March Madness

[billhoward]

"The race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, but that's the way to bet."

[phillysportsfan]

And Princeton's coach Sydney Johnson is off to Fairfield, amazing considering he went there, was a senior captain, etc. Meanwhile VCU's coach stays off after getting a raise from $325K to $1.2 million a year. If the league doesnt want to pay coaches this will continue to happen, all about money

[Jim Hyla]

And Princeton's coach Sydney Johnson is off to Fairfield, amazing considering he went there, was a senior captain, etc. Meanwhile VCU's coach stays off after getting a raise from $325K to $1.2 million a year. If the league doesnt want to pay coaches this will continue to happen, all about money

As has been stated, it's the purpose of the NCAA to use students to enrich the pay of coaches and others.

[Ben]

And Princeton's coach Sydney Johnson is off to Fairfield, amazing considering he went there, was a senior captain, etc. Meanwhile VCU's coach stays off after getting a raise from $325K to $1.2 million a year. If the league doesnt want to pay coaches this will continue to happen, all about money

For what it's worth, the Cornell Basketball Blog guys seem to think it's also because he didn't feel that Princeton would be able to stay competitive given Harvard's reduced academic standards. Still a bit weird for the guy who cried after his team's tourney exit a few weeks ago.

[phillysportsfan]

Unless he was crying because he knew he would leave

[billhoward]

First half of Butler-UConn, I agreed with the Butler coach: awesome defensive battle. Kind of like what TimV was saying about Notre Dame-Duke title lax game last year. The second half showed what happens when it strikes midnight and Cinderalla's party ends. It was so bad it was almost worth watching to see how long Butler (18% shooting) could go without a hoop. It would have been amazing had Butler won - college version of Hoosiers.

I wish VCU hadn't gone so far. NCAA gets ammo for expanding to 96 (do we hear 128?). The more games, the more chances a nobody will beat a somebody, and then the nobodies can say, "See, anything is possible." I could see 96 teams and 33-96 play to make it a seven game series with the first 32 getting byes. That would protect the Kentuckies of the world.

[KeithK]

Why not maximize the excitement?  Invite all 346 teams to the dance!  Nine rounds, 166 byes in the first round!!  More games, more upsets, more thrills!!!  Joining the Sweet Sixteen are the Spectacular Sixty Four and the Wonderful One Hundred Twenty Eight!!!! :-|

[phillysportsfan]

96 would ruin the tournament, the whole Big Least would make it along with most of the other BCS teams, the regular season would be absolutely meaningless for those BCS teams

[billhoward]

Why not maximize the excitement?  Invite all 346 teams to the dance!  Nine rounds, 166 byes in the first round!!  More games, more upsets, more thrills!!!  Joining the Sweet Sixteen are the Spectacular Sixty Four and the Wonderful One Hundred Twenty Eight!!!! :-|

Good thing there's no reasonable number of tournament teams doesn't start with F.

[Josh '99]

Why not maximize the excitement?  Invite all 346 teams to the dance!  Nine rounds, 166 byes in the first round!!  More games, more upsets, more thrills!!!  Joining the Sweet Sixteen are the Spectacular Sixty Four and the Wonderful One Hundred Twenty Eight!!!! :-|

Yes yes yes, we all know how you feel about at-large tournament bids by now.  :-}

[Jeff Hopkins '82]

Why not maximize the excitement?  Invite all 346 teams to the dance!  Nine rounds, 166 byes in the first round!!  More games, more upsets, more thrills!!!  Joining the Sweet Sixteen are the Spectacular Sixty Four and the Wonderful One Hundred Twenty Eight!!!! :-|

Good thing there's no reasonable number of tournament teams doesn't start with F.

Foolish?  Far-fetched?  ::dribble::

[Trotsky]

96 would ruin the tournament, the whole Big Least would make it along with most of the other BCS teams, the regular season would be absolutely meaningless for those BCS teams

Require at least .500 in conference play for an at large -- problem solved.

[Rita]

And Princeton's coach Sydney Johnson is off to Fairfield, amazing considering he went there, was a senior captain, etc. Meanwhile VCU's coach stays off after getting a raise from $325K to $1.2 million a year. If the league doesnt want to pay coaches this will continue to happen, all about money

Another "love of the school v. love of money" situation arising:
Amaker to Miami (FL)?

[phillysportsfan]

I would say Amaker leaving would be even more surprising, there have been a few articles how he has weekly lunches with professors and his wife has a job there, they really seem to like Harvard. Plus he has a great recruiting class coming in this year and should win the league this year. He has Ballmer throwing tons of money at Harvard and they are building a new arena soon. He sounds like he wants to make Harvard, the Butler of the East, would be very surprising to see him leave

[Jim Hyla]

I would say Amaker leaving would be even more surprising, there have been a few articles how he has weekly lunches with professors and his wife has a job there, they really seem to like Harvard. Plus he has a great recruiting class coming in this year and should win the league this year. He has Ballmer throwing tons of money at Harvard and they are building a new arena soon. He sounds like he wants to make Harvard, the Butler of the East, would be very surprising to see him leave

I respect him so much, that I'd love to see him back in the big time. And of course, fall flat on his face again. Unfortunately I'm afraid he learned too much from his mistakes, and he won't take that chance again.