There were reports out that Duke had changed its mind about whether it would be under consideration.

We were able to confirm those reports that after withdrawing from the tournament due to positive covid test that look, if they were selected, they would still get in.

What needs to be emphasized here in the fewer yesterday, that's unlikely.

It's really unlikely that the Duke is going to be selected as a pure at large now.

How far down the line make there be as a replacement team?

If you have teams that can't play in the tournament because of covid issues, now is our.

What we were able to confirm yesterday is that Duke would be willing to do that under that situation.

That that's all that story was.

What about their case as an at large team or as a replacement team?

How far down the list would you have to go as an at large team?

I'm not sure their case is very good at all just to get in, but as a replacement team, I think they're in the in the first, probably four or five for discussion and why not leave the door open?

It's been a year of uncertainty, so why not leave the door open for it?

But I think the chances are slim that they would get a phone call to to go to India.

Fairleigh Dickinson decided they were going to not participate in the answer Double A tournament.

They looked at their resume.

They thought it was pretty good.

But, you know, once they shut it down, they decided again, I got you, and and so many people yesterday we were talking about this.

The point was here and you were here.

Yeah, the point was that conversation.

The point was this.

They said the season was over another stand.

We've reconsidered this.

Yeah, that's all.

That's all.

The point has been, Yeah, the and the issue is today's point.

I would think they would be further down the line.

I just wouldn't want in this this unconventional year for a team like Drake, for example, who I think it's worthy to be in, especially as we start to talk about replacement team's etcetera, etcetera.

And so they had their opportunity and unfortunately they ended up having a player with the virus and they had to pull out.

So I just I'd like to see those guys rewarded in the year like this year.

That's sort of the age old question about what to do.

At the end of the line is, Look, I think the tournament is the fairest thing in sports because every team has the same opportunity to win their automatic bid against their peers.

Then, after the automatic bids are decided, we say, Who are the best teams right now?

How we determine best team is a different issue, but this year were unlikely to have Duke.

We're not going to have Kentucky, and we're not going to an Ivy League team.

To me, that's three spots that the committee gets to play with this.

And if it were me in charge, if I were king, which someday I will be, tell me you're not someday thinking your king and being king or two different, I would I would err on the side of a drink or a Boise State or a team like that that that is otherwise qualified.

But maybe you've got a middling major that you're saying, Well, wait a minute, they've had more games against quality competition won more games, so they've also lost more games against the quality competition.

So I would air toward a drink.

But but I would only do it this year that way.

Other than that, you gotta go.

This team is better.

You got to put him in.

It's so difficult because, like a team might Drake, you know, I've got it right here.

23 4.

18 of those games are against Quad three and four.

You know, you look at the Utah State, their 19 8 15 of those games were against three and four who's probably not beating those teams in three and four.

So basically, you know they're playing a five game schedule in a lot of ways.

And so look, and I understand I've been on both sides of that thing in terms of coaching the mid major coaching high major.

But you also have to show you can beat good teams because the whole idea is that if you didn't win your conference tournament, you're gonna probably play against a pretty good team.

So you know, I don't think that we should just say because it's a high major and they have a lot of losses.

If they're a good team, no deserve to be if you think they're better.

But I'm saying if it's a close, if you think it's a close call Tie goes to the little guy as this year this year, only that's the first four out.

I think Wichita State's gonna be really interesting.

Wichita State won the American, and you know they got knocked out of their conference tournament.

But I think they fit that bill to I think you're going to see them, and I know that This is why this is why the at large decision should have been made last Sunday on the regular season only.

And then Championship Week is just about the automatic bids.

And the majors don't get more bites at the Apple against the quality of competition they play.

And the mid majors can only have the bottom drop out like that didn't right?

Can you imagine the television with that?

If you knew that you were the last at large and you're sitting there and you've got a camera in the room with the team or the coach ready to throw a sock at the television at Oregon State is Oregon State takes down Colorado and boom!

You're gone.

High drama high drama.

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