In this modern era of college basketball, this is what it's all about. During those years of only 32 teams in the NCAA tournament (which wasn't that long ago,) this kind of thing would never have happened. With the new seeding format of the NCAA tournament, the obvious result is that the “no-name” schools, like the Eagles of FGCU, have a chance to shine and become a new geographical mark on the nation's map in collegiate basketball.
To think that sixty eight teams were seeded in the 2013 pairing and in one week 52 teams were eliminated! Let's do a little history about the now named "March Madness" or as it probably should be called: "March Mayhem.”
It used to be that each regional bracket had from two to four byes, and for some higher seeds it was a free ride into the next round. All this was before the relatively new format of 64 - which has since turned into 68 teams - was put into place. In 1985, the NCAA basketball committee made one of the best policy changes in its history: 64 teams were seeded in the tournament. There are 16 seeded in each of the four regions, having a number-one seed down through a 16-seed. Since 2011, there have been four play-in games for teams that were considered on the bubble (eight teams) and the winner of those games became the fill-ins at the 16 seed spots, and that's throughout all four of the regional brackets: East, West, Midwest and South.
In my opinion, I think that there needs to be more of these play-in games, maybe even for the 15-seed or beyond. Why? Simply put, there were teams or schools out there that were better than some of the other lower seeds and they were not given the opportunity to participate. For example, Maryland of the ACC, beat Duke twice; once during the regular season and in the ACC tournament. Duke is a number-two seed in the Midwest region and now a Sweet Sixteen contender! A school like Maryland is in one of the best leagues in collegiate basketball and needs to be given the opportunity to compete in a play-in round. The Terrapins could get hot and obviously make a run like FGCU.
Being in the ACC is much more challenging than the smaller Division I leagues that are now getting bids under the new format. Though their record was only 8-10 in conference play, overall they were 24-12. I'm using Maryland as an example because there are other schools or teams that also fall into the same category. An "at-large team" could someday become a national champ. Anything is possible in college athletics, especially basketball! An at-large bid means that a team could be invited to participate in a sporting tournament, without having qualified otherwise. It's not their right, it’s an invite!
The deal is simple, since they already call these four play-in games the “first round,” then add more teams and give these schools that are considered "on the bubble" a chance to become contenders. "On the bubble" is an idiom for a possibility of being admitted or not. We can now see how good a team like Florida Gulf Coastal University is because they have been given a chance to be part of the dream. To see if the glass slipper fits, is all these at large schools are asking for - an opportunity. I think that the NCAA would find themselves in a win-win situation and it stands to raise even more money for future tournaments.
You could actually make it a real first round by having teams play for the last four spots, which means numbers 13 through 16. That would add 16 more teams to the format; four in each bracket. I don't really think that is a difficult scenario and it could easily be administered into the tournament layout. Ninety-eight percent of the seeding is already done by team records and their RPI (Ratings Percentage Index), why not add 16 more chances and make it more exciting and competitive!
Just look at the previous history of March Madness and the path of VCU, Gonzaga, Butler and let’s not forget to mention that Siena upset Ohio State in 2009. Cleveland State upset Indiana in 1986 and moved into the Sweet Sixteen and Lehigh University turned the tide on Duke last year. These are all Cinderella stories and these fairy tales make college basketball an exciting sport. This could be the fate of the University of Albany or Siena in a futuristic path of a dream come true! There is nothing like this in the NBA, because the playoffs are formatted into seven-game series. If I were a member of the NCAA basketball committee, I would seriously put this on the table, at least look at it and play it out on what the scenario could be and the popularity that might grow out of this format. Make the first round a bona fide event that actually be called a first round. Most people who follow sports, especially collegiate basketball, love rooting for the underdog. I love to watch this team from Fort Myers, Florida; they are athletic and play with real passion.
This is fun to watch and when these guys take the floor, in the Sweet Sixteen, you will feel their passion because they are able to compete with the big names of college basketball! This is a true college basketball fairy tale, maybe even at the end, the glass slipper will fit, and Cinderella will live in the Castle of Florida Gulf Coastal University. May the Eagles soar!
