Butler Writer's idea for A-10 Tourney

[Muskie]

From the Indystar (http://blogs.indystar.com/butler/2012/05/31/proposal-for-a-10-tourney/)

My proposal for the 2013 Atlantic 10 basketball tournament: Trim the field to 13 or 14 teams, but not 12.

That probably won’t happen. As a consequence of two new members, Butler and VCU, and two departing members, Temple and Charlotte, all in the conference simultaneously, the A-10 must decide how to manage 16 teams.


In the previous format, two of the conference’s 14 teams were excluded from the tournament. Top four teams received byes to the quarterfinals, and eight teams played four first-round games.

Granted, it would be difficult to squeeze in five or six games into Day 1 of an A-10 tournament. I just think it’d be cool/fun/stimulating to do so in the first year at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. Going with five games — much easier to manage — would allow for 13 teams in the postseason. Ten would play on Day 1, and three get byes.

[X-band '01]

One reason that probably won't work is because the Barclays Center will also have to schedule around the main tenant next year - the Brooklyn Nets.

[smileyy]

One reason that probably won't work is because the Barclays Center will also have to schedule around the main tenant next year - the Brooklyn Nets.

Uh...the tournament wouldn't last any more or less days. I assume the Nets go on the road for 4 days during the A-10 tournament.

[xu2013]

I'd go with the same format that the A10 has right now. 12 get in, 4 get byes, and the other 8 teams play at campus sites. Or if four days at Barclays is what the conference wants, steal a page from the Big East. 9-16 play first round games at campus sites, 5-8 get byes, 1-4 double byes.

[xu95]

Campus sites is so Horizon League. I am glad we are going back to all 12 being at the Barclays.

[danaandvictory]

Having the campus site games also pretty much eviscerated any advantage of having a bye. The 5-12 winners got an extra run-out plus they had enough rest to stay fresh. At least they'll have to pull a 24-hour turnaround in Brooklyn.

[X-band '01]

You think it made much of a difference for UMass against Temple this year? Let's also not forget that UMass lost in OT in Philly only a week earlier before that game.