College basketball has always been one of the most exciting sports in American media, and March Madness the summit for many of its athletes. The tournament has created stars and produced epic moments that fans continue to talk about for years, making it an essential sport for the American audience.
However, some may argue that the competition has stagnated a bit. While it has produced many incredible moments for its fans, not a lot has been changed about it for decades. Enterprising minds believe that the NCAA’s product could be improved if they make slight changes to how the top amateur basketball tournament in the country is presented.
However, the changes they proposed may cause more questions than answers to the most avid college basketball fan.
Ed Desser and Josh Kosner propose huge changes to March Madness tournament
Ed Desser and Josh Kosner were executives for ESPN and the NBA, so they have a clue on what makes fans want to watch basketball games.
Like many in the college basketball world, they oppose the expansion of March Madness to accommodate more teams. However, their suggestions will also create plenty of arguments among fans.
Desser and Kosner outlined their proposals in a Sports Business Journal piece:
- The first two rounds of the men’s NCAA Tournament should begin on Saturday and Sunday, not Thursday and Friday.
- The first two rounds of the men’s tournament must be held at home arenas.
- The men’s and women’s Final Fours should be done in the same city.
The first option is a very controversial take and caters to more casual fans who want to watch something on the weekends.
The Spun’s Matt Hladik reported about the two’s vision on how the changes would work:
Big East Commissioner Val Ackerman outlined this idea in her 2013 white paper, and last month Casey Wasserman championed it on Bill Simmons’ podcast. Currently, the pieces fit and could remain: The women play Friday/Sunday and the men Saturday/Monday. But the NCAA could also create a Super Saturday with all four semifinals and a Monday night championship doubleheader with prime-time slots for both.
Their suggestions will radically transform how March Madness feels if these changes are implemented, and many voices within the NCAA basketball community will voice their opposition to change something that works.
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