Before I get into my short, not at all thought out rant, I would just like to point out that this is the first time I have written an actual post about SPROTS on HOT SPROTS TAKES. Anyway, here we go.

I think it’s hot garbage that these “play-in” games are not really play-in games, but excuses to get mid-majors to play each other and eliminate them as quickly as possible, while lousy major teams like UCLA and Indiana skate on into the real tournament on name alone.

Meanwhile No. 16 seeds who actually won their conference tournament are forced to play in these sham games in Dayton for the chance to get pummeled by Kentucky.

That’s not fair to those small schools. They won their league, and instead of getting an automatic berth to the real tournament, a moment they’d never forget, they get to visit lovely Dayton for the chance to play in the real thing. And if they lose, nobody even remember them because they lost to the SWAC champion.

Ask any of the coaches who’ve played in these games and they will tell you it’s not the real tournament.

My changes are simple, if you win your conference tournament, regardless of how small the league, or how bad your record, you are automatically in the field of 64. No stupid play-in games in Dayton.

And to fix the play-ins, make them all for the No. 12 seeds. Take the last four teams in, this year that would be Ole Miss, BYU, Dayton, Boise State, and make them play the first four teams out, Colorado State, Temple, Old Dominion, Richmond.

Do that and you have teams who have a legit shot at winning games in the play-in games, and settles the argument who deserves to be in over who, because they actually played each other. Plus its names you’ve heard of in the games. This boosts attendance and TV viewers for these games. No offense to Manhattan and Hampton, but I do not care who wins that game.

Anyway, that’s my idea. It won’t happen because it makes too much sense.