Posted: 2023-12-26 07:10:46 (CT) [ 427 views ]
JUST A LITTLE BIT OUTSIDE:
One way to promote college basketball, especially women's basketball, would be to use tried and true concepts from other leagues. The NBA has a lottery to allow one of the bottom teams to select first in the NBA draft. This provides both interest from the public and an advantage to bottom teams to help them build toward additional parity. So, if we provide a lottery--obviously not based on players--but, based on the university and the sport, then it will help in promoting all of those surrounding that team.
College basketball is great for the men, but not so much for the women. When one considers that the top teams will always recruit well then they will remain the top teams. The new transfer portal, as well as, the new NIL financial benefit is only good for the top teams who are already getting the most attention. So, how do the players and colleges of the bottom 300 teams from each Division of college basketball ever get some interest and make a Name, Image, or Likeness statement? It isn't going to happen except for one team that happens to attract an exceptional coach every decade or so.
Since we are already handing out advantages to some Universities, teams, players, coaches and communities, how about including the women's and the bottom 300 or so teams in each division to give one of them each year a small advantage and a little public recognition, interest and exposure.
We all know that the home team carries a small advantage into each game. So, provide a lottery from among the bottom 300 or more teams in each college division and especially the women's group, whereby the winner of the drawing gets all home games. After the "regular" schedule is put out and the transfer portal is closed for the season, have a lottery and the winner's road games will all--except tournaments--be switched to home. The community would get more travelers.
Nearby communities in the area would also get more travelers and sales increases, so they would be interested in the lottery pool outcome, as well. The higher rated teams coming into smaller towns and schools would bring more interest and exposure. The players would get more exposure and may have a televised game or more, so that they could have a chance at a little of the NIL exposure.
The University would also save travel money over the course of a season, plus gain exposure.
