CSNbbs

Quote:With Auburn off to the Final Four after beating Kentucky in overtime on Sunday, the SEC earned at least $32.1 million through the NCAA's system for paying conferences based on how their teams perform in the men's basketball tournament. It's the highest share for the SEC at 19 units, the term the NCAA uses for the bids and wins that qualify for payment, all the way through the Elite Eight.

The SEC's best showing was good for third place among conferences this year, behind the Big Ten (21 units for at least $35.5 million) and the Atlantic Coast Conference (20 units for at least $33.8 million). The Big Ten and ACC tied with 13 wins each, but the Big Ten placed one more team in the field of 68.

There is no more money to be earned in this NCAA tournament through the payout system, which stops once the Final Four is reached. The total payout will be spread over six years with the first payment in 2020 and subsequent payments likely to rise slightly each year, boosting conference earnings.

All 32 Division I conferences are guaranteed at least one unit each, then more money is doled out based on at-large bids and wins during the first two weeks of the tournament. The NCAA sets a value each year for units -- $282,100 in 2020 -- and distributes annual payouts based on results from the previous six tournaments.

Michigan State's victory against Duke on Sunday that sent the Spartans to the Final Four earned the Big Ten's 21st unit to edge out the ACC, and also set a conference high. The Spartans will face Texas Tech from the Big 12 in the Final Four on Saturday in Minneapolis. The Big 12 came in fourth with 13 units for at least $22 million.

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketb...s-own-high


According to the article, the list of conferences with at least 4 units:

2019 Tournament Units/Money by conference:

1. Big Ten - 21 units - $35.5 million +
2. ACC - 20 units - $33.8 million +
3. SEC - 19 units - $32.1 million +
4. Big 12 - 13 units - $22 million +
5 (tie) - PAC 12 - 7 units - $11.8 million +
5 (tie) - AAC - 7 units - $11.8 million +
7 (tie) - Big East - 5 units - $8.4 million +
7 (tie) - WCC - 5 units - $8.4 million + (Gonzaga has a special deal with the WCC to keep a greater share of the units it earns and they earned 4 units)
9. Ohio Valley - 4 units - $6.7 million +

I guess I should care. But truth be told I'm not interested in anything except Championships and since 2000 we've had quite a few final 4s and no championships. You could have gone from birth to college and not seen the B1G win it all yet.

The Big Ten and the PAC 12 are like the old Boy Scouts when it comes to doing what is necessary to win championships. They don't have a Coach K or a Bruce Pearl-type coach that would bend the rules to get that star player. Despite all that the Big Ten manages to compete in the tournament.