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You’re not the only one who thought the Selection Show was weird

By Neil Harrington

GLENDALE, AZ - APRIL 01: A Gonzaga Bulldogs fan reacts against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the 2017 NCAA Men's Final Four Semifinal at University of Phoenix Stadium on April 1, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Steve Nowland/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - APRIL 01: A Gonzaga Bulldogs fan reacts against the South Carolina Gamecocks during the 2017 NCAA Men's Final Four Semifinal at University of Phoenix Stadium on April 1, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Steve Nowland/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) /
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March Madness is always fun, but the Selection Show format left a lot to be desired.

March Madness is the most wonderful time of the year, in what should be a four-day national holiday. It’s hard to damper my mood during the ides of March, where I’m like a kid a candy store. It’s Christmas come early.

However, with the NCAA Tournament Selection Show making the unpopular move from CBS to TBS dampened my mood considerably. I feel like Ralphie from A Christmas Story, not receiving what I wanted the most for Christmas.

The NCAA Tournament Selection Show nearly ruined March Madness before it began.

For starters, the audio was out of sync, reminding me of a vintage Godzilla movie. I feel like I’m back in Iraq, Skyping my family with a ten-second delay. It’s not the dark ages, TBS.

Why is there an audience? Is this the Price is Right? COME ON DOWN, March Madness teams. You’re the next contestant…

The Selection Show also turned into a slap-stick, comedic routine, instead of the sacred event like times past. Plus, announcing the at-large teams before announcing the NCAA tournament field just felt, off. It takes away the drama of seeing (or not) your team appear on the March Madness bracket line. Where’s the suspense?

Somehow, the broadcast itself wasn’t the worst part about Selection Sunday. Insert the NCAA tournament selection committee.

Reasons why the selection committee is a total joke:

  1. The omission of Middle Tennesee State, St. Mary’s, and USC
  2. Syracuse made the field? Um, no. No way. The Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) President David Levy is a Syracuse alum. Hmm.
  3. North Carolina a two-seed? Are you all drunk?
  4. Oklahoma not only made it into the March Madness field but escaped the Dayton, Ohio “play-in” game? I suppose I was correct that Trae Young would influence the committee’s at-large selection process

The system is more than broken and flawed; it’s corrupt. The Power 5 schools buy their way into the NCAA tournament via their non-conference schedule, by purchasing wins. Mid Major schools have next to no chance of getting selected as an at-large team, with their opportunity for quality wins hindered by the Power-5’s themselves — just ask coach Dan Muller about his 2017 Illinois State Redbirds. 

Next: All the conference tournament winners

Maybe after a few cold ones, a night of sleep, and blowing off some steam in a local pickup game will calm me down. But, right now, I’m livid.

March Madness is a special time of year for many people across the globe and me. It’s a shame that the NCAA tournament committee and Selection Show itself water down an incredible product. It’s time for a (Mid) major change.

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