Several years ago when Michael Jordan came out of retirement--the first time--he did something you would expect from an athletic marketing mogul and predictably, and, like much of Jordan's career, it was pure genius.
He simply changed his uniform number. The back of his jersey still had "Jordan" affixed to it, but below that, it was not the familiar "23", but rather "45." Tons of people already had a "Jordan 23 jersey", but a "Jordan 45"? Let's just say apparel stores couldn't stock them fast enough.
That said, college basketball has also taken a publicity lesson from the guy who hit the shot to win the sport's National Championship in 1982.
The evolution and spirited discussion over "bubble teams" has become the equivalent of the new Jordan jersey--it's new, it's fresh, it's got buzz, but what does it all mean, really?
Jordan's jersey is just that, a sleeveless shirt.
A "bubble team", is just that: a team so average that if they were to get into the field of 65, almost nobody would give them much of a shot to a win even a single game, but will give impassioned pleas on their behalf until they turn (Carolina) blue in the face.
I think many of us would agree that we wouldn't lay $20 on one of the "last four teams in" to make it to a Final Four. So if they have virtually no shot, why is there so much outrage? Let's face it, would you feel confident that the alleged biggest snub, Arizona State, would even win their first round game if they got in? I wouldn't, and yet their omission is being treated like some crime against civilization.
I may be oversimplifying it here, but seriously, you play about 30 games a year. Earn your way in. This isn't college football, where your season can end in September. This is a sport where they give you credit for scheduling tough, while essentially telling you it's acceptable to lose, as long as your caliber of competition is solid. You can struggle throughout Conference play and still get in by winning the automatic bid in the Conference Tournament. There are a lot of ways to get in, so if you're left out, it's nobody's fault but your own.
College basketball is the only sport where the most attention goes to the least deserving teams. And you know what? Like Jordan's jersey, it is pure genuis.
Just consider this: assuming you never attended these schools, have you ever felt so strongly about Arizona State, Illinois State, and Dayton in your life? We can rattle off their RPI and SOS faster than we can a relative's birthday, and we are crestfallen when some school that we have never been to, barely see on television, and can't even name their head coach, gets snubbed. We take it personally, which is kind of strange.
Then again, we are emotional--all of us college basketball fans, at least.
This game we love is unique because unlike in many other sports, emotion is a huge factor. All athletes play with certain levels of intensity, but just watch a college basketball game on television compared with an NBA one. In that respect, there is no comparison.
Back to our topic at hand.
The last four teams in and the last four teams out get so much of the publicity and analysis, it takes a while to realize that there were plenty of other teams who truly are deserving of their spot that nobody is talking about. Instead, we all want to focus on the merits of a team----that by it's own definition as a "bubble team", tacitly admits their resume is shaky at best, therefore making an argument that they could be in or out. If you need to make an argument to support your profile, it normally means you had a chance to get in on your own, but couldn't do it.
Who has gotten more buzz in the last day or so? Arizona State or the overall number one seed, North Carolina? I would say ASU and that makes no sense.
We love these next few days because of the upsets. That is what makes this event so great for all fans. I think upsets are what we remember, but "chalk" is what we normally get.
The lowest seed ever to win it is Villanova, an eight-seed, in 1985.
In the last 30 years, only two mid major programs have even made it to a Final Four. Penn in 1979 and the incredible run by George Mason in 2006. However, I still believe that the run by the Patriots two seasons ago is arguably the single greatest story this event has seen in three decades. They defeated three number one seeds along the way, not too bad for a 13th seed from the lightly regarded Colonial Athletic Association. The story is great, but in my opinion, there is a reason, Penn and George Mason come around once every 30 years or so.
We love upsets, though we also have to face reality. Since The NCAA Tournament exapnded to 64-65 schools, there have been 92 games between a number 15 seed and a number two seed. The number two seed has won 88 times.
We also love near upsets. There have also been 92 games between a number-sixteen seed and a one seed. Never has the one seed lost. However, one game---Princeton almost stunning Georgetown in 1989----is more fondly recalled than the other 91 games involving those seeds combined.
I will say that I do think some "bubble teams" have legitimate arguments, such as Dayton. Their strength of schedule and RPI were great, but injuries played a role in their exclusion. You could say that they were more deserving than Georgia-----who went 37 days this season without an SEC win, until it won four in four days to gain entry .
On the merits, I agree with that assesment, the numbers seem to favor Dayton over Georgia. However, the numbers weren't exactly in George Mason's favor either and look how that turned out.
Lesson learned. Anybody can make a run, and that is why this event is so wonderful.
In most cases, in most areas of life, I am a "body of work" evaluator. I will always put more stock into what somebody does throughout the course of a job or relationship--as opposed to one defining or, shall we say, one shining moment (I'm sorry, I couldn't resist)--here or there.
However, the Conference tournaments are here to stay, if not for anything but to get an automatic qualifier into the field from a small conference and give them a chance to do what their tiny school's football program can't--actually have a chance--albeit, one as small as their school---to win. However, they get a chance, and that's all you can ask for.
College basketball isn't perfect, but three weeks of pure excitement makes it close, no matter who is in or out.
Have a great day.
-"z"
