The Case for One Bid Leagues in College Basketball To Allow Their Regular Season Champion Into the NCAA Tournament

We had Bryant Head Coach Jared Grasso on today's episode of the Barstool Bench Mob to discuss this year's version of the Bulldogs, the benefits to playing high major teams in the non-conference schedule, and Rico potentially jinxing Bryant last season (full details in the episode).

We also opened up a fascinating debate that involves mid-major teams and their chances at earning a spot in the NCAA Tournament. As it stands right now, 99% of the time, a mid-major team only has one path to making March Madness: by winning their conference tournament. Unless you go into your conference tournament undefeated (or maybe 1-2 losses), a loss in early March means your season is over.

That is certainly the case for the Bryant Bulldogs this season, who will be one of the favorites to win the NEC. I asked Coach Grasso what it's like to get into the groove of a college basketball season knowing that your team's year will most likely be judged off three games in March. Coach Grasso said he doesn't really look at it that way, though. With games like Clemson, Houston, and Cincinnati on the schedule this year, he views that as opportunities to make his team better and simulate what it's like to play against as close to pro talent as possible.

As for what one bid leagues should do in terms of awarding their bids, there are certainly pros on both sides. Us, the fans, absolutely love the chaos that comes with Championship Week in college basketball. Literally any team can get hot and squeeze their way into the field of 68 teams competing for a title. But if Bryant goes 16-2 in NEC play and beats out the second place team who goes 12-6, is it fair for everything to still come down to one game? If a conference eventually decides to just allow their regular season champion into The Big Dance, we lose the excitement of a mid-major title game. But it would also guarantee that the best team in the league is 100% going dancing, improving the chances of a March Madness Cinderella run.

What do you think? Should all conferences keep a tournament going, or should the regular season champion go dancing?