I’m sorry, but I just don’t see the media forking out money to televise a non-cartel tournament. I say this because we already have something like this with the FCS division in D-1 football. Only one playoff game is televised per week (although you can watch them being streamed). And no one cares that North Dakota State wins.
Granted, D-1 basketball has more teams, but I really don’t think people would be interested in seeing a separate tournament.
And, as exciting as the UMBC upset was, eventually, they’ll lose to a standard power conference team. These teams very rarely ever make it to the final four.
Which is why a no longer follow the NCAA in basketball any more. I’d be mildly more interested if UTEP made the tourney, but they’d lose just like all the other non-power conference teams do.
So, the whole thing sucks. The NCAA is too busy banking the money to care about the mid-majors.
lieb