College Basketball

Conference Tournaments ARE Meaningful

Doug Gottleib needs to do his homework before opening his mouth.

For three days, I’ve listened to this ESPN college basketball “analyst” rationalize an early exit by a potential No. 1 seed as having no bearing on their NCAA seeding or their national title hopes.

First he rationalized No. 2-ranked Pittsburgh’s loss to West Virginia in the Big East quarterfinals. Then No. 3 UConn’s loss to Syracuse in the same round. Now, No. 1 North Carolina’s loss to Florida State in the ACC semifinals.

In fact, Gottleib suggested that it might be a good thing that those teams lost so they can be more rested as they enter the NCAA Tournament.

That struck me as wrong-headed, so I did some research and discovered that the road to the national championship followed a familiar route in recent years.

The last five NCAA champions:

• 2008: Kansas Jayhawks. Warmed up by winning the Big 12 Tournament.
• 2007: Florida Gators. After winning the SEC Tournament.
• 2006: Florida. Won the SEC Tournament.
• 2005: North Carolina Tar Heels. Lost in ACC Tournament semifinals.
• 2004: Connecticut Huskies. Won the Big East Tournament.

So, four of the past five NCAA champions also won their conference tournament. And I’d bet that any of those teams would agree that the experience they gained winning their conference tourneys — by winning three games in three days — better prepared them for the grind of the Big Dance.

Doug, are you paying attention?

Finally, there’s the most important reason conference tournaments matter. If you win one, you get to raise a championship banner over your home court that will be there forever.

I don’t recall banners being raised very often for earning a No. 1 seed.

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