tournament expansion groupthink

[kso_FAN]

Why would CBS want to pay more for a product that is more likely to include teams that no one really wants to watch?  

The NCAA isn't really asking for more.  They are asking for the same amount which CBS way overbid last time.  The only way to get the same amount now is by adding more games.  This is the only reason expansion is a topic, b/c the only way to match the last bid is to add games.

[chum1]

They say it will be extremely profitable for CBS.

[AbeFroman]

Somewhere Wooly is wishing this would have happened in 2005

[catzacker]

Why would CBS want to pay more for a product that is more likely to include teams that no one really wants to watch?  

The NCAA isn't really asking for more.  They are asking for the same amount which CBS way overbid last time.  The only way to get the same amount now is by adding more games.  This is the only reason expansion is a topic, b/c the only way to match the last bid is to add games.

Not sure the ratings (or attendance) of of a 16/17 match up between Wright State and Wichita State in Anaheim.  Not that the opening rounds are well attended anyway.  That's why I compared it to the opening round of the NIT.  CBS doesn't make money on the deal anyway.  Adding more, crappy games only decreases their bottom line.

[chum1]

CBS doesn't make money on the deal anyway.  Adding more, crappy games only decreases their bottom line.

This is false according to people who would know.

[catzacker]

CBS doesn't make money on the deal anyway.  Adding more, crappy games only decreases their bottom line.

This is false according to people who would know.

...like?

[chum1]

CBS doesn't make money on the deal anyway.  Adding more, crappy games only decreases their bottom line.

This is false according to people who would know.

...like?

Dudes I heard talking on the radio.  Do you think that CBS wants this because they think it's a loser?

[michigancat]

CBS doesn't make money on the deal anyway.  Adding more, crappy games only decreases their bottom line.

This is false according to people who would know.

...like?

Dudes I heard talking on the radio.  Do you think that CBS wants this because they think it's a loser?

The "no one wants to watch 96 teams" and "it's just a money grab" are contradicting talking points.  But I'm sure most media hacks will use both.

[kso_FAN]

Bilas and Forde with good points on expansion.  http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/tournament/2010/news/story?id=5047800

And clearly the teams/conferences are going to support this b/c all of them have their piece of the pie at stake here.  Again, for all parties involved (NCAA, CBS, conferences, teams) this is about the money first and foremost, all the other talking points are secondary.

[pissclams]

I want them to get rid of the tournament all together and go to a bowl system.  Just assign teams to play each other, one time.

[felix rex]

Bilas and Forde with good points on expansion.  http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/tournament/2010/news/story?id=5047800

And clearly the teams/conferences are going to support this b/c all of them have their piece of the pie at stake here.  Again, for all parties involved (NCAA, CBS, conferences, teams) this is about the money first and foremost, all the other talking points are secondary.

Yep. If it wasn't, they'd do the same thing for the women's tournament.

[The42Yardstick]

I want them to get rid of the tournament all together and go to a bowl system.  Just assign teams to play each other, one time.

i'd rather just see the NCAA scrap the rulebook and institute a CALVINBALL regimen...i.e. you make up the rules as you go.

[felix rex]

CBS doesn't make money on the deal anyway.  Adding more, crappy games only decreases their bottom line.

This is false according to people who would know.

...like?

Dudes I heard talking on the radio.  Do you think that CBS wants this because they think it's a loser?

The "no one wants to watch 96 teams" and "it's just a money grab" are contradicting talking points.  But I'm sure most media hacks will use both.

Maybe it's a "long tail" thing? 80% of standard NCAA fans don't want to watch them, but by letting in more teams, you guarantee a solid regional audience from whatever schools are in those games, and bringing in more fans total. In other words, you get people to watch the NIT by making it part of the NCAA.

Srsly, who's going to watch eight 15/18 and 16/17 matchups? Pretty much only the fans of those schools, and maybe the fans of the 1/2 seeds waiting to play them. But that's still adding more fanbases who are gonna watch games.

Plus, CBS was losing money on this, and the NCAA knew it needed to either repackage it or cut its asking price when the current contract was up.

[michigancat]

CBS doesn't make money on the deal anyway.  Adding more, crappy games only decreases their bottom line.

This is false according to people who would know.

...like?

Dudes I heard talking on the radio.  Do you think that CBS wants this because they think it's a loser?

The "no one wants to watch 96 teams" and "it's just a money grab" are contradicting talking points.  But I'm sure most media hacks will use both.

Maybe it's a "long tail" thing? 80% of standard NCAA fans don't want to watch them, but by letting in more teams, you guarantee a solid regional audience from whatever schools are in those games, and bringing in more fans total. In other words, you get people to watch the NIT by making it part of the NCAA.

Srsly, who's going to watch eight 15/18 and 16/17 matchups? Pretty much only the fans of those schools, and maybe the fans of the 1/2 seeds waiting to play them. But that's still adding more fanbases who are gonna watch games.

Plus, CBS was losing money on this, and the NCAA knew it needed to either repackage it or cut its asking price when the current contract was up.

I would watch them.

[kso_FAN]

I would watch them.

Yes!  I'll still be all over those Thurs/Fri games.  Nothing wrong with watching Washington vs Wichita State type games.

[michigancat]

I would watch them.

Yes!  I'll still be all over those Thurs/Fri games.  Nothing wrong with watching Washington vs Wichita State type games.

I thought the NIT games were really cool, even this year.  Pope!

[kso_FAN]

I would watch them.

Yes!  I'll still be all over those Thurs/Fri games.  Nothing wrong with watching Washington vs Wichita State type games.

I thought the NIT games were really cool, even this year.  Pope!

No doubt.  The NIT had lots of really good basketball games with pretty darn good teams. 

[weird roberts foam finger]

Good point, all or nothing for any network is probably true.  But I could see ESPN making a big push for it and at least putting up a competitive bid.

But sitting at home I can watch one game on ESPN.  Another on ESPN2.  And another on ESPNU.  And if a 4th is on, it will be on ESPN Classic.  And all games available online on ESPN3.com.  

Never have to worry about which region my CBS channel is in again for which gave I'll get on TV.

This is what they could do and what they should do, but I'm not sure they would do it.  Remember, this is the same group of people who think 24-hour Tim Tebow coverage is a good thing, whereas 99 percent of the country wants to murder him now just to be rid of him.

[mcmwcat]

Somewhere Wooly is wishing this would have happened in 2005

why?  he would have been fired for not making the 96 team tourney

[mcmwcat]

I would watch them.

Yes!  I'll still be all over those Thurs/Fri games.  Nothing wrong with watching Washington vs Wichita State type games.

can't wait 

[kso_FAN]

I would watch them.

Yes!  I'll still be all over those Thurs/Fri games.  Nothing wrong with watching Washington vs Wichita State type games.

can't wait 

Plus, imagine being able to make fun of fellow Big 12s that have to play the first day. 

"Hey MIZZU losers, hope you enjoy playing Stony Brook today!  LOLLERZ!"

NCAA Thurs/Fri would become a more elite form of Big 12 Wed. 

I see absolutely nothing wrong with this.

[felix rex]

Good point, all or nothing for any network is probably true.  But I could see ESPN making a big push for it and at least putting up a competitive bid.

But sitting at home I can watch one game on ESPN.  Another on ESPN2.  And another on ESPNU.  And if a 4th is on, it will be on ESPN Classic.  And all games available online on ESPN3.com.  

Never have to worry about which region my CBS channel is in again for which gave I'll get on TV.

This is what they could do and what they should do, but I'm not sure they would do it.  Remember, this is the same group of people who think 24-hour Tim Tebow coverage is a good thing, whereas 99 percent of the country wants to murder him now just to be rid of him.

They already offer this as a pay-per-view feature on DirecTV. Money-wise, it may not make sense to give it away for free.  

[michigancat]

I would watch them.

Yes!  I'll still be all over those Thurs/Fri games.  Nothing wrong with watching Washington vs Wichita State type games.

can't wait 

Plus, imagine being able to make fun of fellow Big 12s that have to play the first day. 

"Hey MIZZU losers, hope you enjoy playing Stony Brook today!  LOLLERZ!"

NCAA Thurs/Fri would become a more elite form of Big 12 Wed. 

I see absolutely nothing wrong with this.

fatty will be there at the regional with his dippin' dots, smug as hell on Thursday afternoon.

[skycat]

All the expansion does is add more mid majors, which I don’t think is a good thing at all from a competitive stand point.  Why would CBS want to pay more for a product that is more likely to include teams that no one really wants to watch?

I think basically they're folding the NIT into the NCAA tourney. If you look at this year's NIT, about half the teams were from power conference schools. Plenty of folks will want to watch those teams play. It's also good from a competitive standpoint because lots of those weak automatic bid teams will be gone by the round of 64.

[Trim]

Plus, imagine being able to make fun of fellow Big 12s that have to play the first day. 

"Hey MIZZU losers, hope you enjoy playing Stony Brook today!  LOLLERZ!"

NCAA Thurs/Fri would become a more elite form of Big 12 Wed. 

I see absolutely nothing wrong with this.

combofan-style hand sign for this?