in your life did you half ass it just because you didn't think you had anything to gain....sounds like maybe a few too many.

 

[sacstateman]

+1^

 

[AllWeatherFan]

There is really only one good thing about this. I can get drunk and not have to come home after the game(s).

I'm Mrs. AllWeatherFan and I approved this message.

 

[EverettGriz]

Difference is, the 5th place team in the Pac12 generally gets an NCAA bid. The 5th place BSC team doesn't get a bid to the Montana class B tournament. (And if they did they'd be one and done).

How often do you think the 5th place team will win the tourney? My guess is that one of the top 3 teams win it almost every year, so not such a big deal.

Yeah, I think you missed the point.

The regular season games mean something in most conferences because those could get them into the tournament. In the BSC, they mean shit because there's only one way to get in. And the best way to do that is to sandbag the last four weeks of the year to get healthy and prepared.

Shit, if I'm a coach, I'm starting the janitor, the mascot and the head cheerleader by late February.

Yeah, and I think you are a loser. A team has a lot to play for...pride, a possible easier path to the Championship, a possible better seed in the tourney because 22 wins looks much better than 17 or 18. How many times in your life did you half ass it just because you didn't think you had anything to gain....sounds like maybe a few too many.

JFC. You and sac man are too fvcking stupid to comprehend a little thing called "exaggeration" (large word, sound it out and ask your parents if need be).

But if you honestly believe that a coach is not likely to rest tired stars later in the year with absolutely NOTHING to gain, you probably hunt Bigfoot on the weekends. It will happen. All teams will do it. Even that one with the BSC "coach of the year".

 

[grizindabox]

How often do you think the 5th place team will win the tourney? My guess is that one of the top 3 teams win it almost every year, so not such a big deal.

Yeah, I think you missed the point.

The regular season games mean something in most conferences because those could get them into the tournament. In the BSC, they mean shit because there's only one way to get in. And the best way to do that is to sandbag the last four weeks of the year to get healthy and prepared.

Shit, if I'm a coach, I'm starting the janitor, the mascot and the head cheerleader by late February.

Yeah, and I think you are a loser. A team has a lot to play for...pride, a possible easier path to the Championship, a possible better seed in the tourney because 22 wins looks much better than 17 or 18. How many times in your life did you half ass it just because you didn't think you had anything to gain....sounds like maybe a few too many.

JFC. You and sac man are too fvcking stupid to comprehend a little thing called "exaggeration" (large word, sound it out and ask your parents if need be).

But if you honestly believe that a coach is not likely to rest tired stars later in the year with absolutely NOTHING to gain, you probably hunt Bigfoot on the weekends. It will happen. All teams will do it. Even that one with the BSC "coach of the year".

Of course a coach will be careful with a players minutes, but in a 1 bid conference, I would hope a good coach would do that no matter where the tournament is played. You wanted to argue that there is nothing to play for...and that argument is completely asinine.

 

[EverettGriz]

There IS nothing to play for!!! Every team will have an absolutely equal chance to dance. Sure, maybe if you're sitting at the 5 seed you go balls out. But LITERALLY for everyone else those 20 conference games do not mean shit. The 4th place team has the same odds as the one seed. The 12 seed has the same chance as the 5 seed. In a one bid league that's just fvcked up.

Of course, you can't spell "BSC" without fvcked up, so this is very appropriate

 

[grizindabox]

There IS nothing to play for!!! Every team will have an absolutely equal chance to dance. Sure, maybe if you're sitting at the 5 seed you go balls out. But LITERALLY for everyone else those 20 conference games do not mean shit. The 4th place team has the same odds as the one seed. The 12 seed has the same chance as the 5 seed. In a one bid league that's just fvcked up.

Of course, you can't spell "BSC" without fvcked up, so this is very appropriate

Because hosting the tournament is the ONLY thing to play for...but it's not. I won't argue that hosting was the biggest reason to finish first, but once again, not the only reason to win games. Even the host doesn't win every year.

Of course, you can't spell "EveerettGriz" without fvcked up...

 

[EverettGriz]

Last year the final 4 weeks of the bsc regular season were as exciting as any I can recall.

Why?

Because four teams had a legitimate chance to host the tournament and every game mattered.

Now, take away the right to host the tournament, and tell me how exciting those games would have been. All 4 teams were already locked into the 1-4 spots. Finishing anywhere among those 4 spots wouldn't increase or decrease their chances of winning the tournament. Given that scenario, do you think ewoo would have advised Montana's team how to exit"when our fans rush the court" in a meaningless game? Do you think hundreds of UM fans would spend a Saturday afternoon watching a sac at NAU game?

The bsc just took away the only real incentive for a team to win the regular season conference. And for the fans to give a shit. But with the bsc, it's never about promoting your best teams or doing what's best for the fans, so no one is really surprised.

 

[statler & waldorf]

I would really like to have heard DeCuire's and the Weber State coach's opinions about the new format BEFORE the so called unanimous vote. Presidents and Athletic Directors look at finances, coaches are hired and fired based on wins and losses. If asked now, I would expect TD would parrot the official line.

 

[grizindabox]

EverettGriz, it may take the tournament hosting excitement away, but it does not lessen what winning means. Also, not every decision can be about promoting the best teams or doing what is best for the fans...some have to be financial, some are what is best for the conference and some are what is best for the athletic departments. Seems that an unanimous vote by AD's and Presidents prove that.

 

[EverettGriz]

Also, not every decision can be about promoting the best teams or doing what is best for the fans...some have to be financial, some are what is best for the conference and some are what is best for the athletic departments

In a real conference, decisions positively impact all of those because they aren't mutually exclusive. What's best for the fans is best for the conference and best for its finances.

Look, I get the financial reasons to move the tournament. That doesn't make it the correct decision from a competitive or fan perspective. As I've said before, if your program can't afford the few grand it costs because you're unable to book airfare 14 days in advance, the question is really no longer about where the tournament is held, but rather should those teams be in a DI conference.

 

[MrTitleist]

That is the single dumbest logic I've seen. There is everything to play for in Feb/March. Would you rather be a #4 seed playing or a #1 seed? The Big Sky traditionally doesn't have a wide gap for error, usually comes down to the last weekend of play. Why would any coach coast the last few games of the season with so much on the line? If you're a conference like WCC, the Valley, Big Sky, etc you don't have room for coasting because you may only get one team in, you want the highest possible seed to better your chances. Only conferences like SEC, Big12, B1G maybe have this opportunity, but even then, did anyone see Kentucky taking games off this year?

 

[bearister]

This makes the 20 conference games meaningless. Since the BSC is so weak, playing 20 in conference really undermines strength of schedule. Why not reduce the number of conf games to 15 and let the teams try to get 5 more good non-conference opponents. This would up the sos and give the conf champ a chance to compete for a better seed. Just a thought.

 

[mtgrizrule]

I don't agree with those who think BSC teams will take games off by resting players. I watch a alot of college basketball, and very seldom see this. Also keep in mind the BSC is a 1 bid league, they will play for seeding. Even if a team clinches #1 early, that team will be playing it's ass off for possible NCAA tournament seeding. A loss to most BSC teams could be the difference between a dreaded 15/16 seed and 12 or 13 seed. That alone is huge to the team and conference. The better the seed, the better the chances for an upset and advancement.

Also the conference did this before, and I never recall any conference team mailing any games in. I doubt GRIZ fans would let any GRIZ head coach get away with mailing in games. GRIZ fans and the program have way too much pride for that. I don't bitch much about GRIZ basketball coaches. I guarantee if any GRIZ coach ever mailed in games, I would be wanting that coach let go. Sitting out a player having injury issues and needing to recover before the tournament is not mailing it in. Wayne Tinkle sat out Will Cherry as a precautionary measure, when Cherry was injured. Most fans know the difference.

Sorry, there is too much at risk in the BSC for coaches to mail in games.

 

[EverettGriz]

That is the single dumbest logic I've seen. There is everything to play for in Feb/March. Would you rather be a #4 seed playing or a #1 seed? The Big Sky traditionally doesn't have a wide gap for error, usually comes down to the last weekend of play. Why would any coach coast the last few games of the season with so much on the line? If you're a conference like WCC, the Valley, Big Sky, etc you don't have room for coasting because you may only get one team in, you want the highest possible seed to better your chances. Only conferences like SEC, Big12, B1G maybe have this opportunity, but even then, did anyone see Kentucky taking games off this year?

T, that's the entire point. It makes no difference if you're a one or a 4. You still play each other on a neutral floor. The one seed has NO advantage over the four seed, and in a one-bid league, that's asinine.