Perhaps it doesn't, however, it definitely brings a lot more money to the MAC.Falcon137 wrote: Which is fine, but I don't think it helps BG grow their own program.
NCAA tournament revenue is divvied up into "tournament shares". There are 68 tournament shares for earning a bid, and 67 tournament shares for winning a game (I'm assuming they give equal money to the winners of the playin games, but I don't know that for certain). Revenue is given to the conferences of the participating schools. OU earned the MAC one tournament share for making the field (our auto bid). However, they've already earned the MAC 2 additional tournament shares by winning games...thus tripling their contribution to the MAC coffers.
Additionally, unless something has changed, these revenues are counted for 5 seasons. So for the next 5 years the MAC will have the additional tournament shares that have been earned by OU for winning games.
Sure, I'm sure most of that money stays at the MAC office and doesn't trickle its way down to BG, but regardless, winning tourney games helps the MAC with revenue. Revenue that can be put towards marketing, bringing in better competition, etc, etc. I always root for MAC schools over any other in the tournament, and that wouldn't matter if it were OU, Miami, or even Toledo. I want the MAC schools to win the damn title...


