Jordan Kobritz - NCAA Tournament Expansion

If you’re one of the millions of people engrossed in watching the NCAA men’s basketball tournament when you should be doing something more productive, you may get an opportunity to be even less productive next year.

The NCAA has an opt-out clause in its 11-year, $6 billion contract with CBS, which must be exercised by July 31 of this year. With three years and approximately $700 million per year remaining on the existing contract, you might think the NCAA would be reluctant to forego a sure thing in this economy. Think again.

As long as ESPN retains its dual revenue model – selling advertising, like the networks do, and reaping a subscriber fee from every cable system in the country, which the networks can’t do – there’s a very good chance there’s more money to be made in a new contract. And the NCAA likes nothing - not even power - more than it likes money. Almost 95% of the governing body’s revenue comes from the men’s basketball tournament. And unlike the BCS boys, who have left tens of millions of dollars on the table by foregoing a football playoff, the NCAA is forever in pursuit of greater riches.

The NCAA has leaked the possibility of an expanded tournament, from 64 teams to 96. A 50% increase in teams means hundreds of additional hours of TV time, and additional opportunities to recoup a higher rights fee. If the expansion happens, it won’t be called what it is – a money-grab. Rather, the NCAA and its new “partner” will trot out someone with the credibility of an Ari Fleischer to make the rounds of the talk shows promoting the move as an opportunity for more teams to make the tournament.

If that’s the goal, then why not allow every team – currently there are 347 Division I basketball programs in the country – in? That’s the ultimate definition of equality. It would give every coach in the country the right to add “NCAA Tournament Appearance” to his resume, although contract bonuses for making the tournament would become problematic.

If the current format is retained – top seeds play the bottom seeds in the first round - few of the additional 32 teams will have even a remote chance of winning a single game. No #16 seed has ever beaten a #1 seed, meaning at least four teams under the current format are guaranteed of playing a one-and-done tournament schedule. If the expansion happens, you can add most of the additional 32 teams to those four. Even if one of those teams is lucky enough to persevere in their first game, don’t hold your breath hoping they’ll win the tournament. In the past 21 years, the lowest seed to win the whole shooting match was #4 seed Arizona in 1997.

And don’t think an expanded tournament will mean more revenue for your favorite team, unless that team – and its conference - is currently successful. The NCAA distributes revenue based on a formula that rewards tournament success over a five-year period. Under an expanded format, successful teams - and conferences - can expect to receive even higher payouts. In other words, the rich will get richer. What a unique concept.

The NCAA’s basic purpose, as set forth in its constitution, is to “…retain a clear line of demarcation between intercollegiate athletics and professional sports.” An expanded basketball tournament is hardly a way to emphasize that point. The NCAA would be mimicking professional sports, which, come to think of it, they’ve been doing a pretty good job of lately. The governing body keeps a tight rein on student-athletes, depriving them of the basic rights afforded the rest of us by the U.S. Constitution. That same policy gives the NCAA and its member institutions the exclusive right to generate billions of dollars off the sweat and labor of undercompensated and underrepresented athletes.

It’s possible the NCAA won’t opt out of its agreement with CBS. Or the network may decide to sweeten the pot and extend the existing contract for an additional term, with or without an expanded tournament. Another option is to split the tournament between CBS and ESPN, or perhaps TBS. Whatever happens, don’t be fooled into believing there’s a democratic reason behind it. Just remember this: It’s all about the money.

Jordan Kobritz is a former attorney, CPA, and owner of the Maine Guides AAA Baseball Club. He is an Assistant Professor of Sport Management at Eastern New Mexico University, teaches the Business of Sports at the University of Wyoming, and is a contributing author to the Business of Sports Network. Jordan can be reached at jkobritz@mindspring.com.

WEDNESDAY MORNING QUICK HITTERS

REIGNING AL MVP GETS THINGS GOING WITH A HR (COURTESY BOSTON.COM)

• Local colleges were in baseball action Tuesday as USM and SMCC are both winners.
• The Maine Black Bear Softball team is in action today with a double header against Boston University. Due to weather, the games have been moved up withe the 1st game starting at 2PM
• The Boston Red Sox opened the 2009 season with a blast...literally, beating the AL Champions, Tampa Bay Ray 5 - 3. Josh Beckett looked every bit an ace striking out 10 and allowing 2 hits over 7 innings. AL MVP Dustin Pedroia starting things off with a 1st inning solo HR of Rays starter James Shields. The Sox also got a HR from Jason Veritek and RBIs from JD Drew, Jason Bay and Mike Lowell
• The Boston Bruins dropped a 3 - 2 tilt against the Ottawa Senators.
• The UConn Woman's Basketball team completed its 3rd undefeated season under Geno Auriemma, capturing the NCAA Championship over Louisville 76 - 54

Boring...Are You Kidding Me?

This tournament has been boring…seriously? People actually think the NCAA Tournament has been boring? Have you all gone mad? Did you see Pitt battle a 16-seed for 38 minutes? Did you watch Memphis and Villanova struggle to make it to the second round? How about the Ohio State-Sienna double-overtime game? Followed by Sienna nearly taking Louisville down? Did you witness Gonzaga, Oklahoma State and Missouri all scoring with just seconds to go for victories? Do you get the point yet?

How on Earth can a tournament with drama in nearly every game be boring? There was considerable drama 33 of the 48 games so far, but since all the one and two seeds are left this tourney must be boring. A school named Cleveland State knocked out the former number one team in the land…but since there are no “Cinderella’s” in the Sweet 16 this tourney must be boring. Yeah…right.

I was utterly disgusted Monday morning when I got online and noticed all of the articles bashing the Tourney. I never realized so many so-called “experts” don’t watch a lick of basketball. If they did, they certainly wouldn’t call this a dull tournament. There has been more drama in the first four days than there will be in the entire NBA playoffs. The first two rounds gave us more memorable moments than the College Bowl season. And let’s not forget there is six more days of lunacy to go.

I understand that people want to see the underdog prevail. It’s fun to cheer for the random Kent State rolling to the Elite Eight. But we also love to see the best basketball teams take on the best possible competition. I’m sorry but the Kent State’s, Davidson’s and George Mason’s of the world are not those teams. They may make a solid run, but they are not pound-for-pound the best squads.

Underdogs also give us great storylines as well. So what! Look at these potential storylines that could blow you away. First, there’s the possibility of having four Big East Teams in the Final Four. We could have a Duke/UNC rematch. Rivals Louisville and Memphis could play an epic. Could Gonzaga finally reach a Final Four? A Syracuse/UConn final? Hey the last time those teams played, they rolled six OT’s! I could go on for another ten pages.

I don’t want to hear that the Tourney is boring. There are plenty of great teams left…there have been plenty of great memories…there has been and will continue to be great drama…and without question, there will be some great storylines.

If you have been watching the games, you would see why too.

NCAA Tournament...Big East Games Second Round Preview

It was a solid opening round for the Big East, losing just one team (West Virginia) out of the seven. However, there was plenty of drama, including Pitt nearly losing to a 16-seed. And more drama should be on the way with some great second round tilts. Picks, picks, and more picks…

First Round: 6-1

Overall: 6-1

Saturday

(6) UCLA vs. (3) Villanova: Each team was in a dogfight in the first round…now which still has the legs to get the upper hand? It will be a battle of guards, and outside shooting early, as both squads look to set the tempo. Look for Dante Cunningham to take control of this game in the second half, as Nova pulls away with better ball movement, and more assertiveness. Don’t forget…it’s also a “home game” or Nova.

Prediction: 70-64 Villanova

(9) Texas A+M vs. (1) UConn: The Huskies seemed to be okay even with Jim Calhoun watching the game from the hospital. UConn treated a 16^th seed like it should. Meanwhile, the Aggies controlled BYU for 40 straight minutes, making the win look easy. Now for the tough task….trying to slow the Huskies down. A+M doesn’t have the size and strength to cut UConn down low…and just aren’t a strong enough team for the outside. Expect UConn to pull breeze in the second half.

Prediction: 78-65 UConn

Sunday

(6) Arizona State vs. (3) Syracuse: The Sundevils are in for a rude awakening. Syracuse is one of the hottest teams in America and didn’t break a sweat in the first round. ASU has to find a way to slow the Orange down or the Devils will be run out of the gym. Motion vs. a 2-3 zone is always fun to watch, and it could help ASU control the tempo. However, too many missed shots will turn the Orange loose.

Prediction: 81-75 Syracuse

(8) Oklahoma State vs. (1) Pittsburgh: Will nearly losing to a 16-seed be the best or worst thing to happen to Pitt? Will they come out with fire and raw emotion…and absolutely blast the Cowboys away? Or will they be flat and complacent…and have to dig deep to get out of the second round? Take the former on this one. Pitt will had its scare, and now it’s back to playing top-notch.

Prediction: 74-66 Pitt

(6) Marquette vs. (3) Missouri: The Eagles should be happy just to be in the second round, after nearly giving it away to Utah Sate. And now a battle with Mizzou sands in the way of a Sweet-16 birth. The Tigers handled Cornell well and should do the same with a Dominic James-less Marquette squad. The point guard will be missed, a the Eagles won’t be able to answer a Missouri run.

Prediction: 75-65 Missouri

(9) Sienna vs. (1) Louisville: Sienna will have some tired legs after a double-overtime thriller against Ohio State. That doesn’t bode well when the next opponent is solid and extremely deep. The Cardinals full-court press, inside-outside game, and adequate bench will be too much for the young Saints.

Prediction: 78-59 Louisville

Gary Rima Northern Iowa Panthers Basketball Play by Play Voice

Don't miss Gary Rima, he is a fantastic guy and a great play by play voice! We hooked up with Gary when the Black Bears played UNI in the FCS Playoffs. Gary is also the voice of Panther Football. Northern Iowa is making it 5th trip to the NCAA's and while they have mostly been ousted in the 1st Round, they have not been boring games!

Gary Rima UNI Panthers Basketball Play by Play Voice talking NCAA Tournament