By Staff
Coaching Management, 9.2, March 2001, http://www.momentummedia.com/articles/cm/cm0902/bbcontests.htm
During its October 2000 legislative meeting, the NCAA Division I Management Council gave initial approval to a proposal that threatens the success of many current preseason college tournaments. Developed by the Division I Championships/ Competition Cabinet’s Certified Contests Subcommittee, the proposal would add one game to men’s and women’s basketball’s current regular season limit of 28 games while eliminating exempt preseason certified contests altogether. In other words, games played as part of the current exempt tournaments (such as the Maui Invitational) would no longer be “exempt,” and would count toward the team’s maximum of 29 games for the season.
In the comment period that has followed, opposing camps have rooted themselves firmly in the sand. Those who advocate the change (mainly the subcommittee, conference commissioners, and some athletic administrators) assert that the proposal promotes competitive equity, levels the playing field among Division I institutions, and enhances student-athlete welfare by reducing demands during a traditionally heavy academic time.
However, many coaches have voiced strong opposition to the proposal. With increased revenues available through the addition of home games, many athletic directors will likely forego preseason tournaments. By bowing out of the tournaments, coaches say they would be sacrificing a competitive experience that is extremely beneficial to the athletes and basketball as a whole.
Others add that despite the subcommittee’s intent to level the playing field, even mid-major conferences would be negatively affected by the removal of preseason exempt contests. Instead of being able to face off against quality teams on neutral ground, mid-majors would likely be relegated to facing major conference teams on the road where the opportunity for an upset is far less likely, as is television exposure.
Promoters of major preseason basketball tournaments are obviously opposed to the rule and, on December 21, 2000, filed suit against the NCAA, charging the organization with “anti-competitive” and “monopolistic” practices. The suit states, “The NCAA has taken [these] actions to acquire or maintain its monopoly power in the market for Division I college basketball events or contests in the United States and Puerto Rico ... The primary purpose of the aforementioned rules and restrictions imposed upon member institutions and plaintiffs ... is to protect the financial interests of the NCAA and its member institutions from the rigors of a competitive market.”
Should the proposal pass and the exempt status of tournaments be revoked, many coaches agree that their teams would probably pass up future preseason tournaments, as two or three regular season contests are too many to give up for one tournament.
The proposal is due to come before the Division I Management Council a second time during its April 2001 legislative meeting. Should the Council approve the proposal, it will move on to the Board of Directors for final action. If passed, the rule could go into effect as early as August 1, 2002.