I think straight bracket. College basketball is going to 32 regular season games next year and a 32 team full bracket was the plan for Players Era and Acrisure Series.
Players Era
- Thread starter TopCy
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First, as to the format, I think being a balanced team might help ISU with point differential (25 offensive efficiency and 5 defensive efficiency at KenPom currently).
Am I correct in that for the third game we have absolutely no idea the date or time that we play at this point?
Am I correct in that for the third game we have absolutely no idea the date or time that we play at this point?
Only the "championsip" and "third place" games have times set. Otherwise its based on what teams they decide to matchup. So, if there's a clear separation towards the end of the day on the 25th, and Iowa State is in some small group that went 2-0, we'll have some idea. Otherwise we'll have to wait until after Bama UNLV wraps up sometime after midnight Tuesday night
2025 Players Era Festival: Schedule, teams, TV channels for the college basketball event
Here's everything you need to know about the Players Era Festival, an 18-team men's basketball and four-team women's basketball event in Las Vegas scheduled during Thanksgiving week.
www.ncaa.com
All teams will play their 3rd game on either the 26th or 27th.
If it isn't fully bracketed, I guess you have to determine final round matchups using something. Point difference seems like random measurement, as discussed, but probably anything else would be hit-or-miss anyway.
Maybe the logic was teams that start 2-0 and cruise to wins are "more likely" to be better than the rest of the field.
Maybe the logic was teams that start 2-0 and cruise to wins are "more likely" to be better than the rest of the field.
It's kind of like a mini bowl system.
Some dudes determine your bowl based on a two game season and probably also on if your logo gives them a boner.
Some dudes determine your bowl based on a two game season and probably also on if your logo gives them a boner.
So if ISU blows out the Johnnies and Jays, and Houston destroys whoever they play, then they end up playing each other for the bonus money / championship. A non-conference conference game. Super.
There are only 2 crossover games between arenas. MGM and Mandalay Bay pods
If ISU does not get in the top 2 of their pod, they will play another team in their pod. We take out Creighton and St Johns this what is left:
Baylor, , Auburn, Oregon, Michigan, and San Diego State.
So if ISU does not play the MGM pod day 3, then they will play one of the teams listed above assuming 2 of them don't play MGM hotel pod.
If ISU does not get in the top 2 of their pod, they will play another team in their pod. We take out Creighton and St Johns this what is left:
Baylor, , Auburn, Oregon, Michigan, and San Diego State.
So if ISU does not play the MGM pod day 3, then they will play one of the teams listed above assuming 2 of them don't play MGM hotel pod.
Not making the trip, but have family members who will be there cheering on the team. Does anyone know of any events for ISU during the tournament? CW book signing or anything else?
Thinking about the point spread criteria, I'm wondering if the thought process is to entice teams to play hard the entire game rather than just sitting on a large lead (for viewership?). It also may reveal a team's depth, testing the production from bench as opposed to keeping starters in.
I think most teams//coaches primary focus will be winning the game, but it does add a nuance to the game that coaches will have to deal with (and get handsomely rewarded for) if their goal is to win it all.
Personally, I wouldn't worry about the extra million as a coach--just win the games. Playing otherwise is against the grain for the rest of the games this season (you know--the daily habits thing) and let the chips fall where they may.
I think most teams//coaches primary focus will be winning the game, but it does add a nuance to the game that coaches will have to deal with (and get handsomely rewarded for) if their goal is to win it all.
Personally, I wouldn't worry about the extra million as a coach--just win the games. Playing otherwise is against the grain for the rest of the games this season (you know--the daily habits thing) and let the chips fall where they may.
I actually like that it's based on point differential. If the teams didn't have enough motivation with the payouts then the point differential qualifier will surely make all these teams come to play.
There's something Chris is putting on at Bar Canada on Fremont Street (inside the D) tonight at 5pm local.
Tournament is putting on a Kickoff Party at On The Record inside Park MGM at 7:15pm
Fan Zones run 9am-9pm local time M-Th. Ours is allocated for Libertine Social inside Mandalay Bay (along with the other MB teams)
On flight to Vegas this was the breakdown of fans wearing gear: 9 Cyclones (including me), 6 Michigan, 4 Tennessee, 2 Notre Dame, 2 Syracuse, 1 Virginia, 1 St John's, 1 Oregon. 0 everyone else.
Does it really matter? Let's be real, this event is not a tournament, but a lot of made for TV games.
And most important tons of fans to fill Vegas hotel rooms, people at the tables and dudes hanging out in the sports book before the post T-Giving crowd.
some interesting notes
- 2026 and beyond: a whopping 32-team men's event that will combine World Cup-style pool play (eight teams in four pods) before feeding into bracket competition across a near-three-week span every November.
- The Big 12 has been in discussions with Players Era for months, and according to league sources, a term sheet for a lengthy contract has been signed. An announcement is expected imminently and will detail a college sports first: a conference conjoining with an MTE operator to send multiple schools from its ranks to a specific event in a multi-year arrangement. The Big 12's plan, per sources, is to auto-slot its top eight teams into Players Era starting in 2026
- Iowa State has a long-term deal as well
