A few weeks ago, the ACC announced a new format for the conference tournament for baseball where eight seeds are split into two divisions, with each team playing its division opponents once.
The best round robin record from each division would advance to a one-and-done championship game against the other.
It sounded great, but left a lot to be desired.
As an outsider, it too looked great at the start. Nobody has to play twice a day, and the format seemed reasonable enough.
But once it went into motion, I realized this set-up is severely flawed.
After the first loss, N.C. State’s championship game chances were all but over. Don’t blame Virginia, thank the new set-up.
In order to reach the ACC finals, the Wolfpack needed to win its next two and pray that the Cavaliers lost their next two, since Virginia now had the head-to-head advantage.
As my friend put it, State wasn’t even in the car, much less the driver’s seat, after that first loss. They were at the mercy of whoever Virginia was playing.
So when Virginia finished off Georgia Tech before the start of the State’s second game, State — with one loss — had already been eliminated. What happened to controlling your own destiny?
It should be noted that Wake made it to the conference final after losing its first game – but there’s some pride lost knowing you had to backdoor your way in.
“It was hard to play one game and know you can’t win the thing,” *******Ryan Pond, said.
I feel your pain Ryan — it’s even harder to enjoy the last two games knowing your team can’t win it.
For what reason did a Pack fan have to watch? Even if State beats UNC and Georgia Tech and each ends in walk-off home runs, that’s where it ends.
There’s not going to be a magical run to the title, no matter how impressive you are for the next two games.
I thought you play the game to win – what gives Herman Edwards?
“Before our second game we knew we were out of it,” second baseman Ramon Corona said. “I don’t know how much sense that makes, but the coaches seem to like it.”
Of course they do. They’re supposed to.
Elliott Avent’s team was already in the NCAA field of 64, so from his perspective, there’s no reason to wear out all his pitchers and players playing twice a day for the sake of a little conference championship that has little influence on the postseason status.
Win or lose the ACC, he knows his team will be pitching and playing again next week, and as a coach you’d like to spend more days practicing than recuperating.
I’m not a coach, or a player, or a pitcher. I’m a writer, and above all, a fan.
“Lame duck” games don’t do much for me in either category.
Now let’s say the Pack beats Carolina, and as a result, Virginia clinches a spot in the final.
Virginia would’ve rested nearly every starter on Saturday for Sunday’s championship game — sound fun to you?
And even though I’m sure the ACC would prefer me describe it as “an intense battle for sixth place in the conference,” the Jackets-Wolfpack game was so pointless Avent should’ve suited up 25 summer session students.
After all, the point of the ACC Tournament is to play a few games and go home rested, win or lose — right?
By going away from the old double-elimination tournament, that’s exactly the message the ACC is sending to fans about its own tournament: “Don’t worry about us, good luck in the NCAA instead.”
No wonder you couldn’t find 100 people in the stands that weren’t friends and family.
Fans want conference championships, bragging rights, the stuff that makes college athletics more fun than the pros. If this wasn’t the case, 118 universities would be upset after each football season when their team didn’t win it all.
If there’s one thing the new format did, it was take away. It subtracted fun from the fans, importance from its own tournament and control of one’s destiny from its participants.
Bring back the old double-elimination tournament ACC. It’s your format that needs eliminating.
