Stories like this piss me off. This is as stupid as the whole BCS fiasco. If you're gonna have automatic bids, at least make them for the regular season champs, rather than the team that happens to win 3-4 games in March. How does a 12-18 team in a mid-major get to the big dance while teams like Notre Dame (17-10, 9-7 Big East) may end up sitting at home? [March 6 Bubble watch]

An interesting read about the selection process. i still don't like the fact that a team with a sub .500 record in an average conference is taking the place of a more deserving team. perhaps the conferences receiving automatic bids should be determined midway through the season (or perhaps even after the end of the season) on an annual basis. That way, if a teams in a traditionally strong conference are having an off year they'll have to work their way in just like everyone else. i said it before but i'll say it again: get rid of the automatic big for TOURNAMENT champs....give it to the regular season winner already. Basketball is a marathon not a sprint!