Its a tournament, it does not make you one of the best 4 teams in the country. Two teams will lose. This whole notion of labeling a coach's success of "He didn't make a final 4, or They went to 4 straight final 4's"..........Since when is NOT winning a tournament applauded?

In the NBA somewhere along the line they went from "Eastern Conference Semi final" to the the "Easter Conference Championship" to drive more interest. Same damn series. We went from "semi" which infers what the round is: Less than the final!!!

Some how you get a trophy when you win the "ECF'S" or "WCF's"! Now teams put up banners if you go to the final 4 or win NBA conference final. Isn't the 82 games winning with the best record more prestigious?

Last nite they interviewed Calipari (I'm sure they did the with Wisconson as well) with the team and I commented what a slick recruiter he is. Last year when they lost he was so positive and upbeat in the exit interview you'd have thought they won. Last nite he thanked the parents of his players!!! We all in the room just pointed to the tv and said "You, You, your good!!!"
I never heard a coach thank the players parents!!! Think how effective that is in recruiting. If IM home with a letter from UK wanting my kid how good does that make me feel? Used to be you gave the players all the credit not the coach. Now you getting the Parents. Next? GRANDPARENTS!!! Nice touch Cal!!! Great salesmanship and don't think I'm knocking it, the guy is doing a far better job than anyone if you think that getting the best players to win is important. It is!

NCAA Mens basketball tournament is the best sports event in this country. Superbowl is cool but its just one game.

Sports has to create events to drive revenue. Back in the day Baseball had just two divisions (american/national leagues) and played 152 games. At the end the top two played in the world series. The regular season mattered and really served to give the two best teams the RIGHT to play for the championship! Maybe the movie Rocky went far to promote "every one deserves an chance!" Now we give Wild Card Teams that chance. Given that these teams are hot and are winning championships without having been the best in the regular season it does make for great drama and drives attendance so I don't argue the brilliance of it, but it underscores the importance of the bulk of the regular season. We are creating tournaments and tournament champions and calling them "No. 1"!

Not everyone deserves a chance!

Nalod wrote:

gunsnewing wrote:Kentucky is a conveyor belt for the NBA. Cal breeds NBA stars.

Indeed. He is doing a great job. Hard to find fault in how he is doing it. As long as he is not cheating we can't condemn him on his past. I don't like it, but unless he is cheating or hurting his players I see no reason to hate. Actually they are like robots. Nice kids with nice uniforms. Very "Corporate"! I'll root for the underdog. Shame is if they lose nobody applauds what they actually did accomplish in the regular season and SEC tournament.

Coach Cal is one of best if not the BEST, using parameters of college process ..e.g recruiting
to be successful not just for himself Or his players development to next level..e.g NBA life,

But also ramps up NCAA prestige $$$$$ like hell. The NCAA are always sole winners in this,
Even in simplicity of cutting hoop nets regardless of teams or we feel it's merited.

I aint his biggest fan nor I can't stand NCAA policies, politics and all about huge $money to themselves
Regardless of seed#1 teams or Cinderella story teams ..with cutting down nets, its nearly like WWE wrestling!
March madness is all a show, a great one for the college hoop kids whom are only ones that ain't fake!

Btw I love the faceless scripts and stories of WWE as much as DJ love our Ny knickerbockers cause even if outcomes
Of WWE isn't always what a fan expects or wants a..its no less crooked than folks running NCAA sports whom get Richer $
Without the works efforts of such College kids whom play the game free as well ..

Sorta anagolous to wrestlers in business whom get paid$ to buss their ass's but worth the show as is college kids
Playing with similar emotions.

The point is more important to acknowledge the kids doing their jobs 1 and\done as wrestlers
More than NCAA or Wrestling promoters/owners(e.g. Vince McMahon,Triple h) grabbing every inch of spotlights
as long as plenty plenty of mooooo-laaaaa $$$$$$ is result of outcomes.

NCAA nor business sports entertainment e.g as WWE like to call it
Could care less about what good smart fans OR not so smart fans like me DJ feels . lol!

All that being said I think this is very good post points by topic person, Cali uses system but he may cut out soon on rumors
Of any investigations? Where I am sure NCAA will come out shining and still prosperous.

NCAA is a show some folks will love near 100% and others will dislike what direction it has headed in policies
And what is best for business quoting WWE honcho Triple H hunter hemsley.