The most wonderful time of the year - NCAA TOURNEY BABY!

[scaeagles]

I agree - completely lame.

The way I see this they are trying to accomplish a couple things.

First, they don't want to have to make the tough decisions as far as leaving out a Rhode Island or a Florida and making those controversial decisions.

Secondly, they want ticket revenue. The money this event takes in in mind boggling. In 1990, I went to the first and second round games in Tuscon at the University of Arizona, and the price was $45 for decent seats. Same set of tix now (well, last time I checked was a coupleyears ago) was over $200.

Also, this allows those they deem as the top 32 to essentially get a first round bye and forces the mid majors to play an extra game, most likely on the Monday or Tuesday before the first game, giving their coaching staff less time to focus on how to beat the higher seeds.

I hate everything about the idea of increasing the size of the tournament. Everything. Well, I don't begrudge them their revenue, but i still hate it.