Bye Bye Bracket Busters

[gozips19]

Click Me

Wonder what, if anything will replace this for mid majors?

[Z.I.P.]

Click Me

Wonder what, if anything will replace this for mid majors?

Thus speaks Zara Shaka: "BracketBusters was clearly beneficial to teams like us over the years," VCU coach Shaka Smart told ESPN.com. "It allowed us to play a top-50 or top-100 game and gave us the opportunity to gain an additional high-quality win that may not have otherwise been available."

And his wisdom doth speak for itself. I suspect the Big Boys found this created too much pressure on their ownership of professional college sports.

[UAZipster0305]

Click Me

Wonder what, if anything will replace this for mid majors?

I don't think it matters. The Bracket Buster never served it's purpose anyhow. Seriously, how many mid-major teams that were on the NCAA bubble actually ended up getting an at-large selection as a result of winning their BB game (or vice versa)?

It was nice to see the unusual and evenly matched OOC game and the return trip the following year. However, KD never really takes the OOC seriously enough, and I think the games can be a distraction to the MACC.

[Z.I.P.]

I don't think it matters. The Bracket Buster never served it's purpose anyhow. Seriously, how many mid-major teams that were on the NCAA bubble actually ended up getting an at-large selection as a result of winning their BB game (or vice versa)?

It was nice to see the unusual and evenly matched OOC game and the return trip the following year. However, KD never really takes the OOC seriously enough, and I think the games can be a distraction to the MACC.

I don't know what the purpose of BrackerBusters was, but I know it was an end in itself in dedicating a couple days of ESPN college basketball coverage to Mid-Major schools. That was just too much for the Powers That Be, and thus it has met it's demise.

[GP1]

Call me crazy, but my guess is if there was no ESPN, college basketball teams would find a way to play each other. Too much of what goes on in college athletics is a brand name by ESPN: Bracket Buster, Rivalry Week, etc. I have an idea. How about if these conferences get together and put together a format where they can play each other mid season? The could call it "Crossover Weekend" and find a way to use the money in a beneficial way like the ACC/Big Ten Challenge benefits the V Foundation and cancer research (one of the few altruistic things ESPN does...maybe the only one). Do something that is so good in nature, ESPN has to cover it.

In fact, I think this the Bracket Buster going away is a whole lot of nothing and if played properly by the conferences, could be one of the best things that could happened to them.

[zippy5]

They say it is to continue in some form. I think it may be a few select games, but against higher majors. Or just a few select games.

[Captain Kangaroo]

It was great for the Zips fan because it brought opponents to the JAR who'd otherwise never step foot within 200 miles of it. Creighton, Nevada, VCU a couple times, Tom Davis' Drake team...it was awesome for local college basketball fans.

Too bad the Zips never capitalized on what it provided.

I look forward to the likes of North Carolina A&T and Binghamton as a replacement. Yippee.

[johnnyzip84]

Regarding alternatives, I like an old idea that Joe Dunn mentioned on 1350 am Big Time Sports yesterday. Let's have the 4 NE Ohio hoops teams (UA, CSU, YSU, K.E.N.T.) play a mid-season mini-tourney. So what if it means we have to possibly play K.E.N.T. 5 times a year. The mini-tourney games would obviously count as OOC games. If you want to avoid additonal YSU-CSU and UA-K.E.N.T. clashes, you could alternate two of the four teams year-to-year and bring in 2 bigger names instead.

[GP1]

Regarding alternatives, I like an old idea that Joe Dunn mentioned on 1350 am Big Time Sports yesterday. Let's have the 4 NE Ohio hoops teams (UA, CSU, YSU, K.E.N.T.) play a mid-season mini-tourney. So what if it means we have to possibly play K.E.N.T. 5 times a year. The mini-tourney games would obviously count as OOC games. If you want to avoid additonal YSU-CSU and UA-K.E.N.T. clashes, you could alternate two of the four teams year-to-year and bring in 2 bigger names instead.

This is a great idea. BC, Harvard, BU and Northeastern play the Beanpot Hockey Tournament every year in Boston. It is a great tournament. Play the games in Cleveland at the Cavs arena. Play it between Christmas and New Years. As often as possible, play the games on the weekend during that period. Require the teams to play a third place game as well. Have a named traveling trophy. Fight off the idiots who believe it would be a better tournament if it was a 16 team championship including Case Western and Mt. Union. I don't understand why we need an ESPN manufactured event to do something eventful. This is so easy.

Another tournament is the CIAA played in Charlotte, late February. Although this is a Conference it draws huge crowds and is a boom for the city. ESPN has nothing to do with it yet somehow, they are able to pack hotels, restaurants and get good crowds at the games.

Down with ESPN! Down with the NCAA!

[Zipmeister]

Regarding alternatives, I like an old idea that Joe Dunn mentioned on 1350 am Big Time Sports yesterday. Let's have the 4 NE Ohio hoops teams (UA, CSU, YSU, K.E.N.T.) play a mid-season mini-tourney. So what if it means we have to possibly play K.E.N.T. 5 times a year. The mini-tourney games would obviously count as OOC games. If you want to avoid additonal YSU-CSU and UA-K.E.N.T. clashes, you could alternate two of the four teams year-to-year and bring in 2 bigger names instead.

Maybe we could bring in these two teams for a rematch.

Ouch

[Captain Kangaroo]

I don't understand why we need an ESPN manufactured event to do something eventful.

Mr. GP1...Mr. Sajak would like to know if you wish to solve the puzzle?

T_M

WI_TER_ILL

[Zipmeister]

Mr. GP1...Mr. Sajak would like to know if you wish to solve the puzzle?

T_M

WI_TER_ILL

If our AD was playing, he would probably ask to buy a vowel.

[Captain Kangaroo]

Regarding alternatives, I like an old idea that Joe Dunn mentioned on 1350 am Big Time Sports yesterday. Let's have the 4 NE Ohio hoops teams (UA, CSU, YSU, K.E.N.T.) play a mid-season mini-tourney. So what if it means we have to possibly play K.E.N.T. 5 times a year.

I don't think it would be a problem to set Akron/K.e.n.t and YSU/CSU in opposing bracket sides every other year. And make their meeting count as a conference game. Yeah, coaches will complain they lose home court advantage in a given season. But you gain it the next season.

People from Youngstown would show up in droves...they show up in droves for Instructional League baseball.

[johnnyzip84]

I don't think it would be a problem to set Akron/K.e.n.t and YSU/CSU in opposing bracket sides every other year. And make their meeting count as a conference game. Yeah, coaches will complain they lose home court advantage in a given season. But you gain it the next season.

People from Youngstown would show up in droves...they show up in droves for Instructional League baseball.

I like it. It's a good way to get around anyone complaining about playing the same team too often.

[MDZip]

If our AD was playing, he would probably ask to buy a vowel.

He would have to buy a vowel, because he'd need to remove the 'E".

[Captain Kangaroo]

He would have to buy a vowel, because he'd need to remove the 'E".

I gave it to him for free, since his parents forgot to give it to him at birth.

[zipdiehard]

I've always believed that they are missing out by not having some type of "Cleveland Classic" or "Ohio Classic" at the Q. It wouldn't even have to be an actual tourney, just four games on one day done in sessions like the MAC tourney. UA, Can't State, YSU & CSU each versus a name team. It wouldn't happen, but the best would be something like: Akron vs Xavier, CSU (host) vs OSU, Can't State vs Cincy, and YSU vs Dayton. The Q would be packed.

[GP1]

Mr. GP1...Mr. Sajak would like to know if you wish to solve the puzzle?

T_M

WI_TER_ILL

Do I have to buy a vowel for the clue below as well? If so, I'd like to buy an "a" then solve.

_SS

B_G

[Captain Kangaroo]

It was always bizarre to me that the dregs of many mid-major conferences still participated in "The Bracket Buster" tourney. I think that sort of cheapened the image.

That said, in years where the Zips got a seemingly bad draw (not necessarily a "dreg"), the return game saw a much improved opponent (Valpo and Creighton). The return game is really the gem of the whole deal.

Hopefully we still participate in a future, reformulated event. It has proven to be an excellent gauge of where the Zips' program stands in the world of mid-major basketball. And a mid-season treat for the fans tired of the EMU's and NIU's of the bowel-major world.

[Big Zip]

There are so many options for these types of get events every year yet the MAC doesn't take advantage of them. Would love to see a MAC/A10 tourney or a MAC/MVC tourney or even OVC.

I'd love to see all All-Ohio three or four day tourney at the Q too. The basketball played in this state would be great to highlight.

[Captain Kangaroo]

There are so many options for these types of get events every year yet the MAC doesn't take advantage of them. Would love to see a MAC/A10 tourney or a MAC/MVC tourney or even OVC.

I'd have to believe the A-10 and MVC would rather die than agree to a MAC-opponent tourney. Playing each other? That would be a good tourney.

The MAC is a better match up for the OVC you mentioned, or the Horizon. The Northeast Conference unfortunately might also be good competition. Rotating the event between Pittsburgh and Cleveland might get some interest going?

The now-depleted CAA would still be a sexy partner.