mrjames
Professor
Posts: 6062
Loc: Montclair, NJ
Reg: 11-21-04
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08-26-17 10:02 PM - Post#232443
In response to PennFan10
There are basically three types of MTEs:
1) Eight team bracketed events not on ESPN
2) Eight team bracketed events on ESPN
3) Auto-semis events where mid-majors don't get a chance to advance even if they win, but instead play one or two of the big name schools and then two or three in a pod hosted by another mid
Type 1 MTEs are dying (Great Alaska Shootout) or languishing with low profile schools. Basically have to find a major TV partner or perish.
Type 2 MTEs are thriving. Schools are essentially signing deals with ESPN to do the rotation of their made-for-TV MTEs (since you can only do the same MTE tournament once every four years). I don't know if Princeton and Harvard have signed deals with ESPN, but they are certainly in the rotation now (having flipped their participation in 2015-16 and 2017-18).
Type 3 MTEs are also thriving due to the big names and big arenas ultimately involved. Ivies participate in these a lot, but I HATE the format. Get one, maybe two, shots at big name schools on their court and then usually two or three road/neutral games against usually blah mids.
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