Well That Was Anti-Climactic
by T.H. on Apr 23, 2010 8:12 AM EDT
in Basketball
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PrintAfter everyone and their brother-in-law swearing the NCAA was expanding the basketball tournament to 96 games, the press release hit the wires announcing... an expansion to 68. This past season, that would have meant Virginia Tech, Mississippi State and Illinois to the field, none of who advanced to the NIT semis in Madison Square Garden, but compared to 96 is a small cut.
I wouldn't want to be the eight minor conference champions pushed into a Tuesday/Wednesday slot, though.
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Softening the blow
They’re just doing it in steps. Getting folks used to more games and then they’ll drop the 96 team expansion either in 2011 or 2012. Its coming and I think we all know it.
Yeah BoYeeEEeeE
It's a Long-Term Contract Though
They’ll get no money for expanding to 96, now. Unless there’s a handshake deal as part of the new CBS/Turner contract, there’s no incentive for them to do that.
Understand
But the money negotiated didn’t increase to that level on strength of just 3 more games. We can agree on that right? There’s more to this, both with the multi-network deal and the massive revenue increase. 3 games doesn’t warrant that move. Especially 3 bad games.
I’ll take the idea of expansion and be ready for it, it seems inevitable given the added coverage and increased revenue.
Yeah BoYeeEEeeE
by InTheBleachers on Apr 27, 2010 9:40 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Not Necessarily
I can see the revenue increase coming from CBS getting the leeway to hedge against falling interest instead of going alone, and Turner Sports getting to buy into the tournament, which will generate great numbers on a cable, non-ESPN scale. I think if 96 was seriously on the table, ESPN would have gone after this much harder instead of dropping out relatively early.
True
That ESPN drop out was odd, unless the world wide leader found a way to make cash in another way haha. They’re always up to something and it wouldn’t surprise me if they’ve either got something in the works already or they’re going big with another league, sport etc.
Yeah BoYeeEEeeE
by InTheBleachers on Apr 27, 2010 9:02 PM EDT up reply actions
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