In terms of college basketball, winning March Madness can equate to winning the NBA Finals. However, the NBA Finals is the best of seven games, while the March Madness Championship is just one. The number of games played for the championship needs to be reevaluated so one bad game does not determine the winner.
It is important to note that I only feel that the March Madness championship should be more than one game. To keep the mad in madness, it’s essential that the games leading up to the championship are only one game. This gives lower seeds more of a chance while playing other teams. Let’s be real, everyone loves a good underdog story.
Adding more games to the championship could also give the teams playing against each other a chance at redemption. Imagine losing the first game of a championship series—you best bet the team that lost is going to play some of the best basketball of their life in game two. The suspense would be drawn out, and the team that is the best would take home the championship.
Not to mention, there is less pressure on one game in particular. Of course, the pressure will be heightened if it is the final game of the series, but for the most part, the teams can be reassured that they still have time to turn things around. I could not even begin to imagine how much pressure it would be to play in a championship game, so I feel like this could help diffuse the stress.
Some may believe that only having a multiple-game series for the championship would be unfair because not everyone has the same chance. It is a good point, but this way would allow the teams with the most grit, willpower, and determination to win the tournament.
Tom Izzo, the head coach of Men’s basketball at Michigan State University stated, “There’s efforts to win games and there’s efforts to win championships.” As mentioned previously, the effort that would have to go into winning this championship would be tremendous. This change would lead to them playing at least 10 games in the tournament, which cannot be completed with luck alone.
Another advantage a multiple-game championship would have is preparing players for the NBA. According to the Rocky Mountain Collegian, “College basketball plays a crucial role in shaping future NBA stars by enhancing their skills, providing exposure, and preparing them for professional challenges.” This change would only enhance these pieces in creating an NBA player out of a college athlete.
Not to mention that, with a championship that has more games, athletes have more than one chance to shine. This could be a time when they get their big break, and to be honest, there is nowhere better to do it than on one of the biggest stages they could play on.
Having more games in the finals could also spread more basketball cheer to those interested in watching the game in person. This year the championship is being held at The Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. This stadium holds 64,000 people, and just imagine if there were at least 4 games of that. Over 250,000 fans could enjoy seeing high-stakes basketball live.
Because so many more tickets would be sold, the NCAA would be able to generate so much more revenue with just a couple extra games. This could allow student-athletes to have more resources, including more scholarships, counseling, and stronger academic support. In the grand scheme of things, it seems like this change could have a great impact on the organization as a whole.
Although no change can be made this year, I believe it could be an interesting shift in the tournament. Why not give it a chance? In my eyes, more basketball equals more fun!
