With the World Cup happening, many fans are watching soccer for the first time in four years. Can NCAA Basketball learn from what it sees?
Let’s be absolutely honest; college basketball is constructed to MAKE A PROFIT. It makes its money by entertaining the viewer. The best way to do this is with March Madness: 63 (67 if you count the first four) games over the course of two calendar months in order to pick a champion. We all can agree that this is not the best way to determine who the best team in basketball is.
There certainly aren’t 68 teams that deserve consideration to be a champion, and playing a single game as opposed to a series with so many teams in contention is just illogical. However, it gives us a story, and it gives the NCAA a paycheck. So, is there any way to enhance the system without taking away the hype?
As I contemplated this, one idea came to mind: the FIFA World Cup. They take 32 nations and compete in a way that guarantees a true champion. Every step of the way, fans can be confident that the best teams advance. Also, a majority of countries put the world on hold while the event takes place. If it’s good enough for them, why can’t we use it?
In this article, I dive into just what March Madness would look like if we followed the FIFA standard.