Probably so the #1 seed gets a bye, like the NFL.
Or an extra bye, depending on how they set up the bracket.
B12 Unbalanced Schedules (from the Williams & Blum conversation)
- Thread starter cymonw1980
- Start date
Probably so the #1 seed gets a bye, like the NFL.
Or an extra bye, depending on how they set up the bracket.
Why not just invite all 18 and figure out byes at that point? 15 out of 18 seems like they must have some sort of strong reason for doing so?
Youd probably have to add a day to the tournament
FWIW i hope the Big 12 does NOT do this. Give everyone a shot, give the players a trip to KC. Doesn't hurt.
The Big 12 Tournament can go from the 14 now to 16 without adding an additional day. I don't know why you wouldn't just fill up Tuesday rather than leaving teams out.
The league is so deep and tough that it might actually help in terms of crowing a real champion or champion. I look at BYU’s 14th ranked schedule…it’s still plenty tough, tough enough that they came in ranked high in computer polls and human polls yet are already 2-4.
If it were top heavy like the Big Ten or SEC with a lot of easy wins in the bottom half, you could get a regular season champ that really wasn’t the champ. I remember like ten years ago some ACC team won it and they really dodged the top teams as if they hand crafted an ideal schedule compared to the 2nd and 3rd team.
Adding the extra two games would help next year…if we weren’t increasing the number of teams by 2.
As much as we like how feisty it gets with KU and KSU…I really don’t think guaranteeing a road game every year at those two would have helped in terms of schedule. It’s crazy our schedule is ranked the toughest and we don’t play the historically toughest game in the conference.
If it were top heavy like the Big Ten or SEC with a lot of easy wins in the bottom half, you could get a regular season champ that really wasn’t the champ. I remember like ten years ago some ACC team won it and they really dodged the top teams as if they hand crafted an ideal schedule compared to the 2nd and 3rd team.
Adding the extra two games would help next year…if we weren’t increasing the number of teams by 2.
As much as we like how feisty it gets with KU and KSU…I really don’t think guaranteeing a road game every year at those two would have helped in terms of schedule. It’s crazy our schedule is ranked the toughest and we don’t play the historically toughest game in the conference.
How is the Big 10 going to create a 15 team bracket with the last 3 left out?
Not saying it’s impossible, just curious how it looks.
Don't know. I was commenting on the part at the end of the post where poster said that the Big 12 was considering doing something similar. The Big 12 has no need to unless they are scrapping Tuesday altogether and leaving a quarter of the conference out.
I'd rather just add that extra day to the tournament. For teams 16-18 their season is over anyways. What's the harm in giving them an extra day or two of games? #13 seed Ohio State winning 3 games last year was probably the most notable story of the Big Ten tourney.
You could just have 15/16 and 17/18 play that night on the extra, added day. Stream it on a streaming service.
They should just let the bottom four play an on campus game to decide the final two invites to the tourney.
Wednesday
12 v 13
10 v 15
11 v 14
Thursday
8 v 9
5 v 12/13
7 v 10/15
6 v 11/14
Friday
1 v 8/9
4 v 5/12/13
2 v 7/10/15
3 v 6/11/14
Saturday and Sunday--Semis/Champ
Helps to have the visual, I hadn't gotten around to compiling it.
Still seems odd to have odd number. It "rewards" finishing 9th instead of 10th.
I know they would want to avoid omitting too many teams, but if you're gonna shave the field, why not balance it. You still have four slots available on day 1.
I would do it in one of two ways.
Way 1
(Omits only bottom 2 teams)
Wednesday
12 v 13
10 v 15
11 v 14
9 v 16
Thursday
8 v 9/16
5 v 12/13
7 v 10/15
6 v 11/14
Way 2
(Omits bottom 4, day 1 is night session only)
Wednesday
11 v 14
12 v 13
Thursday
8 v 9
5 v 12/13
7 v 10
6 v 11/14
Would that be the first time ever a conf champ or runner up could play 5 days in a row? Or have the ACC and Big Ten already had this 'need to win 5' model for years and they're just now changing it by leaving a few teams out?
The bottom of the Big ten sucks so bad that it's hard to imagine an 11 seed winning 4 in a row to get there, but next year's 16 team Big 12 could have a dangerous top 50 bubble team in the 11/12 spot if everyone is as good as this year.
I believe UCONN did this in the Big East and then went on to win the Natty.....beating Iowa State in NYC. Don't quote me on that though.
UConn did do that in 2011 but didn't beat Iowa State in the tournament
DePaul
Georgetown
Pitt
Syracuse
Louisville
Bucknell
Cincinnati
San Diego State
Arizona
Kentucky
Butler
UConn-Iowa State was 2014
Conference winner gets a bye and then everyone else has a first round game ???
The bottom three teams - sorry but you need time to think about how bad you are and how to improve.
Big Ten Conference Announces Future Basketball Scheduling Formats
ROSEMONT, Illinois – As part of ongoing preparations for the addition of four new member institutions during the 2024-25 academic year, the Big Ten Conference on Tuesday announced details regarding future regular- and postseason competition structures for men’s and women’s basketball.