This extra game came into existence in 2001 when the MWC (Mountain West Conference) split from the WAC (Western Athletic Conference). This created a major dilemma because the split added an extra automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. The number of automatic bids in the tournament grew from 30 to 31. To compensate for this new automatic bid, the tournament commitee decided to have a play-in game.
This year, the two teams that competed in the play-in game were Morehead State and Alabama State. Morehead State dominated the whole game and won 58 to 43. Morehead State will play Louisville in the first round on Friday March 20.
I believe the tournament committee should eliminate the play in game. The committee should simply eliminate one at large team in order to compensate for the extra automatic bid. If you eliminate one at large team, there would still be 33 at large teams in the field.
Furthermore, the loser of this game works hard all season long to get to the NCAA tournament, and then they are quickly exited by a meaningless game. This game eliminates the dreams of so many young college players. The losing team does not get the chance and the glory of playing in the first round of the tournament. Alabama State was seeking its first Division One postseason win. Instead, they were defeated and sent home without ever officially entering the NCAA tournament.
Finally, every year the two teams that play-in the game are mid-majors. These mid-majors won their conference and they are participating in a play-in game. If the tournament is going to have this game, they should pick the last two at large teams making it into the tournament. If they did that this year, Arizona and Wisconsin, would be playing in the play-in game.
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