The Madness of College Basketball Scheduling
A Small Victory, But Still a Long Way to Go
It’s about time someone listened to our complaints. For years, we’ve been grumbling about the ridiculously late start time of the college basketball national title game. And finally, we’ve seen some progress – albeit a tiny step forward. The game will now tip off at 8:50 PM Eastern, a whole 30 minutes earlier than before. While it’s still an unreasonably late start, we’ll take what we can get.
The Inconsistency is Mind-Boggling
What’s puzzling is the disparity in start times between college football and basketball. The national title game in football kicks off at a reasonable 7:30 PM, while the Super Bowl has a perfect timing. So, why does college basketball get stuck with a late-night start? It’s not like the West Coast audience is the only one that matters. The 7:30 PM start time for the Ohio State/Notre Dame national title game worked just fine, didn’t it?
A Half-Hearted Attempt at a Solution
The tweet celebrating this minor victory is almost laughable. “Look, we heard you! 30 minutes earlier!” Yeah, sure, but it’s still a far cry from a decent start time. The responses are filled with people still venting about the absurdity of it all. And let’s not forget, Monday Night Football starts earlier than the national title game. It’s a joke.
The Real Problem: Pacing and Referees
College basketball games are notorious for their slow pace, especially in the last two minutes. Fouls, reviews, and timeouts drag out the game, making it feel like an eternity. And don’t even get me started on the referees’ constant need to consult the monitor. It’s a wonder they can make a single call on the court without assistance.
A Better Solution: The 30-Minute Buffer
Take a cue from this past Saturday’s games. The Kansas/Houston double-overtime thriller and the Auburn/Tennessee tip-off were both affected by the tight scheduling. Who wants to leave a nail-biter for the start of another game? Nobody. That’s why we need a 30-minute buffer between games, every week. It’s not just about accommodating ESPN’s coverage of Duke/UNC or Cal’s entrance at Rupp. We want it for every matchup, every week.
It’s Time for a Change
We’ve made some noise, and it’s paid off – slightly. Now, let’s keep pushing for a more sensible scheduling approach. We promise to appreciate the extra 30 minutes of buffer time. It’s time to prioritize the viewer experience over advertising and broadcasting needs.
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