Play-in games

[cyclones500]

Actually I think it was when the WAC split and the MWC was formed - the lower conferences were "punished" for a new upper-mid major being formed. Since then the MWC has fairly remained status quo in terms of power while the WAC has become a lower conference as well as too many other things to keep track of, but originally the two lowest 16s were forced to play a play-in game because of that.

This is true ... that's why it went to 65 -- the "majors" didn't lose that coveted final at-large slot when # of leagues increased from 31 to 32.

 

[BCClone]

This has probably been asked and answered a million times but I'm too lazy to search. Why aren't all the play-in games 16 seeds?

I think it should be 8 lowest at large teams. AQs should get their shot at a Kansas or Alabama at least.

 

[1100011CS]

why not just seed them regardless of AQ or at-large then make 16 seeds play the play-in games?

 

[alarson]

why not just seed them regardless of AQ or at-large then make 16 seeds play the play-in games?

This is how it really should be. The hardest paths along the way should be given to those who did the least to earn their spots in the tournament. 16 seeds generally have terrible losses to terrible teams. People like to romanticize them as just teams that played easy schedules and didn't have the chance to pick up good wins, but teams like that aren't 16 seeds. 16 seeds generally have extremely bad losses to go with their low SOS

 

[AlaCyclone]

We can all agree that playing in the first four is NOT making the tournament..

So why should a league champ with an AQ bid have to not make the tournament??

WAY more eyeballs would watch P6 programs play their way into the tourney than watch some no name MEAC school play the Horizon league champ

Actually, the First Four Games are NCAA Tournament Games. They count as a Tournament appearance and the W-L count in all-time Tournament records.

FWIW, I remember the 48 team Tournament when the Top 16 received a First Round Bye, and the the other 32 teams had "play-in" games.

As for the First Four, I have been may times in person, and it is loads of fun.

There are currently 68 teams with a chance to win the NCAA Tournament - which starts tonight in Dayton, O-Hi-O.

 

[clonehome]

“This is not a ******* play-in game! We’re in the tournament.”

Fran McCaffery….a few years ago

 

[NoCreativity]

I can't stand the setup. Go back to 64!

Yeah, the bubble seems really watered down every year since they started this.

 

[HoopsTournament]

We can all agree that playing in the first four is NOT making the tournament..

So why should a league champ with an AQ bid have to not make the tournament??

WAY more eyeballs would watch P6 programs play their way into the tourney than watch some no name MEAC school play the Horizon league champ

No, we don't all agree with that. Because officially it is an NCAA Tournament game. That may be your opinion, but Texas A&M-CC's win tonight is counted as a tournament win. They will even publicize it as a tournament win. Because officially it is.

 

[jdoggivjc]

No, we don't all agree with that. Because officially it is an NCAA Tournament game. That may be your opinion, but Texas A&M-CC's win tonight is counted as a tournament win. They will even publicize it as a tournament win. Because officially it is.

Yes, you're right - they're officially tournament games and the schools will count them as tournament wins.

All that said, public perception is stronger than reality, and the majority of the public will view tonight as teams earning their way into the tournament - regardless of what the NCAA has to say about it.

 

[Die4Cy]

auto qualifiers shouldn't have to play in the first 4...

It should be the last 8 at-large teams into the tournament

And why in the name of God do they play it in Dayton every year?

 

[ricochet]

No, we don't all agree with that. Because officially it is an NCAA Tournament game. That may be your opinion, but Texas A&M-CC's win tonight is counted as a tournament win. They will even publicize it as a tournament win. Because officially it is.

And I'm OK with that because I like all these 16 seeds having more NCAA tournament wins than Nebraska.

 

[HoopsTournament]

First Four Tidbits

First Four Tidbits - Tuesday

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi wins their first tournament game in school history. They previously lost to Wisconsin in the 2007 First Round and ...

hoopstournament.blogspot.com

 

[theshadow]

And why in the name of God do they play it in Dayton every year?

Money and politics -- just like everything else.

 

[AlaCyclone]

And why in the name of God do they play it in Dayton every year?

Because they support it as a Civic Event very well. Daytonians love going to the games, and there are usually big crowds both nights. When I lived in Cincinnati, I went to the First Four many times.

 

[HoopsTournament]

Yes, you're right - they're officially tournament games and the schools will count them as tournament wins.

All that said, public perception is stronger than reality, and the majority of the public will view tonight as teams earning their way into the tournament - regardless of what the NCAA has to say about it.

The majority could say the earth is flat (which did happen at one time in history). Didn't make it true.

 

[NebrClone]

I don't think so, in general I think the at-large play in games the teams are usually in the 40's for overall seed. The AQ play in games I think are almost always, or maybe just always, the last 4 overall seeded teams because some conferences are small and not good.

18 aq had a net rating over 50