Small Conference Tournament Backfiring

[EverettGriz]

Then why even have a tournament? Why not give the nod to the conference champion?

Under the current format, this is precisely what most of us have been arguing for. However, we know that tournaments are cash cows for the conference fat cats, so they're not going away, unfortunately.

And you don't care that the bsc sends a crappy team to the NCAA tournament???

Define "crappy" because I remember Montana being blown out in the tournament at least 3 times by huge margians. In fact. didn't Montana lose by an NCAA Tourney record amount, or close to it? No matter who goes from Reno to the NCAA, they will be a 15 or 16 seed, and that includes UM...remember they lost to San Jose and Idaho in two very bad games. The tournament might be ok or not. We will see.

I'm talking crappy by bsc standards, CatLA. We recognize they by virtue of playing in this shitty conference we're all shitty by association.

And you'd better check your history.

 

[PlayerRep]

Do any of you REALLY think that any team in the Big Sky..#1-#13 has any chance AT ALL this year in the NCAA tourney? Weber and UM are the top 2...and both were down 15ish to the "Cats" you all hate, at on point in the game. ( points might not be as high as I say). Point is, Big Sky basketball is fun to watch, but other that 4 times in my life (Weber won twice, UM won once, MSU in 86 lost to a #1 seed by 8) that we didn't look like shit in the tourney...And those teams were WAY BETTER that any team on the Big Sky this year...

No, Probably not. But I'd still rather go down fighting than send southern Utah in there.

And really? Only 4 games and you're counting one where the cats lost by 8 30 years ago? Shit the Griz had a one possession game with 20 seconds just a few years ago.

9 points. St. Johns. Ranked in top 4. Walter Berry. Kral Ferch had the awesome dunk over a tall St. Johns player on a break (I think). Cats had losing record that year, when they won the conference tourney.

 

[mtgrizrule]

Do any of you REALLY think that any team in the Big Sky..#1-#13 has any chance AT ALL this year in the NCAA tourney? Weber and UM are the top 2...and both were down 15ish to the "Cats" you all hate, at on point in the game. ( points might not be as high as I say). Point is, Big Sky basketball is fun to watch, but other that 4 times in my life (Weber won twice, UM won once, MSU in 86 lost to a #1 seed by 8) that we didn't look like shit in the tourney...And those teams were WAY BETTER that any team on the Big Sky this year...

No, Probably not. But I'd still rather go down fighting than send southern Utah in there.

And really? Only 4 games and you're counting one where the cats lost by 8 30 years ago? Shit the Griz had a one possession game with 20 seconds just a few years ago.

9 points. St. Johns. Ranked in top 4. Walter Berry. Kral Ferch had the awesome dunk over a tall St. Johns player on a break (I think). Cats had losing record that year, when they won the conference tourney.

Man, Kral Ferch is arguably one of the greatest dunkers in history from Montana. DAMN, this boy had crazy ups!!!! The St John's dunk is in it too. Enjoy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_sLW9HIAFI

 

[cmtgrizzly]

Garizzlies, I hear what your saying but I can turn that around and say a team that didnt win enough in the regular season to be in the top 1 or 2 positions is not likely to advance in "the big dance@ and probably less likely. What have teams 5-12 earned during conference play? Another chance to make it to the NCAA tourney? Do you really believe that Sac state, if they "got hot" is our best representative if they win the conference tourney? I sure dont. If you want to advance then prove you are the best "on the floor" during conference. As far as I am concerned 6 or 8 teams can stay home for the conference tournament.

 

[mtgrizrule]

Garizzlies, I hear what your saying but I can turn that around and say a team that didnt win enough in the regular season to be in the top 1 or 2 positions is not likely to advance in "the big dance@ and probably less likely. What have teams 5-12 earned during conference play? Another chance to make it to the NCAA tourney? Do you really believe that Sac state, if they "got hot" is our best representative if they win the conference tourney? I sure dont. If you want to advance then prove you are the best "on the floor" during conference. As far as I am concerned 6 or 8 teams can stay home for the conference tournament.

:thumb: :clap: He gets it!!!

 

[grizindabox]

Question for everyone......what type of odds or percentage would you give UM or WSU to win a game in the tournament as a 15/16 seed?.......

 

[Umista]

Odds of WSU or UM winning a game at the big dance? ^^^^^^7^^^^^^

7% and that is my bloated percentage!

 

[grizindabox]

For everyone bitching about the BSC tourney....UNC is showing why it really doesn't matter who wins it.....and that anyone can win it.....

 

[rainbear14]

as much as I enjoy the conf tourneys, I wish they could at least change the format, since they have taken away the reg season winner hosting, change the format...kind of like the horizon conf does...protect the #1 & #2, having them just play semi's and on...but I agree the BSC stinks when you include everyone

 

[IdaGriz01]

as much as I enjoy the conf tourneys, I wish they could at least change the format, since they have taken away the reg season winner hosting, change the format...kind of like the horizon conf does...protect the #1 & #2, having them just play semi's and on...but I agree the BSC stinks when you include everyone

And there's a model. A model that honors (1) giving the regular season top teams byes, (2) giving mid-level teams a chance and (3) telling the bottom-feeders to "wait 'til next year."

Example: Ohio Valley. The conference has 12 teams, but only the top 8 get to play in the post-season tournament (point #3). The top two seed get a double-bye while #3 and #4 get a bye ... while #5-#8 "play in" (point #1). And, within that structure, #8 seed Austin Peay is now playing for the conference tournament title (point #2).

To me, this is a perfect example of how to do it right. The regular season champ had its chance and blew it -- but still gets the NIT, guaranteed.

At the moment, BTW, Austin Peay is leading UT-Martin by 13 with 3:10 to go. It's amazing they haven't hit a wall by now.

 

[IdaGriz01]

Here is why I hate conference tournaments that gives every team a shot.
The Atlantic Sun championship game is #2 seed Florida Gulf Coast 19-13/8-6 verse #7 seed Stetson 12-21/4-10. Neither is an impressive record. Fortunately, the saving grace for the conference, Stetson is ineligible due to academic violations. In this case, the NCAA bid will default to the regular season winner, North Florida, if Stetson happens to win the conference tournament.

Come on, this is outright embarrassing for a small conference to have that bad of team represent the conference in the Big Dance. As of right now, the 7th seed Big Sky team would be the Bobcats at 13-16/8-9. Sorry, but that to me is outright stupid for a conference to even put itself in this position. If everyone is eligible in a conference tournament, give your best 2 teams a huge advantage!!!

I am not sure if they still do it, but the Big East gets it!!!! They gave their top 2 team 2 byes. For them that was the final 8. For the Big Sky that would be the semi finals. Therefore rest of the conference would be playing for the remaining to semi final spots!!!! That my friends would be a win win for everyone, regardless of where the tournament is hosted. That would also allow motivation for fans of the top 2 teams to get their ass to the tournament,knowing the chances of their team to play in the championship is high. :thumb:

Yes, the Big East gets it, as does the Ohio Valley (as outlined in another post). One that does NOT get is the Atlantic Coast Conference. They have 15 teams ... and God knows what they would have done if Louisville, despite a great record in BBall, was declared ineligible. But they found a place for all 14 of the other teams ... including Boston College, which went 0-18 in conference, won only 7 games all year, and is currently riding an 18-game losing streak! WTF