Posted on 11/28/2005 3:52:48 PM PST by LisaMalia
Early Tourneys Over the BCS?
The good folks at ESPN have taken this past week and labeled it for all us college basketball fans. "Feast Week" is not only a take on our most gluttonous holiday, but it's also the first opportunity of the hoops season to handle a massive amount of rainbow shots, floor burns, and alley oops. While some of these games are scheduled beforehand, most of the interesting contests at this time happen in those delightful little "preseason" tournaments.
From the heart of New York to the sands of Maui, universities send their most prolific hoopsters to those wonderful competitions where squads can gauge their abilities heading into the meat of their seasons. And hey, what's wrong with taking in the scenery of the Big Apple or an Alaskan Glacier?
I know that this is football season, and everybody's pumped up for the BCS. However, as blasphemous as it may sound, I think I prefer these small hoops gatherings to the late-season pigskin craze. Now, in my mind, March Madness has the BCS beat, hands-down. But there just seems to be more potential for excitement and hope right now, when sneakers squeak for the first time in months.
Maybe that's why I'm enjoying this week so much, despite my lack of watching many games due to my early morning schedule. So, why the lack of postseason love, you ask? I'll try to open your minds.
I will admit that several football games have made the 2005 season very interesting lately. Fresno State/USC was a classic shootout. Miami, with that new division title in hand, was bogged down at the wrong time by Georgia Tech. Heck, even LSU had a tough time hanging on against Arkansas on Friday.
Then again, could these games top Duke's nail-biter against Memphis in the NIT finals? How about LaMarcus Aldridge saving Texas from an early season loss against West Virginia at the Guardians Classic? Don't forget about the runs of Gonzaga and Michigan State in Maui, including their 109-106 triple-overtime meeting in the semis.
They all ended up to be just one win or loss in columns that will add up to 25 or 30 games as the season ends, but these losses don't sting right now. Perhaps the best news from these matchups, though, is that we may very well see them again come March, when everything will be on the line.
That's a problem with the BCS. With the bowls running who comes into their stadium after the New Year, you aren't as likely to see some of the better games replayed in the postseason. A Texas/Ohio State rematch seems pretty impossible right now. How about USC and Notre Dame hooking up again? I wouldn't waste your wishes. That's the beauty of these tourneys. The billing of a national championship preview could be a true statement.
At the moment, you might be thinking, "How crazy is he? Early basketball against the BCS race? Haven't the white coat guys come in and strapped him up, yet? Every single game in the college football season matters, especially right now."
Sure, I hear ya, but I ain't buying the argument. True, the basketball regular season holds the attention less than football's equivalent. But don't give me the line that "every game matters." Tell me, how big was that Tennessee/Kentucky battle? Then there's this year's Egg Bowl, where Ole Miss and Mississippi State had one SEC win between them going into the game. Even the normally important Nebraska/Colorado tilt might have sealed up spots in the Houston and Champs Sports Bowls.
Even in an early basketball tournament, mediocre teams get to place themselves in a situation where they play over a consecutive number of days. It's an opportunity to see flaws and strengths against different styles of play. Michigan State may be 2-2 after leaving Hawaii, but you have to believe that those two losses will help them more than any early loss would benefit USC's football squad.
Now, I will admit that there are a lot of those illegitimate school tournaments. You know, the ones where one big-time program invites three schools from the MEAC, Southland, and Big Sky Conferences (or the like). Those piddly excuses for games should basically go the way of the former August football games.
However, give teams a chance to go up against strong competition, and they can find out more about their capabilities. Who knows, maybe they could turn a few heads, just like Florida did in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic.
But overall, these tournaments let players determine their championships by ... well, playing. The politicking and headaches of the current bowling system can bring an annoying feeling to the month of November. So, isn't it nice to see someone enjoy playing a game for once?
Sure, you can take the preceding sentiments as those of a basketball nut. But I tell you, I wouldn't mind taking an island vacation right about now? You?
LOL.
Anyways the CCG's IMO is really what has screwed the BCS over. They could simply take the CCG date and have the top four teams play each other on neutral fields. Since most of the time the top four is head and above the rest of the field. JMO
God willing, he best game is yet to come. That will be January 4 in Pasadena between USC and Texas.
Yeah but Leinart problem cannot perform the power option like T A&N can , and thats the offense that has bugged Texas the most.
The only team that can hang with USC this year is Miami. And then only on a good day (like we had in Blacksburg on 11/5). Only a very strong defensive team will be able to beat them. ND and Fresno could score with them, but couldn't stop them. Then again, we only put up 14 on GT, hence my comment "on a good day".
As for FSU, they couldn't play their way into or out of a paper bag. They are so done. The Hokies will destroy them (as much as it pains me to say that), so there's no fear of an 8-4 team making a BCS bowl this year. The point still remains, however, that a playoff is needed, and needed badly.
dang multi tasking spelling error
yeah but USC has other ways of getting the ball to the edges.
Texas will still be facing a very potent running game either way.
But USC has also shown vulnerability up the middle and on the edges as well. Just pull the Fresno State tape and watch it.
somehow I think we are in for a 56-55 game in the Rose Bowl :)
Everything up until then doesn't matter. It's just 10 guys jumping in the air every 15 seconds or so.
you could do that with 8 or 16 teams just as easily.....
it will never happen unless one of the TV networks puts up a sweetheart money deal for it.
I was thinking 94-91, but we're still on the same page...
Are ya kidding me? The two teams that nearly beat USc were either beaten or nearly beaten this weekend by lesser teams. Texas should be able to not only hang but hang 50 on them. Mack wont rest on his laurels this time.
LOL!
Oh yeah. Thats if White becomes healthy.
I don't like the BCS, but I like the idea of a playoff even less. Why does every sport have to be ruined. If they have a college footballs playoff, why not just have a draft for high school students? College football was fine the way it was 20 years ago. Having a playoff will homogenize college football and take away everythign that makes it interesting.
I think that either every conference should have a championship game or none of them should. I'd prefer that there be championship games, but they should only be between the two best teams in the conference- none of this nonsense of the undefeated no. 2 team ranked team in the country facing an unranked four loss team.
Yes, we wouldn't want a sport to be unique. Let's improve all sports by making them exactly the same.
In Division II-A they have a playoff system, and they don't get any national TV exposure at all.
Tom Osborne agrees with you 100%, he was against the BCS and CCG's, heck he wanted the Big 8 left to itself.
thats 14 years ago, what they said then means nothing now.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.