Press "Enter" to skip to content

One-on-One: Do you like mid-majors in the Final Four?

Yes

For the first time in two seasons, the Final Four did not have a team from outside one of the six power conferences.

And it showed.

I may be in the minority, but I loved seeing Butler in the National Championship game two years in a row. A 2011 national semi-final between Butler and VCU was awesome for the game of college basketball.

What makes the NFL so popular is the parity in the league. Seeing mid-majors who don’t have the same resources or talent level able to play for a National Championship is pretty special.

This year’s crop of Louisville, Ohio State, Kansas and Kentucky just didn’t have the same intrigue.

All of those teams are elite programs and they lacked the Cinderella story that makes the NCAA tournament so special.

One of the highest rated National Title games of all-time came in 2010 when Butler played Duke. It was a David and Goliath matchup.

A small school from the Horizon League taking on Duke from one of the best conferences in America. A school that has never won a national championship against one that has won multiple.

That’s what the NCAA tournament is about in my book. I want to see underdogs take on the big boys.

Here’s to hoping we get that chance next year.

-Alex Ross

 

No

Although it wasn’t the greatest game to watch, Kentucky versus Kansas was my dream scenario.

Both are storied programs, both have the best players, fans and coaches. No offense to the Butlers and VCUs of the mid-major world, but the Final Four is for the big programs.

Name a better match-up than Kentucky’s Anthony Davis against Kansas’ Thomas Robinson? They were battling for the most valuable player honors throughout the season, and it was nice to see them battle with their teams for a National Championship.

I want to see Final Fours with teams that I have watched on national TV all year long, not tiny schools that I haven’t seen until the first round of the NCAA tournament.

Mid-majors are great for the game, and provide many upsets, but in the Final Four I’d rather watch the teams with the best recruits facing off against each other. I want to see two goliaths on the court that will produce many of the NBA’s next lottery picks.

In women’s basketball, I’d rather watch Baylor’s Brittney Griner face off against Notre Dame’s Skylar Diggins. I want to see the heavyweights face off in the middle of the ring. The same theory goes for men’s basketball and I was happy with that matchup this year.

-Bobby Nightengale

Copyright © 2023, The Scout, Bradley University. All rights reserved.
The Scout is published by members of the student body of Bradley University. Opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the University.