In many respects, I agree with you guys on the tournament. The format I liked the best was the one where the top 6 got in, with the top two getting a bye. Then the next four competed for the right to host first round games, and the final four was played on the home floor of the regular season champ.
From a fan's perspective, that was great -- it kept interest going throughout the season, everybody was either playing to get into the tournament, for a bye, or to host a first-round game.
BUT, I have become more educated about the hassles of last minute travel. Not just for the teams (I can see EG getting ready to throw up that "saving $270" platitude -
, but also for parents and families of kids. If you think about it, the tournament is the last game of the season for most of these teams. And the last games of the career for most of the seniors. Not knowing if your kid is going to play in the tournament until the last minute is a huge issue for parents and families of players. And no, I don't see this as "everybody gets a ribbon" stuff. I see this as sincere concern by the conference for the student athletes and their families. I know most of you guys don't give two Xhits about the athletes or their families, but I submit that's REALLY what this stuff is supposed to be about -- even if it rarely is.
Anyway, I know none of this will convince folks that holding the tournament in Reno is a great idea -- as a fan, I'd still rather see the regular season have meaning myself. Frankly, I'd rather see the league go to a full round-robin schedule and just declare the regular champ the NCAA rep. But I do see the logic behind having a pre-determined, neutral site and putting the athletes and their families' concerns first.
