BracketBusters

I love Bracketbusters weekend. What a great concept. Take the top Mid-Major conferences in the country, pair up the best teams in those conferences, and put them on National TV. Then, the following season, require a re-match of each game the following season on the opposite home floor.

Officially billed by ESPN as "102 teams, 51 games, 17 conferences", this is just plain cool. It's inserted in the stretch run of each conference's season, and gets the best teams in front of a national audience that might even include those on the Selection Sunday panel.

It's not yet in the video gaming circuit, but I'm sure it will become so. Come on EA - get that going.

The headline game this year was Davidson vs Butler. Big win for Butler, likely locking them into the NCAAs this year. Meanwhile, Drake came away with a big win over Austin Peay last night in Des Moines. It's tough to follow Drake from the Pacific NW, but from what I can tell they are finally settling in to Coach Phelps' system -- which means play a tough matchup zone D, push the ball on O and if nothing is there, work it for a shot. They clinched their 3rd straight winning season (17-12 now), which while a big step down from last year's miracle year, is still pretty great. Who knows, maybe we are looking at a NIT team?

But back to the concept of BracketBusters. Late in the year, to get publicity and attention for the top mid-major teams is really priceless. I for one am pulling for more mid-majors in the Dance.