by purple&orange » March 24th, 2013, 8:47 pm
I was talking to a buddy of mine about an NCAA pool that we may or may not run together during the NIT selection show. Was hoping to see UE get in but alas they did not. I suggested since Cal is all about the non traditional scheduling maybe it would do some of the "big boys" some good to go into a smaller, yet loud arena where it would be the "super bowl" for the small school to be so lucky to get to host such an institution. These teams that never leave their home gyms except in exempt tournaments seem to struggle away from home against this elite competition that Mr. Williams believes in his vaunted ACC.
Florida Gulf Coast is an amazing story as a 15 seed, getting to the sweet sixteen. Everyone wants to rip Gonzaga but their run from 99 and ability to keep it going is an incredible story that would never have happened under the Williams Plan. The joy of seeing teams celebrate during championship week and seeing the emotions, the same emotions no matter what the name on the jersey is, when the season ends are always the same. No matter if you're expected to get to the Final Four or play in an early game on Tuesday in Dayton, getting to the dance is a huge goal, it shows when every school CBS features has their name announced that they are in. To deny that to school that are doing more with a whole hell of a lot less than Williams ever did at Maryland would be a shame. I know I wouldn't be getting the same emotions if #15 sub .500 BCS school rolled their way to the Sweet Sixteen. That's the beauty of a 340+ team D-I, you can earn your bid based on Nov-Feb, or you can get hot and get in in early March and see what happens and test yourself against the best teams in the country.
Nobody who didn't get in has anyone to blame but themselves Mr. Williams. Win more games, problem solved. These little guys who you feel are undeserving win a ton of games every year, know how to play and I guarantee you all across the land everyone will be amazed at the show FL Gulf Coast has put on, using all sorts of superlatives while you and a couple other coaches from big boy leagues will be bemoaning the fact you couldn't get selected and fall in round 1 or 2, whatever the NCAA insists on calling it.