So how are you liking the NCAA Tournament scheduling this year? The exclusive Sweet 16 TV windows of the weekend. The 10 PM starts of 50% of the Elite 8.
Take a look what our friend Matt Zemek proposes. I think NCAA should consider something similar.
While we wait for the start of UCLA-Michigan for no good reason, here’s an examination of how next year could (should) look at the #NCAATournament on TV: https://t.co/JuNApu7FWg
— Matt Zemek (@MattZemek) March 31, 2021
Why should the NCAA consider exclusive windows for Sweet 16 games?
CBS Sports & Turner Sports deliver best viewership for Sweet 16 since 1993 pic.twitter.com/YL9JfGqxe9
— March Madness TV (@MarchMadnessTV) March 30, 2021
Sports ratings got hammered this year, and the NCAA bucked that trend even with the lack of blue blood brand name programs in the Sweet 16.
Whatever format the NCAA goes with in future, the 4 games exclusive of the Sweet 16 has to be considered. I’m partial to a Friday – Monday format with 4 games Saturday, and 2 Elite 8 Games on Sunday. Though I would start the Saturday games around 1 PM so that the last game tips no later than 9 PM. I also wonder if ratings were huge because of the nationwide interest of games. There were a variety of teams from one end of the country to the next. That certainly didn’t hurt.
I’d also move the start times to right at 7 PM and the second game to 9:30. 10 PM is just too late a start time for East Coast times. Why was Gonzaga / USC tipping off before Michigan / UCLA?
Still overall this is something the NCAA needs to think about for the future.
