Grizzlies Dance

(Disclaimer: I went to Oakland University. I am very happy to see them in the NCAA tournament. They should have been there last year, but that's another post. Go Grizzlies!)

Oakland University got plenty of media attention today. Fresh off their upset win over Oral Roberts, the Golden Grizzlies automatic berth into the NCAA tournament was the subject of nationwide coverage. As you probably guessed, it wasn't all positive.

Television, radio, internet and good old fashioned newsprint had Oakland's mini-miracle win plastered all over it. The win was cheered by some, but jeered by others. Making the tourney with a losing record, OU is 12-18, is going to cost a team from a stronger conference a berth in The Dance. It's unfair, but it happens nearly every year.

Yet the cries persist. Only teams with winning records should be in. Forget the conference tournaments. If a team like OU can get in, let every team into the field. The whining like this will last about a week. Then the tournament will begin and all will be forgotten.

Well, forgotten by all except fans of the school(s) left out. They will harbor ill will for Oakland, the NCAA selection committee and automatic berths to conference tournament winners forever or until their institution takes advanatage of the same system.

However, the rest of the nation, will move on quickly. We all realize that the schools left out of the field of 64 probably did not have a legitimate chance to win the tournament anyway. We also realize that Oakland will probably not make it past it's first encounter. That's assuming the Golden Grizzlies can get past the play-in game, which they appear destined for.

I really don't like conference tournament winners getting the automatic berths, but I have never been quite so pleased with the notion as I am today. My enjoyment may only last until Tuesday or possible next Friday at the latest, so complain if you must, but forgive me for embracing the moment. It's been a couple of pretty awful years for OU basketball and this day helps make up for quite a bit of that disappointment.