The Day the Bracketbusters Died

So I've been collecting topics to talk about, and it seems that the list is just growing. There is Commissioner Iamarino's apparent decision to hold off on doing anything to replace College of Charleston. There is the end of the Bracketbusters. There is the announcement of the seven Catholic schools breaking away from the Big East, and the trickle down effect that could have on mid-majors.

Today, I've decided not to write about all of them. After all, between Monday, December 16 and Friday, December 28, the Mocs play exactly one game against a non-D1 (not that that means anything after what happened to Charleston against Anderson on Thursday night). So I need plenty of material.

So here we go- let's talk about the end of Bracketbusters first and foremost.

I know plenty of people dislike the Bracketbusters because they match up two teams and one loses, thus hurting their chances of making the NCAA Tournament.

I see the problem. I admit that there is a problem with the way it often worked out.

However, the Bracketbusters were great, in my opinion. It made it so that there was great mid-major excitement on a Friday and Saturday night in February. There was ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN3 that featured big games between mid-majors.

People have been saying that the mid-majors have outgrown being shown on one night in February. There is truth in that. But let's face it- without ESPN's name attached to it, who watches mid-majors? Is the CAA in much better shape being on NBC Sports? Sure they are. But how many more people watching NBC Sports on an average night instead of ESPN in February? Yes- mid-majors have a bigger platform now, but they lost their day in the sun.

Second, it's a scheduling thing. Mid-majors struggle to get quality games on their schedules. This was a quality game on the schedule, or at the bare minimum a competitive one. The following year, they got to play the same team again, and another Bracketbuster game. That's two games against mid-majors that are roughly equal- one at home, one on the road. That helps fill out a schedule- nothing wrong with that.

Now, where are we? ESPN has said they'd like to continue in some capacity with mid-majors. Here's my two cents.

Get certain conferences to commit to a weekend in February at a specific location. For example, the SoCon, Big South, OVC, and Atlantic Sun could commit to playing in Atlanta. ESPN could match specific teams from those conferences, and they could play games there on Friday night, all day on Saturday and Sunday. The next two years, those teams could play a home and home against each other.

Maybe, they could just do Conference Challenges. Every conference could have a partner. The SoCon-Big South Challenge in Charlotte would be interesting.

It's just an idea. I have no idea if it works or not. ESPN3 could show every game, ESPN and ESPN2 could show the best match-ups. It would be almost like a conference tournament. The atmosphere could be interesting and exciting.

We'll see. For me, I'm sad that the Bracketbusters have died. I hope they come back in some form.