Bracket criticism easier than selection
A group of 20 sportswriters found bracket selection is a much more ardent task than anticipated as discussed by Pat Ford of ESPN in What I learned at Bracket Camp.
This is not likely to do much to slow the bracket bashing and second guessing that has increased to epic proportions over the last few years. As the difference between the 75th and 50th best college basketball team continuing to shrink, these calls will increase. Fortunately, the likelihood of leaving the eventual winner of the tournament to the NIT is very low. There are three ways to reduce this risk, none of which I recommend.
1. Increase the number of entrants. Let’s hear the presidents defend this while protesting against increasing the college football post-season.
2. Eliminate some of the automatic bids. Let’s face it, the debates are not about who should be a 13th or 16th seed, they are about 11th and 12th seeds.
3. I don’t recommend this approach, but it would allow a few more teams to participate. Have four games to play in for the 16th seeded slots. This would allow the conferences to continue their automatic bids while adding 3 at-large teams. In essence you simply move the bubble 3 slots and do little to quiet the furor. Bottom line: someone always get left out. And that team can look at 2, 3, maybe 4 games where they had the chance to make it a no-brainer for the selection committee.
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