At-Large update

[mmvb805]

Apr 16, 2024 11:13:54 GMT -5 coy said:

I like the 8 team format. If you go to 16 you're getting such a big percentage of your entire sport into the Tournament.

The problem is the fact that the talent of teams is so highly concentrated in the Big West and MPSF. If you’re a team like BYU, you’re kinda screwed, but teams in the Conference Carolinas and whatever the other one is get an auto bid

[coy]

Apr 16, 2024 11:26:50 GMT -5 mmvb805 said:

Apr 16, 2024 11:13:54 GMT -5 coy said:

I like the 8 team format. If you go to 16 you're getting such a big percentage of your entire sport into the Tournament.

The problem is the fact that the talent of teams is so highly concentrated in the Big West and MPSF. If you’re a team like BYU, you’re kinda screwed, but teams in the Conference Carolinas and whatever the other one is get an auto bid

There's some truth to that, but that's true in all college sports.  The reality is most years 2 or maybe 3 teams can win the whole thing.  The bubble teams that miss the Tournament probably weren't going to be able to win the championship anyway, unless they had early season losses with guys out due to injury that are healthy prior to the Tournament.

[hwnstunner]

Tourney can expand to 10. Lots of ways to make that work.

[couchanalyst]

Agree, NEC will get an autobid in a few years and you should def expand to 10 or 12.

[BeachbytheBay]

when they add another auto-bid, definitely need to expand to 10, and maybe 12. 12 should be the max until more teams and conferences are added.

with 10 teams 3 at-larges, it's unlikely to leave out a top 5 team

with 12 teams and 5 at-larges, there might only be 1 top 10 team left out

16 will have nine at-larges, this year that would mean 5 out of 7 MPSF teams in the tourny, conceivably 6 with USC - that's a bit ridiculous IMO.

[mmvb805]

Apr 16, 2024 12:26:05 GMT -5 BeachbytheBay said:

when they add another auto-bid, definitely need to expand to 10, and maybe 12. 12 should be the max until more teams and conferences are added.

with 10 teams 3 at-larges, it's unlikely to leave out a top 5 team

with 12 teams and 5 at-larges, there might only be 1 top 10 team left out

16 will have nine at-larges, this year that would mean 5 out of 7 MPSF teams in the tourny, conceivably 6 with USC - that's a bit ridiculous IMO.

You’re right- it definitely needs to be a gradual progression. It’s just insane to me that a top 5 team is going to miss the tournament this year, and that seems to consistently happen every year

[MonroeClark90]

16 may be rough, but I think 12 would be fine. If you take the expected 8 with Hawaii and GCU as the at-larges, I don't think adding in the likes of UCI, BYU, Ohio State, Loyola, GMU, or even a Lincoln Memorial would cheapen the tourney in any way. Top 4 seeds and a first round bye could go to the 4 winners of the MPSF, BWC, MIVA, and EIVA conference tourneys so those events continue to carry weight.

[ManapuaSurprise]

Apr 16, 2024 11:13:54 GMT -5 coy said:

I like the 8 team format. If you go to 16 you're getting such a big percentage of your entire sport into the Tournament.

12 was approved, just not funded yet

[trojansc]

Based on current D1 numbers, men's volleyball should have 11 teams in the NCAA Tournament. 16 is way too many.

[ManapuaSurprise]

Apr 16, 2024 8:59:02 GMT -5 soljah808 said:

Apr 16, 2024 7:12:04 GMT -5 MonroeClark90 said:

I hope they’re able to push thru playoff expansion ASAP. As mush as it hurts your chances, you don’t want teams like Beach and Hawaiii to stop scheduling lesser teams. What one team sees as an easy win on the schedule, for the other it is a great experience and a memory that will last a lifetime walking onto the floor at the pyramid or the Stan. For the sake of growing this game, those matches need to continue.

Exactly. Those teams and programs were in literal awe of the entire experience. Even 3k in the stands which is considered a smaller crowd for Hawaii standards....was like big time to those programs that watched in the Stan. Most of those guys from those multiple programs never been to Hawaii as well till that experience. And it definitely inspired them and their programs to keep pushing.

3000 fans is big time for any men's program except for Hawaii & BYU lol

[BigDigEnergy]

I think a 12-team tournament would be ideal.

[BeachbytheBay]

Apr 16, 2024 12:54:54 GMT -5 BigDigEnergy said:

I think a 12-team tournament would be ideal.

with 12 you can then have 4 3-team regionals at hosts, and then a final 4



or have 4 play -in games the week before, and a final 8

[BigDigEnergy]

Apr 16, 2024 12:58:33 GMT -5 BeachbytheBay said:

Apr 16, 2024 12:54:54 GMT -5 BigDigEnergy said:

I think a 12-team tournament would be ideal.

with 12 you can then have 4 3-team regionals at hosts, and then a final 4



or have 4 play -in games the week before, and a final 8

I kinda like the latter more so the top 4 teams will have a bye match/week. The idea of final 8 matches sounds more exciting! 

[soljah808]

They need to start with giving the NEC an auto bid first.

[wilbur]

Apr 16, 2024 12:30:04 GMT -5 MonroeClark90 said:

16 may be rough, but I think 12 would be fine. If you take the expected 8 with Hawaii and GCU as the at-larges, I don't think adding in the likes of UCI, BYU, Ohio State, Loyola, GMU, or even a Lincoln Memorial would cheapen the tourney in any way. Top 4 seeds and a first round bye could go to the 4 winners of the MPSF, BWC, MIVA, and EIVA conference tourneys so those events continue to carry weight.

I like this idea. Giving the top 4 teams byes will also reduce the lopsided matches a little.

For example, Assume UCLA is the 1 seed this year and they play the expected 8 seed Fort Valley. Minimal tiem for UCLA starters and not much of a show.

Compare that to if 4 more teams were added to the tournament and then first round is  FV vs. a team like Hawaii or Irvine which is still a likely blow out but a little better with less bench depth so we will see starters and the other first round matches get closer matched.