OTC: Frank Martin Wants 128 Teams In NCAA
“I think it (the NCAA Tournament) should expand to 128 teams. I think everyone should play one more game. I don’t think teams should get byes in the NCAA tournament. That’s not what it’s about. I think if you’re going to expand, you go the whole boat and everyone plays one more game.”
Frank Martin, 810 AM
GH: And you thought the talk of a 96-team field was too large! Read on.
“There’s 347 teams in college basketball. If you expand it to 128, you still (inviting) less than half. What a tremendous opportunity! In football, 68% of the schools get to play in a bowl game, why not do that for college basketball?”
Frank Martin, 810 AM
GH: Martin says this like the college bowl system ain’t broke. Why would basketball want to follow the footsteps of the BCS bowl system? You know why – so mediocre basketball coached could do what mediocre football coaches do – talk about how their team was “bowl eligible.” What a crock.
“I think there are positives from both fronts. A lot of coaches would like to see it expand. It could be better for our profession. I think it should be expanded but not to 96. I see it going to 68 or 72. I cannot see it going to 96. I don’t think 96 is the answer…but I do see the coaches’ point.”
Bill Self, 610 AM
GH: Self is concerned about the handful of bubble teams that get left out each year. I am not. Having a few schools suffer the heartbreak of not making the field of 65 adds to the celebration of making it.
“Everyone says you would water it down, I don’t understand how you water it down. You’re just giving more opportunity to qualified teams. If the NCAA’s mission is about the student athlete, then why not give more student athletes the opportunity to experience that wonderful tournament?”
Frank Martin, 810 AM
GH: Martin must not understand what the term “water it down” means. A 128-team NCAA bracket would be spouting so much water it would need to be filled out by Vincent Chase’s Aquaman. What is scary is that Martin isn’t the only coach thinking this.
“Let’s be honest, I like K-State but their Big 12 schedule was easier than Kansas’ schedule. I think they should probably be a three seed but they’ve created such a positive vibe they are (right now) a two.”
Doug Gottlieb, 810 AM
GH: K-State will most likely see Oklahoma State on Thursday. That is a game they need to win if they want a #2 seed. It will not be easy. I think OSU could pull a Mizzou this year and win the whole thing.
“The thing about college basketball this year is that I don’t think there as many greats teams as there have been in the past.”
Bill Self, 610 AM
GH: Agreed. Are Kansas, Kentucky and Syracuse that much better than the four seeds? Nope. Is this the year none of the top seeds make it to the Final Four? Very possible.
“I really don’t have much hope for anyone in this league to make much of a deep run besides Kansas. I’ll be thrilled if three of the seven make it to the Sweet 16.”
Kevin Kietzman, 810 AM
GH: I think the field is so average that the Big 12 teams have a real shot to do well in this year’s tourney. A lot will depend on the tourney matchups but I think five B12 teams in the Sweet 16 is doable.
“I would make Sherron Collins beat me.”
Jon Sundvold, on how he would approach coaching against KU, 810 AM
“I think you want to make Sherron Collins beat you from three.”
Doug Gottlieb, 810 AM
GH: Collins’ stock has dropped the last six weeks. His jumper has left him and people are starting to question his elite status. I think that will prove to be a mistake.
“I think Mike Anderson has done a phenomenal job with probably three or four honorable mention players.”
Jon Sundvold, on the lack of talent at Mizzou, 810 AM
“Seeing what Missouri can do, and no disrespect to my friend Marcus Denmon, with a bunch of nobodies. Missouri’s got the talent of Colorado, honestly. I don’t know how many coaches in the country could take the players that Mike Anderson has and win 10 games in the Big 12. And that includes Bill Self.”
Nick Wright, 610 AM
GH: Does Anderson’s break-neck full-court style allow him to get it done without the same talent at some other Big 12 schools? So what happens when his talent matches Kansas? Can you say Arkansas under Nolan Richardson?
“What I like about Zaire Taylor is that he doesn’t mind being the hero or the goat.”
Mike Anderson, on the Mizzou senior’s willingness to take the last shot, 810 AM
GH: This is a great line. Everyone wants to be the hero but the understanding that the goat collar comes with that gamble is reserved for special athletes and people who dare to make a difference.
“Frank Martin apparently was content to sit there and lose his last game.”
Kevin Kietzman, on Martin’s decision to limit Wally Judge’s playing time to four minutes against Iowa State, 810 AM
GH: It looks like the honeymoon is over, Frank.
“LeBron, like most young professional athletes, you need a better understanding of history.”
Jason Whitlock, FoxSports.com
GH: This from the sportswriter who once asked me after Joe DiMaggio died, “Is he the guy who played in all those games in a row?”
“The real question is, ‘Has (Tiger) really changed?’ Doubtful. Doubtful. Alpha dogs like that rarely do. No, I don’t think that guy has changed.”
Jim Rome, Jim Rome Show
GH: I just want Tiger to get back on the golf course and start making the PGA relevant again.
“(The Chiefs) traded Tank Tyler because he was a mole, even though he wasn’t. It’s unbelievable that I’ve been able to still break Chiefs news even though they traded him.”
Nick Wright, insinuating that the Chiefs believe Tank Tyler was a mole for Wright, 610 AM
GH: I thought the Chiefs traded Tank because he was a “hole” in the D-line.
Greghall24@yahoo.com and Twitter / greghall24
March 9th, 2010 at 2:05 pm
Where have I been when Nick Wright has been breaking all this Chiefs news?!
March 9th, 2010 at 2:24 pm
FIVE BIG 12 teams in the sweet 16!!! Greg did you have a cocktail lunch?
March 9th, 2010 at 2:25 pm
DP-Listening to 810 maybe?
March 9th, 2010 at 2:39 pm
College hoops is fine the way it is in my opinion…one of the last sports not totally f-ed up by BCS this and reallignment that.
One of my favorite times of the year is the conference tourneys into the national tourney, the Final Four right into baseball season…nobody needs to go watering it down so some a-holes can make more money!
So you add 64 more mediocre to just lame teams – the best 64 will still win through! So what the hell is the point?
March 9th, 2010 at 3:27 pm
I listen to both, but do prefer 810…
Seriously though…one, when has there been big Chiefs news and two, when did Nick Wright break it?
Something like ‘Chiefs get Boldin in trade’ would be big news and a real scoop, not that it would ever happen. Chiefs resign Vrabel and Chambers…….? Big deal.
March 9th, 2010 at 4:06 pm
This is perhaps the biggest sporting week in Kansas City all year (Big 12 tourney in town) and 610 is forced to go with Royals Spring Training for the afternoon broadcast. I feel bad for them. It’s hard enough to listen to the Royals when the games actually count let alone listening in March.
March 9th, 2010 at 5:21 pm
Whitlock knowledgeable about history? I don’t think so. Remember when him, St. John, and Megan had a morning show on 810? KU was playing in San Antonio and Megan was making some comparison between KU and the Alamo. She thought the U.S. won the battle at the Alamo and sounded like a moron. Neither Whitlock or St. John called her on it. A caller finally had to fill Megan in on the actual events of history. It was absolutely hilarious.
March 9th, 2010 at 5:24 pm
Put the Conference Tournaments back in Dec. and Pump up the big dance…get it all started by the 10th!
KU has to be considered a huge favorite this week…double digits in every game. I think KU,and Kentucky are substantially better than the field. Jayhawks look like they are coming together for a March run. I thought the Morris kid got slighted by AP..
March 9th, 2010 at 5:25 pm
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March 9th, 2010 at 5:49 pm
Frank Martin is insane wanting to expand the tournament to 128 teams. That statement alone puts him in the too dumb to live category. What the hell is the NIT Tournament for? FIVE teams from the Big 12 in the Sweet 16? I’ll take a pound of what your smokin’ Greg. The Big 12 will be the biggest disappointment in this years tourney. Lebron takes advice from Whitlock like President Obama takes advice from Glenn Beck. Rome is right about Tiger. He’ll never be the same. Dude’s got a lifetime of shame on his shoulders. Tiger Duval anyone?
March 9th, 2010 at 9:54 pm
At 64 teams, the top conferences barely get their top half of teams in. Seems pretty fair to me. If you do go to 96 or 128 there will be teams with losing conference records in the dance. You would have to stipulate that losing conference records disqualify…
March 9th, 2010 at 9:55 pm
North Carolina is still better than every 14, 15 and 16 seed. But do they deserve to go to the tournament?
March 10th, 2010 at 12:45 am
This is one of those years where a 7 or 8 seed is going to sneak into the Final Four. It’s too muddy after Kansas and Kentucky.
Watch out for Baylor. No fear in those kids.
96 teams in the Big Dance is ridiculous. What is this fascination in America with rewarding mediocrity? Yes there is money to be made but come on, how bad is that 97th team going to feel when they get shut out of a tourney spot? How can we do that to them? Crushing hopes and dreams is a terrible, awful thing to do.
Good to see Nick Wright is still delusional and full of himself. Keep it up kid. Let’s hear you mention yourself in the third person some more while you’re at it. Not that I can stand to listen for more than twelve seconds at a time.
March 10th, 2010 at 5:56 am
Even with 128 teams, the NCAA basketball tournament wouldn’t be diluted as much as the Missouri football playoffs, where half the teams in the state make the field — even though all play in districts which gives everybody a chance anyway. This is the age wherein mere participation, rather than merit, is expected to be rewarded.
March 10th, 2010 at 9:50 am
If Tank Tyler was a mole, he would of bitten that nose off of Nick Wright’s face.
March 10th, 2010 at 12:02 pm
the ncaa tournament will expand — soon. the ADs and Chancellors of the bsc schools will keep grabbing cash until it starts going away. You don’t like the BCS? then stop paying attention. people still go to football and watch bowls.
ncaa tournament is a juggernaut, so of course they will make it bigger. sports are entertainment business.
they will keep pushing for more money until it goes away, like the nba and nhl did.