Why is it always "The Road to the Final Four"

[TallTitan34]

I was just wondering why everything is centered around the Final Four and not the National Championship.  T-shirts, CBS, basketballs, advertisements, ESPN, and pretty much everything else uses the Final Four logo.  CBS even calls the whole tournament, "the road to the Final Four".

Why is all the focus placed on the Final Four and not the National Championship?

[Markusquette]

While the national championship is clearly the coveted thing in college basketball, I think that it just relates to how impressive making it to the final four is, and the main reason might be just because it determines who makes it to the championship which is exciting.  But it is kind of weird why they relate everything to "the road to the final four".

[MURFC]

I was just wondering why everything is centered around the Final Four and not the National Championship.  T-shirts, CBS, basketballs, advertisements, ESPN, and pretty much everything else uses the Final Four logo.  CBS even calls the whole tournament, "the road to the Final Four".

Why is all the focus placed on the Final Four and not the National Championship?

I think it is because it is the last weekend of the tournament.  You have a tremendous amount of build-up going through each round.....the final four is the final showcase weekend of the tournament.

I love it - I think it is just another reason why the tournament is so great.  Plus, it is probably easier to build excitment over four teams than just two.

[Marquette84]

I was just wondering why everything is centered around the Final Four and not the National Championship.  T-shirts, CBS, basketballs, advertisements, ESPN, and pretty much everything else uses the Final Four logo.  CBS even calls the whole tournament, "the road to the Final Four".

Why is all the focus placed on the Final Four and not the National Championship?

The likely answer is that the NCAA owns the trademark for "Final Four" but is not able to trademark "National Championship."

[CTWarrior]

Because schools that make the Final Four remember it forever (unless you're Duke or UNC or UCLA or something). 

We were beaten like a rented mule when we were in the Final Four in 2003, but who doesn't remember that tournament fondly?

Now, if we were edged by Kansas in OT in a regional final, I don't think we would remember it so fondly.

[The Man in Gold]

Since the Final Four is the host of everything surrounding the national championship, it makes sense on that level.  Also its the final destination for college basketball.  Its similiar to how college football builds up the entire BCS, not just the national championship.

[jaybilaswho?]

i think that it is so heavily marketed this why because as a member of one of the four teams you are your regions champion, hence why MU got rings for being in the final four. While you still do always want the national championship, you are still a champion of your region. That is my thought.

[BuzzSucksSucks]

Because it implies drama and heroism, and it sounds good.  Just like you have your Fab Four, your Fantastic 4, your Four Horsemen, your Magnificent Seven, and your Dirty Dozen, it communicates something much more weighty than a simple basketball tournament

[Mayor McCheese]

some reporter probably said it, it stuck, and now is the coin phrase.  However isn't the final four itself somewhat like a party.  Like the super bowl, all-star weekend for baseball/basketball, its a giant party that has a couple basketball games.  I could be wrong, but that is what I pictured it as, and who doesn't want to go to that?

[TallTitan34]

Good points.   Thanks!

[4everwarriors]

Because you must be a Warrior to get to the FF.

[TallTitan34]

Because you must be a Warrior to get to the FF.

Unless it's 2003 when they let Golden Eagles in.