Fraschella Plan

[ceharv]

Fran Fraschella, who I think carries some college hoops weight, is commentator on the SJU - Seton Hall NIT game (50-44 SJU with 14 to go) and put out the following suggestions for changes to the way things are done.
1. expand the NCAA tournament by four to 72 teams, but the opening round will consist only of 16 at large teams;
2. Open the Transfer Portal two weeks after selection Sunday;
3. The NIT will consist of 32 teams, playing over 9 days only in Las Vegas.

I think I like those ideas, although I would add that no teams with losing records would be eligible for either tourney. Thoughts?

[eks2002]

Mar 20, 2024 19:27:14 GMT -5 ceharv said:

Fran Fraschella, who I think carries some college hoops weight, is commentator on the SJU - Seton Hall NIT game (50-44 SJU with 14 to go) and put out the following suggestions for changes to the way things are done.
1. expand the NCAA tournament by four to 72 teams, but the opening round will consist only of 16 at large teams;
2. Open the Transfer Portal two weeks after selection Sunday;
3. The NIT will consist of 32 teams, playing over 9 days only in Las Vegas.

I think I like those ideas, although I would add that no teams with losing records would be eligible for either tourney. Thoughts?

Winning record and over .500 in conference play.

[atlbonnie87]

Mar 20, 2024 19:27:14 GMT -5 ceharv said:

Fran Fraschella, who I think carries some college hoops weight, is commentator on the SJU - Seton Hall NIT game (50-44 SJU with 14 to go) and put out the following suggestions for changes to the way things are done.
1. expand the NCAA tournament by four to 72 teams, but the opening round will consist only of 16 at large teams;
2. Open the Transfer Portal two weeks after selection Sunday;
3. The NIT will consist of 32 teams, playing over 9 days only in Las Vegas.

I think I like those ideas, although I would add that no teams with losing records would be eligible for either tourney. Thoughts?

Yes yes and all yes.

For NIT, Orleans Arena (where they held last year’s NIT Final 4) and Dollar Loan Center (in Henderson where G league plays) for the opening 3 rounds. Each side of the bracket takes a venue and 16 teams until you get down to 2 team’s on each side. Play the final four at Thomas and Mack (UNLV). Side note downside: 2 weeks in Vegas for 18-23 year olds might not be great. But it’s a perfect city for it, in my opinion. That or Orlando (I’m more of a Vegas guy personally) because of the hotels and # of smaller venues.

For NCAA, I also think the “first four” games should be At large only. 1) it’s better TV and 2) it’s the right thing to do. And 72 is the right number also because you get 16 “first four” teams and 8 games. Somewhat same thing as above = 2 cities, back to back nights of 2 games each on that Tuesday and Wednesday.

[kccgold]

NIT has got to get back to the Garden IMO

the rest of Fran's plan sounds pretty cool though

[agoo]

Mar 20, 2024 19:27:14 GMT -5 ceharv said:

Fran Fraschella, who I think carries some college hoops weight, is commentator on the SJU - Seton Hall NIT game (50-44 SJU with 14 to go) and put out the following suggestions for changes to the way things are done.
1. expand the NCAA tournament by four to 72 teams, but the opening round will consist only of 16 at large teams;
2. Open the Transfer Portal two weeks after selection Sunday;
3. The NIT will consist of 32 teams, playing over 9 days only in Las Vegas.

I think I like those ideas, although I would add that no teams with losing records would be eligible for either tourney. Thoughts?

1. Yes
2. why open the portal while games are being played? There's another 9 days after that two week period to the end of the tournament.
3. So no one goes to class for the week? I don't like this one.

And yes to .500 overall and .500 in conference. I'd love to see a requirement for OOC true road games and cap margin of victory in the NET calculations at 15.

[kccgold]

In a sport marred by betting scandals, playing a two week tournament in the betting capital of the universe just doesn't seem like a good idea

[u518370]

It seems pretty clear that some changes are in order. I like some of what FF is proposing. I would actually like to see the tournament go back to 64 teams, as I think the first round games on Tuesday and Wednesday robs the losing teams (and their fans) of the "real" experience that comes with being part of the action on Thursday or Friday. If they are going to expand the field (or even if they stay at 68), I agree that the first round games should be at-large teams only.

As for the portal, I can't think of a great reason why it should open any time before the end of the NCAA tournament.

I am intrigued by the idea of a condensed, neutral site NIT tournament. Maybe they could go to more of a "round robin" format to guarantee each team three games before narrowing the field to a final 8? Just a thought...

Go Bonnies!

[Cassian]

To repeat myself - 96 teams, adds one game, top 32 get a bye making Izzy and his ilk happy and no mor NIT, pretty simple to me.

[u518370]

Mar 21, 2024 9:48:42 GMT -5 Cassian said:

To repeat myself - 96 teams, adds one game, top 32 get a bye making Izzy and his ilk happy and no mor NIT, pretty simple to me.

Cassian - I like this thought, but curious how you would propose structuring it? Would you extend the tournament to four weeks or would you jam the first 32 games (featuring the teams that don't get a bye) in to the two days that currently feature the four games in Dayton?