Armchair Talking Head

The Georgia Bulldogs finished tied for dead last in the SEC this season.  They won a mere 4 conference games.

After squeaking by Ole Miss in OT in the first round of the SEC tourney, all roads appeared to lead to an early end to the Dawgs 2008 season.  But one tornado, and three unattended games later, they’re in the NCAA tourney thanks to the biggest load of bullshit this side of the BCS in college sports, the conference tourney automatic bid rule.

Sure the automatic bid has given us the likes of George Mason, et Al, but more often than not it kicks legitimate contenders to the curb (read: NIT).  Conference tourneys are big money draws that AD’s and University Presidents have a collective hard on for, and they do provide a few days of exciting basketball, but should a 4 win UGA team keep 8-8 Florida at home thanks to a fluke tourney?  I think not.  Consistency should be rewarded more than streakiness.

As long as the field remains at 64, the automatic bid will continue to stick it to the bubble teams of the world.  Yes, there is a price to be paid for living on the bubble, but shouldn’t the bubble be better than being busted all year?  Expand the field, let everyone in. Hell, just imagine it.  The tourney is already wildly popular, and doubling the content of the first round would only seek to extend that popularity. Give each conference a guaranteed bid to please the mid majors. Just prove to me that the regular season matters.

Anything is better than a world where a 4 conference win team in a weak conference can make the big show and keep legit dancers at home.