Change to the NCAA Basketball Schedule

[GoldenWarrior11]

http://www.si.com/college-basketball/2015/03/02/college-basketball-march-madness-one-semester-sport

Pac-12 Deputy Commissioner Jamie Zaninovich wants to start a discussion about pushing the both the beginning and end of the basketball season back a month, thus making it a one semester sport.

This isn't a Pac-12 initiative, but rather a request to take a long look at the benefits and drawbacks—both on the court and in the classroom—of a change in the season's schedule. It would begin in mid-December, after final exams, in the relative quiet period between the football conference championship games and marquee bowl games. This would push the Final Four back from the first week in April to the first week in May. By pushing the start of the season back, it would give college basketball a cleaner window—and less competition from college football—to start the season. It would also give the sport less competition in the final months, as a conference season starting around Feb. 1 would help the sport escape the shadow of both college football and the NFL.

Interesting thoughts.  Makes a ton of sense - which means it probably won't happen.

[tower912]

An interesting conversation starter.    IMO, the benefits:
1.  The first month of the season is not overshadowed by football.    Non-con season now during Bowl season and NFL playoffs.
2.  Eliminates mid-season transfer headaches.
3.  Allows for more clean academics.    No ineligibility in the middle of the year.

Drawbacks:
1.  April Madness doesn't have the same alliterative ring.
2.  I will watch less of the tourney because by mid-April the golf courses are all open.
3.  A deep run in the tourney can bump up against finals weeks at some schools.

[ChicosBailBonds]

TV will drive much of this decision

[4everwarriors]

April Anxiety, hey?

[Boozemon Barro]

  at the notion that academics has any weight in the college athletics discussion.

[Bricky]

at the notion that academics has any weight in the college athletics discussion.

Would've been my only argument against this. But hey, maybe all NCAA schools can extend their winter break and shorten the summer break. And anyone who plans on summer credit, it continues to suck to suck.

[MUCrew]

TV will drive much of this decision

Was just gonna say this

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

TV will drive much of this decision

Plus March Madness is before Baseball season and way before NBA & NHL playoffs.  It's the only game in town in March.

[T-Bone]

TV will drive much of this decision

Which would mean No, correct?  With the NBA and NHL playoffs and MLB trying to get off to a good start, it doesn't seem likely, eh?

[GooooMarquette]

NCAA - Where good ideas go to die.

[humanlung]

Anyone know how many years out sites have been awarded for the tournament?  I would imagine that even if this was adopted it would be years before implementation due to prior scheduling commitments.

[Brewtown Andy]

Plus March Madness is before Baseball season and way before NBA & NHL playoffs.  It's the only game in town in March.

And seeing as the NCAA makes essentially all of their operating budget on the money they get from CBS/Turner for the tournament...

[wadesworld]

Don't like it.

[Brewtown Andy]

Anyone know how many years out sites have been awarded for the tournament?  I would imagine that even if this was adopted it would be years before implementation due to prior scheduling commitments.

Final Fours are set through 2021.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NCAA_Men%27s_Division_I_Basketball_Tournament#Host_cities

TV contract runs through 2024.

[bradley center bat]

The weekend after the Final Four is the Masters and the weekend after that is the NBA playoffs. Both on CBS/Turner.

[JuniorCardigan]

April Anxiety, hey?

April Absolute Madness?

doesn't quite roll off the tongue. I think April Anarchy has to be the winner

[forgetful]

April Absolute Madness?

doesn't quite roll off the tongue. I think April Anarchy has to be the winner

Wouldn't part of the tournament then be in may.  We could have April Anarchy bring May Madness.

[tower912]

April Angst?

[Litehouse]

The weekend after the Final Four is the Masters and the weekend after that is the NBA playoffs. Both on CBS/Turner.

I was thinking the same thing.  CBS wouldn't be able to run their "A Tradition Like No Other" ads throughout the entire tournament.

Interesting idea, but I don't like it.  I think they're underestimating how much competition they'd get from MLB and NBA playoffs.  March is a perfect window with no competition for TV viewers right now.

[muwarrior69]

...and all those thanksgiving tournaments would be gone as well. Won't happen I think.

[WarriorPA]

It may benefit the early part of the season, but would be terrible for the tournament. Can't imagine it gaining any ground.

March Madness is a big-time sporting event and has solidified its time of year, it shouldn't change.

[GoldenWarrior11]

Not sure whether the concept would be welcomed or shot down by conferences, universities, or the networks, but, at one point in time, the shot clock and three-point line were both considered radical changes to the college game as well.  College basketball could use an infusion of change.

[Aughnanure]

I was thinking the same thing.  CBS wouldn't be able to run their "A Tradition Like No Other" ads throughout the entire tournament.

Interesting idea, but I don't like it.  I think they're underestimating how much competition they'd get from MLB and NBA playoffs.  March is a perfect window with no competition for TV viewers right now.

Yeah, I kind of always liked the idea of moving it back so that you'd make it May Madness (not April, so a little easier on the alliteration). But the more I think about it, the more I see it would only help the early part of the season and that I'm underestimating the competition of MLB and the NBA playoffs (not the NHL though). I think, instead, the NCAA should focus on how to market the start of college basketball season better as it often gets lost in November. Maybe try to market the Thanksgiving weekend as the true start (because of all the tourneys maybe?).

On another note, the NBA season has no business starting before Christmas. Why do we need 82 games?

[4everwarriors]

...and all those thanksgiving tournaments would be gone as well. Won't happen I think.

Nah, just renamed as Winter Solstice Tourneys, hey?

[tower912]

Nah, just renamed as Winter Solstice Tourneys, hey?

Festivus tourneys.