On Fri, 26 Apr 2002, Joseph LaCour wrote:

> Now that it is good 2 go, let's decide on where to put the 2 other
> regionals.

I don't know that it's a done deal that there will be four
neutral-site regionals.  I've heard three different plans mentioned:

1) Four 4-team regionals at neutral sites (two East, two West)
2) Four 4-team regionals hosted by the four #1 seeds
3) Two 8-team regionals

#1 is the most likely since the NCAA has probably already made
commitments to the regionals sites for the next three years.  #2 is
the fairest (eliminates the perpetual home game for Michigan and
rewards the top four teams), but logistically difficult because each
team that thinks it might be in the top four has to submit a bid to
hold it at a sufficiently large arena.

One question, if they go to four neutral-site regionals, is whether
all the hosts will be assured of playing at home.  In other sports the
hosts are explicitly *not* allowed to play at home.  This wasn't
practical when there was only one regional in each region, but becomes
an option when you can just send the host to the other regional in
their region.

                                          John Whelan, Cornell '91
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                                     http://www.amurgsval.org/joe/

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