In NCAA's 68, lets make last 8 at large bubbles play/win into 64 field

[HouWarrior]

ESPN article (and credit to a few posts here, too-lol) proposes interesting idea I support.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/columns/story?columnist=oneil_dana&id=5125887

Now ---conf  champs of extremely low conferences (Winthrop/Ark Pine Bluff), must play their way in and get "honor" of playing a no 1 seed

With new 68 team field having 4 play in games , if each game plays  into the no 16 position, such may cause all 4 no 1 games to be played on same day....

This article says why play into the no 16 spot ?
Indeed.

Let Winthrop and an Ark Pine bluff have their low level conf championships  and  to automatically play as a 16

Instead..... have the true last eight teams in --the at large bubbles play their way in to the last 4 at large spots (approx the 11-13 spots)...
example Dayton vs Uconn  or Illinois vs Ariz State....the winner of these at large bubble games would play their way into the last avail at large spots, ie

.....the last 4 in, play their way from an 8 team bubble field.

This
1 makes the play in games watchable and compelling(bigger name teams),
2 preserves current pattern of 2 of the no1s  playing  on thurs/fridays, getting their no 16 cupcakes, as usual,
and
3 getting into the 8 team bubble field still means you have to earn/win  your 64 spot-- not just have the committee give it to you, (over another team in a close call by some guys in a conference room)

I would actually start watching the tv games at the play in level--viewership increases

--(oh and we'd kill those betting pools who allow entries after the play in game was complete, or use it as a mere tie breaker--

--we'd have an entire "extra" round of 4 games-- maybe even a 8 team/4 game bracket set up as a side bet/separate bet pool--fun added)

[Brewtown Andy]

The upside to this is that the 12s and 13s are paired together and the 11s and 14s are paired together, so it would minimize the number of sites that have to be used on Friday for the play in winners.

[brewcity77]

I like the sound of this, it makes a lot more sense. Bad enough that conference champs have to play against a #1 seed, may as well at least ensure they get the tourney experience.

[HouWarrior]

If you had a 8 team bubble bracket this year it could have been (last 4 in vs the 4 no 1 seeds in NIT):

Minn v Va Tech
Ut state v Miss St
Fla v Az State
Geo Tech v Illini

Good match ups/names...better than Winthrop v Ark Pine Bluff

As they are bubbles games --locations could've  been  anywhere, incl one play in game in each region
2 games on tuesday (winners play on Thursday)
2 games on Wednesday (winners play on Friday)

I think this would work!

[brewcity77]

I think you could have all four games on Tuesday at one location. Turn it into basically a one-date tourney stop, just like you have on the first two proper days of the tournament. Four games, one after the other.

[HouWarrior]

I think you could have all four games on Tuesday at one location. Turn it into basically a one-date tourney stop, just like you have on the first two proper days of the tournament. Four games, one after the other.

Sure-- then w/travel off to various 64 sites, they'd just slot all the play in winners to play on friday

[MUBurrow]

I really really like this idea.

Agreed on the fairness of low conference teams getting the tourney experience.  Plus, you tire these teams out before making them sacrificial lambs? Cmon.

[DiaperDandy]

One thing I am interested to see is now that tournament is expanded, will the Great West tournament champion earn an automatic bid to the tourney.  As of right now, they are the only conference that does not receive an automatic bid on selection Sunday.  The conference played its first season this year and is made up of teams such as N.J.I.T. and Chicago State. 

[Brewtown Andy]

One thing I am interested to see is now that tournament is expanded, will the Great West tournament champion earn an automatic bid to the tourney.  As of right now, they are the only conference that does not receive an automatic bid on selection Sunday.  The conference played its first season this year and is made up of teams such as N.J.I.T. and Chicago State. 

With how things turned out, I'm completely convinced that the 96 team thing was a smokescreen to allow for a small expansion to cover for the GWC's autobid in 2 years.

[BuzzSucksSucks]

With how things turned out, I'm completely convinced that the 96 team thing was a smokescreen to allow for a small expansion to cover for the GWC's autobid in 2 years.

This has the smell of Hegelian manipulation.  How do legislators get unpopular measures passed? The initial proposal is something quite extreme, but colleagues from the other side enter into the debate, and then after a period of public wrangling, guys from both sides appear with the compromise they've hammered out--which, of course, is what they were after all along.  All they have to do is float an unpopular idea, and then when we're spared the full extent of it, we feel like we've won!  In this particular case, the 96-team tourney figure still hangs out there.  They've even said that it's 68 "for now."  I'm sure they've decided what they want, but it's just part of the game, playing the public in the process, softening up the target, getting people accustomed to an idea in advance.

[MUPig]

I wouldn't want to be a number one seed if this would be the case.  Lets assume the winner of the play in game becomes the #16 seed, then the #1 seed would play vs. the likes of Illinois, Cincy, Miss State, etc.  The #15 seed would play the likes of Vermont, Ark - Pine Bluff, Lehigh, E. Tenn State.  Would make more sense if the play in games become the #12 seed.

[HouWarrior]

I wouldn't want to be a number one seed if this would be the case.  Lets assume the winner of the play in game becomes the #16 seed, then the #1 seed would play vs. the likes of Illinois, Cincy, Miss State, etc.  The #15 seed would play the likes of Vermont, Ark - Pine Bluff, Lehigh, E. Tenn State.  Would make more sense if the play in games become the #12 seed.

Per orig post and all of responding--none ever assumed the play would be for no 16--you are only one to make the mistaken assumption.
In fact, historically, bubble teams are seeded in the slots of 11-13--thats where the play into goes from this "bubble bracket".

[StillAWarrior]

I love this idea.  For years I've said that I think the play in game should be for the last 12 seed.  I've always felt sorry for the small conference team that wins their conference tourney, celebrates that they made it to the dance, and then gets eliminated in Dayton on Tuesday.  I think that sucks and those teams deserve the "tournament experience."  I also like the idea of taking the bubble teams and making them play their way in.

This would wreak havoc on the NCAA tournament pools, though.  Nobody cares about the 16/1 game, so we just ignore that one on the brackets.  People do like to pick 12s over 5s.  We'd either have to require people to complete their brackets before the play-in games or after.