How I would fix Bracket Busters

[ihsi]

I am 100% behind replacing it with something else, preferably not at the end of the conference season.

I'd be interested to see what the original "mission statement" was for the BB. I'm sure exposure and benefit in getting into the conference were high. Now that the games have mostly been moved to ESPN2, U, and 3 there isn't nearly as much benefit from that. I don't buy the argument that just getting teams on TV makes it all worth it either and that seems to be the one straw that Elgin is holding onto with all of this.

[DoubleJayAlum]

As i understand it, ESPN will not telecast as many of our regular season games if we pull out of Bracketbusters. If that is the case, it seems like modifying it to make it more beneficial would be more feasible than pulling out all together.

I like the OP's idea, but moving it back would put it up against BCS conference tourneys which would mean no TV coverage.

Challenges with other conferences won't work because we can't find a TV partner to televise the games. We tried putting together a challenge with the CAA a few years back, but it didn't work out because TV couldn't be arranged. The MWC challenge works only because the MWC has its own TV network.

[MVCfans]

CAA has signed a television rights deal with NBCSports and did not renew with ESPN. There is some question whether that league will remain in the ESPN Bracket Buster event going forward. If the CAA is out, the MVC needs out as well.

[valleychamp]

If the CAA is out, then it is beyond worthless, and a completely harmful event for MVC schools.

[MSUDuo]

Something tells me that we can't get out anytime soon and if/when we do we'll kiss our TV deal goodbye

[BirdmanBB]

Something tells me that we can't get out anytime soon and if/when we do we'll kiss our TV deal goodbye

Correct. We have a 4 year deal (i believe) with ESPN which requires us to participate in the bracketbuster. Maybe we will get a couple more games on ESPN with them not contractng with ESPN.

[Jet915]

Seriously, this is how you fix bracketbusters. You know the BCS schools will not want to be involved so forget them. Invite the A-10, MWC, Conference USA, MVC and WCC. Give invitations to the top 2 projected preseason favorites in the lower conferences (can't get them all but this would likely get the Murray States and Middle Tennessee states) and make that Bracketbusters. Sweeten the pot by guaranteeing that Gameday goes to the premier game of Bracketbusters (to lure the other conferences).

[Wufan]

I like Jet's proposal. For me, the key is to play the games during the non-con season. Get those games in BEFORE you are on the bubble. Being on the bubble and losing is killer at that point in the season. The MVC should be participating with the A-10, MWC, C-USA, and WCC. That makes sense. What would be cooler is if all of these "High Mid-Major" Conferences agreed to play X number of games against each other. Perhaps each team is garunteed a home and home scenerio so each season you would play a paired for TV game and a return game from the previous season. You could get 8 non-con games against appropriate competition.

In other words, WSU was projected 1st in 10-11 and was project 2nd in 11-12. So, if this was a current set-up, WSU would have gotten the return game against the 10-11 projected 1st place team in the A-10, MWC, C-USA and WCC this year and would have played against the projected 2nd place team from 11-12 for each of those conferences as well this past year as well.

That's something everyone could go for.

[shockem]

Drop it altogether and add a CAA or A-10 challenge. That would help scheduling for everyone.

[Red]

Drop it altogether and add a CAA or A-10 challenge. That would help scheduling for everyone.

Maybe it was discussed elsewhere but what's the plan with the MVC-MWC challenge? I know it's on for 12-13, but what about after that?