Sooooo...

Censored by Laurie · March 15, 2009

Who's ready for an amazingly boring tournament?

4 at-large bids for teams playing in non-power conferences...Dayton, Xavier, Butler and BYU...Creighton, St. Mary's, San Diego State, UNLV, and Davidson all get the NIT and get to watch Wisconsin, Arizona and Minnesota play their games. And to have that douche Mike Slive on TV telling people that conferences don't figure into the selection process pisses me off even more.

Yay...more ACC-Big East man love from Bill Raftery and Jim Nantz.

CMJ · March 16, 2009

It doesn't seem like they aren't Power league teams anymore, but i think both Memphis and Gonzaga have great shots at making the Final Four.

But yeah, it is a bit ironic that since George Mason's run, at-large bids to all the "little guys" have gone down. <_<

Edited March 16, 2009 by CMJ

e-bone ver2.awesome · March 16, 2009

It doesn't seem like they aren't Power league teams anymore, but i think both Memphis and Gonzaga have great shots at making the Final Four.
But yeah, it is a bit ironic that since George Mason's run, at-large bids to all the "little guys" have gone down.

That is a great point about George Mason, which I hadn't thought about. Non power conferences are well represented on the selection committee, but it is definitely suspicious how the at large bids are being given out. When money is involved, I definitely can believe in conspiracy theories.

H-towngreen · March 16, 2009

Just filled out my first of many brackets....and it sucked. There weren't many unknowns like a Davidson, Kent State, or George Mason. I'm usually pretty pumped for the tourny, but not so much for this one.

CMJ · March 16, 2009

That is a great point about George Mason, which I hadn't thought about. Non power conferences are well represented on the selection committee, but it is definitely suspicious how the at large bids are being given out. When money is involved, I definitely can believe in conspiracy theories.

Honestly i don't believe they're trying to keep the little guys down. Hell George mason's Athletic Director was the chaiman of the committee acouple of years ago. It's just really odd...and a bit sad.

NT03 · March 16, 2009

That is a great point about George Mason, which I hadn't thought about. Non power conferences are well represented on the selection committee, but it is definitely suspicious how the at large bids are being given out. When money is involved, I definitely can believe in conspiracy theories.

I don't think it a conspiracy theory in terms of the selection committe , but more of a fact that non mid-majors just cannot get the big boys to play home and home series. We got lucky that Oklahoma State decided to give in , but look what it got them and I bet they won't want to travel to Denton again anytime soon. I think teams from the major conferences just got a wake up call when GMU made it's way to the final IV and the big boys have kept them in their minds when filling out a OOC schedule. ( same goes for football too)

Edited March 16, 2009 by NT03