NCAA Tournament Predictions: A Game of Guesses

Strategic Insights -

Despite the lack of information, TV analysts are willing to predict almost anything about the NCAA men's tournament. On CBS' college basketball studio, Greg Gumbel hosted Clark Kellogg and Seth Davis, who confidently discussed which No. 1 seed would be the first to lose. However, Gumbel forgot to ask the obvious follow-up question about the likelihood of a team losing its luggage. The media scrutiny surrounding the tournament seedings was intense, but the actual selection show was predictable, with Billy Packer analyzing a bracket that hadn't been announced yet.

Meanwhile, the inaugural World Baseball Classic's TV ratings are still ambiguous, but the U.S. team is drawing pretty well. The event is drawing average ratings, barely above typical ratings for spring training baseball. TNT's Charles Barkley expressed his disappointment with the Hornets' game in Oklahoma City, returning to New Orleans to play the Lakers, which he felt gave the false impression that everything is OK down there. In other news, CBS will carry the NFL's Pro Bowl next season, moving it to Saturday night, and the Winter Paralympics are being live-streamed on www.paralympicsport.tv. ESPN's Selection Special for the women's NCAA tournament features Kerri Walsh, and Fox led its NASCAR coverage from Las Vegas by showing the race odds.

Key Takeaways:

  • TV analysts are making predictions about the NCAA men's tournament without having enough information, indicating a lack of critical thinking.
  • The media scrutiny surrounding the tournament seedings was intense, but the actual selection show was predictable.
  • Billy Packer analyzed a bracket that hadn't been announced yet, showing the lack of transparency in the selection process.
  • The inaugural World Baseball Classic's TV ratings are still ambiguous, but the U.S. team is drawing pretty well.
  • TNT's Charles Barkley expressed his disappointment with the Hornets' game in New Orleans, feeling it gave the false impression that everything is OK down there.
  • CBS will carry the NFL's Pro Bowl next season, moving it to Saturday night.
  • The Winter Paralympics are being live-streamed on www.paralympicsport.tv.
  • ESPN's Selection Special for the women's NCAA tournament features Kerri Walsh.
  • Fox led its NASCAR coverage from Las Vegas by showing the race odds.

Statistics:

  • The U.S.-Canada game in the World Baseball Classic drew 1.5% of viewers, which was ESPN2's highest rating this year.
  • The U.S.-Mexico game in the World Baseball Classic drew 1.4% of viewers.
  • The first 13 WBC games on ESPN or ESPN2 are drawing average ratings, barely above typical ratings for spring training baseball.
  • 100 live hours of the Winter Paralympics are being live-streamed on www.paralympicsport.tv.

Sources:

  • "NCAA men's tournament: analysts make predictions without information" by Michael Hiestand, published in the Sports Business Journal.
  • "World Baseball Classic: TV ratings still ambiguous" by Michael Hiestand, published in the Sports Business Journal.
  • "TNT's Charles Barkley on Hornets' game in New Orleans: 'I didn't like it'" by Michael Hiestand, published in the Sports Business Journal.
  • "CBS to carry NFL's Pro Bowl next season" by Michael Hiestand, published in the Sports Business Journal.
  • "Winter Paralympics live-streamed on www.paralympicsport.tv" by Michael Hiestand, published in the Sports Business Journal.