The NCAA announced it's matchups for the upcoming BracketBuster event, February 17th. As I looked at some of the matchups, I couldn't help but think what a joke this has become.
The event's original purpose was to take mid-major programs that would be considered bubble teams and give them an opportunity to earn more consideration with the NCAA's selection committee come tournament time.
Then I look at teams like UW-Green Bay facing Northern Illinois in DeKalb, Illinois. Neither one of these teams is going anywhere. The Phoenix is barely over .500 and the Huskies are just 4-15 with a 1-6 mark in the Mid-American Conference. These two teams aren't bubble teams, why are they playing in this event?
Add UW-Milwaukee to this list, with their matchup against Drake. The Panthers are a below .500 team, certainly not an NCAA bubble team.
These two games won't be televised, not that I'd be inclined to watch even if they were. This is supposed to be a college basketball showcase. What's being showcased are some very average basketball teams.