Another Epic OT Hoops Game…In Pink? (And How The Mid-Majors Get Screwed)

By Robert Ferringo

Just had to throw this out there:

I haven’t been able to watch the New Mexico-UNLV game, a really big game in the Mountain West, one of my favorite conferences, because the channel that it’s on (CBS College Sports, 613 on DirectTV) has been hijacked by a four-overtime game between TCU and Utah…women. TCU, rocking the sweet pink unis, finally won 105-96. I have to say, I’m not even that mad that they didn’t preempt the game to cut to the UNLV game (which is 40-28, New Mexico, at the half) because that girls game turned out to be a barn burner.

Anyway, just thought that was kind of funny. It also got me thinking about why the Mountain West Conference keeps getting screwed by the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee. The problem is that they have their own network (The Mountain) and that they have a tie-in with CBS Sports. Since they are never on ESPN anymore (instead we get to watch ugly WAC games featuring Idaho) the Mountain West doesn’t get nearly the respect that it deserves. In fact, that same situation - a tie-in with CBS Sports - is what I think screws over teams from the Atlantic 10 and Conference USA as well. They aren’t on ESPN so ESPN naturally (and vindictively) barely mentions them. The result is that they aren’t in the national consciousness, they generally aren’t involved in the public discussion around tourney time, and because The Public doesn’t get to see them with their own eyes these teams are always disrespected.

This year I think that those three conferences deserve a combined 7 or 8 spots. Dayton, Xavier, Richmond and Temple from the A-10, UNLV, BYU and New Mexico from the Mountain West, and UTEP or the tournament winner from Conference USA. Charlotte also has a great resume and should be in the mix of the last teams in/out and San Diego State is good enough to make a run as well.

But who wants to bet me that this team has to settle for 5 or 6 total spots? I can already see it. And if that is the case then the NCAA has to look long and hard at its selection process and whether or not these conferences are getting a fair shake.

How’s that for a rant started by some girls basketball?