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Sunday, November 26, 2000

NCAA considering putting an end to exempted tournaments
Early-season competitions would count against game limit
By Mark Zuckerman
Caller-Times
Plenty of cynical college basketball fans will tell you that games in November and December mean nothing in the grand scheme of things.
   That could be even more the case within a couple of years, should the NCAA decide to abolish exempted tournaments once and for all.
   The NCAA's management council is expected to vote on the matter next April, with the board of directors following later that month. Which means exempted tournaments could be a thing of the past by the 2002-2003 season.
   A quick primer on exempted tournaments: The NCAA currently limits all teams to 27 regular-season games, plus the postseason conference tournament. However, schools are allowed to appear in two exempted tournaments every four years.
   Those tournaments, such as the Preseason NIT, the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic and the various events in Hawaii, Alaska and Puerto Rico, allow teams to play three, sometimes four games. But because they are exempted by the NCAA, only one game is counted against the participating schools.
   That gives many big-name programs, as well as mid-major schools, the opportunity to face three quality opponents early in the season. It also gives fans plenty of big games to watch in November and December.
   The NCAA, though, wants to change the system. It wants the schools and conferences, not the TV networks, to schedule games.
   Under the NCAA's plan, teams would be allotted 28 regular-season games and only one exhibition against a Non-Division I team. Each game in previously exempted tournaments would be counted, instead of the whole week counting as one game, making more teams unlikely to accept invitations to such events.
   What the NCAA and conference commissioners may not realize is that exempted tournaments are good for the game. It gives top teams a chance to go up against each other. It gives mid-major teams exposure and a good tune-up for the rest of the season.
   And, most importantly, it gives the fans good basketball to watch in November and December. Let's be honest, which game would you rather watch: Duke-Temple in the Preseason NIT or Auburn-Robert Morris in the Energia Systems Thanksgiving Classic?

NO CONFETTI IN THIS ONE: You may have noticed a peculiar score flash across the ticker on ESPN two weeks ago: Michigan State 72, Harlem Globetrotters 68.
   What in the name of Meadowlark Lemon is going on here?
   The Globetrotters, famous for their razzle-dazzle basketball since 1926, are trying to get back in the mainstream and scheduled two exhibition games against college teams: Michigan State and Purdue.
   Turns out the Globetrotters can play basketball by the rules, and pretty well as a matter of fact. Facing the Spartans in East Lansing, Mich., they led 35-29 at the half before succumbing to Charlie Bell and Jason Richardson.
   It was the Globetrotters' first loss in 1,270 games, dating to a 1995 game against the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar All-Stars, and left them with an all-time won-loss record of 20,358-333.
   Faithful fans of the Globetrotters can take solace in the fact that two nights late, the boys beat Purdue, 74-65.
   Apologies if you now have "Sweet Georgia Brown" stuck in your head.

UPSET OF THE WEEK: A late-season charge still couldn't get us back to the .500 mark, but with a new season upon us, the slate has been wiped clean and we all have the same record.
   There are several potential upsets to choose from, with plenty of tournaments, the ACC/Big Ten Challenge and various big-name matchups on this week's schedule. But let's focus our attention on the state of Ohio, home to several of the nation's top teams.
   Cincinnati travels to nearby Dayton Wednesday night, and the Flyers are (for lack of better words) flying high following a successful week in Maui. They beat Connecticut and Maryland and head back home with spirits high.
   The Bearcats, meanwhile, hardly resemble the team that was ranked No. 1 in the country most of last season, almost losing to Marshall the other night at home.
   They won't be so fortunate this week - Dayton gets the upset win.

DISASTER OF THE WEEK: So many to choose from: UCLA lost to Cal State-Northridge, Purdue lost to Central Michigan, Rhode Island lost to Alaska-Anchorage.
   But we would be remiss if we failed to honor the once-mighty Michigan Wolverines, who managed to find a way to lose to Oakland University, 97-90, last week.
   The Golden Grizzlies are in their third season of Division I play and aren't yet eligible for the NCAA tournament. That didn't stop them from pulling off the biggest win in school history.



Staff writer Mark Zuckerman can be reached at 886-3747 or by e-mail at zuckermanm@caller.com

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