Should College Basketball Model their Playoff System after the BCS?

Believe it or not, despite our lack of quality content, the Pinkie actually does have readers.  Sometimes, I have a difficult time believing it myself.  Below I have some proof.

The following is a letter we received from Pat McMahon that was sent to info@straitpinkie.com (we promise we’ll read it if you send it!).  McMahon’s letter jokingly discusses his discouragement with the current college basketball playoff system and encourages modeling it after the current BCS system in football.

To me there is no greater event than “March Madness” and the BCS system absolutely frustrates the hell out of me, so I wholeheartedly agree with Mr. McMahon’s satirical message. I have been meaning to post it for a little over a week but with all of the tournament action it has kind of sat on the backburner. 

Anyways, I present Mr. McMahon and why he believes college basketball should alter their playoff system.

Dear Straitpinkie:

As we approach *Selection Sunday*, I cannot help but voice my
annual frustration with Men’s NCAA Basketball and it how it determines a
national champion. I have a real issue with the Tournament Committee, its
subjective selection process, and the overall lack of transparency.

Everyone would be better off if the teams and their seeds were determined by Joe Lunardi; the man is a genius not too mention very handsome.

Another major flaw is the ‘play-in’ game. I never know if there are actually
64 or 65 teams in the tournament. Any team that experiences the joy of
hearing their name called on *Selection Sunday* surely must feel like they
made it. However, if I were on the team of the losing side I couldn’t help
but feel excluded. It really is perplexing.

The last issue I have is with the scheduling. I typically watch between 2-3
hours of basketball a week. Once conference tournaments begin and the
Madness starts that amount increases two or threefold. I really could use
3-4 weeks time off after the conference tournaments conclude. Basketball
really ought to seriously consider taking a lead from college football.

Each year there are only about 10 teams that have a legitimate shot at
winning the National Championship in basketball. That is what makes the
first few rounds of the tournaments so annoying. Quit wasting my time! It
just adds insult to injury when some idiot picks an early round upset and
walks around their office like they got a Ph. D in Bracketology.

Basketball needs a playoff series similar to the Bowl Championship Series.
Let a computer number pick the 10 best teams, and allow fans/ESPN to pick
the consensus best 2 for The National Championship. The remaining 8 shouldbe invited to compete in the *Mug Championship Series. *Essentially theywould be “bowl” games but naming them that would confuse a lot of fans, especially at schools like Florida and Texas. If you include the teams in
the NIT, there could potentially be about 64 mug games.

Think of the sponsorships. The student athletes would have to miss less school, and fans would have to spend less time watching TV to support their teams.

Regards,

Pat McMahon