Counterpoint: NCAA Tournament and BCS

Earlier, our own VolstotheWall posted an assertion that the NCAA tournament and BCS for different reasons needed to be revised.  His argument is here.  The gist is that the regular season doesn’t mean anything in basketball and the postseason is invalid in football.  While I agree with that, here’s why I think the tournament and the BCS are fine as they are (and yes, I did just throw up a little in my mouth).

The NCAA Tournament and the BCS Need a Change

The NCAA Tournament and the BCS could not be any more different than each other. “The Big Dance” is just that, BIG. Sixty-five teams have a chance at the end of the year to play it out on the court for the championship. Unfortunately the BCS doesn’t allow the same kind of fairness, or entertainment, in determining their champion.

However, neither system is without flaws.This season was a clear sign that a playoff is needed in college football. The top seven or so teams could make an argument of why they should have been in the title game. On the other hand, the regular season was one of the best we’ve ever seen, and partly because of the hated BCS. Teams that were considered out of it one week, were right back in the next. LSU lost their last regular season game in a thriller to Arkansas, before rebounding against the Vols to get to the title game where they blew out Ohio State.

On the other hand, West Virginia was upset by Pitt in the last game of the season and it cost them their chance at the title. These kind of scenarios are strictly unique to College Football because every game matters so much. However, the NCAA tournament doesn’t allow this sort of late season games to matter. With a playoff like we currently have in basketball, the only thing LSU and West Virginia would have been playing for at that point in the season would have been seeding. The only games that really matter at the end of the regular season are the bubble games, which allows teams with 10 losses to prove their worthy of a chance to play with the best teams. Not exactly fair, in my opinion.

Woo Pig, ERR…just kidding

While my ban on the Alabama Basketball program is still running strong, I still check in on them from time to time.  To put it lightly, I was shocked to see the final score of 59-56 in favor of the Tide in tonight’s game against the Pigs, or Hogs, of Ar-kansas (credit Les Miles with that pronunciation).  Maybe what was more shocking was the player of the game.  It wasn’t the obvious choices of Richard Hendrix or Alonzo Gee.  It wasn’t the occasional shooting spree by Mykal Riley.  No, it was Demetrius Jemison.  Jemison showed out (apparently) tonight going for 19 points and 11 boards.  If I had to guess those are probably career highs, not sure though. 

So what does this mean?  I’m going to go with absolutely nothing.  Well, in terms of this season it means nothing.  However, every win that Alabama gets is a win for Gottfried as well.  That’s a loss in my book.   I want this guy gone, but Alabama won’t get rid of him as long as he keeps pulling games out of his rear. 

What’s even more shocking about tonight’s game was the fact that Arky is head and shoulders above Alabama this year, especially as of late.  The two teams have basically been polar opposites of each other, but as Chris Berman says, “That’s why they play the game.” 

It is hard to root against your favorite team.  Actually, it’s a terrible thing.  I feel horrible about it.  Coach Gottfried is a good guy, but a horrific hoops coach.  Somebody in our athletic department…cough, Mal Moore…needs to do something about this guy.  That’s the last I’m going to say about that.  

Up next for the Tide (15-13, 4-9) is a road trip to Ole Miss on Saturday.  We all know what a road game means; a big L.  Oh well.