4 number 1s in Final 4.

[longtimer]

Can’t remember that happening. Big Ten goes another year without a championship. 26 years
NIL is going to just enhance the chances for a few top teams.

 

[JoeyLabasForPresident]

Not only that, but the Elite Eight was four 1 seeds, three 2s, and a 3.

 

[haydensly]

NIL has all but eliminated Cinderellas. You won't see a lot of #6-8 seeds making it to the final four any more.

 

[HawkeyeHypnosis]

NIL = Not Interested in Longevity. The word committed shouldn’t be used anymore, should be a person signs with a team. No one is making an actual commitment anymore. It’s all business.

 

[kicker22]

NIL = Not Interested in Longevity. The word committed shouldn’t be used anymore, should be a person signs with a team. No one is making an actual commitment anymore. It’s all business.

Not disagreeing with you, but it's always been "all business". The difference is now the athletes aren't unpaid interns and actually are "players" in the game and not pawns, in a billion dollar industry.

 

[kicker22]

Unfortunately "Cinderella stories" are a thing of the past, but from a basketball perspective the games should be better later in the tournament, just without the major upsets along the way. I think from a strictly basketball perspective it's not a bad thing, but the "one shining moment" excitement that made the tournament what it was will be a thing of the past.

 

[haydensly]

Unfortunately "Cinderella stories" are a thing of the past, but from a basketball perspective the games should be better later in the tournament, just without the major upsets along the way. I think from a strictly basketball perspective it's not a bad thing, but the "one shining moment" excitement that made the tournament what it was will be a thing of the past.

I agree with this. The teams at the top are probably better for two reasons: 1) they have most likely picked up some really good transfers and 2) more players are staying longer in college because they aren't forced to jump to the NBA (or a lesser league) to make a living.

But I do miss the upsets, especially in the first and second rounds where they happened most often.