The mid-majors are what make the NCAA tourney great. I'd say a considerable amount of basketball fans will agree with that.
It's better for the "major" conferences because then they get another piece of the pie.
I'd rather see a really good mid-major team than a P5 conference team that struggled to or didn't get to .500 in their own conference and has a 19-12 record with 10 of those wins coming in the ooc portion of their schedule all at home. Versus a mid-major that might be 24-7 with a three conference losses and four road ooc losses. The are likely better than the "big" team but has zero chance to prove it because they aren't getting a marquee name into their place to play. But hey, that's just me.
I agree with those sentiments, but the reality is that it is all geared toward the big conferences.
I was curious if SDSU had a home football playoff game down there, would it sell-out?
I know where I'd put my money. Outdoor, short-notice football in Late Nov/Dec? Unless the game involved NDSU or (maybe) USD, I don't see that happening. The SDSU/USD semifinal Summit game in the first year at the Premiere Center did not even sell out and that's indoors with a possible trip to March Madness on the line.
Enough about that; the Pentagon game was a good time, sellout or not.
The mid-majors are what make the NCAA tourney great. I'd say a considerable amount of basketball fans will agree with that.
It's better for the "major" conferences because then they get another piece of the pie.
I'd rather see a really good mid-major team than a P5 conference team that struggled to or didn't get to .500 in their own conference and has a 19-12 record with 10 of those wins coming in the ooc portion of their schedule all at home. Versus a mid-major that might be 24-7 with a three conference losses and four road ooc losses. The are likely better than the "big" team but has zero chance to prove it because they aren't getting a marquee name into their place to play. But hey, that's just me.
Agreed. Mid majors are a huge part of the draw. Upsets are what people like to see.
What really matters is if having a 4th or 5th or 6th major conference team in the tourney is better for the tourney than a second mid major conference team.
Like when they expanded the field of 64, for a moment I thought, wouldn't that help more mid major teams get in? Nope it allows more major conference teams into the field to keep their considerable fan bases engaged.
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The mid-majors are what make the NCAA tourney great. I'd say a considerable amount of basketball fans will agree with that.
It's better for the "major" conferences because then they get another piece of the pie.
I'd rather see a really good mid-major team than a P5 conference team that struggled to or didn't get to .500 in their own conference and has a 19-12 record with 10 of those wins coming in the ooc portion of their schedule all at home. Versus a mid-major that might be 24-7 with a three conference losses and four road ooc losses. The are likely better than the "big" team but has zero chance to prove it because they aren't getting a marquee name into their place to play. But hey, that's just me.
I have a hard time believing that. It's not about past history. It's about what that specific teams resume for that current season. Being in a respectable conference obviously helps (I firmly believe that The Summit League has got some people's attention this year). It's tough for mid-majors because the sos will be weaker and have less chances to get quality wins so they can't afford those 2 or more bad losses (RPI above 100). The argument will always be if an average P5 team is greater than a very good mid-major. If a team is good enough, they will get into the NCAA Tournament with an at-large bid. Just win the conference tournament every year and don't worry about getting an at-large bid. And if you don't win the conference tournament, you hope to have positioned yourself to be in the conversation into getting one. Good, deserving teams will always be left out. You can't please everyone.
What really matters is if having a 4th or 5th or 6th major conference team in the tourney is better for the tourney than a second mid major conference team.
Like when they expanded the field of 64, for a moment I thought, wouldn't that help more mid major teams get in? Nope it allows more major conference teams into the field to keep their considerable fan bases engaged.
Well there you have it. Must mean it will happen again. Nothings changed since 1986. Well other then every conference in the nation. (that might not be 100% accurate either).
When the Summit league gets an at-large call me collect.
Of course many things have changed. One thing that has changed is that the Summit has improved drastically.
Since 2000, the Summit has lost/dropped:
Youngstown State
Chicago State
UMKC
Southern Utah
Centenary
Oakland
Since 2000, the Summit has added:
SDSU
IPFW
NDSU
USD
Omaha
Denver
Since 1997, the Summit has also added IUPUI and ORU as well.
IMO, the second list looks much more like a potential multi-bid league.
It would be interesting to see a geographic breakdown of season tickets for the sports. What percentage of ticket holders are 10-15 minutes from Sioux Falls as compared to 10-15 minutes from Brookings?
I thought last year's crowd looked better, but there probably were not more than 200 empty seats. It's still disappointing that game was not sold out way ahead of time. We're talking about a 3,000 seat arena in a city with over 200,000 people within an hour drive. I would not think that an extra $15 per seat would be enough (on it's own) to keep the game from selling out. It's a bigger apathy issue.
Whatever the case, I've really enjoyed both Pentagon games. That's a great building and the vibe is different than Frost. It's more of an NBA feel with the sound system and pregame intro. I would not want it for every game but once or twice a year is great. The truth is, I'm probably very biased because Sioux Falls is 45 minutes closer to home and I don't have to sit way up in some high school-style wooden bleachers like I would at Frost.
I think the timing of the game was better in terms of drawing a crowd last year when the game was a month earlier. If you would have a game there against a quality team to kick off the season,I think it would sell out every year. This close to Christmas there are too many people traveling and finances can get tight.
The committee is getting more and more pressure not to reward mid-major teams with high RPI's if they lose in their conference tourney. The criteria now seems to be prior tourney wins. So, theoretically, if you have a team that made a Sweet 16 and has a very strong resume that loses in the Summit league title game you might get an at-large. I think the odds are less now then they were 5 years ago. But that's just me.
I have a hard time believing that. It's not about past history. It's about what that specific teams resume for that current season. Being in a respectable conference obviously helps (I firmly believe that The Summit League has got some people's attention this year). It's tough for mid-majors because the sos will be weaker and have less chances to get quality wins so they can't afford those 2 or more bad losses (RPI above 100). The argument will always be if an average P5 team is greater than a very good mid-major. If a team is good enough, they will get into the NCAA Tournament with an at-large bid. Just win the conference tournament every year and don't worry about getting an at-large bid. And if you don't win the conference tournament, you hope to have positioned yourself to be in the conversation into getting one. Good, deserving teams will always be left out. You can't please everyone.
I would of guessed that there were 400-500 empty seats there but I could be off.
I was talking to a person from Brandon at Beef O' Brady's when I was down there for a girls basketball AAU tourney this summer and he thought that they should move every SDSU/USD basketball game down there to the Premier Center. He thought that they would sell out (I think because of the Summit League final last year). I told him that I thought that it wouldn't. I think some people from Sioux Falls want the games right there but most people don't care enough to go either way. I do think the $15 per seat did factor in for some people. That cost for one game might not make or break somebody but it probably depends on what stage you are at in your life. If we were playing Kansas, it would of sold out but it's tougher against MTSU.
I was curious if SDSU had a home football playoff game down there, would it sell-out?
MTSU had a nice video before their introductions. I wonder if they do that before every game.
It would be interesting to see a geographic breakdown of season tickets for the sports. What percentage of ticket holders are 10-15 minutes from Sioux Falls as compared to 10-15 minutes from Brookings?
I thought last year's crowd looked better, but there probably were not more than 200 empty seats. It's still disappointing that game was not sold out way ahead of time. We're talking about a 3,000 seat arena in a city with over 200,000 people within an hour drive. I would not think that an extra $15 per seat would be enough (on it's own) to keep the game from selling out. It's a bigger apathy issue.
Whatever the case, I've really enjoyed both Pentagon games. That's a great building and the vibe is different than Frost. It's more of an NBA feel with the sound system and pregame intro. I would not want it for every game but once or twice a year is great. The truth is, I'm probably very biased because Sioux Falls is 45 minutes closer to home and I don't have to sit way up in some high school-style wooden bleachers like I would at Frost.
I would of guessed that there were 400-500 empty seats there but I could be off.
I was talking to a person from Brandon at Beef O' Brady's when I was down there for a girls basketball AAU tourney this summer and he thought that they should move every SDSU/USD basketball game down there to the Premier Center. He thought that they would sell out (I think because of the Summit League final last year). I told him that I thought that it wouldn't. I think some people from Sioux Falls want the games right there but most people don't care enough to go either way. I do think the $15 per seat did factor in for some people. That cost for one game might not make or break somebody but it probably depends on what stage you are at in your life. If we were playing Kansas, it would of sold out but it's tougher against MTSU.
I was curious if SDSU had a home football playoff game down there, would it sell-out?
MTSU had a nice video before their introductions. I wonder if they do that before every game.
ORU almost got an at-large spot a few years ago, honestly I think it would have been interesting had they lost in the Summit title game instead of in the semifinals to WIU. When you get that close, any little thing can be the difference.
As for this year I don't really see the league as getting an at-large. Conference RPI doesn't get you anything, it is all about individual resumes. Hard for a Summit League team to stack up to an at-large contender from a much stronger conference that has more chances to get marquee wins.
The committee is getting more and more pressure not to reward mid-major teams with high RPI's if they lose in their conference tourney. The criteria now seems to be prior tourney wins. So, theoretically, if you have a team that made a Sweet 16 and has a very strong resume that loses in the Summit league title game you might get an at-large. I think the odds are less now then they were 5 years ago. But that's just me.
ORU almost got an at-large spot a few years ago, honestly I think it would have been interesting had they lost in the Summit title game instead of in the semifinals to WIU. When you get that close, any little thing can be the difference.
As for this year I don't really see the league as getting an at-large. Conference RPI doesn't get you anything, it is all about individual resumes. Hard for a Summit League team to stack up to an at-large contender from a much stronger conference that has more chances to get marquee wins.
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