NCAA Tournament format change could benefit Duke
If oddsmakers are on the money, Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski will have the top team in college basketball next season.
If that’s the case, Krzyzewski also could have more influence on the NCAA Tournament draw than some conspiracy theorists suspect he already does. The NCAA announced Monday that the No. 1 overall seed will be able to choose the location of its first two games in the tournament.
The host cities for first- and second-round NCAA Tournament games next March are Buffalo, New York; Greensboro, North Carolina; Indianapolis; Milwaukee; Orlando, Florida; Sacramento, California; Salt Lake City; and Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Krzyzewski would not pick Buffalo. Obviously, the Blue Devils would choose Greensboro — a short drive from the Durham, North Carolina, campus — as the starting point for their road to the Final Four.
At the Westgate sports book, Duke is the title favorite at 7-2 odds, followed by Kentucky (7-1), Kansas (8-1) and defending champion Villanova (8-1).
The NCAA released a statement explaining teams in contention for the No. 1 overall seed would make a site request “far in advance of Selection Sunday.”
It’s not a big change, and it’s no mystery how it could unfold. Kentucky likely would prefer to play in Indianapolis. Kansas would likely pick Tulsa.
What the format change creates is more of an emphasis on winning the conference tournament to make a stronger case for the top overall seed.
Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907. Follow on Twitter: @mattyoumans247
