As we reach the conclusion of the college basketball season, March Madness has felt a little different. Sure, we’ve had some exciting finishes like UCONN and Duke, but there is something missing from the greatest tournament in sports. America loves a good Cinderella story; it is what our country was built on. However, the modern world of college sports is weeding out the Cinderellas and the last two years of March Madness and Mountain West basketball have been the perfect example of that.
Let’s start
by discussing Mountain West basketball. Anyone who knows basketball knows that the quality of play within the conference isn’t quite passing the eye test. As someone who has attended a number of Mountain West games the past few seasons, I can confidently say the quality of basketball has taken a significant dip. San Diego State and Boise State are the perfect examples of programs that have struggled to meet expectations in this new world of college athletics. Boise State in particular, struggled to gel despite having one of the most talented rosters in the conference. The opening season loss set off a lot of alarms for the Broncos, and many of those issues popped up time and time again. The team never gelled on the defensive side of the ball and the two transfers who ate up the majority of Boise State’s NIL budget (Dylan Andrews and Drew Fielder) did not start playing quality basketball until the second half of the season. By the time the Broncos found their stride, their hopes for an at-large NCAA Tournament berth had already come to pass. San Diego State also had a number of the same issues. One game they would look like the best team in the conference and the next game they would look lost. The lack of continuity and consistency is killing smaller conferences like the Mountain West, and with a number of the strongest programs leaving for the PAC 12, it is likely that the conference will continue to receive only a single bid in the NCAA Tournament.
The Mountain West isn’t the only small conference that has been negatively impacted by the NIL era. The NCAA Tournament shows exactly how the little guy is being pushed out by the influx of cash that is coming into Power Four schools. For the second consecutive year, there are zero mid-major teams that have played in the Sweet 16 in both the men’s and women’s tournaments. In the men’s tournament, only four mid-major teams won their opening round game, while the average over the prior twenty years was close to eight. The previous twenty years also saw an average of nearly three teams play in the Sweet 16; the 2022 tournament had two teams (San Diego State and Florida Atlantic) make the Final Four. The best story of the 2023 tournament was 15-seed Saint Peter’s making the Elite Eight, with their games garnering some of the highest viewership. The NCAA should be thankful for the gambling aspect of March Madness, filling out a bracket keeps people interested that otherwise wouldn’t watch.
Let’s look at it from a fan perspective. As a Mountain West and Boise State fan, I have found myself watching fewer and fewer NCAA basketball games and have barely tuned in to the Tournament since all of the mid-majors were eliminated. I don’t know about you guys, but my interest in college sports is tied to Boise State, the Mountain West, and next year the PAC 12. I watch to see these teams play and occasionally tune in to a few other games. My overall viewership of college sports has gone down significantly over the past two seasons. As an alumnus of Boise State, I feel like I’m always being asked for money to support student-athletes that oftentimes aren’t dedicated to the university. This is something I struggle with. I’m grateful for the opportunities that my degree has given me but struggle to wrap my head around giving my money to support a student-athlete that might not finish their athletic career or get a degree from the university. When it comes to buying shirts or jerseys for my kids, our family has a new rule. It must be a senior or a former player. I won’t personally call out a player or fault them for going somewhere else where they can get more money. But as someone who chose quality of life over a career where I chase money, loyalty matters.
The world of college football is filled with polarizing opinions, and we often shame others who disagree. Let’s look at topics like these as an opportunity to have a healthy discussion about the current landscape of college sports. I’d love to hear your thoughts about the current world of NIL and college sports and how it’s impacted the NCAA Tournament and the Mountain West in the comments below.
