Fan Stop Central

If you’re a fan of college basketball … and if you’re here I assume you are … you’ve no doubtedly heard the rumors of the NCAA Basketball Tournament expanding its field from 64 65 to 96.

Now, this isn’t the first time the field has been expanded. The tournament first started with 25 teams, then expanded over time to include the 64 65 (seriously, the tournament is really 64. Can we stop saying 65? Does the Tuesday play-in game really matter in the tournament?)

I’m all for including more teams. I would be the first to say that the selection process is flawed. It has a good starting point, 31 conference tournament champions receive an automatic entry, but the rest of the field is completely biased … and there is no question to that.

I’ll be the first to say that my favorite college team (Missouri State) got hosed multiple times over the past 10 years. Twice they set the record for the highest RPI rating team to be left out of the big dance (32 and 21 respectively). Why is this a big deal? Because the selection committee tried to explain their selection process and how much stock they put into the RPI. How is the RPI calculated? Play a strong schedule and perform well. For years, Missouri State tried to play the numbers game (as laid out by the selection committee) and performed well enough for their numbers to be worthy of a bid … yet have been denied selection.

Expanding the field to 96 would have been a no-brainer to include Missouri State (in their case), but of course then you’ll have teams 97-150 wondering “why weren’t we selected?” And on and on.

SO, I would propose a better selection process. Whether you expand the field or not, change the automatic bid process to the following:

• 1 automatic bid per REGULAR SEASON CONFERENCE CHAMPION
• 1 automatic bid per CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT CHAMPION (if different)
• follow the at-large selection process to fill out the remaining spots (if needed)

Now, I’ll be the first to admit that this is not a fool-proof selection process, BUT I think the emphasis/importance needs to be placed on the regular conference season b/c any team can get hot in a 3 game tournament and take a spot away from a team who played well enough over the course of the season to deserve selection.

Just like the college football playoff debate, this won’t be put to rest easily.

Popularity: unranked [?]

With a $30 million gift from Missouri State alumnus and Springfield, Mo.-based hotel developer John Q Hammons, construction has begun on JQH Arena, the new home to the MIssouri State Bears and Lady Bears basketball teams and an iconic tribute to Missouri State intercollegiate athletics.

The arena, located adjacent to Hammons Student on John Q. Hammons Parkway, will contain more than 11,000 seats – including 50 courtside seats – The Grand Entrance, 22 suites, a club and other amenities. The design also includes shell space for home locker rooms, offices and a training room, which can be completed later. For now, the current Hammons Student Center facilities will be used for these functions, with a connecting corridor to JQH Arena.

Building a new basketball arena has been a long-time dream for Missouri State. Establishing one as grand as JQH Arena will allow Missouri State to live up to its name, be a magnet for Springfield and make the community proud. The JQH Arena will impact recruiting efforts, putting the basketball programs on par with other Division I schools in the country as we move into the 21st century. The new arena will be a premier basketball facility that will give Missouri State an overwhelming home-court advantage and make the Bears’ and Lady Bears’ games the place to be in Springfield.

In addition, JQH Arena will qualify to host women’s NCAA postseason games and will be an ideal place to host local, regional and statewide high school events, plus concerts and other public events.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Last night was a great game! (Go Canes!). Pretty much an instant classic. Not much defense, but a great game nonetheless.

Neither team slacked off, and (as many Canes/Noles games seem to do) came down to the final play of the game.

Miami took a 38-34 lead late in the 4th quarter. After a short squib kick, the Seminoles drove the field and got as close as the two yard line after a pass interference call in the endzone against the ‘Canes.

One final pass into the endzone wasn’t able to stay in the hands of FSU’s WR Jarmon Fortson and fell to the turf with no time left on the clock, ensuring Miami’s fourth victory in the last five trips to the state capitol.

Popularity: 15% [?]

What – when did this happen? When were schools like Baylor, Texas Tech, Texas A & M, Arkansas, Purdue, Drury, Arizona State, etc fielding fishing teams? When did I miss this?

I just happened to turn on Fox College Sports (FCS) this morning and they were covering a regional college fishing tournament (kind of like a Super Regional for baseball).

I wonder if they have the same eligibility rules as other NCAA athletics? I’ve still got one year of eligibility left (medical redshirt, but graduated in 4 years).

Find more college fishing info at Collegiate Bass Championship

Popularity: 14% [?]

The remaining few: North Carolina, Villanova, Michigan State and Connecticut. They’ve outlasted the competition to this point to become the 2009 NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four. They will head to Detroit for their showdown next weekend where a new National Champion will be crowned.

This bracket didn’t turn out too well for us around here. The champion might still be in-tact as North Carolina was the favorite of our many brackets … but NONE of the other teams even sniffed our Final Four projections. The most common Final Four around here included: Louisville, Memphis, Pittsburgh and North Carolina … with UNC and Louisville playing in most of the championship games … and UNC coming out the champion.

Some notable disappointments from a few of our brackets:

• UNI to make it to the Sweet 16 – BUSTED!
• Memphis in the Final Four – BUSTED by Mizzou
• Louisville in the Final Four over Kansas – BUSTED both by Michigan State

Congratulations to the four schools who have advanced to Detroit, and to all the 65 teams who played their way to the 2009 Tournament. Maybe 2010 will see the resurgence of Missouri State back to Tournament glory?

Popularity: 5% [?]