NCAA to move hoops start date?

[Buffnik]

h/t to rward on Rivals for the recent article, though we have discussed this before.

Basically, instead of starting the season in November the season would start after finals in late December... preserving Christmas tournaments but making it a 1-semester sport.

The later start would also push the post-season back so we'd have an "April Madness", which would shave a month off our Allbuffs offseason between the end of hoops and beginning of fall camp.

I think the academic side supports this since it's easier to manage eligibility when a sport is confined to a single semester. It would also make mid-year transfers cleaner on eligibility -- they'd be there for all of the season -- which I believe the coaches would like. For fans, we don't have so much conflict with football season. And that leads us to the networks, which I believe will drive this ($$$$$). There's not much on the April sports calendar that anyone cares about and there is an opportunity to make college hoops -- which has a ton of programming volume -- a bigger deal during the regular season. The major networks should like this and the conference networks should be absolutely drooling over the idea since it raises their profile and lengthens their prime broadcast period.

In case it isn't clear, I've long been in favor of this move and believe that it's finally gaining momentum. It's eventually going to happen.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...dium=referral&utm_campaign=programming-league

 

[Darth Snow]

Yes, please. YES. PLEASE.

 

[HRBuff]

Sounds awesome, but as the article states won't happen anytime soon. NBA and NHL seasons end in early April so arenas are less likely to guarantee them places to play. I foresee an increase of football stadium usage if that is the case.

 

[Buffnik]

Sounds awesome, but as the article states won't happen anytime soon. NBA and NHL seasons end in early April so arenas are less likely to guarantee them places to play. I foresee an increase of football stadium usage if that is the case.

Why would arenas be less likely to guarantee? Because the playoff schedule for the NBA/NHL is unknown ahead of time?

I guess this would push the premium on the big college arenas and the indoor NFL & NCAA stadiums.

 

[Darth Snow]

Why would arenas be less likely to guarantee? Because the playoff schedule for the NBA/NHL is unknown ahead of time?

I guess this would push the premium on the big college arenas and the indoor NFL & NCAA stadiums.

that problem is one they can fix though... they only need to find two arenas. Plus the larger college ones can help. This should trickle down into more college towns having more tourney games. I'm all in favor of that. (I'm dreaming of the Keg having a game...)

 

[SuperiorBuff]

LIKE

 

[Goose]

NCAA has clarified that everything is scheduled through 2020, so if it does change it won't be until 2021.

 

[HRBuff]

Why would arenas be less likely to guarantee? Because the playoff schedule for the NBA/NHL is unknown ahead of time?

I guess this would push the premium on the big college arenas and the indoor NFL & NCAA stadiums.

Yeah what I meant to say without actually saying it.

that problem is one they can fix though... they only need to find two arenas. Plus the larger college ones can help. This should trickle down into more college towns having more tourney games. I'm all in favor of that. (I'm dreaming of the Keg having a game...)

Why would they only need two arenas? I agree more games at colleges is good. Specially when you see some of the early round games at NBA arenas are pretty empty.

 

[Darth Snow]

Yeah what I meant to say without actually saying it.



Why would they only need two arenas? I agree more games at colleges is good. Specially when you see some of the early round games at NBA arenas are pretty empty.

semi-finals and finals, so 3. they don't really use the college ones. I guess I meant "football sized venues" by arenas.

 

[HRBuff]

semi-finals and finals, so 3. they don't really use the college ones. I guess I meant "football sized venues" by arenas.

Ahh I was more talking about the NBA/NHL arenas they often use. If they move things back a month NBA/NHL playoffs will be starting at the same time as April Madness. It might be harder to get the NBA arenas for any rounds as their teams might potentially be in the playoffs. They book the arenas many years in advance.

 

[wyobuff]

but april madness isnt an alliteration

 

[Scotch]

Bad idea. The NCAA would be putting their premier hoops event in direct competition with the NBA playoffs and the start of baseball season. If its not broke don't fix it.

 

[jsmilkst]

but april madness isnt an alliteration

April Absurdity?

 

[hokiehead]

Bad idea. The NCAA would be putting their premier hoops event in direct competition with the NBA playoffs and the start of baseball season. If its not broke don't fix it.

love the idea from a fan POV, but this is a solid point from a business POV.

 

[Buffnik]

@Scotch brings up a valid point. However, we don't worry about the college football playoff overlapping a bit with the start of the NFL playoffs. I don't think that college hoops has a damn thing to worry about from a biz standpoint of the Final Four is up against the 1st round of the NBA playoffs.

 

[Tea Rex]

Wouldn't be against it but would be hard not to get past it not being near or around St. Patrick's Day.

 

[Scotch]

@Scotch brings up a valid point. However, we don't worry about the college football playoff overlapping a bit with the start of the NFL playoffs. I don't think that college hoops has a damn thing to worry about from a biz standpoint of the Final Four is up against the 1st round of the NBA playoffs.

Good point, but the only college football game that overlaps the NFL playoffs is the NC game, and its almost always on a weekday. With the proposed new schedule the NCAA tourney will start about the same time the NBA playoffs do. That will make it tougher on the NCAA to schedule venues for the first 4 rounds in advance, as a lot of the arenas they use are also NBA arenas, and there are NBA teams like the Nuggets that share the same arena with an NHL team.

 

[Jens1893]

Good point, but the only college football game that overlaps the NFL playoffs is the NC game, and its almost always on a weekday. With the proposed new schedule the NCAA tourney will start about the same time the NBA playoffs do. That will make it tougher on the NCAA to schedule venues for the first 4 rounds in advance, as a lot of the arenas they use are also NBA arenas, and there are NBA teams like the Nuggets that share the same arena with an NHL team.

CBS has The Masters in mid April, too.

 

[Buffnik]

Good point, but the only college football game that overlaps the NFL playoffs is the NC game, and its almost always on a weekday. With the proposed new schedule the NCAA tourney will start about the same time the NBA playoffs do. That will make it tougher on the NCAA to schedule venues for the first 4 rounds in advance, as a lot of the arenas they use are also NBA arenas, and there are NBA teams like the Nuggets that share the same arena with an NHL team.

Regarding the NBA, aren't they also discussing the possibility of starting their season at Christmas and maybe going a bit later? It really would be best if that move was in conjunction with a NCAAB move.

As far as the NHL and golf, those will remain. Kentucky Derby might be in April, too. There are also probably some people driving in circles for prize money.

I think the real key is to make sure that the 1st 2 rounds of the NCAAT happen before conflicts. After that, they can really do the Sweet 16 onward as night games and have no conflict like golf, horse racing and auto racing. Is the NHL even on television? If so, it's probably about as much of a ratings issue as spring training baseball. Although baseball is talking about starting earlier to avoid the playoffs conflicting with football, so that could end up being an issue down the road.

 

[hokiehead]

...
As far as the NHL and golf, those will remain. Kentucky Derby might be in April, too. There are also probably some people driving in circles for prize money....

like, 10 months a year. literally, Feb to Nov. can't avoid it.

 

[Scotch]

The NHL concern would be more venue related than ratings.

 

[Jens1893]

Regarding the NBA, aren't they also discussing the possibility of starting their season at Christmas and maybe going a bit later? It really would be best if that move was in conjunction with a NCAAB move.

As far as the NHL and golf, those will remain. Kentucky Derby might be in April, too. There are also probably some people driving in circles for prize money.

I think the real key is to make sure that the 1st 2 rounds of the NCAAT happen before conflicts. After that, they can really do the Sweet 16 onward as night games and have no conflict like golf, horse racing and auto racing. Is the NHL even on television? If so, it's probably about as much of a ratings issue as spring training baseball. Although baseball is talking about starting earlier to avoid the playoffs conflicting with football, so that could end up being an issue down the road.

Masters is usually around the April 10-15 mark, so that gives us 2 weeks to work with here. Final Four was the weekend before the Masters in 2015.

 

[Shldr2Shldr]

NBA Playoffs begin April 16, 2016
NHL Playoffs begin April 15th, 2016
Masters Tournament is April 7th-10th 2016
Kentucky Derby is May 7th, 2016
MLB Opening Day is April 3rd, 2016

The NHL Playoffs go on forever, so the only real problem I see with moving MM to April is the conflict with NBA Playoffs. TNT is a primary broadcast partner for the NBA and is also a primary partner for the first 3 rounds of the NCAA Tournament. I suppose if TNT got all the morning/early afternoon tips, they could have basketball coverage all day, but those matchups wouldn't be the money makers.