"The tournament represents less than 1% of Division I men's basketball games this season, yet we debate: What happened to Cinderella? Her demise isn't exaggerated, but the blame is misplaced."
"In 2006, the power conferences were comprised of 72 schools. Now, that number is 79 (and counting) -- and none of those programs moved up with the intention of losing out on NCAA bids to the likes of mid-majors."
"The non-power conferences have to do a better job of positioning their best teams for the NCAA field, via both regular-season and conference tournament formatting."
The NCAA tournament represents a small fraction of Division I men's basketball games, yet it shapes perceptions of the sport. The decline of Cinderella stories is attributed to fewer invitations for non-power conference teams. Over the past 20 years, the number of power conference schools has increased, leading to a reduction in at-large bids for mid-major programs. Conference realignment has further restricted opportunities for these teams, necessitating better positioning and formatting for non-power conferences to enhance their chances in the tournament.
Read at ESPN.com
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