Stephen A. Smith Warns: Is the Lack of Upsets Killing March Madness?
In his view of March Madness ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith sees little evidence of upsets which he believes indicates damaging trends ahead for college basketball.
No mid-major teams remain as winning companies from the Power Five college divisions now lead every tournament bracket. The current lack of upset victories during March Madness concerns Smith so much that he believes the sport has a future problem.
According to Smith on First Take he predicts that college basketball will experience extinction if these conditions persist.
Why Upsets Matter to March Madness
Smith points out that March Madness gains its success from unexpected results. People watch the tournament to see both established teams and surprise victors using their power against bigger opponents. The tournament remains must-watch television because small programs such as UMBC and Florida Gulf Coast create sensational moments when they defeat heavily favored teams.
But this year? No upsets. No bracket busters. A minor college team fails to create its own prominence in the game.
According to Smith the March Madness tournament dominates sports activities over 35 days. The public embraces March Madness because shocking victories occur. The chaos. The Cinderella stories.”
The NIL Era and Its Impact on Mid-Majors
Under the Name Image and Likeness (NIL) movement college basketball teams alter their recruiting grounds because of transfer portals. Before this period mid-league college teams could keep their best athletes by encouraging them to stay through multiple seasons. Top players from small programs are now choosing to move to top-tier schools because they receive better NIL compensation and nationwide visibility.
“The middle-school teams face six straight losses because of NIL practices and the transfer window nobody would mind about it” Smith stated. Players who move from smaller college programs to larger schools for personal earnings harm the complete revaluation between teams.
The fear? The event will stop producing its enchantment. When schools fail to bring in good players or keep them long-term March Madness excitement will decrease.
Are Fans Actually Losing Interest?
Statistics show different data than what Mr. Smith stated even though his concerns remain valid. The beginning round of the tournament reached new broadcasting audience levels at 9.1 million viewers on CBS Sports and TNT.
Although no widespread upsets occurred during March Madness it does not seem to impact overall TV viewership negatively as numbers indicate.
What’s Next for College Basketball?
Through his remarks Smith challenges us to determine if one-year trends in college basketball represent an actual transformation or an exception. The NCAA must take action to balance power between teams or power teams will completely control free player compensation.
People still see March Madness as a significant event. If Cinderella stories cease to exist in college basketball Smith’s predictions show that the game will never return to its original form.
