2018 NCAA Tournament

[Greek Tragedy]

Well, technically, the NCAA considers those "play-in" games as the 1st round. In fact, I thought they actually hated that term.

Anyway, we know they aren't going to expand it and have to play games on Tuesday. Besides, those one bid leagues created two of the best upsets of all time. I can't stop watching that Aurora/Wash U end of game sequence.

[hopefan]

As a true one bid league supporter, (in other words, a league that ALWAYS draws a top seed, on the top seed's court), I'll go the other way... I'd love to see play in games.. for the bottom league teams... I'd love to see a tourney game for the SLIAC champ vs the MWC/NACC/SAA/SCAC/AMCC/PAC... to go into a game where the kids felt they had a legitimate chance to win... NOT that they don't currently go into the Tourney thinking they have a shot, but lets just say the odds are heavily stacked against them when they have to play the CCIW/Wash U/ WIAC champ...

For the SLIAC, historically, the Conference Championship game is the biggest game of the year.... the TOURNEY, well, maybe some day...

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Well, technically, the NCAA considers those "play-in" games as the 1st round. In fact, I thought they actually hated that term.

Anyway, we know they aren't going to expand it and have to play games on Tuesday. Besides, those one bid leagues created two of the best upsets of all time. I can't stop watching that Aurora/Wash U end of game sequence.

They went away from "first round" with these games I believe last season. It is back to "play-in" or something to that affect.

Personally, NO AQ team should be playing in these games. Absolutely none. They earned their way into the D1 dance by winning their AQ. They should not, then, be subjected to these "play-in" games as if they still have to earn their way in. It is ridiculous. Those games should be for at-large teams ONLY to prove they should be in the dance. The final four even if they are from the same conference. Suck it up. You didn't earn your way in and were nearly out of the tournament. Prove you belong by NOT having to beat a team who did win that AQ.

[hopefan]

Well, technically, the NCAA considers those "play-in" games as the 1st round. In fact, I thought they actually hated that term.

Anyway, we know they aren't going to expand it and have to play games on Tuesday. Besides, those one bid leagues created two of the best upsets of all time. I can't stop watching that Aurora/Wash U end of game sequence.

They went away from "first round" with these games I believe last season. It is back to "play-in" or something to that affect.

Personally, NO AQ team should be playing in these games. Absolutely none. They earned their way into the D1 dance by winning their AQ. They should not, then, be subjected to these "play-in" games as if they still have to earn their way in. It is ridiculous. Those games should be for at-large teams ONLY to prove they should be in the dance. The final four even if they are from the same conference. Suck it up. You didn't earn your way in and were nearly out of the tournament. Prove you belong by NOT having to beat a team who did win that AQ.

Yes BUT

If you won your conference, you made it to the tournament.... you're playing a tournament game whether it's called 1st round, playin, elimination chamber, ghost island or whatever... and if the SLIAC beat an Aurora, or a Green Mountain, or a Bethany, who cares whom they beat.. they won an NCAA Tournament game!!!!  And right now afterXXX number of attempts, they still can't say that... and it's not like they're not trying!!!

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

Well, technically, the NCAA considers those "play-in" games as the 1st round. In fact, I thought they actually hated that term.

Anyway, we know they aren't going to expand it and have to play games on Tuesday. Besides, those one bid leagues created two of the best upsets of all time. I can't stop watching that Aurora/Wash U end of game sequence.

They went away from "first round" with these games I believe last season. It is back to "play-in" or something to that affect.

Personally, NO AQ team should be playing in these games. Absolutely none. They earned their way into the D1 dance by winning their AQ. They should not, then, be subjected to these "play-in" games as if they still have to earn their way in. It is ridiculous. Those games should be for at-large teams ONLY to prove they should be in the dance. The final four even if they are from the same conference. Suck it up. You didn't earn your way in and were nearly out of the tournament. Prove you belong by NOT having to beat a team who did win that AQ.

Yes BUT

If you won your conference, you made it to the tournament.... you're playing a tournament game whether it's called 1st round, playin, elimination chamber, ghost island or whatever... and if the SLIAC beat an Aurora, or a Green Mountain, or a Bethany, who cares whom they beat.. they won an NCAA Tournament game!!!!  And right now afterXXX number of attempts, they still can't say that... and it's not like they're not trying!!!

The way those games are treated in D1, honestly, I don't think they feel like tournament games. Not the way they make them feel like you are still playing into the tournament and not featured as part of the bigger scope.

[Bucket]

Well, technically, the NCAA considers those "play-in" games as the 1st round. In fact, I thought they actually hated that term.

Anyway, we know they aren't going to expand it and have to play games on Tuesday. Besides, those one bid leagues created two of the best upsets of all time. I can't stop watching that Aurora/Wash U end of game sequence.

They went away from "first round" with these games I believe last season. It is back to "play-in" or something to that affect.

Personally, NO AQ team should be playing in these games. Absolutely none. They earned their way into the D1 dance by winning their AQ. They should not, then, be subjected to these "play-in" games as if they still have to earn their way in. It is ridiculous. Those games should be for at-large teams ONLY to prove they should be in the dance. The final four even if they are from the same conference. Suck it up. You didn't earn your way in and were nearly out of the tournament. Prove you belong by NOT having to beat a team who did win that AQ.

Yes BUT

If you won your conference, you made it to the tournament.... you're playing a tournament game whether it's called 1st round, playin, elimination chamber, ghost island or whatever... and if the SLIAC beat an Aurora, or a Green Mountain, or a Bethany, who cares whom they beat.. they won an NCAA Tournament game!!!!  And right now afterXXX number of attempts, they still can't say that... and it's not like they're not trying!!!

The way those games are treated in D1, honestly, I don't think they feel like tournament games. Not the way they make them feel like you are still playing into the tournament and not featured as part of the bigger scope.

Agreed. As far as I'm concerned, any D1 game taking place before Friday Thursday is a play-in game.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

... or Thursday.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

Hey - if I don't have to pick a winner of those play-in games in any D1 bracket challenge/office pool/billion dollar gamble (at least none I've ever been in), then you are not part of the tournament in the eyes of the public (or mine at the very least). 

[Bucket]

... or Thursday.

Ha. Whoops. Yes, Thursday.

[hopefan]

ok.. so I contacted a veteran, respected coach from one of the lesser conferences... the kind of conference we're talking about..

My question was, Would a Lower conference coach be in favor of a playin game concept in D3?  Your conference vs another lower ranked champ?

Coach's Response:
"In favor.  If you win Game 1, it's a win in the NCAA.  It gives you a better chance to win next game as your team is flying high with momentum and power guys sit, wait, get rusty.  In the end you are underdog no matter what in second game"

The people who have responded to this question on this board are associated with conferences that historically don't have to think of a playin game-  but if you put yourselves in the shoes of a conference that generally experiences little or no success in the tournament, it's quite possible to come up with a different train of thought.

[WUPHF]

One problem with the play-in game is that it murders an entire week for the team that wins as you travel somewhere on Monday, play Tuesday, and potentially travel home on Wednesday only to travel again on Thursday.  It is not ideal for the student athlete.

I would have to think about whether or not this would work (this may be an easy exercise for some of you), but I do wonder if they could reward a few top teams with a first round bye and invite two play-in teams instead.

For example, instead of a four-pod team at Augustana during the first weekend they invite Greenville and (laugh, cry) Aurora to Rock Island for a Friday game with the winner playing Augustana.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

It's also never going to happen.  We're capped at 64 no matter how many schools join d3.

[Greek Tragedy]

It's also never going to happen.  We're capped at 64 no matter how many schools join d3.

I didn't know that. Is that some kind of bylaw written with blood?

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

It's also never going to happen.  We're capped at 64 no matter how many schools join d3.

I didn't know that. Is that some kind of bylaw written with blood?

Yep.  The NCAA doesn't want to spend money.  Every tournament in every sport at every level (except the D1 men's tournament, where all the money is made) I believe was formally capped at 64.  Obviously, they could go back and vote to change that, but I doubt it'll ever happen.  It's all about cost control.

[USee]

Every tournament in every sport at every level (except ......

Famous last words......