Blinders are only for horses, aren’t they?

 

Millions of Americans, including this one, once again are relishing our favorite annual sporting event.  The NCAA tournament is combining its usual stirring spectacle with high drama. 

 

Could the tournament be improved?  Yep.  Would improvement require further expanding the field?  Nope.  What would genuinely strengthen the tournament?  Selection committee members removing their Big East/Big Ten blinders. 

 

I’m a little surprised respected news organizations haven't campaigned vigorously to move committee members to remove their BE/BT blinders.  Each year the selection committee invites a slew of BE/BT teams, and each year many of those teams begin falling early to tournament underdogs.  Last year Georgetown fell to Ohio, and Butler fell a point short of the national title.  This year?   Eleven BE teams were invited, and all but two were eliminated after the first two rounds.  Villanova had lost 10 of its last 19 games and promptly made it 11 of  20.  And Marquette?  Seven BT teams were invited, and only OSU made it past the Sweet Sixteen.  Meanwhile, MSU finished 19-15 and PSU 19-16. 

 

Now we see Butler and VCU in the Final Four.  Other more deserving invitees?  How about St. Mary’s, Colorado, Kent State or Cleveland State? 

 

Here is where committee members slip on blinders.  They look at a BE/BT team with 19 or 20 or 21 wins and conclude: Well, gee, they played in a tough conference and made it to .500 so let ‘em in. 

 

But how closely does the committee really examine BE/BT non-conference schedules?  Most of the “power conference” schools infrequently venture onto non-conference opponents’ courts.  Maybe twice a season?  Plus two or three games on neutral courts.  The rest are played on their home courts and often against Division I weaklings. 

 

What would “power conference” schools’ records look like if they played another two or three non-conference games on foreign courts against quality opponents, including those in the “mid-major” leagues? 

 

By contrast the “mid-majors” are playing more non-conference games on the road – chiefly because BE/BT and other "power conference" schools are loathe to play them on their courts.  When a St. Mary’s or Kent State puts up 20+ wins, they’ve met a stiffer scheduling challenge than a BE/BT school that chalks up similar win totals, padded with home wins against weaker opponents. 

 

This all seems blindingly obvious – to virtually everyone except selection committee members.