‘Death of college basketball’ – Stephen A. Smith laments ‘dangerous’ March Madness Sweet 16 trend
Stephen A. Smith has suggested the lack of a Cinderella story could spell the ‘death of college basketball’. For the first time in history, the men’s March Madness Sweet 16 round will be comprised completely of teams from the NCAA‘s power conferences this year. The men’s Sweet 16 field has been set, and is entirely comprised of power conference teamsGetty A record seven schools from the SEC, four from the Big Ten, four from the Big 12 and one from the ACC will compete in the second weekend of The Big Dance this year. That’s the fewest conferences ever represented in a Sweet 16. Essentially, any hope of a Cinderella run was snuffed out on Sunday night when the last remaining non-power conference program — the Colorado State Rams — were sent packing. The team took a one-point lead into the final possession against the Maryland Terrapins, only to see it all fall apart when Freshman Derik Queen banked in the first buzzer-beater of the tournament to eliminate the Rams. It was undoubtedly a dramatic moment, but one that means this year’s NCAA Tournament will move forward without an underdog story. In fact, for the first time since 2007, the Sweet 16 will have no team seeded No. 11 or higher. And according to ESPN analyst Smith, that can only be bad for college basketball. “If this continues, it will be the death of college basketball,” he said on Monday, after the Sweet 16 bracket was set. “March Madness, the madness of March, owns sports for that four to five week period… NFL season is done. The draft is approaching but hasn’t arrived yet. “The NBA playoffs are approaching but hasn’t arrived yet. Baseball season is just getting underway. The Rams were beaten at the buzzer on Sunday night as the Terrapins advancedGetty This year’s Sweet 16 will be made up of teams from the NCAA’s power conferencesGetty “March Madness, the NCAA tournament, is where it’s at. “What is the appeal, what is the allure? Anybody has a chance because of Cinderella.” Smith then went on to suggest that there are a number of factors at play that are starting to compromise any hope of a true underdog story. He continued: “If there was no NIL, if there was no trade portal, and the mid-majors go 0-6 in the second round? Please, we ain’t sweating that. “But when you’re able to point to rules that have been implemented, that ultimately shows itself to have inflicted upon the game itself, that’s dangerous. “What you don’t want is a situation where nobody has a chance because those players from the mid-majors say, ‘You know what, we’re going to get some money from Kentucky. We’re going to get some money from UConn. We’re going to get some money from some other program.’ Smith has warned a lack of Cinderella stories could be the end of college basketballX: @FirstTake March Madness Top Stories Ranking the greatest players in NCAA men’s March Madness history – from Michael Jordan to Magic Johnson ‘This sister is special’ – Stephen A. Smith identifies rising star who can challenge Caitlin Clark’s WNBA dominance NCAA March Madness is bigger and better than the College Football Playoff – the springtime phenomenon is bigger than ever Biggest March Madness upsets in history of NCAA Tournament – top seeds humiliated as small schools enjoy their moment “You don’t want that to be the reason you have these kind of results in the NCAA tournament. “If people continue to get to point to that, then college basketball as we knew it, which to me is all about March Madness, will cease to exist because there’s no madness.” Smith, perhaps, raises a good point. It seems there is little madness left this time around. While it may not be down to NIL and the transfer portal alone, the gap between the haves and the have-nots has become clear. And that has produced a less dramatic opening week of March Madness, but also one that could set up a Sweet 16 for the ages, between the true powerhouses of college basketball. How to watch March Madness in the UK *If you click a link in this box we will earn affiliate revenue March Madness is one of the most exciting times of the year for basketball fans, with a total of 68 teams battling it out to become the Division 1 college champions. This year UConn have the chance to become only the second team ever to complete a March Madness three-peat, having emerged victorious for the last two years. talkSPORT will have the latest news on the tournament, but for UK basketball fans the way to watch is through Sky Sports. The broadcaster will be showing EVERY March Madness game through their Sky Sports + streaming service. Click here to sign up to a Sky Sports subscription, or read our article on the best Sky Sports deals available now.
Stephen A. Smith has suggested the lack of a Cinderella story could spell the ‘death of college basketball’.
For the first time in history, the men’s March Madness Sweet 16 round will be comprised completely of teams from the NCAA‘s power conferences this year.
A record seven schools from the SEC, four from the Big Ten, four from the Big 12 and one from the ACC will compete in the second weekend of The Big Dance this year.
That’s the fewest conferences ever represented in a Sweet 16.
Essentially, any hope of a Cinderella run was snuffed out on Sunday night when the last remaining non-power conference program — the Colorado State Rams — were sent packing.
The team took a one-point lead into the final possession against the Maryland Terrapins, only to see it all fall apart when Freshman Derik Queen banked in the first buzzer-beater of the tournament to eliminate the Rams.
It was undoubtedly a dramatic moment, but one that means this year’s NCAA Tournament will move forward without an underdog story.
In fact, for the first time since 2007, the Sweet 16 will have no team seeded No. 11 or higher.
And according to ESPN analyst Smith, that can only be bad for college basketball.
“If this continues, it will be the death of college basketball,” he said on Monday, after the Sweet 16 bracket was set.
“March Madness, the madness of March, owns sports for that four to five week period… NFL season is done. The draft is approaching but hasn’t arrived yet.
“The NBA playoffs are approaching but hasn’t arrived yet. Baseball season is just getting underway.
“March Madness, the NCAA tournament, is where it’s at.
“What is the appeal, what is the allure? Anybody has a chance because of Cinderella.”
Smith then went on to suggest that there are a number of factors at play that are starting to compromise any hope of a true underdog story.
He continued: “If there was no NIL, if there was no trade portal, and the mid-majors go 0-6 in the second round? Please, we ain’t sweating that.
“But when you’re able to point to rules that have been implemented, that ultimately shows itself to have inflicted upon the game itself, that’s dangerous.
“What you don’t want is a situation where nobody has a chance because those players from the mid-majors say, ‘You know what, we’re going to get some money from Kentucky. We’re going to get some money from UConn. We’re going to get some money from some other program.’
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NCAA March Madness is bigger and better than the College Football Playoff – the springtime phenomenon is bigger than ever
Biggest March Madness upsets in history of NCAA Tournament – top seeds humiliated as small schools enjoy their moment
“You don’t want that to be the reason you have these kind of results in the NCAA tournament.
“If people continue to get to point to that, then college basketball as we knew it, which to me is all about March Madness, will cease to exist because there’s no madness.”
Smith, perhaps, raises a good point. It seems there is little madness left this time around.
While it may not be down to NIL and the transfer portal alone, the gap between the haves and the have-nots has become clear.
And that has produced a less dramatic opening week of March Madness, but also one that could set up a Sweet 16 for the ages, between the true powerhouses of college basketball.
How to watch March Madness in the UK
*If you click a link in this box we will earn affiliate revenue
March Madness is one of the most exciting times of the year for basketball fans, with a total of 68 teams battling it out to become the Division 1 college champions.
This year UConn have the chance to become only the second team ever to complete a March Madness three-peat, having emerged victorious for the last two years.
talkSPORT will have the latest news on the tournament, but for UK basketball fans the way to watch is through Sky Sports. The broadcaster will be showing EVERY March Madness game through their Sky Sports + streaming service.
Click here to sign up to a Sky Sports subscription, or read our article on the best Sky Sports deals available now.
