In the realignment circus that has engulfed collegiate athletics the last two decades, college basketball has become the sideshow act while everything football-related takes place in the main tent.
There are tens of millions reasons why, and they’re all green and fairly obvious. Football’s television ratings and revenues dwarf the indoor sport that doesn’t vault into the public consciousness until mid-February, takes center stage in mid-March and ends with “One Shining Moment” in early April. The three-week NCAA Tournament disperses enough revenue to keep most of its Division I schools afloat, but its potential expansion to 96 or more teams could be its undoing — that’s a topic for another day.
But there’s a way for college basketball to elevate and enhance its profile before the stretch run. It’s amazing it hasn’t happened yet, and let’s use the ever-growing Big Ten as an example.
The Big Ten needs to hold a men’s and women’s basketball spectacular on Super Bowl weekend, complete with a pair of all-star games and 3-point shooting displays. Unveil a dunk contest with celebrity and alumni judges. Hold a game of H-O-R-S-E between current and former Big Ten men’s and women’s basketball stars. A lob pass from Illinois’ Terrence Shannon Jr. to…
