Too Much March Madness???

On the eve of March Madness, I began to think about how much is too much. I was flipping through the channels tonight and came across Houston vs. Oregon State, a first-round game in the College Basketball Invitational.

For those who do not know, this is the second year of the College Basketball Invitational, another postseason tournament that is put on by the Gazelle Group.

Just when you thought the College Basketball Invitational was too much, a fourth postseason tournament was added this season, the CollegeInsider.com Postseason tournament.

Don't get me wrong, I love March Madness just as much as the next guy. But the NCAA tournament and the NIT is more than enough Madness for me. By adding 2 extra postseason tournaments, the NCAA is turning March Madness into March Mediocrity.

Of the 343 teams in Division I College Basketball, 129 now qualify for a postseason tournament. That is nearly 38% of Division I teams. Qualifying for a postseason tournament like the NCAA or the NIT is a reward for a great season, but adding these extra tournaments are a complete joke.

Here are the teams that are in the CBI and CollegeInsider.com tournaments.
-Teams in CBI...
Boise State, Buffalo, Charleston, Green Bay, Houston, Nevada, Northeastern, Oregon State, Richmond, St. Johns, Stanford, Troy, UTEP, Vermont, Wichita State, and Wyoming

-Teams in CollegeInsider.com
Austin Peay, Belmont, Bradley, The Citadel, Drake, Evansville, Idaho, James Madison, Kent State, Liberty, Mount Saint Marys, Oakland, Old Dominion, Pacific, Portland, and Rider

Oregon State finished the regular season with a 13-17 record, St. Johns was 16-17. Are you telling me that teams with losing records deserve to play in the postseason?! Give me a break.

I half expected to find the Iowa Hawkeyes in the field of the CBI or CollegeInsider tournament, that's just sad. But hey, who doesn't want to see The Citadel take on Old Dominion...

At this rate, anyone can start a postseason tournament. Be on the lookout for the IowaChicagoSports.Blogspot.com Postseason Invitational coming up in 2010.