If I Was King of Sports, I would make a college baseball tournament that works like the NIT in basketball. So many teams have had great season, and I do not believe deserve to go home just because the committee does not feel that they are "good enough" for the NCAA tournament. To be honest, I always feel that there are at least one or two teams that do not deserve to be in the tournament that are (Stanford and Texas A and M) and there are at least two teams not in that should be (Mercer and UCF).
Last year, I thought of this concept. I called it the "B.S. Tournament" because I thought it was B.S. that Florida was just two games over .500 and got in, while 43-10 Campbell was out. Even if you feel that Florida deserved to get in over Campbell, the Camels did not deserve to have their season end. There were many more qualified teams over Florida who did not receive an invitation.
Anyone who finished with a better overall winning percentage than the worst at-large team (by record) would qualify for this tournament (this year, there was 44 of them). Those with the same record would only qualify as fillers, that is, if extra teams are needed (Iowa and Grand Canyon are the two teams this year). If even more teams are needed, Division II teams who did not make their College World Series could be used. If any team is ineligible because of academics, or by punishment, that team would still be ineligible. If a team is ineligible, because it has not been a division I team for at least five years, then I would make that team eligible for this tournament. This year, I decided there would be no byes. Each first round regional must have four or six teams.
In the 2014 edition, I would have 48 teams in it, the 44 with better records, the 2 with similar records, and two Division II teams as fillers. Seedings are determined solely by winning percentage. Seedings are determined solely by winning percentage. Where a team plays is determined by geography as best as possible as long as no teams from the came conference are in the same first round regional site.
1st round would be 12 regions of 4 teams each. (Double-elimination)
2nd round would be a best two-of three super regional.
Finals would be a double-elimination of 6 teams. If I could actually do this, I would try to get either a major league team or AAA team to host.
Worst at-large team in the NCAA tournament by winning percentage: Stanford (30-23, .566)
1st round *=Division II teams who would be invited
1. East Orange, NJ Regional
(4) Felician* (30-20) vs. (1) Seton Hall (39-15)
(3) Radford (35-23) vs. (2) Florida Gulf Coast (39-22)
12. Cape Girardeau, MO Regional
(4) Samford (32-25) vs. (1) Southeast Missouri St. (37-20)
(3) Illinois St. (33-22) vs. (2) UAB (35-21)
7. Cullowhee, NC Regional
(4) North Carolina St. (32-25) vs. (1) Western Carolina (37-18)
(3) William and Mary (34-22) vs. (2) VCU 37-20
6. Cookeville, TN Regional
(4) Tennessee (31-23) vs. (1) Tennessee Tech (40-19)
(3) Davidson (29-19) vs. (2) Alabama St. (37-20)
4. Philadelphia, PA Regional
(4) Iowa (30-23) vs. (1) St. Joseph's (35-16)
(3) Penn (35-25) vs. (2) Delaware St. (30-17)
9. Stony Brook, NY Regional
(4) Fairfield (32-24) vs. (1) Stony Brook (35-18)
(3) High Point (35-22) vs. (2) Army (33-18)
3. Macon, GA Regional
(4) Grand Canyon (30-23) vs. (1) Mercer (38-17)
(3) UCF (36-23) vs. (2) Florida International (36-20)
10. Omaha, NE Regional
(4) Loyola Marymount (32-24) vs. (1) Creighton (32-17)
(3) Nebraska-Omaha (31-20) vs. (2) St. Louis (34-21)
5. Muncie, IN Regional
(4) Hartford (31-23) vs. (1) Ball St. (39-13)
(3) Illinois (32-21) vs. (2) Evansville (34-21)
8. Santa Barbara, CA Regional
(4) Duke (33-25) vs. (1) UC-Santa Barbara (34-17)
(3) Southern Mississippi (35-25) vs. (2) San Diego (34-26)
2. Buffalo, NY Regional
(4) Dowling* (36-17) vs. (1) Canisius (40-16)
(3) Central Arkansas (32-22) vs. (2) Wright St. (35-22)
SECOND ROUND (Best two of three) all sites will be at the Division I teams with better records
(All are regional winners)
(12) Cape Girardeau, MO Regional vs. (1) East Orange, NJ Regional
(7) Cullowhee, NC Regional vs. (6) Cookeville, TN Regional
(9) Stony Brook, NY Regional vs. (4) Philadelphia, PA Regional
(10) Omaha, NE Regional vs. (3) Macon, GA Regional
(8) Santa Barbara, CA Regional vs. (5) Muncie, IN Regional
(11) Albuquerque, NM Regional vs. (2) Buffalo, NY Regional
Finals: The six second round winners would play in a double-elimination finals with the same format as a NCAA Division II tournament regional.
Last thoughts: Even if the NCAA never adopts my "If I was King of Sports" plan, I would like to see a consolation tournament of some kind to reward teams with excellent seasons, despite not being invited to the NCAA tournament.
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