And Then There Were 64...Finally

In what has to be the stupidest sporting event on the calendar, Mount St. Mary's defeated Coppin St. in the NCAA Opening Round last night. The NCAA does not like calling this affair a play-in game, despite the fact that it is a play-in game. The team that loses is not in the tournament (Coppin State), thus the winner (Mount St. Mary's) is in the tournament. I am all for leaving St. Joseph's or Villanova out so that both Coppin State and Mount St.Mary's can both enjoy the experience of being slaughtered in the first round. The NCAA expanded the field in 2001 so that they did not have to reduce the number of at-large teams when bids were needed for both the MWC and WAC. Would it really be a tragedy if that eighth team from the Big East didn't get in? There are plenty of calls to expand the field to 80, 96, and even 128, which defies logic in my mind. The NCAA tounrnament is the perfect sporting event and there is no need to tinker any further. Now that we have the required even number of teams with Mount St. Mary's being sent to Raleigh to meet the Tar Heels, the madness can officially commence...