How a 14 team Big Ten tourney bracket might look

[JonDMiller]

two teams get byes

 

[ssckelley]

That is how it should be set up. Whatever bracket the Big East uses does not make any sense.

 

[mbchawk]

To me a more significant question is, will Big 10 bball have 2 divisions like it does in football?

 

[CharlestonHawkeye]

Might need to start on 16 or 18 soon. Schools are going to start leaving the ACC.

 

[ssckelley]

A bracket like this may take away easy wins from bubble teams. The way it is set up now a #6 seed in the BTT plays the 2nd worst team in the Big Ten which is usually a win and gives them momentum going into the game against the #3 seed which has a bye. Historically the #6 seed has done well in the BTT, that may change taking away their "warm up" game. In a 14 team bracket the #6 now plays a team that might be playing for a spot into a post season tournament. Like wise the #7 seed may be playing a fringe bubble team as well going against the #10 seed.

On good thing about expansion is the first round should present better matchups in the tournament. They will be going from 4 games up to 6, makes me wonder if they keep the first round all at the same site. If they do that first game would have to be played fairly early in the morning.

 

[SirJamaLot]

Jon

I prefer your bracket but I would bet that there will be at least four byes. Anything more than a four day tourney will be a drag.

 

[DJL]

So if they go to 16, do they have two "play in games" for the bottom four or eliminate the byes? At this point, I would actually be surprised if the Big 10 and SEC DIDN'T go to 16 teams by the end of the summer.

 

[ssckelley]

So if they go to 16, do they have two "play in games" for the bottom four or eliminate the byes? At this point, I would actually be surprised if the Big 10 and SEC DIDN'T go to 16 teams by the end of the summer.

I say eliminate the byes. In a 16 team bracket the #1 seed playing the #16 is almost like a bye anyway. I would propose having the first round played at the lower seeds home court, having an off/travel day, and then playing on a neutral court for the quarterfinals.