Memphis, LSU To Anchor Five-Team Round-Robin Event
by Chris Dobbertean on Apr 27, 2010 9:31 PM EDT
in Early Season Events
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PrintRemember how I mentioned that Memphis would be a great team to anchor the inaugural Cancun Governor's Cup this December?
Well, ESPN Regional Television will have to look for another team to represent the host league for that event, Conference USA.
The Tigers will be unavailable, as they're taking part in one of those gimmicky round-robin events instead. According to Dan Wolken of the Memphis Commercial Appeal, Memphis will face LSU in what will likely be the tournament's championship game in Tupelo, Mississippi.
You can probably replace "likely" with "certainly" when you look at the three other teams involved. The pari of Tigers will each host Centenary (in their last season in the Summit League, as they will be headed to D-3 soon), Northwestern State (Southland), and Tennessee-Martin (Ohio Valley).
This list of teams leads me to ask just one question: You couldn't have gotten three more teams with the Tiger nickname to fill out the field? You're telling me Tennessee State, Grambling/Texas Southern/Jackson State, and Towson weren't available? Think of the sponsorship opportunities that would have been possible.
Oh wait, it's not pre-Thanksgiving 2009. Never mind.
The Wolken piece is definitely worth a read, as it appears Memphis' non-league schedule will be lacking this season, which could create some seeding problems for the Tigers if they happen to return to the NCAAs in 2011.
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Forgot about Centenary's
decision to go back to D3. I wonder how many non-football schools will start doing the same due to the economy and if D1 basketball has reached its saturation point. If it has, it makes the idea of a 96-team NCAA Tournament field that much dumber.
A bullhorn, a bottle of whiskey and a dream. GobblerCountry.com
Faux tourney?
This sounds like one of these “faux tournaments” that are popping up more frequently. No way the organizers would risk somebody other than LSU or Memphis making the “championship” game at Tupelo.
Kind of like the CBE Classic last year, where Iowa made the final four despite losing at home to UT-Arlington. Another of those lame tournaments where the little guys can’t win no matter what they do.
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